Getting ready for operations - Preparing for the first session.

[rickb773]

Rick: Thanks for hosting my little group the other night. At our GAMR meeting the following evening, our trip was reviewed and lessons learned were noted and will be applied to our sessions.

Larry

"Lessons Learned" is that a euphemism for "Mistakes To Avoid" 

[Kisatchie]

"Lessons Learned" is that a euphemism for "Mistakes To Avoid" 

Hmm... with Kiz, it means
"Ahhhhhh, run for your
lives"...

[Blazeman]

"Lessons Learned" is that a euphemism for "Mistakes To Avoid" 

To-do's and not to-do's. That everything is reachable and at a "good" vertical elevation makes for a less demanding session.

[rickb773]

Do you think the visiting operator crews now will be able to figure out which is the RCA Victor siding and which siding belongs to Campbell Soup?

I got my graphic artist daughter to print out a color Campbell Soup wrapper for the water tower and Miller Engineering provided the animated RCA sign. I got the Campbell Soup box van from an eBay seller.

[peteski]

I like it! VERY NICE!

[Blazeman]

Good look, Rick. Pure Camden. Now all you need is NY Ship and Van Sciver's.

[rickb773]

Good look, Rick. Pure Camden. Now all you need is NY Ship and Van Sciver's.

Since it is synonymous with Camden, my third industry siding there  is supposed stand in for the famous Van Sciver Furniture building but I need to find a parapet solicit the feel of the Van Sciver building.


The other issue (that I am not letting get in my way) is that Van Sciver did not have a private siding (probably used a nearby team track for deliveries/shipments). Some would prefer I add the large old brewery in Camden but I have no structures in its ballpark for that.

As for New York Ship, I do not have the room. Tim Harrison (Jr) (Model Railcast Show moderator) who lives nearby is modeling the PRSL in Camden. He has started a false front building representing a NY Ship building and sidings. I keep telling him that he also has to model the carrier Kitty Hawk which was build there, but for some reason he is reluctant to give up the 12' required to do that in HO scale.

[DKS]

...I need to find a parapet ...

Parapet, or turret? Parapet is simply the top edge of the wall; turrets are the tower-like structures atop the corners of the building.

[rickb773]

Parapet, or turret? Parapet is simply the top edge of the wall; turrets are the tower-like structures atop the corners of the building.

Fancy Turret. The one with the vertical columns.

[Blazeman]

Maybe look into one of the models of churches that come out of Europe. I recall seeing one with turrets.

My recollection of Van Sciver's was from riding along Delaware Ave. in Phila, looking across the river to see the face of the building with the name painted on it. As for NY Ship, always could do a holding yard arrangement since your setup really doesn't allow you width to come close to simulating the site. Having been to see your layout, really isn't a lot of room any way to put in the yard.

[VonRyan]

I may not be able to help source a turret, but I know where I can source an original Van Sciver chair that also happened to be used in the RCA laboratories.

[rickb773]

I may not be able to help source a turret, but I know where I can source an original Van Sciver chair that also happened to be used in the RCA laboratories.

You've covered all the bases - except the most important one! ("The operation was a success but the patient died!")  Still need to find an adequate "turret".

... My recollection of Van Sciver's was from riding along Delaware Ave. in Phila, looking across the river to see the face of the building with the name painted on it. As for NY Ship, always could do a holding yard arrangement since your setup really doesn't allow you width to come close to simulating the site. Having been to see your layout, really isn't a lot of room any way to put in the yard.

1) I will put the name across the top on two sides (when I get time) but I still need a "turret" (hopefully without having to buy a costly kit to get it).

2) NY Ship would dominate (and unbalance the scene). Tim is doing it best with his false front NY Ship warehouse.

I actually already have 2 siding tracks behind those buildings that could serve as NY Ship sidings but I would need to then secure a backdrop with NY Ship on it. Problem is the RCA & Campbell building would pretty much hide it.

3) Actually I am in the process of adding 3 staging tracks (between Philly and ?Woodbury) to hold the Philly coal train and a second Philly merchandise transfer.
(I worry this is starting to get too complicated!)

[rickb773]

This will have to do for J. B. Van Sciver (until I find a somewhat similar "turret").




I'll put in the NY Ship siding if someone will build me an aircraft carrier (Kitty Hawk) to go with it!   
Camden would then be complete (and dominate the entire railroad)!

[rickb773]

We just completed our 3rd operations session with operators from theRailwire (NTrainz1), nScale.net (epumph), and the host of themodelrailcastshow.com .

We almost got the whole schedule in (except for the last transfer run) in 4 1/2 hours (includes a long lunch bull session):

1) Philly Merchandise Transfer
         Originates from staging
         Classify into appropriate trains
         Save engine(s) & caboose for return trip

2) WY843/842   Deepwater Coal Drag to Atlantic City Electric (Deepwater on Penns Grove branch)
         Originates from Philly (staging)
         Change engines (RDG to PRR/PRSL & Caboose RDG to PRSL and dispatch
         When WY842 returns: reverse engine and caboose changes & dispatch to Philly (staging)

*) Camden Local   Fit in whenever you have time
         Services RCA, Van Sciber, & Campbell Soup

3) WY33/34                Millville local

4) WY841/840            Deepwater local

5) WY79/80                Tank train sweeper for Texaco (Westville) and Sunoco (Paulsboro (off-line)).

6) Pavonia to Philly Merchandise transfer
         Use original engines(s) and caboose
         Forward all non-south Jersey freight and all empties not needed for tomorrow's runs

Some pictures can be found on my blog: http://rickb773-prsl.blogspot.com/