Help to connect an industry

minesweeper Mar 20, 2022

  1. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Hallo folks,
    I am planning to insert an industry in between two lines as in the following picture.
    schema base.jpeg
    I can connect the wood factory either to the A branch or to the main line, as these will run in a parallel fashion for about 10 feet on my layout.
    I would like the industry to be connected so that makes operational sense and does not make life difficult for the train crews.
    First things first, the layout is in Italy and as in Europe passenger service is the main stay of the lines.

    The branch A (dark territory) does not have regular freight service, a couple cars a week, mostly to station PG, sometimes all the way to staging CS. There is passenger service, mostly with DMUs, but last train of the day (PS to CS) is a loco hauled push and pull train which may be able to take a single car on the cab car end if needed, and leave the car on the spur on its way to CS. Will not happen on the way to PS as the train is time sensitive.

    The main line (manual electrical block system) is packed with passenger trains, but has room for a daily out and back freight from AZ to PS. Additional freights may be squeezed in during daytime or run during the night when passenger service is not present.

    The industry will have a simple short spur (non electrified, but can be worked by the electric loco using the cars as handle on a trailing move) with space for two cars, being served about a couple of times per week.
    The industry will receive logs and ship dimensional lumber. All logs would come thorugh PS or from AZ; loads will be shipped mainly to PS (and beyond) and AZ, in very rare cases they will go to PG or CS.

    So help is needed to determine:

    1 which line makes most operational sense to connect with from an "overall, layout wide," OPS perspective - where do i get more OPS value
    2 do i connect as a facing or trailing move? (refer to the arrow)

    Other options / questions
    3 Since the industry would be rather close to PS, it may also be put inside PS Yard limits, and serviced by the yard engine, thus will not require being serviced by trains.
    4 Both lines are on a grade: can I leave the switch on the grade and get the spur to transition to level? (Can not accommodate the 2 vertical transitions to and from level for the switch on the main line due to height constraints).

    Let me know what you think.
    Thank you
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2022
  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here are my thoughts for what it's worth :)

    1 which line makes most operational sense to connect with from an "overall, layout wide," OPS perspective - where do i get more OPS value
    Branch A would seem like the better choice to minimize interference with mainline passenger trains when daytime switching is needed.

    2 do i connect as a facing or trailing move? (refer to the arrow)
    I'd suggest you make it so the spur goes down grade that way when you spot a car, it can rest against the bumpers at the end of track. Less chance of it rolling back out onto the main track.

    Other options / questions
    3 Since the industry would be rather close to PS, it may also be put inside PS Yard limits, and serviced by the yard engine, thus will not require being serviced by trains.
    Certainly an option. That is one of those that you could easily do either way

    4 Both lines are on a grade: can I leave the switch on the grade and get the spur to transition to level? (Can not accommodate the 2 vertical transitions to and from level for the switch on the main line due to height constraints).
    Should be good to have the switch (Or Turnout in case Barstow Rick is reading this :D) and let the spur transition toward level. See #2 in case the spur won't completely transition to level.
     
    gmorider likes this.
  3. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you BNSF fan.
    I am thinking on your inputs
     

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