Solo Op Session Notes 06.08.11

Continued the solo op session this morning.  The grain train that rusted to the rails at Rock Island finally bust free.  Yarded the train at Davenport using the new #3 through track.  The train was yarded efficiently.

While the power moved to the fueling pad, the yard job quickly moved in and sorted the cars.  A cut of east cars were shoved down to West Davenport for the XtrFE2 to run later in the afternoon. 

Ran the Peoria Local.  The yard job shoved the train out to the west yard.  The crew picked up their power from the ready track and headed out.  It made a huge difference having the yard crew block the local.  Even with the blocking, the local still takes time to run at prototypical speeds. 

Yarded the train after performing my work at East Davenport Industrial Park by pulling into West Davenport and backing into the yard.  

I'm really liking the new Davenport terminal design.  Ops are greatly improved.

A snapped a few photos this evening.

 

The West Pig Train stops at Davenport Station for a crew change passing the eastbound loaded coal train.

 

A telephoto view from the railfan overlook at the far east end of Davenport Yard.

 

A view of the crew change from the yard tower.

 

Another view of the crew change from the industrial park road.

 

Look at that shiny new "Boom Time" blue caboose!

The New Carrie Ave Shops

ROCK Management is happy to report that the newly rebuilt Carrie Ave Shops are open for business!  After a seemingly long work schedule, crews were able to complete the remaining trackwork this evening.  Work remaining includes slide switch installation along with dropping feeders on all the newly laid track.

 

The new Carrie Ave Shops
I cut one of the former shop buildings nearly in half.

 

Overlook of the facility. 
(Front to Back) Caboose Track, Thoroughfare, Sand+Fuel / Ready Track, Sand+Fuel / Back Shop

 

The facility already has numerous power sets on site.

 

Numerous changes to West Davenport.
Crossover reversed, new mainline added to the left, two industries added,

yard ladder is now off the siding track, west entrance for Carrie Ave Shops,
switching of the Continental Grain Co and Iowa Ready Mix swapped spots.

 

Another view of the revised yard ladder

 

New scrap metal facility along the Mississippi River

 

New Interstate Chemical Facility and New Mainline 

 

A view of the new Carrie Ave Shops from atop the Continental Grain Co.

 

Another aerial view of Carrie Ave Shops from atop the Iowa Ready Mix.

Progress Report 06.01.11

Added the sand/fuel track at Carrie Ave Shops.  Crews removed the existing crossover at West Davenport.  A reverse crossover will be relaid in the same area.  Also, the yard ladder is changing where all tracks for staging will be accessed off the siding track. 

The company photographer was out roaming the line today.  He grabbed a few shots:

 

West End of Carrie Ave Shops

 

Thoroughfare from Carrie Ave Shops behind the class tracks
Take note that #3 class track now connects to the thoroughfare.  This will be used for yarding the Peoria and Grain Locals.

 

West Davenport Staging Yard
The yard ladder will be realigned to the siding.  The thoroughfare from the yard now connects to the former #5 staging track.

 

West Davenport Yard - the crossover has been removed.  The alignment will now go from main to siding looking west.

 

The new sand/fuel supply track at Carrie Ave Shops

 

East End Carrie Ave Shops.  Two long tracks which can hold 16 locomotives or so.
The run around and caboose tracks still haven't been installed.

 

The Extra Grain local has been rusting to the rails over at Rock Island waiting for the destruction/construction to be completed so the crew can yard the train.

Progress Report 05.31.11

This morning I was too lazy to do anything.  This evening though, I cut in another switch for the sand/fuel track (nearly forgot about this).  Glued this portion down along with the tracks cut on the 05.28.11 report.  I still have to cut and glue the caboose track, but that should be pretty easy.  I only spent about 20-25 minutes in the layout room this evening.  The swimming pool was calling due to the excessive heat!

Progress Report 05.28.11

Well, the other night I spent roughly three hours staring at the layout formulating a change in design to incorporate the new locomotive facility at Davenport Yard.  In turn, West Davenport is going to be re-designed slightly. 

Today, after a great day spent on the L&HR testing and observing future operations, I was inspired to come home to continue work on the Carrie Ave Shops rebuild.  A switch was cut into West Davenport Class Track #5, the track was cut and tested for the west end of Carrie Ave Shops, plus the #3 class track was extended to the run around track for the locomotive facility.  All tracks need to be glued, but getting them cut and positioned was more than half the battle. 

I'm hoping by the end of the weekend to have all the changes completed and photos posted.

Progress Report 05.25.11

Well, engineering finally woke from their slumber.  Two switches were installed on the east end of Carrie Ave Shops along with the main track and locomotive fueling track.  An internal debate is still under way regarding the west end of the facility.

Solo Op Session Notes 05.25.11

We had family visiting this weekend plus work has been real dismal lately, so my motivation has been lacking.

I finished out running the Grain Train local utilizing the new Yardmaster at Davenport.  Wow!  What a difference that makes.  Albeit, I wasn't intermingling with other trains, it reduces the time of this run greatly.  Crews might actually sign up for this train again.  I left town with 12 cars and returned with a whopping 16.   I barely fit in the siding at Rock Island where the train currently resides.  I'm waiting for engineering to get off their duff and start building the new Carrie Ave Shops so I can yard my train properly. 

Maybe this weekend's visit to the L&HR will spark a fire to finish up Carrie Ave Shops.