The following action takes place on the less finished portion of my layout. So not everything is as neat and tidy as I normally post.
Sitting in the crew room, at Lampson Yard, discussing the days work, you and your crew ignore the persistent rumors of this new thing called Conrail. It's a fine late summer day and the Falls Turn has work to do:
Finishing the briefing, you tromp out to your train with nearly new MP15 2771 gently idling on the point.
After a quick air test, you get the highball from the conductor, and the OK from the yardmaster to depart. The engineer notches out on the throttle, and 2771 roars to life. The train rumbles past the yard office, and around the curve to the signal at Elise.
You call the operator at Lack Tower, to request 30 minutes on the main to work Ristuccia Plastics and Consalvi Stone. Lack says you'd be holding at Frank anyway and gives you permission to open up and work.
Spot the cement hopper then pull the empty gon:
Spot the load:
After finishing the work, and closing up the switch, Lack OKs you to pull up to Frank in time to see one of D&H's cement trains fly by:
Lack continues to hold you for a Pennsy freight plodding along in the other direction:
After the Pennsy clears Frank. Lack lines The Turn through the plant. The engine sways back and forth as it weaves through the crossovers and onto the Plaster Falls branch.
Rolling into Plaster Fallls, you spot up Brodar Woodcraft and MNB on the same shove:
Followed by a quick move into Dave Brewing:
After a break, you head over to Bryd Building Supply, to pull the emtpy:
And then spot the loads:
Pick up the cars off the interchange:
And back to the train:
After running around the train you pull back up to Frank and call Lack Tower. Again Lack holds you. This time for a passing coal train:
Back through the plant and on to the last stop of the day at Nicholas Steel:
Finally, your last task complete, you grab your caboose, bid the Lack operator farewell, and head back to Lampson Yard:
I hope you enjoyed your day on the Falls Turn,Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
Nick- Great tour thanks. I feel exhausted. Man that coaltrain was haulin butt wasn't it? You have a wonderful layout andthanks for sharing. You know I have have been scratching my headfor a name for my brewery. Maybe I should keep it simple like youdid, "Dave Brewery" of course I would sub my name "Terry's Brewery".Hmmmm have to grab a beer and think on it.
Terry in Florida
Have Fun.... Bob.
Those narrow clearances remind me of some of the industrial switching trackage in Peoria IL where the cars and locomotives really used to thread the needle.
Dave Nelson
Thanks guys. I use bamboo skewers to uncouple the cars. I never liked the look or operation the the Kadee magnets. Although not shown in the photos, I also use push pins keep standing cars from rolling away.
Nick
Hello Nick,
The layout looks great and I enjoyed the story!
nice detailed story w/pics!!! especially like the "rumors about conrail" to give us more of a true feel of the times. Well thought out Operations make a layout be "alive"!! and so much more enjoyable.
Joe
Modeling:
Providence & Worcester Railroad
"East Providence Secondary"
HO scale
Wow. I didn't expect this thread to come back up. Thank you for your kind remarks.