The ROCK 3.0: Track Plan Progress Update

I was asked by a fellow RI modeler/follower to post the track plan highlighting what areas have been completed.  As of this morning, this is where it stands.

I just started laying cork roadbed in the areas highlighted above.

Most of this section is completed minus the tracks behind the Ottawa Silica Plant as I need another right-hand turnout.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.22.13

Late last night, I cut the two tracks for box car loading at Libbey-Owens-Ford.

This evening, I cut the two tracks that server as the run around and scale tracks that run up through the middle of the Ottawa Silica Plant.  I also cut the track that goes into the warehouse building at the south end of the plant.  Foundry sand is loaded here into gons.

This completes everything for L-O-F and Ottawa Silica with two exceptions.
#1 I need another right hand turnout to complete the tracks that run behind the Ottawa Silica Plant
#2 I'm not happy with the gauntlet track I constructed.  I'm going to take another stab at it before completing that section.

Moving on down the track, I glued four pieces of cork roadbed for the mainline past Ottawa Yard.

Photos of today's progress.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.21.13

This morning, I was too tired to think much less work on the layout.  I opted for doing a bunch of nothing on the sofa before work.

This evening, I was more energized.  I continued south preparing track through Libbey-Owens-Ford.  I have all of L-O-F in place (not glued) minus the two box car loading tracks.

I failed to mention over the weekend, I came up with the idea to add blue LEDs to place between the tracks at Ottawa Silica (bagged sand loading into box cars on a double track) and Libbey-Owens Ford (windshields loading into box cars on a double track).  Both of these facilities won't allow movements of the box cars as ramps are placed between the two rows of cars.  To protect the crews, I decided to create a blue flag situation.

To do this, I found some blue LEDs from a local business in NC.  http://led-switch.com/  I will use a toggle switch to turn these on at the beginning of the session.  When loading has completed (I will set a time), I will turn them off allowing the local crew to switch out the cars.  I think it will add some realism to the operations.

Ottawa Silica - looking north.  The four tracks on the left are the loading tracks.  There will be two tracks that run up between the loading building (paper under the four tracks) and the long drying building.  Another track goes to the right behind the drying building and curves back to the left where it breaks out into two tracks for loading bagged sand into box cars.

Libbey-Owens-Ford - looking south.  The left track next to the large silos will be for unloading sand.  Middle track is for run-around moves.  Ottawa Avenue crosses over the tracks at the bottom of the photo.

I painted two of the cardboard tubes the other day.  I think it looks pretty good.  I'll paint the rest later.  With some weathering, they should look good.

The track branches off to the right and then again.  The left of these tracks is the unloading tracks for soda ash.  The right track will split into two tracks for loading of automobile windshields.

An overlook of the Ottawa Silica and Libbey-Owens-Ford plants (looking south).

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.20.13

Today, I didn't do much on the layout.  This evening, I did finish cutting, shaping and placing the flex track and turnouts for the four sand loading tracks at Ottawa Silica.  Nothing is glued yet.  I'm waiting to receive my #68 drill bits for the turnout throw bars.  I tried Lowe's and Home Depot this morning, but was unsuccessful.  I found some on eBay down in Florida.

I'll take photos tomorrow and post.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.19.13

After dinner, I painted the OSB subroadbed.  Later this evening after it dried, I worked on trackwork.  I laid out some of the turnouts and cut some of the flex track for Ottawa Silica.  Nothing is glued yet.  It's looking good!

I need to pick up a 1/32" drill bit to drill holes for the throwbars.  Once I have that, I will start gluing track down.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.18.13

The turnouts have arrived!!!  This evening, I started placing the turnouts in preparation for the track crew to hit it hard this weekend.  We're ready to move some sand in Ottawa!

This first batch included 25 turnouts.  This will allow me to complete most of Ottawa Silica and L-O-F minus one right-hand turnout.  I will also be able to start heading west on the mainline as I will have the turnouts for the entrance to the yard (but not the yard ladder).  I have devised a plan for the remaining batches (smaller) of 6 to 8 turnouts each.

Phase I (Received): 
Ottawa Silica
Libbey-Owens-Ford
East Ottawa Main / Yard Entrance

Phase II: 
Remaining Ottawa Silica Turnout
West Ottawa Main / Yard Entrance
Belrose Silica Entrance Tracks (West and East End)
All PQ Tracks
Utica Mainline Crossover

Phase III: 
Internal Facility Tracks at Belrose Silica
Westclox
Peru Water & Power Co.

Phase IV:
All remaining Ottawa Yard Tracks, RIP Tracks, Locomotive Facility
This will complete all trackwork.

The turnouts exceeded all of my expectations.  Simply Wow!  They look great!!  I laid them out for Ottawa Silica and L-O-F this evening.  I realized I had to change up L-O-F a little.  I was using #5 turnouts to determine a basic trackplan.  The #6 turnouts require a little more room to work.  That changed the plan in L-O-F, but ended up saving me some turnouts overall.  Money saved is all good!

Here are some photos of one of the turnouts.

In other news, I ordered and received the Azatrax signal controllers for both road crossings in Ottawa and Utica.  Once the track is laid in Ottawa, I will be anxious to install the controller to test out the operating gates and lights.  Cool stuff!

Let the games begin!

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 10.13.13

This evening, I completed gluing the crossties to the gauntlet track.  I need to spray paint and clean up some.  I tested and it functions well.

The first batch of turnouts are shipping Tuesday.  I'm looking forward to laying some track next weekend!