Operations & Do You Use Car Cards?
NSES44DC & wickman mentioned "operations", got me wondering if any of you use car cards? i never did till about 6yrs ago, now, i don't see how i ran without them. in the past i would build a layout, but would get bored with running trains after awhile

. i found that for me, car cards was the cure:thumb:. to me car cards gives you a purpose, an assignment, and your job is to finish it. i make my own car cards on the computer, and just print off them as i need them. for this layout since i only have 2 industries to service my car card system is very simple:thumb:. on previous layouts i have had, i the system was a little more involving. guess their is a bright side to having a small 8'x30'' switching layout!

i have 2 sets of cards with each 50' box on it, one set going to Tri-Star, the other to United Transfer. i decide how long i plan on running, and randomly draw cards from the pile/s i plan to use. first i take whatever UP engine i plan on using and pick up the cars on the siding/s and either run them to the holding track next to one of Tri-Stars sidings, or set them out to the WSOR/UP interchange tracks. if i am doing a long run, i will set up a WSOR at one end with about 4-6 cars, have it bring them down to the interchange track, drop them off, and pick up the cars the UP engine has set out to be exchanged. after that, my UP engine will come up and pick up the cars WSOR has dropped off and distribute them wherever the card says to put them. i put alot of thought into this layout so i am lucky, there are tons of variables for operations:thumb:. lets say i felt like using my SD90/43Mac for switching both industries out, i could do this HASSLE FREE with 12 cars on the layout:thumb:. with my GP40, or small engines like that, i could switch out BOTH industries with up to 18 cars on the layout, keep in mind the more cars, the longer it takes

. 18 cars on my layout means ALOT of extra car movements, though not prototypical, if i have the time to kill, is quite challenging

. a 12 car operation would be pretty prototypical for my layout, and honestly, being a single parent, i RARELY have time to do more

. **ANYWAYS, that sums up operations on my layout. has car cards helped ANY of you guys out with putting life back into your running? just curious

. ...stay on track.

-Deano
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