Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
You mean suggesting that I scrap the staging and classification yard and build a better yard there? That was definetely one of the best improvements the layout went through...before, the yard had this capacity (back to front):New intermodel track - 6 carsOld intermodel track (ripped up when new one was built) - 3 carsCaboose track - 5 cars, but only 2 without blocking intermodel track switchA/D 2 - 4 carsA/D 1 - 6 cars; train frequently extended all the way off the East ladder into the staging yard...Classification 3 (local delivery) - 4 carsClassification 2 - 5 carsClassification 1 - 6 carsMainline                                                     It was a pretty sad yard...it had mainline style ballast, and the tracks were of course way too short...The new yard has this arrangement. I don't know the exact car count per track because I haven't yet filled any of them to that point! Back to front again: Classification 3 (local delivery) - 10-15 carsClassification 2 - 10-15 carsClassification 1 - 10-15 carsThrough/Runaround trackA/D 2 - 15-20 carsA/D 1 - 15-20 carsMainline                                                         Yeah, a big improvement... (no sarcasm intended) Now I can actually fit all the cars in the track they're supposed to go in![:)] The staging yard was pretty small too. They had a capacity each of about 7 cars plus two locomotives. By comparison, it fit in the space taken up just by my engine terminal! It was a great space saver, but the throats were all #4s and full of sharp S-curves. It was a nightmare running anything larger than a U23B on it, and that includes the Montrealer with a P40 and three Amfleets!Now I stage my trains at crew-change points between sessions. There are two on the layout: on the double track between Dooley and Stude, and in the yard. Trains headed Westbound out of the yard or Eastbound out of West Formanek and Stude "wrap around" to the other end of the mainline. A train headed West out of the yard towards White River Junction proper (the yard is a couple miles East) appears as a train from Concord headed to the yard, and a train headed towards Concord through Stude and West Formanek appears as a train from White River Junction headed into the yard.I haven't actually operated a session like that with it, as I haven't had a session since last summer, IIRC. I tore up the yard and replaced it (changing the operating scheme then too) when I was very frustrated with my layout and wanting to start over. Since then, I've made a lot of improvements to get the layout working a lot more reliably, as listed above. I have seen for myself how much better it is though. Hopefully I can convince my crew to come back in April, after they were most likely met with disapointment at their first session. I have two first time visitors, and one session went okay, the other was a complete fiasco. I know one is still interested though. Alex is actually the second-most frequent operator, behind me.For the April session I know of three people who would most likely be interested (assuming they're not busy), one operator who has operated before and his friend, one who I have no idea if he's into operation at all, and one other who really isn't into operation, and who has enough trouble remembering how to change the loco's direction. I don't think giving him waybills, an actual job to do, and the neccesity to obtain track and time is such a good idea... He might make a good brakeman or engineer if paired with another operator.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community