The layout is designed to be operated by a crew as large as five or as small as one. There are a variety of ways to operate a small layout. Now I'm starting to kick around the ideas.
I do like car cards and think they are very handy. Most likely we will use them.
If we run two locomotive crews (conductor and engineer) then we'll probably want to look at Time Table methods.
I'm open for ideas! So post a comment below!
Here is a great primer on TT/TO:
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/tto.htm
Showing posts with label Operating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Operating. Show all posts
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Running Totals and Lists
As I build I'm keeping a list (on the left) of what I purchase and what tools I use. Building a layout does require a lot of tools to do the job FAST, but not always to just to the job.
I also try to keep the cost down when possible. Masonite and Luan are cheap. The loco was on the high side, but when your layout only needs one and the layout is small, I believe that a high end loco with DCC and sound is a necessity. Blowing the whistle and ringing the bell is as much a part of operations as anything.
Let me know if you have any questions...
I also try to keep the cost down when possible. Masonite and Luan are cheap. The loco was on the high side, but when your layout only needs one and the layout is small, I believe that a high end loco with DCC and sound is a necessity. Blowing the whistle and ringing the bell is as much a part of operations as anything.
Let me know if you have any questions...
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Rolling Stock Aquisition Roster
Ok, now that we know what types of rolling stock we need, let's build and acquisition register. This way we will know what cars we need to go look for to complete the railroad. I've already procured one of them, the Central of Georgia box car. Now I'll go peruse my collection to see which ones I already have in stock. The rest I'll search for over the next few months as I build the railroad.
Click on spreadsheet to enlarge.Rolling Stock Requirements
Looks like we are going to need a maximum of 21 cars to run the railroad. Usually my calculation is a little high and I use it as the maximum number. With an interchange we can float cars in and out of circulation so you can have even more than 21, but for right now we will have trouble with showing 21 on the layout. It will be just about the full stage.
Click on the table to enlarge.
The table lists all the industries on the layout and what type of rolling stock it might receive or ship. Some industries require two cars sitting on the spur, one loading and one unloading. Boxcars are showing the highest density at 33% of the supply, so we'll have quite a few of these.
As a rule of thumb I like 40% of the rolling stock to be home road branded. This means I'll have an abundance of cars labeled for the Southern Railroad. Next, I'll have 25% branded as local railroads that interchange or are within close proximity of the railroad. So you will expect to see some L&N, TAG, ACL, Seaboard, CofG and other southern roads. A small 2% will be MOW cars. That leaves 33% to be non-southeastern roads. Here we'll add a Pensy, some Union Pacific and a few others. This will give us a nice and believable mix of traffic.
We're open for ideas and corrections, so if you see us headed down a dark path, enlighten us with a comment, below!
Click on the table to enlarge.
The table lists all the industries on the layout and what type of rolling stock it might receive or ship. Some industries require two cars sitting on the spur, one loading and one unloading. Boxcars are showing the highest density at 33% of the supply, so we'll have quite a few of these.
As a rule of thumb I like 40% of the rolling stock to be home road branded. This means I'll have an abundance of cars labeled for the Southern Railroad. Next, I'll have 25% branded as local railroads that interchange or are within close proximity of the railroad. So you will expect to see some L&N, TAG, ACL, Seaboard, CofG and other southern roads. A small 2% will be MOW cars. That leaves 33% to be non-southeastern roads. Here we'll add a Pensy, some Union Pacific and a few others. This will give us a nice and believable mix of traffic.
We're open for ideas and corrections, so if you see us headed down a dark path, enlighten us with a comment, below!
Industrial Operating Plan
The Dixie Central is a busy railroad. While it is only moving small loads, the complexity of the shipping should keep any one man show busy with the car cards. Click on the operating plan to enlarge.
As you can see from the map there are two high volume "industries" which are the Tybee Warf and the Southern/Louisville & Nashville Interchange. Another busy "industry" is the Cotton Team Track. What I like about interchanges, warves and team tracks is that there is virtually no limit to their cargo type. They can ship and recieve most anything.
In this case the Cotton Team Track is the farmer's supply line. Farm Machinery, seed, feed and supplies can all arrive by LCL (Less than Car Load) from the warf or the interchange. Likewise, every business needs parts and supplies, so the warf and interchange can provide traffic to everyone.
The main "business" of the railroad is moving cotton. While the business chain of cotton is present:
There is an abundance of alternate routes as well. Raw cotton can go to the warf directly, or the interchange. The Gin can ship straight out to these locations as well, by passing the Mill which might not be paying top dollar today.
This highly integrated supply chain model allows for traffic to move in and among all the players on the layout making for an interesting operating model.
What is the Southern Railway Supply Office? Why the have a business in keeping the train running. This business needs coal, sand lubricants, repair parts and supplies. It becomes an industry as well. It even ships an empty sand gondola back to the river sand company.
Next, we have to figure out how many rail cars we need and of what type. That takes a different kind of chart.
As you can see from the map there are two high volume "industries" which are the Tybee Warf and the Southern/Louisville & Nashville Interchange. Another busy "industry" is the Cotton Team Track. What I like about interchanges, warves and team tracks is that there is virtually no limit to their cargo type. They can ship and recieve most anything. In this case the Cotton Team Track is the farmer's supply line. Farm Machinery, seed, feed and supplies can all arrive by LCL (Less than Car Load) from the warf or the interchange. Likewise, every business needs parts and supplies, so the warf and interchange can provide traffic to everyone.
The main "business" of the railroad is moving cotton. While the business chain of cotton is present:
Team Track to Gin to Knitting Mill to Warf or Interchange
There is an abundance of alternate routes as well. Raw cotton can go to the warf directly, or the interchange. The Gin can ship straight out to these locations as well, by passing the Mill which might not be paying top dollar today.
This highly integrated supply chain model allows for traffic to move in and among all the players on the layout making for an interesting operating model.
What is the Southern Railway Supply Office? Why the have a business in keeping the train running. This business needs coal, sand lubricants, repair parts and supplies. It becomes an industry as well. It even ships an empty sand gondola back to the river sand company.
Next, we have to figure out how many rail cars we need and of what type. That takes a different kind of chart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
