Some footage

Some footage of the layout.

Track Plan - Amendment

I have removed some extra track and created a siding that serves four industries.  This track is at the front of the layout as I intend to operate from that side.  It is separated from the main-line. The layout now looks alot less crowded and I have some space to build/model some non-railway related buildings, such as houses, a park, a creek, maybe a road intersection with working traffic lights.  Haven't really looked into this too much, but at least now I have some space to depict something other than a railway related structure/s.  The idea, be it an exaggerated one, is that these industries are just outside of town, hence the need for the Pilot working.

I also have space for a turntable but not sure whether I will go down that path.

Not sure whether I really need the cross-over marked X.  Initially I was going to use this to run-around locos but it looks like I can have one track spare at A.  I did this my removing alot of the rollingstock which just made things look too congested.  It has freed up quite a bit of space.  I have 11 wagons on the layout now, and may max it out to 15 so I can make up an Through or Express Goods that I can run round when I feel like.  Just like I did with the track, I culled my wagons, which was very hard to do.

For the last two weeks, I have been running basically with one loco, a VR second series T Class and I haven't really had the need to see anything else on the layout.  My Y class sits in the draw, but I am sure will get a run later when I feel like a change.


This is the current plan:

A Track Plan for Consideration

Here is a track plan that I have been working on.  I couldn't be bothered using some nice track planning drawing tool so I did this using MyPaint on Linux.  Apologies in advance.

Each Letter represents the following.

A.  Staging - Active staging where Pilots are made up.  Gives some extra shunting movements.  Likely to also include some locomotive stabling tracks and maybe an extra stub ended siding for wagons.  which will be at location B.  Best use of this space?

C.  Industry: Currently Flour Mill
D. Head Shut
E. Industry: Currently Arc Engineering (Steel products In)
F. Industry: Currently Caltex
G. East Staging.  Not sure what to do here, may be I will leave as is with a passing loop.
H. Run-around Loop.
I. Industry: Currently Intercity Foods
J. Connecting track for times I want to see trains roll!

So the idea is to have a train made up at A with the engine being able to run-round using the reverse loop K.  Once made up, all trains leave from point L (why they leave from point L and not point M is a good question).  I want them to leave from point L because of the longer run.  I need to think of a good reason, maybe getting the staff can only be done from point L or something like that.

The first industry that may be shunted is E, any empties can only be picked up on this leg.  Next is F however this can only be done on the return leg and the extra long siding adds extra time to the shunt - nice!
We then travel past the current loop and into H.  Here things can get interesting depending on what needs to be shunted.  If the shunters were helpful back at A, we should have our train blocked accordingly, however at times this may not be the case.  If we don't need to shunt here, we simply run-round and place guards van on the rear, e.g. if we only had to shunt E on this Pilot run.  On our return we may have to shunt at F, before proceeding back to A via K.

The rectangle shows the 600mm benchwork.  Separating the scene from the upper industries (F and E) from the lower ones (H, C and I) will be the challenge.  Note this is not to scale.  I think I can get some good running and shunting with the plan outlined.  Your thoughts?

Pilot Running

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. -- Thomas Edison


How much track/sidings do I personally need to have fun?  This is the question I asked myself and was quite surprised  when I reduced my main yard from seven tracks to just three and I still have main-line running as well as shunting opportunities.

The staging yard currently has three tracks (active West Staging) and East Staging currently has two tracks.  


Objective:


The goal is on short pilot workings.  I enjoy seeing short trains and the engagement factor is quite high since I am at the controls from West Staging (active staging) to the industrial locations and then back again.  I like the idea of actually "driving" for some length of time.  Some of the industries could be an Oil depot, Engineering company (steel in), and a Flour Mill (wheat in), and maybe a food processing company (thanks to Darren for the article on the Wahgunyah branch and Intercity foods!) which receives VLXs and Bs (I love seeing VLXs !)

The concept:

Pilot working only

The pilot leaves active West Staging and works the three or four industries, does a run-around and returns to West Staging.  Time Required - about 20 to 30 mins which is just enough to enjoy myself and to leave me with a feeling of "wanting more" for another time.  I can easily achieve this on a weeknight after work.

I can also extend this concept:

MainLine + Pilot working

If I want to have a longer session, I can extend the run time by having a freighter come from East Staging into West Staging.  Here the motive power comes off and the yard pilot takes over.  The pilot brakes up the consist and makes up a consist for the two/three/four industries which are to be shunted.  The pilot then works the industries and returns.
Once the pilot returns to West Staging, the evening consist is made up which includes the vehicles brought in, returning empty or loaded to Melbourne.

The motive power for this run is added and the train leaves.  This concludes this session and this particular day.  Time required - about 60 mins I think as I haven't run with this as yet.   I can continue this to the "next day" by bringing in another freighter with a different consist and motive power.  The same scenario takes place.  Because the consist maybe different, the industries shunted may also be different.
I will need to add another track here for the loco to run around and thinking about it further, I could utilise the space I have inside the return loop to have a few tracks for loco stabling.  If I want to take it further I could place a small station here as well...but let's not get too carried away.

So, there you have it.  On a weekday after a day at work, I can utilise concept 1 and on a weekend and/or during a formal running session I can utilise concept 2.  And when I just want to see trains run, I just let them roll!

Anyway some food for thought.........

Visit to Greg's place

A couple of weekends back we were invited to Greg's place to see his layout and to enjoy a snag or two.
I was quite impressed with what Greg has done schematically with the available space.  He has found room for a sizable engine depot with turntable and servicing shed as well as a very good main line run.  There is also a small yard to do some shunting.  It was really nice to see two Victorian Railways C Classes running back-to-back - that really brought back some very pleasant memories from my train spotting days!

Here are some photos and a  video of some of the action.

Click for larger view

Border District Visit and Going Up A Level.

Yesterday we were invited to Anthony's Border District layout which features some fine SAR and VR rolling-stock and modelling.  This was his April Running session and it was a pleasure and delight to once again take control of a few varied movements and operate on his layout.  I did some videography which tries to capture some of the movements. Everything operated very smoothly and the best part - there were no frustrations encountered like on some other layouts I have operated on (like my own).

Click on youtube link to view larger resolution

Talking about my own layout, I am now by and large happy with the overall design, however not completely happy with where I would like to put the loco depot and possible turntable.  Initially I had it situated in between one of the return balloon loops however I didn't like the idea of trains going away on one line of the loop and then returning on the other line - there has to be a solution.

First I moved the return leg of the loop further inside towards the other leg and thought of having the loco depot on the outside.  This allows easier access to the turntable should I get one.  However I still wasn't completely happy with this set up as it was near impossible to hide this return leg which really is staging track and there wasn't really enough room to do some proper modelling.

After a break and a bit of a think I decided to go aerial!  Now this is really going to throw a spanner in the works as the grade could be a problem, especially for steam engines should I get any someday.  However, since this road is going to the loco provisioning, most movements will be Light Engine with the occasional shunt of an Oil tank and or I wagon so loading should be quite light.  I did a quick run of a T Class and had no problems.  Had to race in before the heavens opened up so will fine tune and look further at this prospect of having the loco depot and turntable on a higher level.

Initial concept

Limited space for turntable and loco tacks

Previous concept of trying to isolate the lead track to staging

In the above photo you can see the incline to the loco roads

This photo shows the lead to staging disappearing under the loco roads

Some Footage

It's been a while since I took some video of the layout so yesterday I got out the P&S and took some footage of some movements.