07-09-2017, 07:38 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-09-2017, 07:46 PM by Mike Rehling.)
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to give an update and overview of where we are with the operations.
Our approach to introducing operations was to do it in two phases. Phase 1 is to establish the basic requirements for operating. Phase 1 will introduce approximately 2/3 of the required waybills/rolling stock required for full operations. Phase 2 will add the remaining waybills/rolling stock to the layout bringing us to the full operating potential.
Phase 1 Activities
Waybill Requirements:
First order of business was determining the number and location of each industry as well as how many "spots" each industry has that need to be served. We have identified 23 industries with a total of 123 "spots".
Once we made these determinations, we used this information to develop waybills for these industries. The number of waybills for each industry was dependent on how many "spots" each industry has and they types of cars required for each spot.
There are many considerations on how many waybills are generated for each industry/spot. The NMRA Opsig Group has a lot of information out there on how this works best. We used these recommendations as we developed our waybills. Each waybill has 4 positions, the recommendation is for one of these positions represent and industry/spot on the layout, the other 3 positions are for connecting the car to the layout from "off" the layout via "staging" or "interchange/transfer" from other railroads.
One waybill equates to one car on the layout. To keep car count down, we opted to use two positions on the waybills for spots on the layout for about 30% of the waybills we created. The remaining 60% only have one position on the waybill for the spot on the layout. This is how overhead traffic is introduced to operations via connections to off layout locations and interchange/transfer with other railroads as mentioned above.
Rolling Stock and Car Cards:
Once the particulars were known about each industry and what type of commodities they handled we could start populating the layout with the required rolling stock. Each car requires a car card which identifies the reporting marks, road number, type of car (AAR code), length, color and who physically owns the car.
We used the waybills to determine the exact number of cars and the type of car that we would need. We opted to generate our own car cards utilizing the computer instead of using the Micro Mark kit available. This was done simply because we wanted to customize the information on the car cards and we wanted to utilize a printer to print the information on them in lieu of hand writing this information. This produces a very professional looking car card. We did use temporary car cards with hand written information to help speed up the process and we are in the process of replacing these with the computer generated car cards.
Train Designations:
Once we had the waybills and the car cards generated, we needed to determine the number and types of trains we would need to operate to serve the industries. We determined that we would need 5 locals to serve all of the industries on the layout. Each local is designed to handle approximately 10-15 cars maximum. Any more than that becomes unmanageable. These locals are:
L-TEX421 - Tulsa Turn: This train serves Tulsa industries in the Route 66 section of the layout.
L-TEX437 - Russellville Turn: This train serves the Russellville industries section of the layout (but not the US Steel Mill).
L-TEX446 - Palestine Turn: This train serves the Palestine, Hartdale, and Mountain industries sections of the layout.
L-TEX479 - Hobson Turn: This train serves the Hobson industries in the Route 66 section of the layout and includes interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
L-TEX454 - Gary Turn: This train serves the US Steel Millcomplex.
L-TEX101 - East Interchange: This train serves interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
L-TEX102- West Interchange: This train serves interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
Then we have the road trains that bring us cars from "off the layout" representing distant connections to our layout. These are run as extra's when enough cars accumulate in the yard. The yardmaster will call for one of these trains for either Eastward movment or Westward movement. I took a little liberty in determining where these trains go, but they can be wherever we decide. Keeping with the East/West Theme I came up with the following road trains.
M-LRDSTL: Manifest train from Larado, TX to St Louis, MO
M-AMASHV: Manifest train from Amarillo, TX to Shreveport, LA
M-ELPSHV: Manifest train from El Paso, TX to Shreveport, LA
M-LRDKCK: Manifest train from Larado, TX to Kansas City, KS
M-STLLRD: Manifest train from St Louis, MO to Larado, TX
M-SHVAMA: Manifest train from Shreveport, LA to Amarillo, TX
M-SHVELP: Manifest train from Shreveport, LA to El Paso, TX
M-KCKLRD: Manifest train from Kansas City, KS to Larado, TX
Beta Operation Sessions:
We began beta operating sessions to see determine how well we did with all of our planning and if the waybill ratio was correct based on our planning numbers. We have made some adjustments during the first two beta sessions and will hold a couple more to monitor how these adjustments affect traffic flow. We also used these sessions to identify (and correct) any trackwork or electrical issues.
Normal Operation Sessions:
We are very close to ending the beta operation sessions and begin normal operations sessions. We still have some work to do on the rolling stock to verify each car conforms to the specified standards to ensure operating reliability.
Phase 2
We will eventually add the phase 2 waybills/rolling stock to operate at the full potential of the layout, but for now we will continue to operate using the phase 1 waybills/rolling stock.
I hope this was helpful to understand how big of a project this has been. I want to thank Thomas, Bob, Brian and all those who have provided input and feedback on getting this going.
We are on the verge of moving the layout to the "next level" and we are hopeful that each member will participate. As you can see there are a number of trains that will need operators!
We will provide updates as we continue to get this going.
Regards,
Mike Rehling
I just wanted to give an update and overview of where we are with the operations.
Our approach to introducing operations was to do it in two phases. Phase 1 is to establish the basic requirements for operating. Phase 1 will introduce approximately 2/3 of the required waybills/rolling stock required for full operations. Phase 2 will add the remaining waybills/rolling stock to the layout bringing us to the full operating potential.
Phase 1 Activities
Waybill Requirements:
First order of business was determining the number and location of each industry as well as how many "spots" each industry has that need to be served. We have identified 23 industries with a total of 123 "spots".
Once we made these determinations, we used this information to develop waybills for these industries. The number of waybills for each industry was dependent on how many "spots" each industry has and they types of cars required for each spot.
There are many considerations on how many waybills are generated for each industry/spot. The NMRA Opsig Group has a lot of information out there on how this works best. We used these recommendations as we developed our waybills. Each waybill has 4 positions, the recommendation is for one of these positions represent and industry/spot on the layout, the other 3 positions are for connecting the car to the layout from "off" the layout via "staging" or "interchange/transfer" from other railroads.
One waybill equates to one car on the layout. To keep car count down, we opted to use two positions on the waybills for spots on the layout for about 30% of the waybills we created. The remaining 60% only have one position on the waybill for the spot on the layout. This is how overhead traffic is introduced to operations via connections to off layout locations and interchange/transfer with other railroads as mentioned above.
Rolling Stock and Car Cards:
Once the particulars were known about each industry and what type of commodities they handled we could start populating the layout with the required rolling stock. Each car requires a car card which identifies the reporting marks, road number, type of car (AAR code), length, color and who physically owns the car.
We used the waybills to determine the exact number of cars and the type of car that we would need. We opted to generate our own car cards utilizing the computer instead of using the Micro Mark kit available. This was done simply because we wanted to customize the information on the car cards and we wanted to utilize a printer to print the information on them in lieu of hand writing this information. This produces a very professional looking car card. We did use temporary car cards with hand written information to help speed up the process and we are in the process of replacing these with the computer generated car cards.
Train Designations:
Once we had the waybills and the car cards generated, we needed to determine the number and types of trains we would need to operate to serve the industries. We determined that we would need 5 locals to serve all of the industries on the layout. Each local is designed to handle approximately 10-15 cars maximum. Any more than that becomes unmanageable. These locals are:
L-TEX421 - Tulsa Turn: This train serves Tulsa industries in the Route 66 section of the layout.
L-TEX437 - Russellville Turn: This train serves the Russellville industries section of the layout (but not the US Steel Mill).
L-TEX446 - Palestine Turn: This train serves the Palestine, Hartdale, and Mountain industries sections of the layout.
L-TEX479 - Hobson Turn: This train serves the Hobson industries in the Route 66 section of the layout and includes interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
L-TEX454 - Gary Turn: This train serves the US Steel Millcomplex.
L-TEX101 - East Interchange: This train serves interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
L-TEX102- West Interchange: This train serves interchange with another railroad (name TBD).
Then we have the road trains that bring us cars from "off the layout" representing distant connections to our layout. These are run as extra's when enough cars accumulate in the yard. The yardmaster will call for one of these trains for either Eastward movment or Westward movement. I took a little liberty in determining where these trains go, but they can be wherever we decide. Keeping with the East/West Theme I came up with the following road trains.
M-LRDSTL: Manifest train from Larado, TX to St Louis, MO
M-AMASHV: Manifest train from Amarillo, TX to Shreveport, LA
M-ELPSHV: Manifest train from El Paso, TX to Shreveport, LA
M-LRDKCK: Manifest train from Larado, TX to Kansas City, KS
M-STLLRD: Manifest train from St Louis, MO to Larado, TX
M-SHVAMA: Manifest train from Shreveport, LA to Amarillo, TX
M-SHVELP: Manifest train from Shreveport, LA to El Paso, TX
M-KCKLRD: Manifest train from Kansas City, KS to Larado, TX
Beta Operation Sessions:
We began beta operating sessions to see determine how well we did with all of our planning and if the waybill ratio was correct based on our planning numbers. We have made some adjustments during the first two beta sessions and will hold a couple more to monitor how these adjustments affect traffic flow. We also used these sessions to identify (and correct) any trackwork or electrical issues.
Normal Operation Sessions:
We are very close to ending the beta operation sessions and begin normal operations sessions. We still have some work to do on the rolling stock to verify each car conforms to the specified standards to ensure operating reliability.
Phase 2
We will eventually add the phase 2 waybills/rolling stock to operate at the full potential of the layout, but for now we will continue to operate using the phase 1 waybills/rolling stock.
I hope this was helpful to understand how big of a project this has been. I want to thank Thomas, Bob, Brian and all those who have provided input and feedback on getting this going.
We are on the verge of moving the layout to the "next level" and we are hopeful that each member will participate. As you can see there are a number of trains that will need operators!
We will provide updates as we continue to get this going.
Regards,
Mike Rehling