The 642 brings the empty hoppers off the non-electrified line from the low level sidings onto the main line ...and arrives in the station where an electric loco is waiting to take the train onwards The Duro leaves the hoppers and the 189 takes over the 189 departs....
....and after a circuit of the layout, arrives in the freight loop where it leaves the hoppers for shunting The Kamnolom Anderslej shunter pushes the hoppers towards the loader Three wagons are placed in the far track
and the other three pushed under the loading shute when the first three are loaded, the others are collected and loaded after running round, the loaded train is pushed into the siding for collection by an electric locomotive
then the 189 couples ready for the return run after a circuit of the layout, it arrives on the inner track where it will hand over to the waiting Duro which takes the train onto the non-electrified track down to the sidings for unloading
Thats pretty cool, in my area 2 blue and grey AC4400CW CSX Locos load the train and then unload it somewhere south. No run arounds or anything, kinda boring.
Nice shots, and more than worthy for inclusion in our weekend photo fun thread. :thumbs_up::thumbs_up: BTW, pardon my ignorance of European railroads, but that switcher/shunter you used at the stone loader looks an awful lot like an Alco S2 with buffer pads added. Is there such a thing, or is the switcher a "stand-in" for another locomotive?
Bob, you are correct - it is a left-over from a previous US layout, so as it is a good slow runner, was pressed into service as the stone plant switcher.
Love your Slovenian Layout. It is Slovenia right? I noticed it has FS catenary, is FS catenary used throughout Slovenia? Also, is that a loco of swiss origin or is it OBB? When you get a chance, it would be great to see some passenger action on your layout. I may cross post this to an italian forum if you do not mind.
Yes, catenary is of FS type in Slovenia. Although I scratchbuilt the catenary, I was able to use various Somerfeldt FS fittings. The locomotive is a class 189. which was originally used by OBB, but was later hired by SZ until more Taurus class 541 were delivered. The OBB logo has been removed but I am awaiting SZ decals. Two such locos were hired, plus others which were silver where this one is red. Cross posting is fine.
Tha switcher may be of an American prototype, but with the buffer posts it looks at home shunting cars in your corner of Slovenia. Matches the other diesel quite well.
Yes Bob, it does look the part, even though no Alcos were used in Slovenia, but many GM products were, and still are. Geeky, will check out the Italian forum
Very nice as it is the first slovenian layout I see, at beginning I was thinking of austria (thanks Geeky ). Looks anyway very italian due to the catenary and the style of the station buildings. The green poles look very similar to those in the german speaking part of italy (brenner line and branches), elsewhere, I think including also slovenia, they are metal grey. Except the IT/SLO border, where the systems match for catenary and power (3KV DC), somewhere else like IT/AUT or IT/SWI the poles change at the border, whereas the power changes at the most convenient station. On the pustertal line for example, the line between St Candido and the IT/AUT border is austrian power (16 KV AC), but the poles and wires follow ITA style, something odd, but nice to see in layouts. Same thing happens on the Simplon line where power changes at Domodossola. As for the switchers, many US built locos found their way to europe, especially in nations which lacked national industry, or on the second hand market.
Hi Maurizio, I painted my catenary posts green to match a paint chip I collected from a post in Ljubljana (much of the paint was peeling off!) I like the borders where the adjoining countries locomotives change. My first encounter was in Jesenice, where the change over between Austria and Slovenia takes place. The catenary has a dead section in the centre of the station so trains drop pantographs and coast in. They are then pushed back to their own side (freewheeling!) - except of course for the new multi-voltage locomotives. On the Austria/Slovenia border north of Maribor, the change takes place on OBB metals at Spielfeldt Strass. Another interesting train watching place. At Dobova, change-over takes place between SZ and Croatian railways, etc. I find the country fascinating and just had to model it.
I love it that I'm gaining an education in multi-national operations, it's fascinating. Most of us Americans are so isolated and parochial. Thanks to all for your posts, especially you Alan for your travelogues, and now once again for showing your modeling expertise.
Nice video, Alan. Is your catenary hot? ~45 years ago, I tried to create a hot catenary layout with isolated tracks laid as for DC operation. That way I could run two trains simultaneously using each rail as a separate controlled return for the single catenary. Never got beyond a 10-20' length because my company transferred me, but what I had appeared to work OK.
