Galesburg "City Job"

[w neal]

A new mystery structure (WAIT FOR IT!),











A good friend provided this picture from the 1990s. In this view, we look northward towards the Monmouth Blvd crossing. To the right, is the location of Galesburg Concrete Materials Company. While some may be distracted by an ATSF GP60, my eyes are drawn to the somewhat massive structure in the background on the right (behind the 5th wheel trailer).

Gadzukes! I was not expecting such a massive industry. This structure is now long gone and only a smallish cement driveway remains. Judging by the size of the background structure, the cement that remains there today may only be the remains of a driveway, loading dock, or parking area. For now, I can only guess. It appears that I too, like Jim & his concrete pads, may need to remove my existing driveway and begin work on something quite large & unforeseen. All part of the fun. Ah, discovery...

[wcfn100]

Google Earth has a couple shots from the 90's that show that building.



Jason

[w neal]

Awesome! Ta, mate! That helps quite a bit indeed. I may ask you to send some other images in future.

[w neal]

Looks like we are a "go" for Trainfest this fall. Time to get back to modeling... 

[pedro]

Looks like we are a "go" for Trainfest this fall. Time to get back to modeling... 

Great news, congratulations....Can't wait to see it there!

[w neal]

Its official! Check out the floor plan for Trainfest! We made it under the "big top" even.

NOW, I'm getting nervous!! ACK!!!!!   

[TLOC]

The main building, good for you guys. I'll stop and say hello on Saturday after the CVP battery clinic.

Tomo

[w neal]

ACK!!!! 

[TLOC]

 I stopped today at Trainfest to say hi and the layout was very impressive and you guys were very nice, easy to talk to. What got me 1st is the height of the layout. Nscale at eye level (I'm 5'11") was quite the eye-opener and very enjoyable to look at. Most of the other layouts seemed to be at my armpit level or lower. Glad you guys made the main building and can't wait to see it again.

TomO

[w neal]

Glad to have talked to you Tom. Thanks for saying hello.


Thought I should post this update, or Trainfest report:

After my crazy all day & night layout work Thursday (some people never learn  ), I drove through the night to arrive at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds Friday morning. Despite my lack of sleep, I had the required energy to make the multiple trips from the parking lot into the hall to get the layout set up. It was indeed very nice to have all day Friday to set up. The nearby diner had a great meal that seemed to really hit the spot that day. After a decent night's sleep, we found the hotel's free breakfast bar filled with other exhibitors getting ready for their 9 to 5 shift at Trainfest. How cool it was to be amongst friends.

The layout went together well. It was fun to watch the crowds literally streaming in when they opened the doors. We stood ready:




We had very few complaints of the layout being so high. Most people seemed to understand once we explained. Some just walked up and said "Love the height". It was pretty easy to tell who the modelers were.   







Jim's side of the layout really seemed to look good with his new local panels and signage. Note the switchlist hanging below. He liked to write them out by hand at each show.









Note the year on the "employee calendar" (1966):









He had made much progress on some new structures in the Butler complex:
















He does make up some nice graphics, as he had done here for one of his home operating sessions:









One of my "major" accomplishments for the show was getting the Illinois Light & Power receiving yard "concreted". I was not real happy with its "waviness", but I'll hope to hide that with some "mud" soon.













Another was the start of the Taco Hideout restaurant near the Santa Fe wye. Eh, its a start. Love the fried tacos there. My doctor does not, but I do. Oh, and I made some Supertrees too. I hung them out in the 60 degree November weather the day before to dry. (60 in November?!?, really?) There are not a lot of trees in this area on the prototype. I suspect that the Santa Fe did a good job of trimming them through the years for visibility, especially around the wye area.












The yard seems to be acquiring more motive power all the time. Funny that.









In my madness, I did not find the time to fix my droopy "telegraph" lines next to the yard. I put out a couple cable reels and this truck. I wonder if anyone got the hint












After the show, and dinner, we got a chance to see a couple "home layouts" that evening. The HO Prototype modeler's club was breathtaking! What a place to railfan! Who needs a time machine!















Whorry cow!







We also got a personal tour of this N scale layout that Railwire members may recognize.


My favorite was seeing someone modeling a cranberry bog. Nice!!









I also really enjoyed the attention to detail like modeling this private farm railroad crossing between fields. Love attention to small details like that'









After a great second day at the show, it was time to pack up. I took about 2 hours to pack up. A quick double hamburger at Kopps, and a pumpkin malt, and time to drive back home. Trainfest was great fun. I am not sure if we will be able to do it again, but perhaps the butter burgers and frozen custard will convince Jim to make the trek back. We'll see. It was nice to talk with so many fellow hobbyists.

[mstl 246]

Great to see a project like this at a major show, helps to show what can be done in the scale to a ton of people.

And it sounds like a good time too!

Nat

[mcjaco]

Great to see the layout, and talk to both of you over the weekend.

Hope you come back, as it's always nice to see new layouts at the show.  Especially new concepts! 

[pedro]

Agreed, layout looking good, nice to see something new there. Now that your "foot's in the door," keep working on it and go back! I'd like to see that extension take shape.

[w neal]

This picture will give you a better idea of the viewing height. The fellow in the white hair is right around 6 feet tall. We measured from the floor to the top of one of the flatter modules; 57" was the result. My fellow layout developer, Jim, is 5' 4". And even he likes the height! As long as the modules are not "deep", it works. We can still reach all areas of the modules with ease. Plus, its easier to duck under the modules during operations. Its much easier to work on wiring as well. Plus, having a "tall" layout, like Modutrak before us, and the GMR before them, makes it fun to view N at near eye level!






I think we were the only "switching" layout at the show, per se. The height of the trees is limited by the height of my module's "covers" that are used to protect scenery during transport. I would have made the trees much taller, if I could have. Alas, my little car limits the height of the covers themselves. Ergo...

[w neal]

Got some bad news from my layout partner. He sounds very disheartened. Its as though he wants to give up on the project.

"I suppose the question to ponder the rest of the 2017 season is, "Do we continue this journey into 2018? While I love the way things are turning out, I also see a lot of things I should have done differently. So I guess at this point my question is, do I sell the modules to you and move on, or do we endeavor to look at new opportunities in 2018."

I gave him some encouraging words and the hope that the project could continue. I'm just a bit worried however. Its likely just moving jitters, etc.  We'll see...