The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.12.14

Today, continuing my thoughts on operations, I created a Train Register for the station at Utica and Ottawa.

I felt it would be too cumbersome to model complete Time Table & Train Order (TT&TO) operations, but considered tracking trains through the two stations on the layout.

I'm not sure if this would be too much for crews to mess with, but I might try it.  If anything, I think I will keep track of times at stations for my personal records for each op session.  I can fill in the loads/empties post session looking back at the switch lists.

At Ottawa:
Train #217 Ottawa Local and #118 LaSalle Turn will need to sign off on the Ottawa Train Register stating when they depart in the morning.  They will sign back in when he arrives back at the yard in the evening.  Very simple.

At Utica:
Train #118 LaSalle Local, upon arriving at Utica, the crew will sign in with their arrival time and also state their departure time upon leaving town.

Trains #112 & #113 Road Local out of Joliet and Return will stop in Ottawa Yard and Utica to log their times as they travel through.

A sample of what both sheets might look like after an op session.

Creating these sheets made me think clearly on the train movements specifically for the the LaSalle Turn.  There is some gray area in what occurred prototypically with this local as I just don't have good factual information.  I know for a fact there was a scale at Ottawa Yard.  I know later (but not when it was installed) there was a scale at Belrose Silica.  Currently, I have my local departing Ottawa Yard, working the industries and then returning to weigh the sand from Belrose Silica.  He would then depart again returning to Utica to deliver it to PQ.  What dawned on me is what would the crew do with the cars that they have already switched out or crews like my friend Larry that refuses to move cars unnecessarily.  The crews will want to store those cars in the yard.  I don't have that room to do that on my layout. 

So, what to do?  I believe I'm going to move the scale track that resides at Ottawa Yard currently over to Belrose Silica.  I haven't installed the scale yet, just the gantlet track is in place.  It would be an easy move.  This will keep the local out of the yard all day until it is complete with its work.  Then it can return with its cars for the yard to classify.

This evening, I went upstairs to ponder this idea.  I decided to move the scale track from Ottawa Yard to Belrose Silica.  I went ahead and removed the scale track at Ottawa Yard.  Later this week, I will cut it in at Belrose Silica and replace the flex track at the yard.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.11.14

Today, in trying to think of everything required for the first op session, I recalled I need to update the crew instructions.  These are subject to change, but for the first op session, we'll give them a whirl.

Only six industries to work.  How bad could it be?  

Any suggestions to add to the instructions?

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.10.14

I apologize for the lack of reports lately.  The staff at the ROCK has been quite busy with school field trips and family in town.

This evening, I did manage to get a little done on the layout.  I applied the first layer of drywall compound to the new scene divider at Koenig Rd.

I also installed the last of the blue flag LED lights at Westclox.

I gathered up all my supplies to hopefully work on signals next.  I received in all the components last week.

You can reference these areas on the map here.

Layout Plan Created/Updated

I drew out the layout plan on Visio and added to a new page marked Layout Plan on the blog so readers can reference when mentioning locations in progress updates.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.05.14

This evening, I added six or so cars to the layout that arrived from Nebraska.  All had various things upgraded on them: low-profile wheels, weight added, trucks replaced where required.  The layout is completely staged now.

I repaired seven turnouts with broken points.    They are all working (for now).

I dropped feeders for the Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF) flat glass loading tracks.  I forgot I glued these tracks down late due to adding the blue flags and failed to add feeders.  I realized this when testing the turnouts this evening.

I'm considering adding a highway crossing at the west end of Ottawa Yard.  There was a US Highway that crossed back in the day further down.  I believe it was gone by the late 60s though.  I don't know for sure.  I thought it would provide for a good scene block between the yard and Philadelphia Quartz (PQ) in Utica on the other side.

Here are photos of the region.  Thoughts?

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.04.14

A lot of progress on the layout tonight.

First, today is my dad's birthday.  Unfortunately, he passed away nearly 5 years ago.  I miss him a lot.  Back on the first layout, I constructed this grain elevator and named the industry Daniel Grain Co. after my dad Dan Johnson.  Now, the elevator resides on the Franklin Farms property (named after my wife's grandparents).  I plan on detailing this kit up to make it super nice.

I installed the sanding tower at the engine lead in Ottawa Yard.  

I installed the piping that transports the sand slurry from the sand pit up to the washing plant at Ottawa Silica.  I noticed this feature when doing my initial research.  I thought it would be neat to recreate it.  It is super easy to construct using utility flags from Home Depot.  Simply bend them into shape and stick on a square tube of styrene.  Use a little CA and BAM! Instant overhead piping!  

I installed the two locomotive tracks for on the CB&Q.  Their shop was in the NW quadrant of the CB&Q/RI interlocking.

I installed a total of 33 telephone poles tonight.  Overall, I believe there are 45 on the layout.  That's a lot!  They are simply drilled and sitting in place right now.  Eventually, they will be removed, spray painted and detailed.  Even though not painted, the telephone poles truly add to the realism of the layout.  I believe they make the yard look longer.  My friend Mike was a big supporter of the telephone poles.  I had used them off and on in the past, but not to this extent.  I was missing out all these years!  

The telephone poles are by Showcase Miniatures.  Excellent product!

Utica, IL - Looking East.

Utica, IL - The sand unloading track at Philadelphia Quartz (PQ).

Ottawa Yard, IL - Looking West.

Ottawa Ave - Ottawa, IL 

Ottawa, IL - Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF)

LaSalle, IL - Looking East in front of Westclox

LaSalle/Utica, IL - Looking East

Mill Street Crossing - Utica, IL

Utica, IL Station - Looking West.

Utica, IL - Between PQ and Belrose Silica - Looking West.

Overall, it was a productive evening on the layout.  I'm pleased.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.03.14

Yesterday, I installed the control panel for the blue flag LED lights at Libbey-Owens-Ford.  They work like a charm, although dimmer than I thought when seeing them in mid-day brightness in the room.  I had only been working with them at night.  If I deem them to be too dim, I'll swap out the resistors with a smaller OHM value.

I found myself shuffling cars around on the layout again last night.  I'm strongly considering running the layout once myself just to see all the moves and such.  Of course, this would provide for some good testing too.  :-)

This evening, I installed the second control panel to control the blue light LEDs at Ottawa Silica (bagged sand loading tracks).  Two down, one to go.

I mounted the signal controller for the Ottawa Avenue crossing under the benchwork.  It was just hanging down under the layout when testing originally.

I measured all the future structures at LOF, Ottawa Silica and PQ.  I cut and shaped some of the overhead piping that will run the silica slurry from the mine up to the wash plant.  I think the overhead piping will be neat!  For the pipe, I'm using utility flags that I picked up at Lowes.  They were cheap for a bundle.  I just tore off the flag and cut the metal pole to length and bent to shape.  I will use styrene square pieces for the support poles.  The piping ran over the tracks to the various buildings at Ottawa Silica.