Almost Succumbed.....

Hytec Aug 31, 2011

  1. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I'm designing the coal delivery yard for the electric power plant at Lorraine. I figure the plant will need 3-4 80 ton deliveries each week. So I'll need a track over the coal hopper next to the plant that will hold one car, then a staging track next to it that will hold 2-3 cars, both empties and loads. Also a lead that's long enough for a lokey and two cars so the main won't be fouled.

    Obviously that requires something to remove an empty from the hopper and replace it with a load from the staging track. So why not buy a B'mann 44-Tonner to shift cars every few days....WOW, a new toy!

    Hey Dummy, you don't have a spare $100 just gathering dust for a lokey that you'll use once every 2-3 days, do you! Besides you're running DC, not DCC.

    OK, so I'll still keep the same yard design, but the power company will pay the Saucier Central to use the power that delivers the next loads and picks up the empties to swap the cars. Any way, that'll make a more interesting operating session for the daily peddler freight. Also allow more money for trees, foliage, and stuff .

    And I thought that I would never have to make any more money based trade-off decisions once I retired....WRONG!
     
  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Depending on the supplier the 44 tonner is going at $60 and slightly below, and the 70 tonner at $70 and slightly below depending on the supplier. So you may be able to get one a little cheaper than you thought. On the other hand I'm also retired and watching my train budget a lot closer now. Thats another good reason I'm recycling a lot of stuff from the old parts bins and drawers.
     
  3. Backlash

    Backlash TrainBoard Member

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    May I offer a suggestion as to how to get around this "unlaoding" problem, without having to use a Locomotive at all..

    When you build your coal unloading facility, run the track through the facility, so that the track coming out the other side is long enough to hold the 3 or 4 80T coal cars..

    However, when you install this track beyond the unloading facility, add a slight uphill grade to the track (eg <1%) , just enough so the cars will roll back through the facility when the operators manually release the brakes on the wagons.. ;)

    Then, if you wanted to, you could use automation to make the facility fully operational.. i.e. simulate the cars unloading...

    Just a thought..

    Mark..
     
  4. garethashenden

    garethashenden TrainBoard Member

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    Isn't the 44 tonner's decoder dual mode? It will run fine on either DC or DCC.
     
  5. LOU D

    LOU D TrainBoard Member

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    Yes they are..Mine run just fine on DC,wouldn't even know it had DCC if it didn't say so on the box..GREAT locomotive,by the way,wish I could use another one..
     
  6. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    You guys are making it very difficult to rationalize NOT buying a 44-Tonner....:tb-hissyfit:

    Mark, first of all Welcome to the Train Board, glad to have you aboard. Second, that's an interesting concept. Though, unless I misread your push-through process, I think having an empty free-rolling car come back through the facility would be a little dangerous. On the other hand, it might solve having to decide which non-attentive employee to get rid of. :tb-wink:
     
  7. Backlash

    Backlash TrainBoard Member

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    Hi..

    When I read your first post, I actually thought it was quite strange that you were looking for an excuse not to have to buy a new locomotive.. I'm sure that there are many members on here like me who would go out and buy a new locomotive, and then try and work out where it could be used on the layout... lol. :)

    I once worked at a small coal washery, and this is what they did to unload the coal wagons.. The Loco would push several loaded wagons through the unloading facility, and then gravity would bring them back through.. The grade was ever so slight, just enough that the coal wagons would roll when the brake was released, so speed was never an issue.. Oh, and the wagons were never uncoupled, they would run them all back through as a consist..

    Another option could be to use a winch to either pull the cars up through the facility, or have the winch unwind and allow the cars to travel down the grade at a safer speed..

    If your using DCC, a winch could be made by rigging a radio control servo up for continuous running, and screwing a sewing machine bobbin to the servo for a cable drum.. You could then run the servo off a servo operated turnout decoder...

    If your using DC, then you could use one of of these as a winch (please Google 3 racing winch, I cant post links yet) and hide it under the layout or in a shed etc..

    Goodluck

    Mark.
     
  8. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Mark, those are interesting concepts. Since I'm just fiddling with track and space locations at the moment, I'll think on them.

    I am leaning towards the local road engine option since I envision only a few swap moves a week for this relatively low output wattage plant. Besides, that option would give me more operations for the local during its daily runs about the area. If the power plant needed cars swapped, the local could drop its train, run onto the plant's property, remove an empty from the hopper, replace it with a load from the plant's staging track, then add the empty to its train for delivery back to the interchange. That way there would never be an empty at the plant, but always 2 or 3 loads in staging. Now for those of you who are wondering what if the plant needs to move a load over the hopper and the local isn't available.....well, the plant happens to have a 5-ton, four wheel drive bucket truck that can just barely move one empty and one load when down in granny gear, and with a guy at the loaded car's brake wheel for some the control, problem solved in an emergency.
    Hey, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it......:tb-tongue:
    Now where can I find a 5-ton four wheel drive bucket truck that will cost less than 44-Tonner....? :tb-ooh:
     
  9. katmaan100

    katmaan100 TrainBoard Member

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    Ways to move cars

    Yesterday (8/31) ,I was test driving a truck for my daily job, and witnessed a skid steer loader moving a 4-bay hopper from the feeder line to the dump station at a small grain elevator. Sorry no pics due to phone was at the house on the charger, I will try harder next time. The skid steer was pushing using the bucket against the coupler.


    I bet a skid steer is cheaper than a 44 tonner!!

    :thumbs_up:
     
  10. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Not having any idea what a Skid Steer was, but thanks to Google, that's a neat idea. I'm amazed that little bugger, aka Bobcat, was able to move a loaded 4-bay....WOW!
     
  11. katmaan100

    katmaan100 TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, They were under the hitch and had a little lift on the bucket for traction, I could see a little light under the rear tires.
     

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  12. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    OK Stan, now all I need is a photo of your operation that I can post over the power plant scene to show non-believers (my Brother!) that there IS a Prototype....:tb-tongue:
    That's gonna be a neat scene...a loaded car being pushed by a Skid Steer halfway over the plant's coal hopper. Ought to raise a few eyebrows, hee, hee. :tb-cool:
     
  13. katmaan100

    katmaan100 TrainBoard Member

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    I will try to get you a prototype pic soon.
     

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