Building and operating the Atlantic Inland

 I have to warn you, the footnotes contained within are, for the most part, scathing editorial’s. Sharing information in model railroading appears to be a double edged sword. A lot of modelers refuse to share, or only want to charge you for it. In railfanning, “Foamers”, who I hate, guard information like it’s gold. “I know something you don’t know” is the currency of that realm. This might explain, or at least it’s one reason anyway, why I no longer railfan*. I’m also VERY unhappy with this concept of using this hobby, and other modelers as a revenue stream*. You NEED to get around. You NEED to get out and see, in person what other modelers are doing. How do they organize their op session? What paperwork do they use? Take a look at their latest project.  I went up to visit a guy and his group. We met for lunch and then went to his house. I noticed first hand his benchwork, something you’ll never see in a magazine. I was able to see a shelf bracket he’s using to support his lo...

 I’m starting the Helix. The floor is painted and there is a “base” installed upon which I hope to build the helix. It has been brought to my attention that these things are heavy. Lights. I just got another box of lights. I like these lights best and I want to install them in the aisles, but they need a modification so that they can be mounted to the joists.  Smoke detectors. This is something I did not think I’d need in the train room until that layout fire we all heard about recently. So I spent some money and bought a three pack of smoke detectors for the train room. They need to go up. Once the helix is up, we are off to the races. I’ll try to start posting pictures, but in any case I’ll keep you posted.

 On the West end of AIR2 there are two industries in particular, many other industries get reefers, that receive and or ship reefers. The Wholesale Produce Market* and the West Virginia Cold Storage. Between the two they have 64 spots for reefers. If all these MTY Reefers are sent to Littlerock Yard for forwarding back to their points of origin, then Littlerock will be jammed. The two industries in question are worked by the Jay Yard Switcher.  I’d like your input.  Can the Jay Yard Switcher bring these cars back to its yard, and simply build an MTY reefer train there? Power could move light from the house at Littlerock, or the power could be stationed at Jay Yard, and when a train is built, just depart from there? I understand it is not as simple as just gathering up a bunch of reefers and off we go. All URTX reefers need to be culled out for cleaning and then loading at the brewery. Next the remaining reefers need to be classified as to final destinations. Empty MDT ree...

 Based strictly on the plans for my next layout, my mainline is 930’ long. Figure about 30 minutes end to end at full track speed. I do not, at this writing, know how many station stops a passenger train will make. For four of my passenger trains (#’s 1, 2, 15, 16) they make only one or two stops. For the other four (#’s 27, 28, 35, 36), all mail and express trains, they have multiple stops. Let’s look only at Train 27. Twenty-Seven is one of two of my primary East-West Mail and Express trains. #27 will also bring fresh milk in to a creamery at Littlerock Yard (East Charleston, WV). I am a TTTO railroad. So when a crewman picks up this train he shows up at Chatsworth Yard and picks up this train. He has Time-Table authority so he knows what time he is departing, but he still must get a clearance from the Dispatcher. So the train crew for #27 has a train pack full of CCWB’s, a Time-Table, and a clearance. He then signs the register, and OS’s his departure. I want this train to simul...

 After both Al Daumann and I attended different ops events this past week, Al was in New Jersey* and I was in Indiana, we discussed Passenger operations at length. What we basically found was that, FOR THE MOST PART, layout owners simulate VERY limited passenger operations. It’s rare that a passenger train even has a train pack with, what I would consider, are the normal items: CCWB, train brief, as well as paperwork that simulates passenger tickets, express packages, mail bags or milk cans* So let’s go over what I think should be included in passenger operations. I’ll make a list then try to give a detailed explanation. CCWB, Picking-up and Setting-out cars, passenger servicing facilities, passenger tickets, mail bags, express bills, milk or dairy operations,  So first, I know there were not waybills associated with passenger cars, but I think it’s important to use CCWB with all your passenger equipment to keep the trains organized. I use numbers and colors on my waybills. Fo...