As mentioned in a previous post, I think I am now to a point where I can start to think about planning my operating sessions. Granted I designed the layout for operations, and I have been continually trying to design my layout around this concept, and now I think i can start to bring the two together.
The 'Points' of the layout, heading east from staging:
Staging (WB Trains)
Theta East
Theta (Branch)
Spencer
Meridian
Steino Yard
Staging (EB Trains)
Staging
Staging here does not have an EB or WB suffix, as here is how it looks on the signalling panel:
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| Here the 'end to end' staging is shown, so it is possible to run a through train, or run a train from WB Trains staging, across the layout, and back to EB Staging. Note the Signal Numbers, used for reporting and helping me find each signal within the ctc systems source code. |
The layout is a continuous run model, however the staging works on an end to end basis. I am planning to modify the yard to allow locos to run around their trains, thereby eliminating the use of hands.
So first up we have staging. Where trains come and go from, and where they are assembled/broken down between sessions.
Theta East
As we head east, we reach the first stop, Theta East. Here there is one industry at one end of the loop, and a branch line diverging at the other end. Lets head up the branch (shown above as dark, non-signalled territory).
The branch contains 3 industries, two lineside on the way to Theta, and one at Theta. Returning, we come back onto the main at Theta, and head back onto the main. because of the direction of the main, you return to Steino Yard through staging. Continuing East, you head along the main through Theta Loop (used for crossing large unit trains) towards Spencer.
Spencer
Arriving at Spencer, the track diverges into a main and loop, and continues towards the Helix on the left hand side of the layout. It is called 'mid helix' as if you were to put each part of the layout end to end, this helix would be in the middle.
As you can see from the diagram each industry track is shown, however it is black indicating it is not protected by RVD (Rail Vehicle Detection) signalling. Each crossover with an 'M' indicates it is unlocked by the dispatcher.
In Spencer there are 3 Industries, as well as a small loop for pushing cuts of cars into crossovers that are against the direction of travel. This track could actually be used as an industry as well, for this exercise I will use it as an industry, bringing Spencer's Industries to 4.
Upon leaving Spencer, we hit Notch 8 for the long 2.5% grade towards Meridian, on the upper level.
Meridian
Arriving off the helix we go back to single line for a brief period, before arriving at Meridian.
At Meridian, there are two industries, one at each end of the loop. they may be expaneded upon, since there are only two inputs I'd like to make the switching a little interesting. For this exercise, there are two industries only.
Steino Yard
Onwards from Meridian, we hit the Steino Triangle - Gateway to Steino Yard:
Inside the Triangle is yard working, so it is not included on the CTC Panel. Instead, here is the current Iteration of the yard, with the industries highlighted in yellow:
So as you can see here, Steino Yard has 5 Industries, as well as a passenger terminus on the LHS, and freght marshalling facilities.
Below are the counts for each town and their Respective Industries:
Theta East 1
Theta (Branch) 3
Spencer 4
Meridian 2
Steino Yard 5
Total: 15
15 Industries are being served on this subdivision. Now I know the 'points' of the layout, I can now define how the freight flows. Its fairly simple, 98% of traffic runs like this:
Staging -> Steino Yard -> {Town} -> Steino -> Steino Yard -> Staging.
A simple path really, I'll try and explain it below..
-An EB Train of Empties leaves staging bound for Steino Yard. Upon arrival at Steino Yard, it picks up a full rake of cars that are ready to depart, and continues to EB Staging. (You'll see where this 'full rake' came from later)
-Meanwhile at Steino Yard, the shunter is busy arranging the cuts from the EB Arrival into EB and WB local turns. The EB train in this scenario will do the following:
Theta East
- Depart Steino Yard towards Summit and Staging.
- Arrive Theta, Switch
- Arrive Spencer, Switch
- Return to Steino Yard.
Whilst the WB Train will:
- Depart Steino Yard towards Meridian
- Arrive Meridian, Switch
- Arrive Spencer, Switch
- Continue Around via staging through road to Steino Yard.
There is still a train to go out.. The Theta Branch Turn. Rather than attaching it to another train, it is its own job, since it runs on one side of the layout only. The Theta Branch Turn will:
- Depart Steino Yard towards Staging
- Arrive Theta, continue down branch
- Switch Theta
- Switch Lineside Industries outside of Theta.
so we know the trains now go to their lineside industries, and each job picks up however many cars they need to drop off. This is done by assiging cuts of cars to a waybill.
So.. While the local turns are out, the Steino Yard switcher is preparing to switch each arrival train's cars into industries located within Steino. This is the start of the Steino -> Steino Yard process. As the local turns return to the yard, they either switch the cars themselves into Steino Industries, or the shunter does it for them. (depending on how busy each operator is) As they shunt the cars in, they take cars out, which are then formed into trains at Steino Yard to head to staging.
The mentality behind this is that goods coming from the lineside industries produce 'raw' goods, and the industries at Steino move them to refined goods. It adds another link in the chain to keep freight flowing.
As the full train/s is/are formed ready to depart to staging, an empty train coming from staging will arrive. this starts the cycle over again, When this cycle begins is anyones guess, however it is likely one operating session will see this cycle go run through once.
Other traffic (The dispatchers challenge)
Having these three freight trains on the line at any one time will most likely be a rare occurence, therefore preventing the looping of the cycle described above during an operating session.
Other traffic will include:
-Unit Intermodal/Coal/Refrigerated goods trains (the latter coming into Steino to be loaeded, hence the balloon loop around the outside)
-Local Passenger trains
These two extra trains will add interest and give drivers something to run whilst things are quiet. It also provides a challenge for the dispatcher to co-ordinate these two types of traffic with the local freights, as the unit trains will not fit in certain loops, and the passenger trains have priority over others.
I hope this decribes in some way how I'd like to run the layout - since this is entirely theoretical it may be subject to change, but I won't know until I run it in practice. Until then, it will be an idea that I will base my test operating sessions on.
Thanks for reading!
-Aaron.
