WM Western Lines Engineering Report

[wm3798]

Tell the whole story, Eric.  You say "Thank you, now get the hell out... it's 10 o'clock!"
Lee

[seusscaboose]

well
that is true


i do say that...    but only after a good time is had by all...  (wouldn't want the non-experienced to think i was totally rude)

[sirenwerks]

Tell the whole story, Eric.  You say "Thank you, now get the hell out... it's 10 o'clock!"

That was me last time. It's why I'm not on the invite-back list. Well, among other things... like brownie scarfing and drinking all of the diet Mt. Dew...

[rswinnerton]

Mmmmmm ......... Brownies......

[seusscaboose]

they were good... every OP's session needs a tradition... and the daughter / son love to play host.

Lee has Vitamin Y, I have brownies...  both are yummy in small doses.

EP

[Ian MacMillan]

We need to get Ed a radio...kid doesnt pay attention to squat when hes working the yard.

[seusscaboose]

and we have a winner.
 

radios are probably a year off...  when the dispatcher gets moved...

[Dave V]

We need to get Ed a radio...kid doesnt pay attention to squat when hes working the yard.

LOL...  I annoyed the sh*t out of Ed trying to keep that yard fluid while I worked through him on the local with my big-a$$ 2-8-8-2.  He paid attention to my driving an almost HO-sized steam loco through his yard a dozen times.

[davefoxx]

LOL...  I annoyed the sh*t out of Ed trying to keep that yard fluid while I worked through him on the local with my big-a$$ 2-8-8-2.  He paid attention to my driving an almost HO-sized steam loco through his yard a dozen times.

Heh, Ed just gave me the ol' skunk-eye when I ran SP GS-4 #4449 through the yard once or twice on a local freight.   

[seusscaboose]

In Ed's defense, every time he shows up to YM, the yard is a mess and he spends the first half digging out... I intentionally took the day off tomorrow to stage the yard.  That being said, Ed has mentioned that he is willing to serve anywhere, and would enjoy a time or two on the main... 

EP

[wm3798]

Okay, boys.  Let's bring this back into focus here.  We can gab about Eric's yard in Eric's thread.

I'll be working on tidying up the yard and pre-blocking some things, and maybe even reducing the number of cars in circulation prior to our next WM session...  Once the systems are in place, it'll be a little easier to start growing the schedule again.

Lee

[seusscaboose]

so, back to Lee's yard... what are you envisioning for the Yard Clerk position... is it a combo position with classification, or is it straight clerk?  (either way is cool)

[wm3798]

I built the desk to allow for a yard clerk as a "non throttle" position.


There is potential for two yard switchers to be operating simultaneously, as there are full throats at either end.  The switcher crews would sort and block the cars, using the card rack above the yard (they'll be standing)



Once the train is blocked, the clerk will get the cards, make sure they're in order, and if the train has work on the layout, provide a switch list.

On incoming trains, the crew's paperwork will be handed to the clerk to determine how much of the train needs to get worked in the yard, and then index the cards by car order as well as destination.  This will provide the switcher crew with the information it needs to break down the train and classify it.

The only other assignment the yard clerk would have would be as master of the west end staging yard.  The controls for access to these tracks are located at the clerk's station, and he will be responsible for all clearances in and out. 

(You'll note that in one of my earlier track plans, the A/D track was located along this front edge of the yard to provide immediate visibility of all cars for the clerk, but this arrangement was determined to be a disadvantage limiting access to the class tracks.)
Again, this is a non-throttle position.  If I ever end up putting a full dispatch office in the other room, this duty would be eliminated and transferred to the dispatcher.

In order to keep things streamlined, in a 25 car train, I'll try to keep as many as 10 cars as "through" that won't have to be switched.  These will always (ideally) be blocked at the front of the train.  If the two A/D tracks in the yard proper get jammed up, these cars can be left on either one of the mains or the long controlled siding behind the yard... there are full interlockings at either end to allow full access in either direction.  Power can still be cut off and run around, cabooses can be switched out for servicing, and new blocks of outbound cars can be added to trains on the main this way, provided they have clearance from the Dispatcher to use the interlockings.

Basically, the Yard Clerk would be the guy that determines if the next train is ready to be received, and who directs inbound trains to particular tracks to be worked.  He would also be the one to alert the dispatcher that the next train is assembled and ready to depart.

Not a very "Hands on Trains" position, but probably the critical post that makes sure things keep running smoothly.
Lee

[MichaelWinicki]

Question Lee...

If you were to "sweep" all the industries that need switching during a full operating session on the layout?

Just trying to get some idea of how many cars are funneled through that yards during a full operating session.


One other thing Lee... What is your yard capacity in 50' car lengths?

[wm3798]

The on-line industries are just a fraction of the fun.  All totaled, there are spots for:
North Junction:  12 cars
Cumberland: 16 cars
Luke:  25 cars
Thomas sub:  24 cars.
Total:  77.

Between the yards at Elkins and Ridgeley, I have room for over 150 cars so just running local on-line stuff will never jam me up..
The trick is all the switching that gets done to the through trains.  Blocks that get shifted from one westbound train to another to reach an alternate connection, blocks of incoming cars for local switching, outbound cars that result from same... etc.  The ops schematic is an X, so from a train from the southeast, you have potential for four different destinations for blocks of cars (the other three points of the X, plus local.)  In most cases, at least one of those blocks will stay with the train, but typically out of a 20 car train, 15 will be pulled and switched to other trains.  Likewise, other blocks will be already set up in the yard to be added to the train as it gets ready to leave.  It makes for some very interesting switching for the yard crews.

Lee