Greetings, My name is Jay, and I have been dabbling in the hobby for about 10 years. I am in the planning stages for a new N-Scale layout in my basement. Things seem to work really smoothly in my head, but actually getting it down on paper has been a bit more challenging. I am wanting to model coal operations, moving black diamonds from the mine to industry, and points beyond. I am planning to have a two level layout, with staging below, as well as the ability to have trains appear to "go away" to those aforementioned points beyond. Look forward to virtually picking your brains! -Jay
Welcome Jay, I too, live in Denver. If you need any help with anything, virtual or in real life, feel free to contact me. Looking foeard to seeing how things progress on your layout.
Hi Jay, Welcome to the TrainBoard, we're glad that you are on board. I also model in N-Scale, since the early 80's actually. However, the only coal traffic I have is maybe 3 loads per week from the BBRR interchange into the Saucier Power Plant, and as many empties out. Now, what I am interested in are your rates for delivery of three 70T hopper loads of Broken size Anthracite each week to one of your "going away" locations, and pick up of an equal number of empties. Your rates must be FOB delivered to the Saucier Central RR interchange at Lyman Jct., MS. I look forward to doing business with your company. :tb-biggrin:
Cary, Thank you! I am looking forward to getting some time away from the real job, and working on the layout. I still need to get somethings on paper, and figure out what this layout might look like! -Jay
Jay, I realize that we're talking the future here, but keep it in mind during your planning stages. Over the years I have seen many systems where there are major production facilities like coal mines, grain elevators, oil refineries, etc. modelled, but rarely have I seen the customer markets modelled or described on the same layout. That is why I imagined an opportunity for you to sell your coal. Many years ago I read of a club that had organized this type of concept. For instance, on a monthly (or weekly) meeting night, the coal mine modeller would deliver a bunch of "loaded" hoppers to a power plant modeller, or the coal yard of a city modeller. In exchange, the users would deliver the "empty" hoppers back to the miner. Naturally, this physical exchange would work only in a town or neighborhood environment. However, with the Internet, users could e-mail orders to miners, refiners, or grain elevators, who in turn would e-mail back to the users when the "loads" were on their way. The users then would e-mail the suppliers when the "empties" were back at the interchange siding ready for pick-up.
