Last night I did run a few trains. It's in the morning, about 6am. At the left (far left are layover track and main) is A/D track 1 with cars for International Falls. A/D track 2 is empty and at A/D track 3 you see the yard goat has just coupled the caboose to the string of cars. This train will become the Harbor Turn. The first 6 cars are bound for Third Street Industrial District and the other block with 4 cars is for Harbor District. Click on the pictures for a bigger one. Here the train, Extra 512 east, departs with 10 cars. The cars came from the two class tracks to the right. The yard switcher has made up another train, Plywood local. Here the train is ready and departs as Extra 8 west with Alco RSD-5 WT 8 and 7 cars. You see the empty class track A through arrives, #111 from International Falls. This train terminates at Westport. The yardmaster led it to A/D track 2. You see at A/D track 3 a consist with 4 cars. This is the first part of #110 with two GP 35's WT 1024 and FBL 2525.
The engines have backed into A/D track 1 and coupled to the train. # 110 with two engines and 27 cars ready for the journey to International Falls. The yard switcher will now classify the cars from #111. You see, there's no scenery yet. But it's fun to operate and you get a few amusing hours. Yes, this type of operation takes hours if you run your trains slowly. And if you give your brakeman time to throw a switch and again to mount the car. Wolfgang
Great pictures! I been doing operations like this lately. Yes, this can keep you busy for hours, and all I have is a 4X8. Can't imagine what else I could do on a much larger layout like this.
Thanks for the "move by move" commentary. I don't think I would have the patience. Inevitably GHA - Giant Hand Action - would kick in and I'd be grabbing cars from wherever to make up my trains.
Your "move-by-move" commentary is making me re-think my layout design, at least the lack of complexity in the interchange yard area.....hmmm.
There's a lot of interchange. At Third Street District is a (stub end track) interchange track At the way from Westport to Third Street is another interchange track. And I've designed one track in the class track as interchange track. In the afternoon there comes the Valley sweeper and interchanges these cars. Wolfgang
Wolfgang, thanks for the play by play. The yard looks well planned out. This was always my favorite activities and when someone( Tom P comes over ) he enjoys operating the yard also. Do you run a schedule or do use sequential operating principles on your layout? I like both but the actual time limitations creates some interesting situations.
I've a timetable. This is not the newest. You see, there're not included the Extras to Harbor Distirct and the Plywood Turn. Also the Grain unit and the Valley sweeper are too new for this schedule. When I've a op session with the guys we use a clock, usually 1:5. But for me i work without clock. Wolfgang
