Connecting Tracks at Proviso... Turnout Replacement

I've been working on getting the tracks reconnected between the two sections that make up the main Proviso Yard.  Thirteen track need to be reconnected plus one turnout replaced.  So far I have three of the tracks reconnected and today, I've got the turnouts replaced.  I was able to replace the turnout on top of the Tortoise switch machine that stayed in place throughout the move.  I saved the turnout that I removed but was not able to use it so I had to build a new one.  Other than painting and ballasting, its good to go.

Researching East and West of Proviso

  One big additional feature of the new incarnation of the Geneva Sub will be a more complete rendition of the Proviso Yard and trackage east and west of the yard.  West of Proviso are Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Glen Ellen and Wheaton.  East of the Proviso Yard are Melrose Park, Maywood and River Forest.  While I do not have room to add all these stations to the new layout, I believe I will be able to add two west of the yard and two to the east.  Right now, I am leaning on Maywood and River Forest to the each and Wheaton and Villa Park to the west.
   While back in the Chicago area visiting family, I was able to sneak away for a bit to do some research for the new sections of the layout. Below are some of the pictures I shot.

   Here are some of the Wheaton station and the surrounding area.   The unique station and the curve of the track make this a great candidate to model.

Here are some pics from River Forest.  The elevation of the track with the road underpass would be cool characteristic to model on the layout.

Between Villa Park and River Forest is a bridge crossing the Des Plaines River and a Forest Preserve.  Both, would look great on the layout.

   Finally, here is the small Maywood station which is just down from the Des Plaines River Bridge.  I did not get a chance to make it to Villa Park.  Maybe next time.

Connecting the Pieces Together

I've begun putting the sections of the layout back together in our new basement in Georgia. I've begun with the three sections that make up the Proviso Yard.  These three sections go in the part of the basement that is already finished, so they are a good place to begin.  The basement is a bit wider than the one on Rochelle, so I had to add a couple of short sections to make it fit.  Also, this time the Proviso Yard will be all Proviso and will not also serve as Clinton, IA as on the old set up.  So the Mississippi River bridge will not be in this room.  Instead there are new layout sections depicting Maywood and River Forest as in the prototype mainline.
   Getting the first section up and oriented correctly was the most difficult step.  Once it was up, the other sections went together much more easily.
 

 

   Of course, once the sections are together, there's the task of replacing all the track that was cut out between the sections.  Not to mention getting everything wired back up again.