Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

Thanks, Larry.  That, at least confirms, with the presence of the FEC diner on the Florida Special on 1/2/1961, that other pooled roads' diners were used on the ACL trains.

DFF

[chessie system fan]

I got my ACL color guide out of hiding, and I was right.  Former C&O twin unit diners sold to ACL in 1950.  ACL126 and Winter Park along with 125 and Port Tampa. One photo shows them on the South Wind, and they were frequently on the Champion and Florida Special.  They kept the C&O fluting, had grey sides and a black roof.  I think I might have plans of these cars somewhere...

[davefoxx]

Excellent information, Aaron.  Thank you!  I need to dig out my books and do some research myself.

DFF

[davefoxx]

While messing around with my ACL Florida train, I ended up stacking up some freight cars and trains on the A&R to clear the SBD line, because the ACL passenger train is too long to take a siding on my HCD layout.  It then started to dawn on me (probably already obvious to others) that I could stack trains on the cart to really increase the capacity of my layout.  See?



What can be seen in the photo above is three trains stacked on the reverse loop (all clearing the reversing section that is near the turnout at the bottom right of the picture).  I would imagine that, typically, there would be only two trains on the loop to allow some room to switch freight cars. The coal train can come up the hill and swap loads for empties at the coal siding.  Eventually, I'll modify the coal loads, so that they will remove easily from the hopper cars with a magnet.  The local can switch the two-track staging yard on its turn.  This will allow a mix of trains to interchange in Aberdeen at the bottom of the hill.  While you see SBD power on these trains (ignoring my daughter's North Pole Express train), the usual power will be A&R with leased SBD power, when needed.

Also, the local, while climbing the hill, can switch the trailing switch at the furniture manufacturer and swap incoming boxcar loads of materials for outbound boxcar loads of furniture (see the picture below).  These boxcars will continue up the hill and get switched on the two-track staging yard.



Once I start actually running these trains, I'll see how the ops can be modified, as necessary.  I haven't yet started ops, because the ACL train will need to be removed from the layout to provide the sorely needed capacity.  Currently, the ACL train is hogging the entire folding staging yard, partially visible at right in the top photo, because it has grown exponentially over the past few weeks.

DFF

[C855B]

https://clyp.it/5wmc3l21   

[davefoxx]

@C855B,

Too funny.

DFF

[MichaelWinicki]

Great use of staging Dave!

On some layouts their are staged trains on the non-staging part of the layout... Say a train at the ready to go at the yard.

[wm3798]

Making your return loop into a two track balloon track provides all the capacity you need to really add some leavening to your operations.



Here's the ancient and venerable Laurel Valley Railway, circa 1988-92.  The lobe on the left was on a hinged section that folded up and out of the way so the laundry room could be used for some other, strange purpose.

I could run a train through to the loop track, park it, then goof off switching the yard while a different train ran the circuit.  I added the other loops on the other side of the wall so I could stage an Amtraker, plus whatever interchange nonsense I could think of.

It's a nice way to burn off a little bit of space and gain a ton of operational opportunities.

Lee

[davefoxx]

Well, it's been a long, enjoyable road, but it's time to move on to bigger and better things.  I'd like to finish off my layout room with drywalled walls, a drop ceiling, better lighting, and carpeting.  I also want to move the water heater.  All of this will allow me to build shelf-style around-the-walls layouts [yes, layouts (see below)].  So, to make this happen, I need to clear out the room, so that means it's time to find the Seaboard Central 2.0 a new home.  It's up on eBay for any interested parties:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/302242434994?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

If the layout sells, that will mean this thread will be coming to an end.  Wish me luck, because the future plans are exciting: an N scale layout and an On30 layout in the same room!

Thanks for looking,
DFF

[Philip H]

Dumping the Digitrax with it?

[davefoxx]

Dumping the Digitrax with it?

Yep, I'm going to do a fresh start and want to weigh my options with current offerings.

DFF

[Dave V]

Good luck, Dave!  It's liberating, isn't it?   

[davefoxx]

Good luck, Dave!  It's liberating, isn't it?   

Yessiree!  I love the feeling of a clean slate.  Now, I sit here contemplating whether I should sell a portion of my Seaboard System fleet, because (a) they're not sound units, (b) I am pondering the modeling of another railroad, and (c) I could probably do without a few of the SBD locomotives, even if I stay with it.  My hesitation is that I will always love the Class 1 high-speed 1980s railroading that was the SBD, and I still love the alternate era of the ACL.  So, I will definitely move away from the S-Line through Aberdeen.  Bye bye, A&R , but hello A-Line and Juice Trains and Amtrak AutoTrains and Juice Trains and intermodals trains and Juice Trains and . . . . 

That said, the idea of mountain railroading really calls, so that the Southern Ry. Saluda Grade is more than just a passing fancy.  Thankfully, I don't have to figure this out tonight.  Or do I?



DFF

[mu26aeh]

Must be something in the air, as I made decision today that I'm only going to do CSX trains on my layout.  I don't have the finances to have a ton of extra equipment from WM and Chessie (sorry and you're welcome Lee  ) .  I will probably keep enough to make up a train of each for open houses or such.  But contact has already been made with someone who models Chessie for the possible purchase of said equipment.

I've looked at the refinance company but have yet to start that process for getting money to do my remodel and therefore expansion of the Hanover Sub as my wife is still part time and I'm not sure the bank will like that.

Good luck on your auction !

[davefoxx]

Haha, Adam!  2017 is turning out to be the year of the change.  Blame, Dr. Vollmer.  He started it.    Seriously, I just got some great prices on motive power that I sold on eBay.  This is why I'm seriously considering purging a chunk of my SBD fleet, too, while the market seems to be hot.

DFF