This morning before work, I finished cleaning the track in West Davenport Yard. Added some loads to some gons. Put away the remaining tools left out on the layout. Vacuumed up the excess saw dust around the wood chip piles in Joliet. Added another coat of paint to the holes patched on the wall. Touched up the paint on one of the roads in Joliet that I scuffed by accident. Returned my test train (cut of eastbound cars) to Davenport Yard.
Completed paperwork for the op session.
All that remains is to test run the locomotives.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Progress Report 05.09.11
This evening, I finished consisting locomotives. The one troublesome GP40 was bad ordered and sent to Carrie Ave Shops for repair. It is not expected to make an appearance during the op session. My old dependable set of N&W RS11s will be utilized for run-through power.
I applied another coat of glue to the wood chip piles in Joliet. They were a little softer than I preferred.
Cleaned all the lower level track minus West Davenport Yard. I will try to clean that tomorrow morning before work. The track was super dirty.
Constructed the Walthers Clarkesville Depot kit. It still needs to be painted and some details added, but that is about par for all of my structures currently. I'm more into creating the ambiance of the buildings and general scenery now. We will detail later. The kit was originally slated for Blue Island, but the platform is too large for that area. The new kit was placed in Davenport instead with that kit moving to Blue Island. The botched Leeton Depot kit (painting project that went bad) was relocated to Rock Island. All towns now have some sort of station representing.
On the test N&W Peoria Branch, a switch was added along with a second track. During the session the first N&W Peoria Local will operate from Peoria to Davenport, swap a cut of cars and return.
Tonight on my way home from south Charlotte, we stopped by to visit my dad's grave. It's hard to believe that this August will be two years. I miss him a lot. In honor of him, I started construction on the Daniel Grain Co. that is slated for Hull, IL on the CNW Branch. The kit is by American Model Builders and went together really well. This kit will always serve as a reminder of my dad. :-)
I also brought up the bucket of sand blasting sand that I brought home from IL back at Christmas. I'm curious to see if this will work for ballast. That will be tested after the op session though.
5 days until we operate. I can't wait. The pre-op session excitement is off the charts. Looking forward to operating with great friends Saturday.
I applied another coat of glue to the wood chip piles in Joliet. They were a little softer than I preferred.
Cleaned all the lower level track minus West Davenport Yard. I will try to clean that tomorrow morning before work. The track was super dirty.
Constructed the Walthers Clarkesville Depot kit. It still needs to be painted and some details added, but that is about par for all of my structures currently. I'm more into creating the ambiance of the buildings and general scenery now. We will detail later. The kit was originally slated for Blue Island, but the platform is too large for that area. The new kit was placed in Davenport instead with that kit moving to Blue Island. The botched Leeton Depot kit (painting project that went bad) was relocated to Rock Island. All towns now have some sort of station representing.
On the test N&W Peoria Branch, a switch was added along with a second track. During the session the first N&W Peoria Local will operate from Peoria to Davenport, swap a cut of cars and return.
Tonight on my way home from south Charlotte, we stopped by to visit my dad's grave. It's hard to believe that this August will be two years. I miss him a lot. In honor of him, I started construction on the Daniel Grain Co. that is slated for Hull, IL on the CNW Branch. The kit is by American Model Builders and went together really well. This kit will always serve as a reminder of my dad. :-)
I also brought up the bucket of sand blasting sand that I brought home from IL back at Christmas. I'm curious to see if this will work for ballast. That will be tested after the op session though.
5 days until we operate. I can't wait. The pre-op session excitement is off the charts. Looking forward to operating with great friends Saturday.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Progress Report 05.08.11
Added the piles of wood chips to the paper mill in Joliet. Began the process of cleaning the track. I got all of the upper level cleaned. I found one of the GP40s was acting up this evening. I'm not sure if it simply needs to be cleaned or something else going on. Hopefully we can get the unit back online before the op session.
Once all final preparations are made, we will send out the company photographer to post photos of the entire layout's progress.
Once all final preparations are made, we will send out the company photographer to post photos of the entire layout's progress.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Progress Report 05.07.11
Concrete crews worked early this morning paving all the sidewalks in Rock Island plus the remaining sidewalks in Stockdale and Blue Island. All sidewalks are installed minus a small section in Joliet.
After the backdrops were installed in Rock Island, the buildings were a little too long in some places. This afternoon, I took the roto tool and trimmed off the back of the buildings for a flush fit.
This evening I went back with the joint compound to fill in land areas around the sidewalks. My little town of Rock Island has really blossomed. The Bar Mills sidewalks are an awesome addition to the layout. They really spiff up a scene.
I think one of my favorite places to railfan on the layout is sitting on the old wooden bench outside Barlow Pharmacy in Rock Island. You're shaded from the sun, great food right down the street and double-track action. Good times!
After the backdrops were installed in Rock Island, the buildings were a little too long in some places. This afternoon, I took the roto tool and trimmed off the back of the buildings for a flush fit.
This evening I went back with the joint compound to fill in land areas around the sidewalks. My little town of Rock Island has really blossomed. The Bar Mills sidewalks are an awesome addition to the layout. They really spiff up a scene.
I think one of my favorite places to railfan on the layout is sitting on the old wooden bench outside Barlow Pharmacy in Rock Island. You're shaded from the sun, great food right down the street and double-track action. Good times!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Progress Report 05.06.11
This morning before work, I added a second coat of touch-up paint to the plastered wall holes. I cut in the temporary track from the Peoria Branch to the mainline. The track on the branchline is not glued, but will be used during the op session. I have really enjoyed using MicroEngineering flex track for test purposes such as this. A passenger train was run this morning to test the track plus time the route for a timetable adjustment. Final track alignment will be installed after consulting with fellow layout owners.
I began the process of corralling the locomotives to place in their assigned consists on their trains.
Since the station has been moved in Blue Island to the siding track at the IHB junction, a test train was run so we can adjust the timetable to allow for street running through Blue Island.
I began the process of corralling the locomotives to place in their assigned consists on their trains.
Since the station has been moved in Blue Island to the siding track at the IHB junction, a test train was run so we can adjust the timetable to allow for street running through Blue Island.
Progress Report 05.05.11
Final preparations are being made for the 1yr anniversary op session. This evening I finished painting the plaster cloth green. Touched up the paint on one of the roads in Rock Island after a previous patch job. Touched up the wall paint where I patched the holes from artwork previously hung in the room.
The layout room is looking good. It brings a big smile to my face to walk in and see everything looking so good. I'm ready to operate!
The layout room is looking good. It brings a big smile to my face to walk in and see everything looking so good. I'm ready to operate!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Progress Report 05.04.11
Of course as soon as I declare construction was placed on hold for the Clinton / Peoria branch idea I ended up working on it some more. I got to the point where a hole was bored in the right side of the entertainment center. The grade is pretty steep off the shelf up to the East Bureau wye. A test track has been put in place temporarily. A test train was run numerous times with various loads. It appears the grade can handle one 4-axle locomotive and 5 cars or 2 4-axle locomotives and 9-10 cars. Final alignment won't occur until after the pending op session.
Cleaned up most of the room in preparation for the op session.
Spring has sprung (at least in Bureau)! Started painting the plaster cloth until I had to break up a domestic dispute between my daughters. Good thing though as my hands were really starting to hurt anyway. Painting creates sharp pains up through my hands. I'm not sure what causes it.
Cleaned up most of the room in preparation for the op session.
Spring has sprung (at least in Bureau)! Started painting the plaster cloth until I had to break up a domestic dispute between my daughters. Good thing though as my hands were really starting to hurt anyway. Painting creates sharp pains up through my hands. I'm not sure what causes it.
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