Progress Report 08.08.12

The Electrical department worked through their lunch today cutting and stripping 50 pairs of feeder wires.  A crew will be dispatched out on the line to drill holes for the feeders in preparation for the welding crew to follow.

The Clerical department began the process to re-stage the layout.  Even though the layout was partially re-staged after the last session, there has been so many changes management felt it would be best to start over again.  The paperwork is drawn up.  Now time for the clerks to call sites to verify pickups and route shipments to the customers.

I added an important To Do item to the list....construct Hennepin Canal Bridge.  We would have some issues without it.



Project update
1) complete benchwork for the Peoria branch
2) drill holes for the bus wire
3) run the bus wire
4) cut and re-install the workbench desk
5) clean off items stored on layout during construction
6) clean up the room
7) test NCE system to ensure no shorts before commencing trackwork
8) lay cork roadbed and track.
9) drop solder feeders
10) install slide switches
11) install car card boxes
12) run wire and install throttle jacks
13) install fascia board (majority complete - put off for another day)
14) paint fascia board
15) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
16) re-stage layout (majority is re-staged, but need to integrate the new industries and place cars in the new Ottawa yard, LaSalle and Bureau storage tracks).
17) schedule next op session!
18) review all rolling stock making adjustments to couplers and/or wheels. 
19) construct bridge over Hennepin Canal


.

Progress Report 08.07.12

Work on the layout will be limited over the next 10 days or so as we have family in town.  The ROCK's clerical department did release the newest timetable.

The schedule does not include the following trains: 

- #20 Houston to Silvis Freight that arrives in the early morning.

- #110 Chicago to Silvis (Illinois Shorts)

- #113 Joliet Local

- #112 Silvis to Bureau Turn

- #217 Ottawa Local

- #221 Blue Island Local

- #90 Peoria to Chicago Freight

- #95 Chicago to Peoria Freight

- any other extras out on the line.

Photo Update

Evening boys and girls.  I had accomplished my basic goals before hosting a BBQ event at our house with potential visitors to the layout.  Good thing, as I was knocked to my knees with food poisoning Friday night.  I was slow to recover Saturday, but feeling better today.  I'm still weak and trying to get my appetite back.  I did manage to take some photos of the layout to post for the fans.

This is what you see as you enter the room on the right side now.  The turnback between LaSalle and Utica.

Utica, IL ~ Philadelphia Quartz on the left and it's main commodity source Belrose Silica on the right.  The ROCK often moved freight simply from one side of the track to the other.  I guess that is why they didn't stay in business long.

Peru / LaSalle, IL ~ The oblong shaped spur on the right is for the Westclox plant.  The building was shaped at angle creating the different industrial track.  In the prototype, there was a small yard at LaSalle, but I didn't have room.  I did add a storage track, but unsure what I will use it for now.  I'm sure the crews will find some use for it though.

The former Peoria station has been moved to LaSalle.  

Bureau Junction, IL ~ former site of the ovalix ~ The main and siding from Silvis Yard to Chicago on the right.  The tracks going to the left is the Peoria branch and storage track.  The Peoria branch is on a significant grade to drop down under the RI main to a hidden track.

Bureau Junction, IL ~ I will move these houses back, but will have a row of them with a street in front adjacent to the mainline as with the prototype.  The siding at Bureau has been extended by quite a bit.  The long sidings now are Joliet, Ottawa and Bureau with short sidings at LaSalle and Rock Island.

The Station at Bureau.  This will eventually will be replaced with a scratchbuilt structure to replicate the prototype. 

Looking down the Peoria branch.  The upper level is the RI main west (to the left) to Rock Island.

Station and Passing Siding in Peoria.

Bureau Junction ~ Looking up the Peoria Branch east toward Peru.

Looking east at Bureau Junction

The new portion of the layout and my messy desk ~ former site of the shelves and floor-to-ceiling cabinet.

The new portion of the layout ~ former site of the ovalix ~ Now Bureau Junction (lower level) and Ottawa (upper level)

New signs have been added to the fascia.

As well as directional signs.

Again, showing off my new signs.

Ok, that's enough already!

Ottawa, IL ~ Burlington Northern Crossing.  I'm missing the 90 degree crossing.  I'm waiting for that to arrive from the L&HR.  I simply have a filler piece of track sitting in it's place for now.  The Burlington Northern will operate a local into Ottawa, switch out the Ottawa Silica plant and pickup/drop off at Ottawa Yard.

Ottwa Station has been moved from East Ottawa near town to West Ottawa as with the prototype.  

Ottawa, IL Yard ~ (left to right) Four class tracks with caboose/loco track in the lower left, siding, mainline, two track loading facility for Ottawa Silica.

Another view of Ottawa Yard.

Ottawa Silica.  I need to lower the backdrop as you can see the previous height of the Ottawa Branch above.

Get used to seeing these cars.  There will be a lot more of them!  We have a lot of sand to move!

East Ottawa Yard ~ (left to right) ~ Four class tracks, siding, mainline, L-O-F chemical receiving on the lower right, finished product shipping at the top of the photo.

East Ottawa Yard ~ Finished product shipping on right ~ sand unloaded against the back wall with the silos.

Libbey-Owens-Ford Sand unloading tracks to the left, main, siding, Bader Ag on the right.

Progress Report 08.03.12

Not much work was completed on the layout today as today was devoted to back to school shopping.  I did paint the fascia with the help of my two daughters.  Another task completed off the Project To Do list.

Speaking of the Project To Do list, I completed another item.  An op session date has been scheduled for Saturday, September 29th.  Hopefully, we can get some people to come out to operate the new ROCK!

Added labels to all the towns on the fascia as well as direction labels.

Removed majority of the car card boxes, changed out the box labels.  I will re-install tomorrow as the girls had already fell asleep.

Project update
1) complete benchwork for the Peoria branch
2) drill holes for the bus wire
3) run the bus wire
4) cut and re-install the workbench desk
5) clean off items stored on layout during construction
6) clean up the room
7) test NCE system to ensure no shorts before commencing trackwork
8) lay cork roadbed and track.
9) drop solder feeders
10) install slide switches
11) install car card boxes
12) run wire and install throttle jacks
13) install fascia board (majority complete - put off for another day)
14) paint fascia board
15) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
16) re-stage layout (majority is re-staged, but need to integrate the new industries and place cars in the new Ottawa yard, LaSalle and Bureau storage tracks).
17) schedule next op session!
18) review all rolling stock making adjustments to couplers and/or wheels.

Progress Report 08.02.12

The CEO made a supply trip run to the hobby shop after work.

Returned to the layout.  Crews worked on the messy assignment first cutting and installing the remaining fascia for the layout.  Before this layout, I had never used fascia before.  It gives the layout such a finished look.  I'm quite pleased this is completed for the entire layout now.

Cleaned up the room (still have a fair number of items on the layout), moved all the power tools back down to the garage.

Took a break to handle some yard maintenance behind the fence.

Returned to the layout to find the track gang on site ready for work.  The crew installed the last leg of the Bureau wye, turnout, main and siding at Peoria.  I pulled up one additional section of track from the former RI Clinton Branch so I could make room for double track further back.  Glued down the roadbed, waited a bit and returned back to lay the final track.  Trackwork is complete!

Crews then performed the initial mudding of the joints of the fascia in preparation for paint.

Project update
1) complete benchwork for the Peoria branch
2) drill holes for the bus wire
3) run the bus wire
4) cut and re-install the workbench desk
5) clean off items stored on layout during construction
6) clean up the room
7) test NCE system to ensure no shorts before commencing trackwork
8) lay cork roadbed and track.
9) drop solder feeders
10) install slide switches
11) install car card boxes
12) run wire and install throttle jacks
13) install fascia board (majority complete - put off for another day)
14) paint fascia board
15) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
16) re-stage layout (majority is re-staged, but need to integrate the new industries and place cars in the new Ottawa yard, LaSalle and Bureau storage tracks).
17) schedule next op session!
18) review all rolling stock making adjustments to couplers and/or wheels.




.

Progress Report 08.01.12

Track crews continued their work this evening.  Crews laid industrial track for Philadelphia Quartz, Belrose Silica, Peru Power & Water Plant, Libbey-Owens-Ford Sand Receiving and Glass Shipping tracks, and removed a switch for the former ADM Milling Plant, replaced a section of damaged mainline.  They also laid the Peoria mainline down to the north switch at Peoria including the Bureau storage track.  Crews found that one turnout was damaged beyond repair.  A replacement will need to be acquired as well as rail joiners.  A short section of about 4ft of main and siding on the Peoria Branch and one leg of the Bureau wye remains to be laid.

Tomorrow, management expects crews to work on installing fascia for the remainder of the layout as well as preparing it for paint.


.

Progress Report 07.31.12

RI Mainline Track Service is Restored!!

The track gang arrived on scene this evening.  They were busy at work with a major goal at hand.  Management is quite pleased as all the mainline/siding and yard tracks were laid this evening.  The mainline is restored!!!  I still have the Peoria branch and some industrial track to lay, but that shouldn't be bad at all.  The worst is over.

Citizens rejoice that the RI is open for business again after being out of service for 44 days.  Citizens question whose bright idea was this?  Passengers have been riding the bus until rail service could be restored.

RI Management took a complete leap of faith.  Armed with research of the prototype, RI Management made the decision to tear down 1/3rd of the layout including the ovalix that connects the lower and upper levels in hopes of rebuilding.  Throughout the process, the sanity of chief CEO Johnson was questioned.

RI Management had hoped that the project would produce more prototypical aspects of the ROCK.  In retrospect, I would say it was a success.  New additions include:

• Expanded mainline run
• More prototypical layout in Bureau
• Addition of a storage siding
• Creation of Peru, LaSalle and Utica
• New passing siding at Peru/LaSalle
• New 4-track yard at Ottawa
• Famous Westclox plant at LaSalle
• Greatly expanded silica business
• Ottawa Silica (producing 18 cars)
• Libbey-Owens-Ford (consuming/producing 20 cars)
• Belrose Silica (producing 8 cars)
• Philadelphia Quartz (consuming/producing 10 cars)

As George Constanza would say "This is a dream!  I'm busting Jerry!  I'm busting!"  I'm very excited about the transformation of the layout!  It's all good!


.