The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.29.14

This evening, I didn't get up to the layout room until late in the evening.  It was too late to make any noise as everyone had gone to bed.  So, I fired up ol 'flesh burner and went to work soldering some feeder wires.  I completed 16 pairs which took care of the CB&Q interlocking and East Ottawa Yard ladder.  I'm probably a third of the way complete for the the remaining tracks.

I'll try to tackle it again tomorrow, but really need to complete cleaning/organizing the room.  I'll be so happy to get this done so I can vacuum all the benchwork and place all the rolling stock on the layout.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.28.14 - Zero Days Without an Accident

This morning, I cut and stripped wires.  I managed to drill the holes and get all the wires inserted, ready for soldering. It shouldn't take long once I fire up ol' Flesh Burner to complete the wiring task.

This evening, I worked feverishly on cleaning and organizing the room.  Which by the way, I made really great progress!  I worked even to the point of going through all my scratchbuilding materials, building parts, etc. sorting by doors, windows, walls, detail parts, etc.  I was working right along consolidating ballast into fewer containers (while leaning over the trash can), something fell off the table and I went to reach for it and stumbled over the trash can.  No biggie, right?  Uh...no.  My leg managed to catch the old damaged flex track that I placed in the trash can.  I managed to drag the two rails down the length of my leg under my knee.  I looked down and could see the cut.  I thought to myself.  That's going to be a bleeder.  Sure enough it was.  It didn't hurt at first, but stings pretty good now!  Good thing I got a tetanus shot recently.  This is the third reportable injury since I started the original layout in 2010.  

So, once again, RI Management must hang the Zero Days Without Injury sign at Ottawa Yard.  

Back to safety school for employees again.  Darnit!  

I had an inquiry from a faithful reader of the blog.  What are the stats of days worked without an accident.

The layout started construction in May 2010.

- 636 Days before the 1st Accident

- Sadly we only went 36 days before our 2nd Accident

- Since our safety program was implemented, we have done better, but still only 672 days until this most recent accident.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.27.14

The first signal heads arrived from BeNScale.  Four of these will be installed on each of the two BLMA signal bridges at Utica.  Man, are they ever tiny!  I need to dig up a pair of coke bottles glasses so I can see this stuff!  Wow!  I can't wait to see them lit up!

After dinner, I drilled the holes in the plexiglass for the Ottawa Signal Control Board.  While watching TV, I assembled the components.  Ottawa and Utica will be the only signal control boards on the layout.

Earlier in the evening, I worked hard on cleaning and organizing the room.  It looks like a mess now, but progress is being made.  

Later this evening, I worked on picking up all debris, parts, etc. left behind on the layout.  I also started stripping wires to wire up the remaining tracks.  

Overall, it was a pretty productive evening.

The ROCK 3:0: Progress Report 01.23 - 01.26.14 - The ROCK is BACK!!

I made a conscious decision this week to make a big push on the model railroad to get the rest of the track laid as well as work on other projects.  It turned out to be a productive weekend.

Thursday ~
I received in some new projects from Train Cat Models.  Three brass tank car loading platforms.  I don't think they will be too bad, but the stairs make me a little nervous.

I'm sure they will look super awesome over at Philadelphia Quartz.  After assembling the BLMA brass signal bridge kits, I'm more open to trying other brass kits as well.

This evening, I spent time working on Ottawa Yard.  I worked for three hours tonight, cutting and shaping each track.  What a long process, but I had to remind myself, this yard is a third of the layout!

Friday ~

This morning, I questioned a choice I made about having a curve in the yard tracks to make it around the bridge I constructed.  I shot him some photos via text and got some constructive feedback.  It was then decided to straighten out the tracks and add on to the bridge to make it wider.  I appreciate the feedback from 1,200 miles away!  Technology rocks!

Commenced in gluing Track #5 (closest to the main).  I broke to eat lunch with my girls at school and then my wife at her school.

This afternoon, I made another push working for 3 or 4 hours straight.  I completed gluing all the tracks in the yard minus the RIP track.  I only have the mainline (beside the yard) and RIP track to complete now.  The yard has taken roughly 8 hours to complete the entire thing.  Whew!  

While waiting for the glue to dry on some of the yard tracks, I worked on the Utica Signal Control panel.  I had already printed up the control board schematic.  I drilled the holes in the plexiglass.  Later in the evening, while watching tv, I worked on installing the rotary and toggle switches. 

During a warm streak this afternoon (27 degrees), I spray-bombed the BLMA brass signal bridges that I built a little while ago.  I painted both a flat black.  They look really good!

Saturday ~

I worked on various other projects in the house today, but did make progress on the layout.  The biggest and best news....I completed all trackwork on the layout including the double track mainline adjacent to the yard and RIP track.  So, it's done.  The Golden Spike for v3.0 is in place!!  The last trackage went in just east of the CB&Q crossing.  I couldn't be more pleased with the quality of this track! 

Looking west in Ottawa Yard.

The scale track in Ottawa Yard.

Looking down the west yard ladder.  On the left is the RIP track and caboose track.

Looking east at Ottawa Yard

Looking east at Ottawa Yard toward the CB&Q Junction.

The two tracks that go off to the right is the lead to Ottawa Silica (left) and yard lead (right)

An overhead look, of Ottawa Yard crossing the creek.  

The track that branches off to the bottom of the photo is the engine house lead.

The mainline looking east toward the CB&Q Junction crossing the creek at Ottawa.

One of many sand hoppers that will fill this yard.  The farm in the background is named Franklin Farms after my wife's grandparents.  The grain elevator is the old Daniel Grain Co. elevator named after my dad that passed away over four years ago.

This evening we stopped in at IKEA and picked up a few things for the family craft/hobby room including some fancy glassware for corralling pens, markers, paint brushes, etc.  We also found a fabric that both my wife and I agreed on for the layout skirting.  Here's a sample of it.  We need to determine the best way to secure it to the layout.  It reminds me of the old Amtrak logo combined with drafting lines from a blueprint or layout plan.  

I think it will work well.  Notice the missing books I had on display between the collage of RI memorabilia.  I need to find something a little strong to hold those up on the wall.

Sunday ~

My wife and I constructed the new cabinet/storage shelf and installed on the wall in the family craft/hobby room.

What's next for the ROCK?  I need to work on cleaning and organization.  I would like to work on wiring, but as my wife advised, I will quickly lose focus once the layout is operational.  She knows me so well.  :-)  Best to get stuff cleaned up and straight now.  

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.22.14

This morning and this evening, I worked on the layout.  I glued down the turnout for the yard lead as well as the actual yard lead.  Last night, I thought I only had to create one extended turnout ground throw (to run under the trackage).  I was wrong.  I have three that need to be completed.  Glued up the other two and installed later this evening.

I laid out all the tracks for the yard.  They haven't been cut and shaped yet.  This was more for determining rough track spacing and get a visual of the overall yard.  With the key turnouts installed on the east end, I should be able to make some serious progress now!

My goal is to complete all trackwork by the end of this weekend!  If I'm really gung ho, I have numerous other projects that I hope to complete too.  We'll see how it goes!  I'm expecting a great update blog report with photos by the end of the weekend.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.20.14

This evening, I worked on the layout for a short time.  I removed the turnout, drew out the new track arrangement and applied plaster to make the appropriate transitions from mainline ballast height down to the OSB plywood flat top (in the yard).

I also plastered (over a styrene sheet) bridge over the creek in Ottawa Yard.  I'm hoping to start laying track again tomorrow or Wednesday of this week.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 01.19.14

I apologize for the lack of reports lately.  I have been quite busy with work and other stuff.  Plus, my wife and kids were involved in a car accident last week the consumed all my attention.  All are ok though.

Since receiving the last turnout (the double slip) last week, I have been spending very brief moments in the layout room checking the alignment of the yard ladder with the double slip.  I quickly found that the double slip was too long and caused issues with the yard ladder alignment and the yard storage capacity greatly shortening the yard tracks.  

This was disturbing to me as I wasn't sure how to rectify the issue.  I only have so much space here.  Last night, I spent a lot of time staring at the track configuration, moving turnouts around, etc until I finally found a layout I like.  I was surprised later when I found I had been working this out for two hours!  

Here are two quick pictures of the revised track configuration.  One turnout will need to be pulled up at East Ottawa Yard.

The bad out of this...I don't need the double slip.  I checked to see if it could be used elsewhere, but no dice.  I will hold on to it until I complete the trackwork for the entire layout, but it appears it will be going up for bid on eBay.  I should be able to move it though.

In other news, I have seen some photos on eBay of the RI sand hoppers with a large billboard logo.  I really like it and think it will be an easy logo change for the Athearn Rock Island airslide hoppers.

Here's a pic of the prototype I want to re-create.

The Athearn airslide hoppers that I have in stock.

The Microscale 60-19 Decal Sheet required to make it so.

I hope to play around with this soon.  I'll post pics of my progress.