Hi Gary. It is 25ft by 27ft. I decided not to use electrical switches for a couple of reasons. I wanted to keep the layout wiring simple as I had over 50 turnouts. There is an expense associated with this as well. But most Important. I wanted the operators to physically throw the switch and the link between the eye and physical action is direct. Electric systems would be needing panels in throats and folks would have to match the panel to the trackwork then throw the right switch. .
first rule of railroading: "Always put off spots back in the yard" the LVN at 17:52 and the two hoppers at 18:40 are off spots. Never take an off spot out of the yard because when you have to make a drop you won't know where they came from and you could lift the wrong cars in the cut so always put off spots back where they belong and take the cars that are on your list.
These videos are great to re-focus when your own layout seems to lack direction. I often refer to these to get me back on track and answer questions I may have.
Thank you, this is a very helpful video. I always put turnouts in random places just to make a layout a bit interesting. But this video completely changed that. Understanding the process of lifting and dropping cars, while keeping the train length in mind, and routing a train over a side track, is key to understanding where to put turnouts in the layout. Thank you very much!
Yes we do no the whistle rules. We just had trouble walking and chewing gum. One take only. In large railroads where there is a dispatcher panel and communications, the operater would call dispatch and give clearance. He would control mainline turnouts. However in my layouts we are not always on the ground so we give control to those occupying the yard. Other engineers can request changes to status from the yard operator. Thanks for the coments guys. They are excellent.,
I can't tell you how many times I've re-watched this series, just an invaluable learning tool for me, and so many others, thank you so much! I was wondering if you could do something similar explaining how to make a "flow of traffic" plan or a switch list. I've seen your time table videos and they are great, but for those of us who plan on using a switch list your video would be yet another invaluable tool! Either way thank you for your contribution to the community!
Glad you are getting so much out of the videos Matt. I guess the traffic plan centres around the number of trains, where they will be on the layout at any given time and if they will cause a traffic jam. To orchestrate things you have to really look at time and distance where the meets will happen and keep it entertaining for everyone. The switch list is really a story for the train. It says where to start from, the stops along the way and the drop offs pickups and local moves that have to be made at each location. I will try and produce something that shows the different forms it can take.
Just having fun. No real rules. The ideas of the videos were to let folks know you can have fun operating the railroad. The hints are there to get folks started. Lots of our ideas come from observations in Canada and operating layouts in the Ottawa Area.
Very useful especially to me in the UK modelling US rail roads. Wish I could get over there more often to see some real switching, We call it shunting but most of our traffic now is bulk point to point which is why I model US trains.
Indeed. This is happening more and more in the US as most commodities are moved by containers. Of course other unit trains with oil, ore, grain etc are there as well. I see lots of mixed trains still and I guess they still deliver to many cities with local industries or go to truck terminals.
If I may add one more tip before starting a train: memorize the last car of your train soyou knowyou always have the end of your train. Especially when the end of the train is not capped by something obvious like a caboose or a FRED
when a train arrives in a yard turn the bell on and leave it on blow the crossing signal two shorts a long and a very long to announce your arrival once your parked turn the bell off and blow one blast. to make sure no one hits you set all switches in front of you and behind you to their bypass setting the train will go around you. close the switches that are behind your train to prevent derailments and place all passing trains on the siding so they go around you.
According to GCOR there are no bell or whistle requirements for entering or leaving a yard. You should use a long and a short followed by a succession of shorts when encountering men and equipment. Whistle signal 7 which is for grade crossing is 2 longs a short and a long till the crossing is fully occupied. Bells and Whistles will be used as a warning anytime necessary but you dont have to have the bell ringing during travel thru yards.
john seeger yes you do North America rules require the bell be on when moving in a yard and you should only blow shorts in an emergency I read GCOR's comment he is lying CRA Rule 10 and AAR Rule 30 explain the rules of the bell it must be on when a train is moving near a station or entering a yard Long Short and a succession of shorts is the signal for the conductor to flag the train. we don't use those rules anymore CRA Rule 10 and AAR Rule 30 are what is used now of days.
5.8.1 Ringing Engine Bell Ring the engine bell under any of the following conditions: • Before moving, except when making momentary stop and start switching movements. • As a warning signal anytime it is necessary. • When approaching men or equipment on or near the track. • Approaching public crossings at grade with the engine in front start signal at the crossing sign. If no sign, or if movement begins between sign and crossing, start signal soon enough before crossing to provide warning. Continue ringing bell until the crossing is occupied. 5.8.2 Sounding Whistle The whistle may be used at anytime as a warning regardless of any whistle prohibitions. When other employees are working in the immediate area, sound the required whistle signal before moving. Other forms of communications may be used in place of whistle signals, except signals (1), (7), and (8). See following chart. The required whistle signals are illustrated by “o” for short sounds and “-” for longer sounds: Succession of short sounds Use when persons or livestock are on the track at other than road crossings at grade. In addition, use to warn railroad employees when an emergency exists, such as a derailment. When crews on other trains hear this signal, they must stop until it is safe to proceed
Re uncoupling: (sorry didn't get it right) do you place the stick between both knucle rods and flip them sideways so they open, or, tip of the stick goes in between both knucles making them to open??? Appreciate your comments. Cheers
Great video, are you using code 100 track? I like the tie detail. Also, the layout height you employ is very helpful in my decision for my new layout. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Jac for commenting. There are lots of terms but I do think the shove is when the locomotive pushes some cars in the yard and there is a trainman with a radio on the lead car to ensure there is safety and eyes on decisions for stopping and speed. I think drag is when the lcomotive pulls cars. PLG I am not sure but it maybe related to dangerous goods and rules. The red zone I believe is the distance the men on the ground must clear a track when there is a moving train. I think it is 6 ft in the yard track where everything is moving at slow speed and 25 ft on the main where trains are moving at high speed. Keeps you safe from dragging equipment and strapping. If you want to clarify on my thought please do.
CNLVN Yes you are correct When I work at the railroad it depends on the eye of the move on the point! PLG POINT LINE are GOOD once you line the points the lead man or pin puller will give the PLG! Once you make a join before you go in to couple the air line You give a RED ZONE will tell the engineer not to move. Once you done and is clear you a RED ZONE CLEAR. The rule of yard speed is 5mph NO MORE than that!
Hi Jim,My name is Gary ,and I'm just starting my layout 6x8x6-U is pretty much as yours in this video,If you don't mind I have a couple of ??'s, 1st- what is the width and lenth of this layout and 2nd- is there a reason you dont use electrical switches,as I notice you useing manuel switches,Like I said I'mjust starting and I really appreicate the video's that you guys put out as I learn alot of things I wouldn't even consider thinking about,Gary Timberlake(BBTIMS)PS waiting responce thanks again
I found your ops videos today; great source of education for someone at design phase. Is your trackplan available anywhere? And what size is your space? Thanks Chris!
Just wondering why you use a dowel to uncouple the cars instead of any kind of magnetic uncoupling? Is this for looks in that you don't have the uncoupling hooks under the coupler or just what?
At about 6 minute the train arrives at a yard and has to use the main for switching due to length, you rerouted other traffic onto the other main to bypass. Imagine the same scenario on a single main layout, would you just have to stop traffic on the main while your train did its switching? Or is there some genius solution I'm missing?
Cherry Picking is a bad idea 1. it is not professional. 2. it blocks the main. 3. it is a waste of time. DON'T CHERRY PICK always go for the last car in the cut never the first or the one in the middle.
Around 7:00 you speak of re-routing trains around your train. Should that not be done by the dispatcher? On a layout I frequent if you have a main line tied up like you do, we don't re-align switches, simply put out a red flag on both ends and let the dispatcher decide what should be done. And obviously this is not a CTC railroad.......
the last rule of railroading is PUT ALL OFFSPOTS BACK! the LVN boxcar and the two hoppers are off spot they need to be put back before the train departs. NEVER COUPLE AN OFFSPOT TO THE TRAIN! taking a car that is not on your list is theft and needs to be left where you got it only pull the cars that are on your list.
You are right. The two railbox were our drops and the DW&P and B&M were the lifts. The only two that were put on our train was the B&M and DW&P. The LVN and the rest of the cars that were moved from the interchanged to get at the lifts were put back including the drops. Thanks for the comment.
Not really Lilly. Apples and Oranges. Moving cars in and out of interchange tracks are the railroads responsibility and they make sure they place them for car forwarding on trains. Putting cars on "spots" are strickly related to industrial or private sidings as car placement is specific for customer requirements. If you move them it is based on arrangements with the customers and they are always put back where you found them. In this scene there were no offspots.
CNLVN ohoh... i just realized: this comment went wrong :-) it was not for your movie, yours is in a quality which is by far good enough... i even liked it very much!
