Well, did you survive the superstitious Friday? I did and a great day it was too. I got nothing accomplished that I had written about on Friday, mainly because I forgot Jared had two soccer games on Saturday and we had committed to go out with some friends to watch a hockey game. So Saturday was a no-go. Sunday I went to Peoria with my railfan buddy and went to a local train show. I met up with the new director of the model train show at Carl Sandburg for this years Galesburg RR Days and told him the plan to set up me and a buddies modules for this year. I walked around a bit but only picked up a few DVDs on a fan favorite local short line called the Bloomer and called it a day. I got home and really just enjoyed the quiet while Angela and Jared were out and before I knew it, the weekend was over. So how about you? Did you get more accomplished than I? Tell us about it. We'll all come back on Friday the 20th and do it all over again. Until then, have a safe week and... ​High Greens!
A lot of things are held up with the need for structures and placement in the former yard area. I was going to use Walthers' Magic Pan Bakery kit as a plastic coatings industry. The footprint provided by Walthers seemed like it would be a good fit. I say a completed version of that kit last week at a club meeting.... much larger than expected! I don't want something that big in front of layout, as it would hide scenery in the back and make the crossover on the main track inaccessible. I decided on a small Oil & Gas dealer (I need a use for all my tank cars) and a county farm service business at the end of the spur. The Farm service would receive covered hoppers of grain, boxcars of bagged feed/Lime/Fertilizer, etc., flatcars of farm equipment, etc... Perhaps oubound loaded stock cars for time to time. Probably going to use Walthers Interstate Fuel & Oil and Blair Line's Greene's Feed kits..... lower profile, still generate diverse car needs to keep switching interesting. Once I get actual footprints placed I can plan and lay rail, then get it wired and finish the wiring throughout.
I did go to Ottawa last Saturday for the local club flea market. Driving was a little squirrely on the way back but OK - my trusty 4WD kept me nice and steady (I wouldn't have done that with my Crown Vic - too much power even with good tires). I bagged an undecorated Atlas GP7 (which will be decorated as soon as I finish my Kato GP35), a couple of Proto FB2 dummies to use as axle sources, and a couple of freight cars. I also picked up a nice precision tool set (nut drivers, screw drivers, hex drivers, etc.) for fifteen bucks. My train fix is satisfied! The aforementioned GP35 is coming along nicely. The paint is done and decals are up next.
Oops, forget to check in on Monday. Last week, my computer stopped working, and I've got a graphics card on order which should arrive tomorrow. (Why, pray tell, does 2-day priority mail take 6 days?) I've been using an ancient computer (about 15 years old) and it has a hard time keeping up with all the superfluous needs of modern technology. I have been putting together some Oregon Rail Supply crossbucks and flashers. They are almost done. I've ordered some electronics and crossing gates so that I'll have lights flashing at one crossing and gates coming down at another. In the meantime, I've been working in my Rivarossi passenger coaches and baggage car. I've got the lights working again in one coach, and I've fixed the sloppy coupler mountings so the train stays coupled. My BLI Hudson is back running again after I found and fixed the drive train problem. It was a simple loose press fit of the gear link into the flywheel, cured easily with a drop of CA.
