MR Freight Yards

[wm3798]

After reading the thread here about the Freight Yards special edition, I picked it up today, along with a couple turnouts to work on the yard throat on the WM.  It inspired me to press on with the realignment of the yard throat.



During the August ops session, it became painfully obvious that the small radius Peco turnouts I used on the classification tracks was woefully inadequate.  Cars were bunching up, and even 4 axle power was prone to derail on these sharp turns.

So I scavenged through the scrap track box, and bought a couple new Atlas custom line turnouts, and started laying out a gentler yard ladder.  I'll be cutting the rail and installing it over the next couple nights.  (Andy's back in school, so no more late night work sessions).

I'm also thinking about re-locating the caboose track to make it double ended.  The yard represents a division point, so we switch a lot of cabooses in and out.  A double ended track will function a lot better.

I have to get some more ground throws, but the revised throat should be in operation by the end of October (probably a lot sooner...)

I'm also studying Popp's article that discusses the flow of work through his yard.  Very interesting stuff.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thank goodness...

I don't know why I'm such a yard fanatic, but I've been enthralled for a long time I guess.

I think having the caboose tracks double ended would be VERY helpful. Maybe with a few stubby tracks too. I forget, do you have room for another A/D track along the wall there? That might've been useful too as a place to stash stuff that was just waiting for a crew.

[wm3798]

I'm hoping to get a fourth throttle to keep things moving along with an extra crew.  I'm trying to coax Carhart to get an MRC rig so he can take on some of the capital investment.   ;D  If you weren't such a Bantrak nerd, you'd probably like the MRC, too.

The full function MRC throttle is about $30 cheaper than a Digitrax.

Lee

[Mark5]

so, the MR Freight Yd issue is good?

(I avoid MR like the plague)

[RockGp40]

I'm hoping to get a fourth throttle to keep things moving along with an extra crew.  I'm trying to coax Carhart to get an MRC rig so he can take on some of the capital investment.   ;D 
Lee

Done, bought, anxiously awaiting the US mailman now.........

Brian

[wm3798]

Prodigy Advance, right?  Did you get an extra throttle with that?
Lee

[Black Diamond]

so, the MR Freight Yd issue is good?

(I avoid MR like the plague)

This is a pretty neat supplement--it's a good framework for starting to think about and plan a yard and its operations.


Hey Ed you will be proud of me, I tweaked the yard to be a little more "realistic". You'll see Friday.  After checking out this mag I may go back and see what else I could do.

[Mark5]

so, the MR Freight Yd issue is good?

(I avoid MR like the plague)

This is a pretty neat supplement--it's a good framework for starting to think about and plan a yard and its operations.

Thanks, maybe it'll have some angle I have not considered.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is a pretty neat supplement--it's a good framework for starting to think about and plan a yard and its operations.

Hey Ed you will be proud of me, I tweaked the yard to be a little more "realistic". You'll see Friday.  After checking out this mag I may go back and see what else I could do.

It's about time (I really haven't been nagging you about that for what, three years?)

I can't wait to check it out. It better not be TOO good or else I'll never get anything done on the module... btw, this week's agenda is getting all the top-side soldering done.

[amato1969]

Be sure to consult the following when designing your yard:

http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html

[wm3798]

Good resource.  The mag has a similar laundry list of best practices.
Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ahh, I do love the term "Best Practices"...

[Black Diamond]

It's about time (I really haven't been nagging you about that for what, three years?)

I can't wait to check it out. It better not be TOO good or else I'll never get anything done on the module... btw, this week's agenda is getting all the top-side soldering done.

It's nothing groundbreaking, you will get plenty of work done on the module don't worry. I don't recall your "nagging". Did you draw me some pictures? That's the only guarantee I am paying attention.

[RockGp40]

Prodigy Advance, right?  Did you get an extra throttle with that?
Lee

MRC Prodigy Advance correct. However, judging by the box in the picture, I think it only comes with one throttle. Here's the ebay #190146314007 if you want to take a look at what I bought.

Brian

[Mark5]

heh, found this:

http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/mr3.html

and this:

http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12248.html

I assume it's the former.