I've been interested in the various posts about model railroad operations lately. I planned my layout with sidings and spurs so I could set out and pick up cars and even have a couple of train meets, but I didn't really think about operations more realistically than that.
Discussions here, some research, a good article about switch lists in the 2004 Great Model Railroads magazine , and finding a picture of a Penn Central switch list online have all motivated me to think more about how my layout can operate.
Here's a track plan of the section of my layout called Kings Port. The two tracks labelled "MAIN" look like double track but are part of the same long folded dogbone. It loops around the industries on the right side of the diagram, goes up grade, and circles back behind Vandelay Industries.
The track called "YARD 1" is actually a long siding that follows the main to the other side of the room and ends at the town of West Mill Jct. I can run a local on it without interfering with the main.
"Yard 2" is a stub ended track that is hidden at the end. It can accomodate eight freight cars and a switcher.
I'm imagining Kings Port to be a mid-division point between two major yards...somewhat like Kingston NY is between Enola and Selkirk on the former River Division. I need to come up with names for these large division points, perhaps that vaguely reflect the names of the real cities. I'm thinking of calling my layout "the New River Division" since its roughly based on reality but ....completely fictional.
What I'm thinking of doing for operations is:
1. Running a yard turn, that it comes from the imaginary Kings Port Yard just south of the industrial area I modelled. On "YARD 2" I'd hand place cars appropriate to the local industries with the switcher at the back end so it could conveniently push them into the spurs. This will work great if there are no pickups! I can see some challenges if the turn needs to pickup as well as set out...including the need to use the main for a while.
This train might be called KK-2 (Kings Port Turn) after what I've learned about typical PC train numbering policies. The letters represent the town of origin and termination so a "turn" would have the same letter twice. The even number identifies direction.
2. A local run from Kings Port to West Mill Jct. and other online industries that would originate from the hidden track of "YARD 1". West Mill Jct. has a small interchange yard and connects with the CN. This train would be designated KW-4. There would also be a return train known as WK-3.
3. A through freight going from one large division point to the next. It could be a continuously running train that once every five minutes would pass by my local or the "turn" to create the appearance of a lot of action. It could make things interesting if I need to use the main for switching. This train would be designated by letters corresponding to the whatever names I assign the two division points it travels between.
I haven't thought about car cards or way bills but might create "situation cards" that I'd shuffle and let determine what kind of traffic would be moved each operating session. I also plan to develop a facsimile of the PC switch list to use when operating the turn and the local.
Whatcha think? Is this the sort of post that might be appropriate for an operations forum?
Ralph
Discussions here, some research, a good article about switch lists in the 2004 Great Model Railroads magazine , and finding a picture of a Penn Central switch list online have all motivated me to think more about how my layout can operate.
Here's a track plan of the section of my layout called Kings Port. The two tracks labelled "MAIN" look like double track but are part of the same long folded dogbone. It loops around the industries on the right side of the diagram, goes up grade, and circles back behind Vandelay Industries.
The track called "YARD 1" is actually a long siding that follows the main to the other side of the room and ends at the town of West Mill Jct. I can run a local on it without interfering with the main.
"Yard 2" is a stub ended track that is hidden at the end. It can accomodate eight freight cars and a switcher.
I'm imagining Kings Port to be a mid-division point between two major yards...somewhat like Kingston NY is between Enola and Selkirk on the former River Division. I need to come up with names for these large division points, perhaps that vaguely reflect the names of the real cities. I'm thinking of calling my layout "the New River Division" since its roughly based on reality but ....completely fictional.
What I'm thinking of doing for operations is:
1. Running a yard turn, that it comes from the imaginary Kings Port Yard just south of the industrial area I modelled. On "YARD 2" I'd hand place cars appropriate to the local industries with the switcher at the back end so it could conveniently push them into the spurs. This will work great if there are no pickups! I can see some challenges if the turn needs to pickup as well as set out...including the need to use the main for a while.
This train might be called KK-2 (Kings Port Turn) after what I've learned about typical PC train numbering policies. The letters represent the town of origin and termination so a "turn" would have the same letter twice. The even number identifies direction.
2. A local run from Kings Port to West Mill Jct. and other online industries that would originate from the hidden track of "YARD 1". West Mill Jct. has a small interchange yard and connects with the CN. This train would be designated KW-4. There would also be a return train known as WK-3.
3. A through freight going from one large division point to the next. It could be a continuously running train that once every five minutes would pass by my local or the "turn" to create the appearance of a lot of action. It could make things interesting if I need to use the main for switching. This train would be designated by letters corresponding to the whatever names I assign the two division points it travels between.
I haven't thought about car cards or way bills but might create "situation cards" that I'd shuffle and let determine what kind of traffic would be moved each operating session. I also plan to develop a facsimile of the PC switch list to use when operating the turn and the local.
Whatcha think? Is this the sort of post that might be appropriate for an operations forum?
Ralph
