Tehachapi, BC

[pedro]

So a symbol question: when I listen to the UP and BNSF dispatchers around Mojave, they never refer to train symbols; they call trains by the number of the lead loco.  If they don't use the symbols, who does, and for what purpose?

The answer is simple: to avoid confusion- there's only one of every engine number, while there could be multiples of various train symbols on the subdivision at any given time. Of course the numeric part of the symbols will be different, but the alpha part of the symbols are the same. Example: z nyclac9 15a and z nyclac9 16a could in theory be on the subdivision at the same time. (The 15/16 in the symbol is the date of origin) There could also be a trains' opposite which could cause confusion. (nyclac/lacnyc)

That being said, the symbols ARE often used by the dispatchers, yardmasters and crews for routine commnications, sometimes in an offhand/slang way. Anything official (track warrant, or other authority or instructions) will use the engine number. Some BNSF chicago-area examples that I know: an h brckck becomes the "brick kick"; The nyclac cited above is the "nick lack". An h brcntw is "brick northtown" or simply "northtown"; m galchc: "gal chick" and so on. Other times you simply spell it out. g-f-d-b-r-c is one that's usually done that way. Variations abound and might vary from one end of the system to the other.

[CSXDixieLine]

I just got around to watching the video since I can't watch Vimeo on my mobile device. Awesome! Stuff like this is what got me off my tail and building again. Jamie

[C855B]

Hey, Gary...

Thought of you on seeing the new header on this California railfan site: http://www.westcoastrailforums.com. Unique view. Definitely some trespassing involved.

[GaryHinshaw]

Cool, thanks!   Taken from the hill in the background of this shot:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=406649&nseq=12

It probably is posted land, but hardly a sensitive area.  That seems to be increasingly the case on the Hill these days.

Hopefully I'll have some layout updates to post soon.   Have been doing a lot more permanent track-laying, wiring, tortoise installs etc., but I'm slow, and it's not especially photogenic...  I am just about to put in the shoo-fly that will close-out the upper deck infrastructure work though.

-gfh

[Scottl]

That is a remarkable railfanning resource.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The answer is simple: to avoid confusion- there's only one of every engine number, while there could be multiples of various train symbols on the subdivision at any given time. Of course the numeric part of the symbols will be different, but the alpha part of the symbols are the same. Example: z nyclac9 15a and z nyclac9 16a could in theory be on the subdivision at the same time. (The 15/16 in the symbol is the date of origin) There could also be a trains' opposite which could cause confusion. (nyclac/lacnyc)

That being said, the symbols ARE often used by the dispatchers, yardmasters and crews for routine commnications, sometimes in an offhand/slang way. Anything official (track warrant, or other authority or instructions) will use the engine number. Some BNSF chicago-area examples that I know: an h brckck becomes the "brick kick"; The nyclac cited above is the "nick lack". An h brcntw is "brick northtown" or simply "northtown"; m galchc: "gal chick" and so on. Other times you simply spell it out. g-f-d-b-r-c is one that's usually done that way. Variations abound and might vary from one end of the system to the other.

And that, right there, explains why I HATE the BNSF symbol system.

Then again, I also think the NS and CSX ones are crap too. 64J? 10N? I0J? Insane. CSX is a little better, where at least the symbol gives some idea of what it is (Q000s are intermodal, other higher numbers are general freight).

I still think CR's were the best. They were like a much less insane version of the BNSF system:
ALED-12: General freight: Allentown to Edgemoor, departing on the 12th of the month.
Other types of trains had different symbols (like TV22 or MAIL-9).

[GaryHinshaw]

Ok, just to prove that I haven't been a total slacker, here is an overly-detailed update on some infrastructure progress.  First, an overview of the room, showing almost no visible progress...:



The center of the room is taken up by my 4x8 plywood table that I'm still using for track laying: I lay out printed templates here, form the ME flex track, solder feeders, then move them on to the layout.  Still plenty of junk strewn about as well....   

Back in the far right of the Loop shelf, the #10 crossover at the east end of visible trackage is now installed and functional (this stretch of double track will actually be semi-hidden by a low profile board along the front edge of the roadbed):




In the top shot, the double track heads around the curve and down to the south staging helix, which connects back to the lower level.   The crossover tortoises are fully installed, and working well, controlled by a single toggle.  I still need to clean up the wires that route frog power.  The single track is coming off the Loop itself and is heading down to a one-turn helix which links to the upper end of the lower deck, and serves to represent the somewhat remote sidings of Rowan and Cliff on the prototype.

The above-noted one-turn helix now has track, as can be seen directly under the Loop in this ariel shot:



and in this subterranean shot, where an SD40-2 is leading some racks down to the lower deck:



The same SD40-2 can be seen in this shot from above, which also shows how I had just enough room to squeeze a tortoise in without fouling the tracks below:



Who had the bright idea of placing a turnout directly over two layers of tracks that run underneath?     (It's working out fine though.)  Finally, you can see where the line into south staging is coming in right behind the tortoise in the above shot.   This is where the line will jog over the one-turn helix (where the SD40-2 is) and join the staging helix which will sit interior to the one-turn helix.  This will be a slightly tricky bit of roadbed, since it needs to be a quarter inch thick or less to clear the tracks below.

Finally, a bit of an art shot showing the ridiculous maze of tracks that make up the Loop underworld:



Thanks for looking,
-gfh

[tom mann]

Nice work, Gary.  I'm thinking you extend that back drop higher to help finish off the room and allow for lower angle photos.

[Sokramiketes]

Nice work, Gary.  I'm thinking you extend that back drop higher to help finish off the room and allow for lower angle photos.

Garage door clearance.  Use the search feature, Newb!     

[Dave Schneider]

Gary,

What wire gauge are you using for your bus? It looks robust....always a good thing.

Best wishes, Dave

[JSL]

Gary can you give me more details on how you mounted tortoise in the sixed picture. How is the linkage set up? Thanks,

[GaryHinshaw]

Tom, Skibbe is correct about the clearance, but I do have a strip of Masonite to cover the top of the door; I just haven't gotten around to installing it yet.  When painted (along with the existing backdrop) it will blend a lot better.  But the spring and track hardware will remain...  I might be able to put a valence over the spring w/o fouling the door, but I haven't had the urge to yet.

Dave, 12 gauge stranded.  Probably overkill, but pretty easy to work with.  Sadly, I ran out before getting to the one-turn helix and can't get to HD until the weekend.

JSL, roger that.  Let me grab a better photo.  Stand by.

-gfh

[conrail98]

Gary, what are you using for your feeders? They look pretty robust too,

Phil

[GaryHinshaw]

JSL, here you go:



Thankfully, it was pretty straightforward, I just offset the tortoise to the side and ran a 90 degree bend in the throw wire.   I added a sleeve of  brass tube to maintain stiffness -- I intend to attach the tube to the plywood, but it has been functioning fine even without the attachment.  I also intend to file out a clearance groove under an NZT switch machine and glue it to the head ties.  This will partially hide the visible section of wire and quash any tendency for it to ride up from the throw bar, though it hasn't shown any inclination to do so yet.  BTW, the wire is .019" stainless steel from Detail Associates, instead of the .025" size that comes with the machine.  It's plenty stiff for these turnouts.

Phil, I started out using 20 gauge solid for the feeders but ran out and I'm now using 22 gauge solid.  I like both but would recommend 22 gauge as it's plenty beefy, but still easy to work with.

Cheers,
Gary

[JSL]

Thanks Gary for the quick reply.  This picture is worth a thousand words in this instance!