A Queation of Operation on Your Layout?

[Trussrod]

Hello to all,

I'd like to take a poll about your operating session.
Here's the question:

Out of currosity, how many of you, who operate alone, actually operate your layouts like the real thing, or at least attempt to too some extent, where your droping off an empty or two and picking up loaded car/s to be delivered elsewhere or of course doing just the opposit in delivering a loaded car and picking up the empties from the various locations to be delivered elsewhere to be reloaded and of course shuffling cars around in the process?


1st. So the question is how often during any operating session, with just you alone, do you actually shift cars around from one location to another in an attempt to create realism in your operation?

2nd. Do you use any kind of a program to determine that a particular car/s are to be delivered to one location or another on a certain day or is it just done at random?

3rd. Approximately how many cars are shuffled around?


I realize that in most cases it's just nice to watch them run with a string of cars trailing but the operation aspect is also of interest in an attempt to create some purpose in operating and to see a varied consist.


Thanks for your input, in advance!

 

[Rico]

David, there is a poll active in Larry's thread right now, check it out.
A typical operating session on my layout consists of making up a train in the city of Spencer, taking it from the East Spencer Yard up thru the helix at Longhurst and over the single track main to the Fuerst Matthes Papermill on the 2nd level. The cars do have destinations both loaded and mt.
In doing so there are coal trains, stack trains, and an Amtrak schedule to work around.
Also I throw in the odd MOW train, Sperry car, and there will be an random defect detector in operation. There are also slow orders and special movements to throw a wrench into things. DCC lets me do this with guests or on my own.
The waybill for the mill will be computer generated with a timer.
BUT... I also have a "beverage" fridge next to the layout room so we do sometimes like to just watch 'em roll when the layout is together. Right now the 2nd level is apart so switching it is!

 

[nekom]

I'm JUST starting (re)building my layout, so I can only tell you what I PLAN to do, not what I am currently doing (which is building, nothing runs yet)

My railroad is fictional (post-apocalyptic), but I plan to try to run it as a real railroad would. My goal is to be able to do EVERYTHING from a single control panel, going to be very difficult without DCC but I like a challenge, and I'm pretty handy with electronics. Actually I plan to have at least one, probably two, possibly three coal mines, and I intend to construct mechanisms to actually load empty hoppers with `coal' (probably crushed charcoal). I've got my work cut out for me. As far as sticking to any sort of a schedule, I doubt very much I will ever attempt to do that.

 

[joem5127]

1st. Right now trains are made up in staging representing the branch lines connection with the main at Centralia. Cars are picked up and dropped off along the way to the branch line terminal , Columbia.

2nd.
The switch list is random, for now.

3rd. About 40% of the cars are moved each session. Each session is three round trip trains, one time table 24 hour period.

 

[Selector]

I typically compile a consist, whether passenger or freight, sometimes a local mixed, and then I run it around the layout. The main is a folded loop with 3% grades, so the work is substantial. The run is about 50' before the train returns to a choice of bypassing the yard through a rear tunnel, or entering the two-ended yard from the other end at the completion of the journey.

Much to my regret, and despite my policy otherwise, my stable and numbers of rolling stock have gotten much to large for my layout with its small and after-thought staging (I'm still new to the hobby, but I'm learnin' real fast..). I have finally accepted that I am no different from 99% of modellers and will have to place stuff in bins or on shelves to free up space and allow me to run prototypically from my small yard once again.

So, my message is that, yes I do run prototypically to the extent I can with my design, but I have become crowded and need to cull about 40-60% of the rolling stock and various engines, all from about five different roads, and get back to some decent ops. And I will have substantial staging next go-around.

-Crandell

 

[RexHea]

First a little background: Originally and not knowing anyone in the hobby, I designed my layout to satisfy only my visions and operational needs in the hobby. Cars were randomly finger-pointed out for movement and the trains ran to where-ever seemed like a "good idea". Soon, I was becoming bored and couldn't enjoy the operation and had to be satisfied with only the hands-on part of modeling: scenery, buildings, tracks, etc. Then, I went to a formal Op session and saw just what was missing. I quickly realized that I needed purpose to why my cars where moving, why they where located at certain destinations, and an organized method of handling traffic.

1st. So the question is how often during any operating session, with just you alone, do you actually shift cars around from one location to another in an attempt to create realism in your operation?
When by myself, I run freight with predetermined destinations and passenger with scheduled stops.

2nd. Do you use any kind of a program to determine that a particular car/s are to be delivered to one location or another on a certain day or is it just done at random?
I use the computer program, RAILOP. It can be operated using schedules or not, with realtime or fast clock, or 'or who cares' with one person or many.
The beginning setup of the software is easy, but takes a little time. You enter: towns+ sidings with length and type of cars allowed, routes, stops, trains by number/name, etc. Cars are entered by: location, type, length, loads/MT's, destinations or random. All this and much more. Now, all I have to do is click Autobuild or Manual, and a manifest for the train I selected is built and printed, complete with loco, caboose, cars w/destinations, and special instructions, i.e. refuel at Hawkinsville term. Cars along the route may be chosen for pickup or shuffle around with local deliveries.

This is a very general description, but it is an easy program to setup and run. There are many features that you can use...it is all up to you if you want them. In handling loads and MT's, a siding can be set to accept only loaded cars. When the car arrives it automatically becomes an MT and ready to return to a siding designated for MT's and that type car and then becomes a loaded. Cars can also have series destinations, i.e. reefer to ice house, to packing house, to customer, to return track.
FUN! FUN! FUN!

3rd. Approximately how many cars are shuffled around?
This is dependant on number of trains ran. If I am by myself, I may run 2 or 3 trains with a length of 5 to 10 cars per train. Depending on route/stops, it takes from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to run a train.

Hope this wasn't too much, but going with a more structured operations have made a big difference in my love for the hobby.

 

[Trussrod]

I'd like to thank each of you for responding so far and the information you have given. It seems that most every one of you operates your RR in a somewhat
of realistic manner and that is what I came to realize some time back that making deliveries and shuffeling cars around, especially using some type of predetermined delivery schedule really adds to the enjoyment of MR by adding purpose to the operation, not to mention that it keeps the little folks busy and happy too! LoL

The mention of the RailOp program by Rex is appreciated and if a person wanted to get a bit more involved there is another program called IndMan which allows a person to determine what products are produced at what types of industries and how often these products are shipped by rail and the raw materials are brought in?

Right now my layout is far from opeating anything like what has been mentioned above but that is what I'm also planning on doing, to have a purpose and some form of generated Wayfreight bill describing what is to be delivered where and where it is o be picked-up from to accomplish that, along with delivering raw materials from a source to the different manufacturing locations so more goods can be produced. This can, it seems, get as complicated as you'd like it too and certainly offers a chance to come up with an interchange track or a barg or ferry for bringing outside items!?

Thanks again,

David

Another question just arose in my mind