Railroad Update 12-27-2019

Yep!  It's been two years and man have they flown by!  Get ready...this is the longest post in history with lots of photos!  But only cuz I'm updating you on the past two years.

Over the past two years, I've made what I would call lots of progress.  At first not intending to, I suspended operations in favor of making progress.  What I thought would be missing a few op sessions turnout to be two and a half years of no-ops.  The last op session was September 17, 2019!  I don't regret it though.  What I do regret is not getting MORE done on the railroad than I did.  But isn't that always the story!

In no particular order here are some of the projects accomplished:

• Orange trees “planted” 12-2017 (Over 600 of them!)
• Updated electrical - 2018
• Ballasting of some track - 2018 & 2019
• Installation of concrete pads in Bakersfield Loco & RIP facilities - 2018 & 2019
• Ballasting of Bakersfield Yard - 2019
• Replacing all skirting with professionally sewn skirting - 2019
• Replacement of a 32’ section of the railroad between Mojave and Tehachapi - 2019
• Replacement of drop ceiling and lighting with insulation, drywall and LED lighting - 2019
• Backdating the railroad to 1980's - (Replacing all railroad equipment!) - 2019 & 2020
• Update all railroad equipment inside of JMRI to the 80's - 2019 & 2020
• Changed railroads to ATSF, SP and SJVR with a little UP
• Creation of new Dispatcher Desk - Late 2019
• Updated all Railroad Control Documentation - PM42's, BDL's, DS64's, SE8c's, Turnout routing, etc. - Late 2019

Projects to be done in 2020:

• Signaling installed - 2020
• Phone system installed - 2020
• Creation of new Dispatcher Panel - Late 2019/early 2020
• Replace all fascia signage to reflect the backdating - 2020
• Begin Operating Sessions February 29, 2020 and then every other month

Of course every railroad has helpers and I thank the following for their tireless efforts!

• Mike Stoner
• Joel Morse
• Jon Mullis
• Arnold Aarons
• Mark Lestico
• Cyrus Nelson

Below are some photos over the past couple years reflecting the work completed. And moving forward, while I would love to update at least monthly, you know how that goes. I have a new years resolution to do so though...and you know how those go. LOL OK, enjoy the photos and if you would like to volunteer your time on the railroad or operate with us, please reach out to me.

Happy Railroading & Happy New Year!

Frank Kenny

CPRXmodelRR@gmail.com

310-344-9145

A few photos of part of the replaced section between Mojave and Tehachapi...a total of 32 feet!  Mike did most of the demo.  After he left, I rebuilt the track and electrical.

The intermission between demo and rebuilding.  Mike pondering his progress of 32' of railroad removed, and yet have sub roadbed put down...all in like two days on a whim!  This was not a planned activity!!

 

This will be a rock loading facility when done.  Don't freak out about the type of cars there, they were only there to do some measuring in order to lay the track.

Not your typical tank train.  This is how I hold down track while it is being glued!

The new Y in Mojave and new turnouts.

Tearing out this section gave me the opportunity to reorganize the wiring!  LOL

400 orange trees installed at Thanksgiving 2017!  Won't do that again!  LOL

Over 400 trees installed after the first batch...I liked them so much I just had to do more!  In the lower photo, just beyond the trees you see a white piece of paper...this will be a vineyard when done.

A little train action for ya...

Another distraction from the railroad was going to Ogden to see 4014.  As you can see, I was invited by Mr. Lincoln himself!  4014 was the star of the show though.  Thanks Abe!

 And of course, there was the trip to Hill 582 in Cajon...just before the fire fortunately!

And one of several trips to my friend Mike Stoner's house in Sedona, AZ...where somehow I was again the layout bitch!  We got a lot done though and just this year Mike started his first op sessions in September 2019.

 

For YEARS, my layout progress has been delayed by a couple of major projects.  One, above, was the replacement of that 32' section between Mojave and Tehachapi.  The other was the heat issue in the train room.  I finally made the difficult decision to remove the old drop ceiling and lighting, install insulation and drywall at the roof and new LED lighting.  WOW what a difference that made!  AC was out of the question because it is never really hot enough in my area for AC and it didn't make sense to just AC the train room.  This project was a nightmare primarily because contractors have no clue about other people's belongings or time.  Finally it is done!

Just after I removed the drop ceiling, exposing the old fluorescent lighting.

Insulation being added.

Compare the old drip ceiling and lighting.

Compare this shot with old ceiling with below new ceiling shot.

The new lighting and ceiling is so much cleaner and brighter.

 

And a little distraction in December 2018 was me trying to smile after spinal neck surgery.  Now I can set off the TCS alarms with a plate in my neck.

Oh yeah, and 2019 was the 20th Anniversary of the railroad!  Before the anniversary on 10/19/19, I had a few friends over to help prepare things.  We made a lot of progress...even if it had to be corrected later.  LOL

Joel and Jon doing wheels and database entry.

Dan doing computer entry.

Jed and Arnold installing new professionally sewn skirts.

Mark working on the new dispatch panel.

One of Jon's many tasks was cleaning track after being uncleaned for over two years!

I'm sure Joel thinks I'm torturing him with installing wheels every time!  He's right!!

Mike's looking very guilty!

Thank God for Cyrus and his speed matching...too bad he just moved to Florida!

 Some new locos...I've backdated the railroad to the 80's so had to get rid of all the new and bring in the old...or the other way around depending on how you look at it.  These F40PH's look really cool pulling a long train though!

Amtrak locos in Bakersfield.

Another layout distraction was a trip to the NMRA Kansas City convention in July 2018.

Me, Joel, Mark & Otto.

Mural in the Kansas City Station.

Mark, me & Joel.

KC station

Another very distracting side trip was to Arizona and New Mexico with my buddy Mike Stoner on the train, in September 2018 because Amtrak was threatening to eliminate the Southwest Chief on that route and of course to see the last semaphore signals operate!  Great trip!

 

On a quest to get the new 80's equipment standardized with metal wheels, trucks/couplers, into the new database and then into JMRI before hitting the rails!  Weathering will have to wait!





Also in the way of progress, was a trip to Atlanta for more trains!

Kent, me and Joe.

In addition to ballasting Bakersfield, I poured the concrete pads for the ATSF, SPRR & SJVR locos and the RIP track.

This doesn't go here...was just testing.

 

More "new" equipment.  Not on the track due to testing.

We operate our layouts monthly.  And on the first weekend of December we hang out at the Fullerton train station.  This is 2019.

And a quick impromptu op session at Chris Jean's (first session!)  Chris is behind me, Joel to his right and Mark in the back.

 Another distraction was a business trip with Vin to Toronto at the tail end of the Kansas City trip in 2018.

 

A couple of trips to the modeled area...

Another distraction...A trip to Tehachapi!

I also cut re-railers into the staging area bridge on both levels to avoid derailments.  That wasn't an issue, but this was "ensurance".  It also keeps the rail alignment better.

Another distraction...business trip with Vin to New Orleans...on the train of course!

Well, that about wraps up the last couple years.  I'm sure I missed a number of things that were updated.  Currently, I'm preparing for my next op session, February 29th, 2020.  I've got lots of cars that need wheels and then computer entry.  I'm also building the new Dispatcher panel as well as the yard panels and working to connect them on the new Dispatcher desk in the dining room.  Yep, I have my work cut out for me.  If you wanna help out or operation, touch base!  My info is above.

Happy Railroading,

Frank Kenny