Introduction

Day Logs

Model Railway

a. Layout

Building
Design
DCC

b. Locomotives

c. Cars

d. Operating

e. Summaries

Current
Future
Past
Cost

CNR History

Railfan

Photos

Websites

References

 

Dale's Depot

Daley Train Log
Page 91

Tuesday August 31, 2010 Lethbridge, Alberta

6:00 PM

I cleaned the Outer Mainline track with Track & Rail Cleaner (ACT-606) and ran CN 1706 around the loop for half an hour without any problems.

I have also printed out the Ship It! reports from my last use of this software almost 2 years ago. This serves as a nice refresher on the variety of reports that are available.

And I have printed out a detailed web page on Designing Model Railroad Operations prepared by the Gateway NMRA. The article describes 8 phases to running a realistic operation. I have read the first 3 phases.

Here are a few points that seemed particularly relevant:

Introduction

• "You’ll never start operations if you spend all your time planning. Start now with a method that works for your layout and add details and enhancements over time. The best way to develop the optimum operations design for your railroad is through the combination of practice and refinement."

Realistic Operation, Phase 1

• "Run your trains at scale speeds."
  • I was able to determine that a cab setting of 3 or 4 represents a scale speed of about 15 mph which is appropriate for Yard operations.
  • A cab setting of 7 - 12 represents a scale speed of 25 - 60 mph which is appropriate for mainline activity.
    
    
• "The length of your passing sidings determines the length of the trains you can run"
  • In my case this would be a locomotive plus 6 freight cars.
    
    
• "The number of passing sidings determines the number of simultaneous trains you can run on the mainline."
  • For my layout this is 3 trains.
    
    
• "The smaller the layout, the more imortant it is that operatorscan't see the whole layout at one time. ... the addition of scenic dividers ..."
  • I have incorporated this idea into my layout.
    
    
• "Walk-around control works best for operations."
  • This is the system I use.
    
    
• "Good operator visibility means you need to avoid long tunnels."
  • I do not have any tunnels on my layout.
    
    
• "Design in a way to keep a train running continuously without operator intervention for public displays."
  • My Outer Mainline loop provides for this.
    
    
• "Single track is much more interesting than double track."
  • My layout is all single track.
    
    
• "Yards are supposed to be operated, not to act as storage."
  • This is an important principle. I have a Yard engine (CN 7985, an S-4 switcher) to help me do this in the Coaldale Yard. I have yet to actually try this.
    
    
• "Make industrial trackage as simple as possible."
  • Done.

Realistic Operation, Phase 2

• "Name everything on the layout."
  • I have yet to do this for everything. I have all 8 towns named (Coaldale, Prairie Rose, Queenston, Prairie Dog, Lone Pine, Distillery Row, Black Diamond & Jasper).
    
    
• "Most industries are large enough to have multiple freight docks or doors. Each of these is either numbered or labeled on the real buildings."
  • Not done yet.
    
    
• "Name your railroad."
  • Done: CNR
    
    
• "Make your own division"
  • Done. Alberta
    
    
• "Towns get name signs on the fascia at their location."
  • Good idea. I have not done this yet.
    
    
• "Each building need a sign with the company name."
  • Important. Not yet done for all buildings.
    
    
• "Local interchange occurs when cars are set out to be picked up by another train of the same railroad."
  • Coaldale & Jasper have Yards. The other 6 locations all have a track which can function as an interchange track where cars are picked up or dropped off. A local way freight could then visit each track and move the cars to the appropriate final location. I have yet to try this. I am curious to see if Ship It! can handle this.

Realistic Operation, Phase 3

• "Locomotives need to run smoothly and reliably. The couplers on engines must also work."
  • My 7 diesel locomotives are fine. But my single steam engine seems to have problems with reliable pick-up.
    
    
• "Cars with problems need to be banished to the RIP track until they can be repaired."
  • I am doing this.
    
    
• "My recommendation is to go out and purchase a DCC system now."
  • Done.
    
    
• "Generally, on easst-west railroads, westbound trains have odd numbers while eastbound trains have the next higher even number."
  • I am aware of this.

Overall, I seem to be following most of the guidelines and suggestions. Good. The main task is that of naming every building and location.

7:45 PM

I ran the full passenger consist with CN6700 (a 5-axle passenger C-Liner Diesel) pulling the cars out of the Coaldale Yard and travelling west. This ran on the outer mainline for almost 40 minutes without any problems. It then pulled into Jasper and was able to set out the cars onto 3 spur tracks where they will reside until the train is scheduled to run again. This consist will be limited to a First Class Passenger Service between Jasper and Coaldale (on the Outer Mainline loop). Jasper will be the home yard for these cars.

I am following the first guideline from the above web site, namely to find a balance between planning and operations.