Everything sounds good that your getting into. I am N scale also and just a bit behind you in my layout. There is no rush in our hobby as things take money and time as the real world happens. Keep up the good video's.
Eric. Your logic on the changes to be made is fundamentally sound, as always. Your creativity in making the changes will make each new episode magical, as always. Looking forward very much to Chicago Crossing being part of my 2025. It must please you greatly to have a firm following here of support, and encouragement. Many thanks for your efforts.
Exciting stuff, looking forward to more! Your channel has become my go-to for N scale related inspiration or simply having a look at N scale stuff, really like how your layout isn't physically huge but it still looks very detailed and ''feels'' big. I've always wanted a big N scale layout around the room to really harness it's space advantage, but your layout is making me consider something smaller and more compact.
Thanks JB - glad the channel has been helpful. The great thing about N is you needn't start out too big to have fun. Were I to do it over again (and at some point I will start a second layout and take this approach) I'd go for a shelf, and build in something like 1' deep by 4 or 5' length increments. That nets immediate functionality of a switching layout with opportunities to expand without burning out over a huge expanse of bare plywood.
I was wondering when I watched the panorama of the layout. Uh oh, I thought, major changes in the works. I’m working up the courage to do the same. The entire New Amsterdam side of the layout (the oldest section) is in desperate need of rewiring. But at the same time, I am dangerously close to reworking this entire side of the layout. It’s winter and the time is right for projects. I’m looking forward to watching the changes on Chicago Crossings. Take a deep breath and dive in, Erik. You’re inspiring me to do the same.
Hi Brooklyn and happy new year to you! Yep, time to get going on all of this fun stuff, I've put it off for a while until I felt absolutely motivated and committed. Very interested to see what you get up to on your layout. Keep in touch on it, maybe there's some mutual encouragement and motivation to be had in the process.
You are kicking it up a notch! Fascinating to see the layout without the structures. You do so much in a small space. Excited to see what you come up with.
Wow, major revisions! It took me a long time in this hobby to "get" that one can tear out a finished area for revision or improvements. I used to think that one didn't mess around with a "finished" scene, but now I know better. Good luck. You have an ambitious plan and it will be interesting to watch it develop.
Thanks! For me there's always a bit of upfront concern as to whether I will actually improve upon what's there. Once I get started and sort of settle in, it becomes a lot of fun.
Sounds like a plan! I appreciate your desire to improve the realistic feel of the layout. Really interested in the automated lights with the arduino too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! The goal will be to have some momentary switches that can trigger the specific effects. It'll be interesting to learn how to program everything!
Hi Eric, 2025 will be jampacked! I hear you regarding schedule and making time to work on the layout !! I think the options you have chosen for tunnel replacements are spot on and perfect for the Chicago feel. Very excited to see your end result. I applaud your commitment to upgrade your wiring infrastructure to support all the upgrades you will be doing. Really looking forward to see your journey this year. Thank you as always for sharing. Enjoy your weekend. Scott
Thanks Scott! I'm pretty excited about it all. Sometimes it just takes sweeping away all the stuff on the layout to really have the vision crystallize and the motivation kick in to take the plunge. I'll be sure to keep the camera rolling as I kick the hornet's nest of wiring underneath this layout.
When did the F5 hit Chicago Crossing?! If you are going to this extreme, have you thought of a complete redesign of the layout? Maybe move to a linear, around the walls? Don't know what your space will allow, but wow! Good luck with your plans.
I don't have much appetite for tearing the entire layout up for a redesign. This is a work of art. I have been planning a second shelf-style layout but it'll be its own thing rather than an extension of this one.
Hi Eric, I follow a bunch of layouts around the world and tareouts and rebuilds happen for many reasons. What I'm doing this time is making a 1 to 1 footprint plan of the layout on 30 inch wide rolls of paper. I will be able to see how it all fits together. I'm doing freelance, so it's all my own creation. I'm look forward to your journey.😊😊😊
Thank you Paul! I've likewise noticed a lot of folks doing renovations, and excited to see how your layout starts coming together. The life-size print is really interesting. I've seen everything from building small maquette models to the 1:1 approach, I think they're all good answers to the question of how to get the plans right. Happy new year!
Looking forward to seeing the changes. I need to get back into my wiring as well. You touched on some things in previous videos that I wish I considered with my layout. Having removeable buildings with quick-connect type wiring would've been great for my layout. I have a spaghetti mess on the underside...so much so, that it's kept me from working on it. Hate dealing with it lol...Nonetheless, videos like yours inspire me to dive back in.
Hi Steve, I'm always for taking the plunge, believe you me I looked back at the 2023 wiring upgrades with no small amount of consternation as to what was ahead. I'm in no position to rush, so I just sort of take it systematically area by area and never too much in a day ;). If your buildings are adhered to the layout then yeah it's probably not worth revising to a quick connect, but if they're not, it could be worth it if you want to do further things to them.
Hi, Eric and all happy new year. I´ve watched it a few times, even in slower speed, just to really catch your message well. I´ll have to ponder more for a better comment. In the meantime, it´s week end and before everything disappear from store shelf, and with reduce price tag, about lightning harness. Christmas lights !!! We´re no more in âge of huge light bulbs that burn. Some 75 feet long in a single harness, 1 000 mini del in 1 wall plug. They can run under layout, pup out for inside layout buildings. And still light even if a del burn out. They can´t be used for street lamps and out of buildings, but lightning all the inside of your city, or part here and there of tall buildings with a single plug on is may be a good way. Cutting the wire and soldering piece of wire to have only lightning where needed instead of a del every inches.... Choice of colors, Possible lightning effects. But all on or off can be a disavantage. Just an idea, don´t know the result, but an economical way, huge amounts of spare del for the next century 😅 and if it fail.....you´ll be ready for your next Christmas lightning season.... Hurry up, stores will remove them fast.
I actually have a 'bad' string of LED christmas lights in the garage for this purpose. More as a plentiful source of 200 LEDs rather than to use the actual string itself.
I can relate to both versions of Chicago Crossing. I grew up around the Milwaukee Road/Chicago Northwestern tracks in the Milwaukee area, and it's basically the same as it it (was) down there in Chicago - but I now live along the Mississippi river where those bluffs/tunnels are, and the the two scene's are really not compatible. I find both to be beautiful, but they are night and day different. Good luck Eric, I can't wait to see the progress - and that includes busting stuff 😉
Thanks! You're spot on, it's kind of a big transposition of elements that normally don't belong together. I think for the last two years or so those tunnels have been bugging the hell out of me. Most people don't notice but I do! I'll be sure to record the demolition - my ideal goal is a nicely finessed removal of the tunnels intact (maybe I can give them away to someone who needs tunnels!) but if not, it'll be surgically applied brute force if that makes any sense at all!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR "Surgically applied brute force." ROFLMAO!! Might be able to use an oscillating tool and a cutting blade to cut around the perimeter of the hill, if it was too integrated with the benchwork. Otherwise I'm afraid we'll just have use the nuclear charges to remove everything. :)
@@ChicagoCrossingRR Harbor Freight sells oscillating tools at various price points if you need something inexpensive. (They also slices, dices, and makes Julienne fries! NOW how much would you pay?!)
Sounds interesting and exciting Eric. I hope you haven't bitten off more than you can chew for the year ahead. It all sounds like a lot of hard work and knowing your immaculate attention to detail this could take a while. I look forward to seeing your work with Arduino. I do hope you will share sketches and so forth as I respect your intelligence level and believe that you could well be quite innovative and be willing to share some of your work and thoughts. It was nice to see your face and not just your hands.
Hi Mel, staging these projects becomes sort of an art to help prevent burnout. It can be a mistake to just walk up to the layout and right away cut track, remove tunnels, etc. and make it look like a war zone. This will be sort of a graduated process - for instance, one tunnel at a time, practicing and refining key techniques off-layout before making destructive changes, all that sort of stuff. Probably the first task will be to build the yard extension in fact. Get back into a little carpentry, track laying, wiring, etc will feel nice after doing so much finish work these last months.
While the tunnel won't be saved, the change to an above-grade vinette simulating some Chicago trackage (maybe a viaduct involved as well?) will fit in well with the overall "flatland" of Chicago. See also the above-grade trackage of the South Shore and Norfolk Southern near the Ford plant at 130th and Torrence Ave.
Thanks Mark - it's actually impressive how much grade-separated track there is in the Chicago area. I'm keeping an eye out for as much prototype track-over-track as I can since this helps me assess the scale, height and build of the prototype!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR If I remember correctly, there's also some grade-separated track on the Metra Electric/CN line running from University Park to downtown. The Metra crosses over the IHB in Riverdale/Dolton. I believe that's where an old wooden trestle burned several years ago, requiring an emergency reconstruction.
@@markh.6687 I'd occasionally take the Metra Electric down to Hyde Park - it was above grade there as I recall, further south it moves down to at-grade with road underpasses. It's a sweet line.
@@ChicagoCrossingRR "55th, 56th, 57th streets. Watch the doors." Yes the 5's are all above grade. So are Riverdale, Ivanhoe, Harvey, Hazelcrest,Homewood, Flossmoor stops are all above grade with road viaducts. In Harvey Metra crosses over CN and CSX so you have a 'rail viaduct" at Park Avenue & about 153rd St. Somebody just got killed at that crossing; the CN frieghts can move pretty fast, tracks are diagonal to the grade crossing, and viaduct can obstruct driver's view. The University Park end of the line is at grade alongside the CN/IC. I forget where it goes to grade, believe it's outbound west of Richton Park. Been awhile since I've been over that way.
hello Eric, good luck on your plans, a person with your skill level and motivation shouldn't have any problems achieving your goals. As far as the electrical, I work on the principle that "if it works, don't mess with it". I have made things worse by trying to make things better and should have just left it alone. Maybe "make it better from this point forward" instead of going backwards. Terry
Hi Terry - there's a certain payload to that saying I'll admit. Ahead of the electrical stuff I more or less defined some boundaries as to what should and shouldn't be touched. Track wiring is super solid so that stays put for instance, otherwise a lot of the project is better wire management and more solid connections, with an eye toward adding Arduino, signals, possibly new switch machines and some other electronics. 7' x 3' loops crowd up really quickly on the underside, so optimizing is a must. If nothing else, it's a great argument for the shelf layout.
Eric, this shows some guys your layout is never done you can always improve a completed layout. I do like when you do series, even an old dog can learn new tricks. Looking forward to future videos. Another subject is lighting your building will send you an e-mail on a very simple way I do it less wires to deal with. Hope you had a great holiday !
Eric, it sounds like you have a very extensive rehab planned! Kudos to you for undertaking such a large project. I know you haven't been happy with the two tunnels for a long time. Have you considered installing Tortoise switch machines or an other "under the layout" solution? I am considering using some Caboose ground throws in my freight yard that also control polarity, signals and even facia indicator lights. P.S. I think I'd try a sawzall or a multi-tool for deconstruction rather than a crowbar! Note that I said deconstruction not demolition!!
Hi Chris, it'll be a fun set of projects to be sure. I've considered tortoises and probably will test install one and see how it goes before I remove the old machines. For deconstruction, I definitely won't be putting a sawzall to the layout - I've used mine before to demo an old deck out back and it's just not precise enough. Multitool maybe - first I'll see what happens by hand before resorting to power.
Good stuff! Looking forward to following your progress. I'm curious how you attach you buildings to the layout so they're still removable but stay in position day-to-day? As I begin work on the buildings on my new layout I'm trying to keep everything removable to save me some trouble when I move in the nearish future (and to also allow me to add lighting, etc in the future).
Basically gravity ;). All of the buildings rest on 'concrete' foundations made from kids' play foam and then painted to resemble concrete. What I like about that material is that it provides a nice and stable foundation that has sufficient friction to keep the buildings reasonably well in place. Because it's a softer material, the buildings also sit flush.
@@ChicagoCrossingRR Ah awesome! I figured about as much but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some trick you had up your sleeve lol. I saw boomer uses stakes along his building foundations that fit into holes on the layout but I for the life of me I can't get mine to align properly. Probably a step best done during construction instead of after the fact I'm guessing.
Having the 'L' would be cool (I'm thinking of an excuse to add it), the only downside is the prototype structure itself isn't quite wide enough. But now you have me thinking...
Very much looking forward to you new improvements. You mentioned a pry bar a couple times and I would think you may have been joking... or maybe just a small one. Are you familiar with cordless "multi-tools"? It's an amazing tool for sure with so many types of blades to do most anything. What are your thoughts on Wago electric connectors?
Oh, and all the cordless tool companies have a version of a multi tool. If you're not familiar with them, search for oscillating multi tool to avoid the Leatherman results.
I actually don't mind a pry bar using progressive pressure and a bit of patience. I've done household demo jobs where it's sort of a brute force instrument, but correct size and a mind toward precision might minimize damaging these objects (and the layout itself). We'll see - it's all an experiment so if that doesn't work, I'll be dropping by the hardware store for your suggestion ;). The Wago connectors aren't bad (aside from the occasional finger pinch) but I'm not 100% happy with them yet. We'll see how useful they are as I revisit some wiring!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR and that's where I believe the multi tool will be of huge benefit Eric, precision. It also does quick work of things. Of course you can find all kinds of vids on their uses .
eric, btw, before retirement i had a 1 week assignment at zion nuke plant for the DOE and took the metra north out of chicago to get there ( i saw your map on the wall and it got me thinkin' about your neck of the woods !!) were you in the air force ???
Hi Dennis, I was in the Air Force’s auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) as a cadet. I had strongly considered a career in the Air Force until my vision required correction. I mounted my uniform elements as a memory of that period.
A lot of RUclipsrs are onto redos on their layouts currently. Mike Fifer, Thom Placier, the fella at Allegany & Northern, and Jimmy at DIY Digital, it seems to be the trend! I look forward to seeing your progress as I piece together my own layout. Just out of curiosity, do you model any shortlines on your RR?
Yeah that's kind of a funny coincidence! The layout itself has some 'proto-freelance' qualities that allow it to be sort of whatever I run on it. From that standpoint, Indiana Harbor Belt and Belt Railway of Chicago are two favorite local railroads that I will often feature on the layout. A third, the Chicago Terminal Railway, could also be credibly added to the roster working the single-track industrial branch line. That'll be a custom paint job on a little EMD switcher down the road :)
@@ChicagoCrossingRR that will be fun! I've been following your progress for a while and couldn't remember if you had featured any in past videos. I'm excited for you on this new adventure. Have fun!
eric, nice pike !! isn't model railroad "surgery" fun ? i went through what you are doing about 8 years ago, going from an island pike like yours to an around the walls type deal, and it REALLY made our hobby a much greater thing for me !!! do you have room to do that in your train room ? if so, i would say go for it as operating from inside the layout is much more fun and i believe you could build it with maybe just a 1 foot wide plywood base attached to the walls with "L' brackets. either way, you do beautiful work !! ps... GO BLACKHAWKS !! i am in western ny state 30 miles directly south of buffalo... we do NOT have anything here that even resembles professional hockey !!! ( the sabres suck hind tit !!!). i get WLS here on the northeastern shores of lake erie at night and have listened since my childhood ( hull, makita, et al). yes, i am retired now and model the bprr. blessings to you, eric my friend !!! denny
Hey Denny, thanks much for the message! My basement is very tiny but amenable to a shelf-style layout. Once I get through the CCMR remodel that'll end up being my next build, to closely model the area around Goose Island in its own context. I'll have to strategize where to position my current layout vis a vis the shelf however - so somehow things will have to fit in the same space! Glad you enjoy the Hawks and WLS - clear-channel AM radio is amazing - signal bounce off of the ionosphere really propagates those signals. I worked airshifts for a non-clear channel AM during college in Illinois and by law we had to power down to 10 watts at night to avoid me becoming illegally famous out in the NY radio market!
Wow, big plans for '25! It's going to be fun watching your progress. Is it urban renewal or gentrification?😅😅 whatever you do, you know we will all be interested in your endeavors. The addition of arduinos won't be a problem for you, there are zillions of sketches on the net to modify for your needs. Have you ever seen this old channel on signal making. Your propensity to fiddly bits might make it work.ruclips.net/video/CwmryGtV5w4/видео.htmlsi=ez_NDw85QFkJqsYH
So far it looks mostly like the usual Chicago permitting process :D. Thanks for the link on the signals. That's been a topic of internal debate - just go for ready-made stuff like the Atlas signals or do more of a fine-scale build with something like the Showcase Miniatures kits? I have a feeling I know which way I'll go - the fiddly route.
@ChicagoCrossingRR I have some NJinternational signals and lighted crossbucks w/ moving gate arms. They look really nice, but they're still in the package🤣. I need to devise a way with arduinos & servos to make them functional.
Everything sounds good that your getting into. I am N scale also and just a bit behind you in my layout. There is no rush in our hobby as things take money and time as the real world happens. Keep up the good video's.
Thanks Adrien - 'no rush' has been my philosophy for nearly a decade with this layout, I think it's paid dividends so far :)
Eric. Your logic on the changes to be made is fundamentally sound, as always. Your creativity in making the changes will make each new episode magical, as always. Looking forward very much to Chicago Crossing being part of my 2025. It must please you greatly to have a firm following here of support, and encouragement. Many thanks for your efforts.
Absolutely, it's great to have a helpful community out there!
You really see the layout enlarging effects of the view blocks when you see the layout without all the buildings.
It really is true. Once you are able to see clear across the other side, the illusion of depth gets lost, and it's just a loop layout.
Exciting stuff, looking forward to more! Your channel has become my go-to for N scale related inspiration or simply having a look at N scale stuff, really like how your layout isn't physically huge but it still looks very detailed and ''feels'' big. I've always wanted a big N scale layout around the room to really harness it's space advantage, but your layout is making me consider something smaller and more compact.
21 square feet of amazing!
Thanks JB - glad the channel has been helpful. The great thing about N is you needn't start out too big to have fun. Were I to do it over again (and at some point I will start a second layout and take this approach) I'd go for a shelf, and build in something like 1' deep by 4 or 5' length increments. That nets immediate functionality of a switching layout with opportunities to expand without burning out over a huge expanse of bare plywood.
@@chrisbarr1359 thank you Chris - that's very kind!
I was wondering when I watched the panorama of the layout. Uh oh, I thought, major changes in the works. I’m working up the courage to do the same. The entire New Amsterdam side of the layout (the oldest section) is in desperate need of rewiring. But at the same time, I am dangerously close to reworking this entire side of the layout. It’s winter and the time is right for projects. I’m looking forward to watching the changes on Chicago Crossings. Take a deep breath and dive in, Erik. You’re inspiring me to do the same.
Hi Brooklyn and happy new year to you! Yep, time to get going on all of this fun stuff, I've put it off for a while until I felt absolutely motivated and committed. Very interested to see what you get up to on your layout. Keep in touch on it, maybe there's some mutual encouragement and motivation to be had in the process.
Sounds like a fun year of modeling coming up!
It'll be a blast!! Happy new year and looking forward to your channel in 2025.
You put a lot of good thoughts and ideas together.
Thanks Ron, as long as they pan out!
You are kicking it up a notch! Fascinating to see the layout without the structures. You do so much in a small space. Excited to see what you come up with.
Thanks Alan!
Wow, major revisions! It took me a long time in this hobby to "get" that one can tear out a finished area for revision or improvements. I used to think that one didn't mess around with a "finished" scene, but now I know better. Good luck. You have an ambitious plan and it will be interesting to watch it develop.
Thanks! For me there's always a bit of upfront concern as to whether I will actually improve upon what's there. Once I get started and sort of settle in, it becomes a lot of fun.
Sounds like a plan! I appreciate your desire to improve the realistic feel of the layout. Really interested in the automated lights with the arduino too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! The goal will be to have some momentary switches that can trigger the specific effects. It'll be interesting to learn how to program everything!
Sounds exciting. Looking forward to watching your progress
Thank you!
Hi Eric,
2025 will be jampacked! I hear you regarding schedule and making time to work on the layout !!
I think the options you have chosen for tunnel replacements are spot on and perfect for the Chicago feel. Very excited to see your end result.
I applaud your commitment to upgrade your wiring infrastructure to support all the upgrades you will be doing. Really looking forward to see your journey this year. Thank you as always for sharing.
Enjoy your weekend.
Scott
Thanks Scott! I'm pretty excited about it all. Sometimes it just takes sweeping away all the stuff on the layout to really have the vision crystallize and the motivation kick in to take the plunge. I'll be sure to keep the camera rolling as I kick the hornet's nest of wiring underneath this layout.
When did the F5 hit Chicago Crossing?! If you are going to this extreme, have you thought of a complete redesign of the layout? Maybe move to a linear, around the walls? Don't know what your space will allow, but wow! Good luck with your plans.
I don't have much appetite for tearing the entire layout up for a redesign. This is a work of art. I have been planning a second shelf-style layout but it'll be its own thing rather than an extension of this one.
Hi Eric,
I follow a bunch of layouts around the world and tareouts and rebuilds happen for many reasons. What I'm doing this time is making a 1 to 1 footprint plan of the layout on 30 inch wide rolls of paper. I will be able to see how it all fits together. I'm doing freelance, so it's all my own creation. I'm look forward to your journey.😊😊😊
Thank you Paul! I've likewise noticed a lot of folks doing renovations, and excited to see how your layout starts coming together. The life-size print is really interesting. I've seen everything from building small maquette models to the 1:1 approach, I think they're all good answers to the question of how to get the plans right. Happy new year!
I certainly admire your resolve to improve, Eric. I'll be watching with great interest from here in Bali.
Thanks Keith - should be fun, certainly a good challenge to build on what already looks good.
Looking forward to seeing the changes. I need to get back into my wiring as well. You touched on some things in previous videos that I wish I considered with my layout. Having removeable buildings with quick-connect type wiring would've been great for my layout. I have a spaghetti mess on the underside...so much so, that it's kept me from working on it. Hate dealing with it lol...Nonetheless, videos like yours inspire me to dive back in.
Hi Steve, I'm always for taking the plunge, believe you me I looked back at the 2023 wiring upgrades with no small amount of consternation as to what was ahead. I'm in no position to rush, so I just sort of take it systematically area by area and never too much in a day ;). If your buildings are adhered to the layout then yeah it's probably not worth revising to a quick connect, but if they're not, it could be worth it if you want to do further things to them.
Hi, Eric and all happy new year.
I´ve watched it a few times, even in slower speed, just to really catch your message well.
I´ll have to ponder more for a better comment.
In the meantime, it´s week end and before everything disappear from store shelf, and with reduce price tag, about lightning harness.
Christmas lights !!!
We´re no more in âge of huge light bulbs that burn.
Some 75 feet long in a single harness, 1 000 mini del in 1 wall plug. They can run under layout, pup out for inside layout buildings. And still light even if a del burn out.
They can´t be used for street lamps and out of buildings, but lightning all the inside of your city, or part here and there of tall buildings with a single plug on is may be a good way. Cutting the wire and soldering piece of wire to have only lightning where needed instead of a del every inches....
Choice of colors,
Possible lightning effects.
But all on or off can be a disavantage.
Just an idea, don´t know the result, but an economical way, huge amounts of spare del for the next century 😅 and if it fail.....you´ll be ready for your next Christmas lightning season....
Hurry up, stores will remove them fast.
I actually have a 'bad' string of LED christmas lights in the garage for this purpose. More as a plentiful source of 200 LEDs rather than to use the actual string itself.
Big plans indeed, Eric! I look forward to the next year of videos. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Thanks Andy - I owe you a response to your email BTW :)
I can relate to both versions of Chicago Crossing. I grew up around the Milwaukee Road/Chicago Northwestern tracks in the Milwaukee area, and it's basically the same as it it (was) down there in Chicago - but I now live along the Mississippi river where those bluffs/tunnels are, and the the two scene's are really not compatible. I find both to be beautiful, but they are night and day different. Good luck Eric, I can't wait to see the progress - and that includes busting stuff 😉
Thanks! You're spot on, it's kind of a big transposition of elements that normally don't belong together. I think for the last two years or so those tunnels have been bugging the hell out of me. Most people don't notice but I do! I'll be sure to record the demolition - my ideal goal is a nicely finessed removal of the tunnels intact (maybe I can give them away to someone who needs tunnels!) but if not, it'll be surgically applied brute force if that makes any sense at all!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR "Surgically applied brute force." ROFLMAO!! Might be able to use an oscillating tool and a cutting blade to cut around the perimeter of the hill, if it was too integrated with the benchwork. Otherwise I'm afraid we'll just have use the nuclear charges to remove everything. :)
@@markh.6687 yeah everyone is talking about the oscillating tool. It's a small space so we'll have to see what works best!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR Harbor Freight sells oscillating tools at various price points if you need something inexpensive. (They also slices, dices, and makes Julienne fries! NOW how much would you pay?!)
@@markh.6687 Probably about their selling price :)
D.H. Burnham. How appropriate for Chicago. Exciting plans and projects.
Thanks Jeff. I've always enjoyed that quote and its appropriateness to Chicago.
Sounds interesting and exciting Eric. I hope you haven't bitten off more than you can chew for the year ahead. It all sounds like a lot of hard work and knowing your immaculate attention to detail this could take a while. I look forward to seeing your work with Arduino. I do hope you will share sketches and so forth as I respect your intelligence level and believe that you could well be quite innovative and be willing to share some of your work and thoughts. It was nice to see your face and not just your hands.
Hi Mel, staging these projects becomes sort of an art to help prevent burnout. It can be a mistake to just walk up to the layout and right away cut track, remove tunnels, etc. and make it look like a war zone. This will be sort of a graduated process - for instance, one tunnel at a time, practicing and refining key techniques off-layout before making destructive changes, all that sort of stuff. Probably the first task will be to build the yard extension in fact. Get back into a little carpentry, track laying, wiring, etc will feel nice after doing so much finish work these last months.
Like your creativity. Look forward to future updates.
Thanks Barry!
While the tunnel won't be saved, the change to an above-grade vinette simulating some Chicago trackage (maybe a viaduct involved as well?) will fit in well with the overall "flatland" of Chicago. See also the above-grade trackage of the South Shore and Norfolk Southern near the Ford plant at 130th and Torrence Ave.
Thanks Mark - it's actually impressive how much grade-separated track there is in the Chicago area. I'm keeping an eye out for as much prototype track-over-track as I can since this helps me assess the scale, height and build of the prototype!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR If I remember correctly, there's also some grade-separated track on the Metra Electric/CN line running from University Park to downtown. The Metra crosses over the IHB in Riverdale/Dolton. I believe that's where an old wooden trestle burned several years ago, requiring an emergency reconstruction.
@@markh.6687 I'd occasionally take the Metra Electric down to Hyde Park - it was above grade there as I recall, further south it moves down to at-grade with road underpasses. It's a sweet line.
@@ChicagoCrossingRR "55th, 56th, 57th streets. Watch the doors." Yes the 5's are all above grade. So are Riverdale, Ivanhoe, Harvey, Hazelcrest,Homewood, Flossmoor stops are all above grade with road viaducts. In Harvey Metra crosses over CN and CSX so you have a 'rail viaduct" at Park Avenue & about 153rd St. Somebody just got killed at that crossing; the CN frieghts can move pretty fast, tracks are diagonal to the grade crossing, and viaduct can obstruct driver's view. The University Park end of the line is at grade alongside the CN/IC. I forget where it goes to grade, believe it's outbound west of Richton Park. Been awhile since I've been over that way.
@@markh.6687 it's been 20+ years for me :) Glad to get the details here, it helps to identify where best to look on Google maps, etc.
hello Eric, good luck on your plans, a person with your skill level and motivation shouldn't have any problems achieving your goals. As far as the electrical, I work on the principle that "if it works, don't mess with it". I have made things worse by trying to make things better and should have just left it alone. Maybe "make it better from this point forward" instead of going backwards. Terry
Hi Terry - there's a certain payload to that saying I'll admit. Ahead of the electrical stuff I more or less defined some boundaries as to what should and shouldn't be touched. Track wiring is super solid so that stays put for instance, otherwise a lot of the project is better wire management and more solid connections, with an eye toward adding Arduino, signals, possibly new switch machines and some other electronics. 7' x 3' loops crowd up really quickly on the underside, so optimizing is a must. If nothing else, it's a great argument for the shelf layout.
Eric, this shows some guys your layout is never done you can always improve a completed layout. I do like when you do series, even an old dog can learn new tricks. Looking forward to future videos. Another subject is lighting your building will send you an e-mail on a very simple way I do it less wires to deal with. Hope you had a great holiday !
Hi Will - thanks and happy new year to you! Yes please do send that email - always interested for some tricks on simplifying things.
Woah~Wow. As a Chicagoan I enjoy your channel.
Thanks much!
Eric, it sounds like you have a very extensive rehab planned! Kudos to you for undertaking such a large project. I know you haven't been happy with the two tunnels for a long time.
Have you considered installing Tortoise switch machines or an other "under the layout" solution? I am considering using some Caboose ground throws in my freight yard that also control polarity, signals and even facia indicator lights.
P.S. I think I'd try a sawzall or a multi-tool for deconstruction rather than a crowbar! Note that I said deconstruction not demolition!!
Hi Chris, it'll be a fun set of projects to be sure. I've considered tortoises and probably will test install one and see how it goes before I remove the old machines. For deconstruction, I definitely won't be putting a sawzall to the layout - I've used mine before to demo an old deck out back and it's just not precise enough. Multitool maybe - first I'll see what happens by hand before resorting to power.
Some great ideas.
Thanks David!
Awesome 👏
Good stuff! Looking forward to following your progress. I'm curious how you attach you buildings to the layout so they're still removable but stay in position day-to-day? As I begin work on the buildings on my new layout I'm trying to keep everything removable to save me some trouble when I move in the nearish future (and to also allow me to add lighting, etc in the future).
Basically gravity ;). All of the buildings rest on 'concrete' foundations made from kids' play foam and then painted to resemble concrete. What I like about that material is that it provides a nice and stable foundation that has sufficient friction to keep the buildings reasonably well in place. Because it's a softer material, the buildings also sit flush.
@@ChicagoCrossingRR Ah awesome! I figured about as much but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some trick you had up your sleeve lol. I saw boomer uses stakes along his building foundations that fit into holes on the layout but I for the life of me I can't get mine to align properly. Probably a step best done during construction instead of after the fact I'm guessing.
Beautiful video !!! Like 244
Thanks!
So…the “eve of destruction” is upon us, huh? 😢 But eagerly looking forward to this massive urban renewal project. 🤓
Hah, thankfully it won't look like the Chicago-style urban renewal of the 1960s full of rubble piles and the like ;)
How about "The L" as part of the above grade project? Looking great sir.
Having the 'L' would be cool (I'm thinking of an excuse to add it), the only downside is the prototype structure itself isn't quite wide enough. But now you have me thinking...
Nice intro/outro music .
Thanks!
Now that the buildings are removed, I see the military medals and a US Army red rope?
The shoulder cord represents service in the cadet advisory council for the Illinois Civil Air Patrol wing. I was a cadet in CAP for a number of years.
Very much looking forward to you new improvements.
You mentioned a pry bar a couple times and I would think you may have been joking... or maybe just a small one. Are you familiar with cordless "multi-tools"? It's an amazing tool for sure with so many types of blades to do most anything.
What are your thoughts on Wago electric connectors?
Oh, and all the cordless tool companies have a version of a multi tool. If you're not familiar with them, search for oscillating multi tool to avoid the Leatherman results.
I actually don't mind a pry bar using progressive pressure and a bit of patience. I've done household demo jobs where it's sort of a brute force instrument, but correct size and a mind toward precision might minimize damaging these objects (and the layout itself). We'll see - it's all an experiment so if that doesn't work, I'll be dropping by the hardware store for your suggestion ;). The Wago connectors aren't bad (aside from the occasional finger pinch) but I'm not 100% happy with them yet. We'll see how useful they are as I revisit some wiring!
@@ChicagoCrossingRR and that's where I believe the multi tool will be of huge benefit Eric, precision. It also does quick work of things. Of course you can find all kinds of vids on their uses .
eric, btw, before retirement i had a 1 week assignment at zion nuke plant for the DOE and took the metra north out of chicago to get there ( i saw your map on the wall and it got me thinkin' about your neck of the woods !!) were you in the air force ???
Hi Dennis, I was in the Air Force’s auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) as a cadet. I had strongly considered a career in the Air Force until my vision required correction. I mounted my uniform elements as a memory of that period.
@@ChicagoCrossingRR EXCELLENT, ERIC !!
A lot of RUclipsrs are onto redos on their layouts currently. Mike Fifer, Thom Placier, the fella at Allegany & Northern, and Jimmy at DIY Digital, it seems to be the trend! I look forward to seeing your progress as I piece together my own layout. Just out of curiosity, do you model any shortlines on your RR?
Yeah that's kind of a funny coincidence! The layout itself has some 'proto-freelance' qualities that allow it to be sort of whatever I run on it. From that standpoint, Indiana Harbor Belt and Belt Railway of Chicago are two favorite local railroads that I will often feature on the layout. A third, the Chicago Terminal Railway, could also be credibly added to the roster working the single-track industrial branch line. That'll be a custom paint job on a little EMD switcher down the road :)
@@ChicagoCrossingRR that will be fun! I've been following your progress for a while and couldn't remember if you had featured any in past videos. I'm excited for you on this new adventure. Have fun!
Get an Oscillating multi tool to take out the tunnels and hills.
Thanks for the suggestion!
eric, nice pike !! isn't model railroad "surgery" fun ? i went through what you are doing about 8 years ago, going from an island pike like yours to an around the walls type deal, and it REALLY made our hobby a much greater thing for me !!! do you have room to do that in your train room ? if so, i would say go for it as operating from inside the layout is much more fun and i believe you could build it with maybe just a 1 foot wide plywood base attached to the walls with "L' brackets. either way, you do beautiful work !! ps... GO BLACKHAWKS !! i am in western ny state 30 miles directly south of buffalo... we do NOT have anything here that even resembles professional hockey !!! ( the sabres suck hind tit !!!). i get WLS here on the northeastern shores of lake erie at night and have listened since my childhood ( hull, makita, et al). yes, i am retired now and model the bprr. blessings to you, eric my friend !!! denny
Hey Denny, thanks much for the message! My basement is very tiny but amenable to a shelf-style layout. Once I get through the CCMR remodel that'll end up being my next build, to closely model the area around Goose Island in its own context. I'll have to strategize where to position my current layout vis a vis the shelf however - so somehow things will have to fit in the same space! Glad you enjoy the Hawks and WLS - clear-channel AM radio is amazing - signal bounce off of the ionosphere really propagates those signals. I worked airshifts for a non-clear channel AM during college in Illinois and by law we had to power down to 10 watts at night to avoid me becoming illegally famous out in the NY radio market!
Wow, big plans for '25! It's going to be fun watching your progress. Is it urban renewal or gentrification?😅😅 whatever you do, you know we will all be interested in your endeavors. The addition of arduinos won't be a problem for you, there are zillions of sketches on the net to modify for your needs. Have you ever seen this old channel on signal making. Your propensity to fiddly bits might make it work.ruclips.net/video/CwmryGtV5w4/видео.htmlsi=ez_NDw85QFkJqsYH
So far it looks mostly like the usual Chicago permitting process :D. Thanks for the link on the signals. That's been a topic of internal debate - just go for ready-made stuff like the Atlas signals or do more of a fine-scale build with something like the Showcase Miniatures kits? I have a feeling I know which way I'll go - the fiddly route.
@ChicagoCrossingRR I have some NJinternational signals and lighted crossbucks w/ moving gate arms. They look really nice, but they're still in the package🤣. I need to devise a way with arduinos & servos to make them functional.