Comment: It is 2 months since I last attempted a running session. I am now using both Ship It! and Deluxe Balancer software to create a set of reports for running an operational railroad on my layout. Since the layout has been inactive for 2 months much of the track will have to be cleaned again. This is certainly true in the various sidings and yards where train speeds are very slow.

The situation is still the same as in September, but I soon realized that there were a number of problems with the initial situation and that I needed to spend some time learning to understand the information in the various reports.

Yesterday I placed the cars on my layout according to the Car Starting Locations report that I had just created. Today will be my first attempt at running trains according to this set of reports.

At the moment I have a total of 10 trains scheduled, 5 going east and 5 going west. Four of these trains do not involve any switching and only use the Outer Mainline track:

• Train 100 Super Continental. This is a passenger train that leaves Jasper and travels east to Coaldale.
• Train 101 Super Continental. This is the return train from Coaldale to Jasper.
• Train 200 Black Zephyr. This is a unit coal train that leaves Black Diamond with 6 loaded coal hoppers and travels east to Coaldale.
• Train 201 Black Zephyr. This is the return train from Coaldale to Black Diamond with 6 empty coal hoppers.

The switching list is printed according to the Train number, but I have rearranged them in the order in which they begin their routes. Thus the first train to be considered is Train 601, a local freight train, which leaves Coaldale at 00.30 hours and travels to Wild Rose, Queenston, Prairie Dog, Pine Ridge, Black Diamond and Jasper.

I want to simulate the idea that there is some distance between the towns. I will try doing this by having each train travel at least 2 complete circuits of the outer loop track before heading into each town to do its setting out and picking up of cars.

Session 1a: create Train #601 in Coaldale Yard

Start locomotive CN 7985 (SW-4 switcher).

CN 7985 receives orders to form the following consist:

• CN 520502 boxcar
• CN 428453 boxcar
• PNR 1986 boxcar
• CN 475822 boxcar
• CN 475822 boxcar
• CN 485338 boxcar
• CN 74009 caboose.

The consist will be created on Track 6 in the Coaldale Yard. CN 7985 thus

• picks up CN 74009 on track 3, sets it out on track 6
• picks up CN 520502 on track 4, sets it out on track 6
• picks up CN 475479, CN 475822, CN 485338, PNR 1986, CN 428453 on track 7, sets them out on track 6.

CN 7985 returns to track 3 and powers down.

CN 7847 connects to the head of the consist on track 6, forming Train 601. It is now awaiting orders to leave the Coaldale Yard.

Here are a few photos:

CN 7985 SW-4 switcher picking up CN 74009 caboose

CN 7985 pushing 5 boxcars into track 6

CN 7847 (Alco RS-3 diesel) powering up

Train 601 local freight ready to leave Coaldale Yard

 

Comment:

The track in the Coaldale yard needed cleaning. Once this was complete the switching proceeded fairly well with only a few small engine stalls. I will continue to monitor this as I want these operations to proceed smoothly.

The sound of the bell on CN 7985 is too loud. I need to find out how to control this.

But overall it was quite exciting as I quickly got my head into the activity. So far, so good. I had no difficulty creating a train using a yard switcher locomotive.

The next step is to for Train 601 to leave Coaldale and travel West (counter-clockwise) past Wild Rose and into Queenston. This will involve 4 circuits of the outer mainline before heading into Queenston where a number of switching operations will be carried out.