Operations, Part 3

I found an article on the NMRA Operations SIG website, "Guide to Using Carcards and Waybills" by David Doiron. I have not yet read it, but wanted to pass it along to those interested.

Operations, Part 2

I've been reading through my collection of books and articles on model railroad operations to figure out how to get operations started on the PRR Irwin District. I actually hit on a potential idea. I already have trains scattered around the layout, I can just start with the 3 or 4 I have on the Staging tracks, call those through freights and locals and start there. Maybe ....


Below is a list of my reference materials.
Books
How To Operate Your Model Railroad, Bruce Chubb, Kalmbach Books, 1977
Operation Handbook fo Model Railroads, Paul Mallery, Carstens Publishing, 1991
Realistic Model Railroad Operations, How To Run Your Trains Like The Real Thing, Tony Koester, Kalmbach Publishing, 2003
The V&O Story, Allen McClelland, Carstens Publishing, 1984

Magazine Articles
Car Cards and Waybills, Railroad Model Craftsman, Feb 1978
The Train and Industry Blocking System, Dan Holbrook, Model Railroader, July 1987

Miscellaneous
Model Railroading Operations series of articles, NMRA Gateway Division, http://www.gatewaynmra.org/operate.htm
Card Card Operation, Steve King, date unknown
How To Develop A Card Order System Of Operation For A Model Railroad, Merv hardman, date unknown
DVD: Running Trainings, Paul Scoles, http://www.micromark.com/RUNNING-TRAINS-DVD-BY-PAUL-SCOLES,9129.html
Op Session Design - Freelance and Prototype, Byron Henderson, http://home.earthlink.net/~bhender730/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/ops_dsgn.pdf
Operations SIG Operations PRIMER, NMRA Operations Special Interest Group (SIG), http://www.opsig.org/reso/primer/

Operations, Part 1

I am really trying to spend sometime running trains instead of just moving the engines and a couple of cars back and forth. I know I need to spend some time getting my Digitrax DCC a little further along. I finally have a second controller (a DT402 to go with my DT400) and I should install a couple more plugs. Of course, for that I really should have the fascia installed first, so then I can install the panels. To do that, I need to make a final decision on 8" fascia vs. 10" ... Ok, the stall tactics continue.

Meanwhile, I want to get some trains running. I have car cards made up for all the cars on the layout and I have some temporarily car holders for all the tracks. I wrestle with creating the necessary waybills - do I understand things enough to make a decent first shot? I have every book and article imaginable but still struggle getting started. Last night, I had to move some cars around so I could rust the rails on the P&LE staging (done) and ballast the engine track in the Irwin yard (done). Doing those projects got me to thinking about getting some temporary scenery down to help the layout look a little more finished, then come back with building and details, even if I need to remove some grass and minor scenery to make changes.

More to come....

Track Plan

I finally got CADRail reinstalled on my machine so I can grab an image of my track plan. It's an L-shaped plan that is basically 13' x 24'. The primary features are an East (Greensburg) and West (Monongehela) with an on-line staging in Irwin. The peninsula is the Westmoreland Coal Company, No. 4 Mine in Hermanie. East McKeesport is the entire left side of the layout between Irwin yard (in the center of the layout) and the West Staging. 

Pennsy Cabin Cars

Got a chance this past weekend to double the cabin cars (cabooses) on the layout. I have a drawer of unassembled kits I've purchased from train shows and hobby shops. Sometimes, they are more detailed than I expect so they sit in the drawer for a while. These were Bowser kits and they are actually pretty detailed, even down to brass wire for brake lines. I choose not to go that route but I really like the tiny plastic hand rails. I also built a Bowser 40' gondola that has been sitting around for a while.

A very productive weekend!

Making Progress

I wax and wane with my hobbies and model railroading is not exception. Usually the bug bites me again right AFTER all the fall train shows but this year I got an early start. There are 3 shows coming up over the next few weeks and I am starting my shopping list.

In the meantime, I've been spending my time working on scenery. I am not an artist and I always hesitate at this step which is why my layouts always are half complete. I've already ballasted and scenicked the Irwin yard. I am almost done with the East (Greensburg) staging yard and have started to ballast the track in Herminie with the coal spills. I finally installed the concrete retaining walls that support Rt 30 across the tracks on the west end of the layout. I have an idea how I want that hillside to look but not sure if I can get it just right. Of course, the light over the area burned out and I think I have to replace the fixture so I've stopped working there.

Pretty soon it will be time for some masonite for both the backdrop and fascia. I want to get the permanent waybill holders and Digitrax panels mounted, then I can finish the scenery to the front of the fascia.

Bargains

A couple of months ago, I discovered that Hobby Lobby was cutting back on their model railroad stock. I was on a business trip in Michigan and happened to stop in. I found several Woodland Scenics figures and a few JL Innovations details for about 1/2 price. I thought I hit a gold mine.

Turns out it was merely silver! We were out shopping yesterday and stopped at a local Hobby Lobby that's nearby our house but not real convenient. They had marked down the rest of their JL Innovation stock to $1.51 to $1.72 each. Mother lode! I grabbed everything they had, 11 items including some duplicates but I figure every house in the Herminie mining camp will have propane tanks. And I might have to have more than 1 gas station now. I also got some Model Master paints for only $1.18. I cleaned house.