CSX Hanover Subdivision

[coosvalley]

I really like the layout, and I like how you show how the scenes all tie together.

I have some constructive criticism, hopefully you don't mind and don't take it too hard. The gravel lots, ballast, and some of the paved areas all look too "white", not at all what I associate with gritty railroading. However, I offer an easy solution, which is to either airbrush, or even spray bottle and some alcohol/india ink mix. I really think it would improve the overall look of things, and would be pretty easy to do. But, it's your RR, so it's your call!

[mu26aeh]

I really like the layout, and I like how you show how the scenes all tie together.

I have some constructive criticism, hopefully you don't mind and don't take it too hard. The gravel lots, ballast, and some of the paved areas all look too "white", not at all what I associate with gritty railroading. However, I offer an easy solution, which is to either airbrush, or even spray bottle and some alcohol/india ink mix. I really think it would improve the overall look of things, and would be pretty easy to do. But, it's your RR, so it's your call!

All points taken and noted, but in my defense, a lot of this of done in the last month in preparation for the open house to have some ground cover down instead of brown painted foam.  In due time, it will get dirtied up 

[mu26aeh]

+1 -- I want an invite

Which reminds me.

When IS the first real ops session?

When I figure out how I want to move traffic    I started doing car cards and filling out a bunch of them, but found it somewhat cumbersome, trying to get the information right, what trains they come in from.  I'm probably overthinking things, but I don't want the same cars showing up in the same spots.  And after running the layout for the open house, I have some electrical issues to repair, hopefully some more feeder drops and recrimping of suitcase connections will fix.  Also need to go through my engine fleet and get everything tuned and speed matched so anything can run with anything else.

[John]

When I figure out how I want to move traffic    I started doing car cards and filling out a bunch of them, but found it somewhat cumbersome, trying to get the information right, what trains they come in from.  I'm probably overthinking things, but I don't want the same cars showing up in the same spots.  And after running the layout for the open house, I have some electrical issues to repair, hopefully some more feeder drops and recrimping of suitcase connections will fix.  Also need to go through my engine fleet and get everything tuned and speed matched so anything can run with anything else.

those are the same things I tell myself all the time .. which means my op sessions are annual because I keep trying to be perfect .. ain't gonna happen .. just run them

Btw .. try JMRI operations .. it will mix the cars up ..

[davefoxx]

You don't even have to invite me.  I'll invite myself. 

DFF

[mu26aeh]

That's the other thing I need to do, is get some of you guys up here that run Digitrax and have a better understanding of JMRI.  I know enough to be dangerous (like doing programming an address for one engine on a dedicated programming track, not on the layout, and sending out that same address to all engines on the layout)

You don't even have to invite me.  I'll invite myself. 

DFF

As far as ops session invites, I think I'm going to have draw straws or something.  I think I can host 4 operators, Yard/Security job, D795/D797, paper mill, Q763/762, yard transfers from staging, and NS 510/511, with some of those jobs being combined, such as the paper mill and NS coal train, and Q762/763 with the yard transfers, as 762 and 763 is just a unit train running loaded in one direction and empty in the other.  I can't provide work for 16-20 people like some on here    Plus, its only about 250 sq feet.  More than 5 or 6 people, it gets a little "close".  During open house, there was a max of about 12-14 people here at one point.  I had to move to the steps to try to get some space 

Good thing we have that member map, I can go to it and circle groups of you to carpool together 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I honestly think you can just script operations. It's not like you have a TON of stuff that interrelates.

That's how I currently do it.

Basically you plunk down a bunch of cars, and then generate switch lists to get them to where they have to go.

Lets chat sometime on the phone, I can explain it.

[mu26aeh]

Also, in my haste to get work done before open house, I didn't realize I had not dropped any feeders on the quarry loadout tracks or into downtown Hanover for Sunoco plastics.  So something else to add to the to do list.

[wm3798]

Setting up car cards can be tedious, but once you're done, you'll find they can really make operations interesting.  In addition to the simple act of picking up or setting out at industries, they'll also instruct you on things like pre-blocking your staged trains to make yard ops more efficient, and make better use of your interchanges.

It took me about 3 years to really get my fleet flowing, every train had some interesting work to do all tied to the car cards and waybills (I used the 4 position ones, and rotated new waybills in on some cars)  With over 500 cars, I never had to worry about which cars ended up at the same siding more than once.  I even broke up coal traffic, to send metallurgical coal north and west, and steam coals east and south.  I also had a ton of staging, with destinations in four directions, and two "live" interchanges on the layout.

There are some great resources for identifying industries, destination cities, interchanges and loads on the OPSIG at the NMRA.  You should check them out.  They also break things down to be era specific.

I'm really looking forward to once again having a layout that provides a mix of operations.  I really enjoy it.

Lee

[wm3798]

This was really my first exposure to operations...
https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-SOUTHERN-RAILWAY-FREIGHT-BOARD/dp/B003FBIE2M

My dad was a traffic manager, and Phil Provens, sales rep for the Southern Ry, gave this to us.  It was a simple roll the dice, move the token style board game, but it involved a little locomotive with two slots in it.  You drew cards from a pile to see where your loads were located on the board, you'd move there in a series of turns, pick up the load, then take it to its destination.  Each load card had a dollar value, and the more stuff you moved, the more riches you accumulated.

What I learned from it was that you don't have to be uber specific about what you're moving about on your trains.  "Chemicals - from Wilmington, NC to Spartanburg, GA" was all these cards said.  Or "Books"  or "Appliances"  with cities as the beginning and end.  No need for specific business names, unless it was destined for a spot on the layout.  You can lengthen your trains by including a block of cars that just bridge through, and only get spotted on the layout in one of the four moves on the card.

It really can make things more interesting all around.

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Won an auction for large lot of used flex track, will stockpile for future. 

In meantime, I am continuing working on the CF7.

[John]

Adam .. are you going to square up that window?

[mu26aeh]

Those 3rd windows have rounded corners, but I do have to clean it up a little bit

[John]

Those 3rd windows have rounded corners, but I do have to clean it up a little bit

I guess it is kind of round ..  http://trainiax.net/drawings/55-emd/misc/r55-emd-cf7-ph1b.GIF

[mu26aeh]

Knocked out some paint work after a short day at work today.
The SW1200 will be GLTX 98 which is the plant switcher for PH Glatfelter.  The CF7 is YorkRail 1500



See how things go tomorrow, maybe the CF7 will get masked for black