How many of you do actual switching on your layouts ?

Lots of switching for me!  I get bored just watching trains running....

WHO DOESN'T?

beertrain posted:

WHO DOESN'T?

Me.

25' x 35' new layout almost complete. I do not enjoy switching and the closest I get to that task is to "switch out" trains from either the passenger or freight yards. My layout is a folded dog-bone design on (3) levels. I really enjoy sitting on my Lionel bar stool down one of the aisles with a good beverage and my Cab 2. I never get tired of just watching the trains run around me. For a change, I do vary the speeds once in a while.

Very relaxing....

But then, I like grape jelly on my sausage and egg sandwiches so maybe I am just a little different.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Donald

My favorite trains are switchers and my layout is all about switching and going somewhere.

One of my favorite switchers is the Postwar bell ringing 6220 switcher in the video below:

My long and narrow switching layout has 18 switch tracks, 2 interconnected and independently powered main lines, and 10 independently powered sidings. Arnold

I use a “poor man’s” system I got out of the Lionel Trains book they call the train game. Each piece of rolling stock gets a business card envelope with a printed label as shown below:

The sheet inside the sleeve shows the destination for the car and whether it’s delivered locally or outbound once loaded or empty. The sheet simply gets flipped over once the delivery has been completed.

Operation starts when a 12 -14 car train transfers cars into a arrival/departure track where a local Switcher pulls the outbound cars out of yard tracks and replaces them with the inbound cars just delivered. The transfer locomotive then leaves with the outbounds onto my main layout where it can run continuously to its hearts content.

The switcher then classifies the inbounds into two separate industrial jobs on the yard tracks:

The track schematic below gives you an idea of the yard arrangement:

The switcher then goes about working the two industrial jobs according to a printed switch list until all work is complete with delivered cars to industries and pick ups back in the yard tracks waiting for the next cycle. Here’s an example of an industrial site card box:

Finally, here’s an birdseye view from the end of the industrial area looking back towards the yard:

The layout takes a 90 degree turn to the left by the Ford plant at the end where the arrival/departure track is and a couple more industries. Out of view to the right is a grain silo and another small industry. Your looking down about 30’ of layout and another 15’ after it turns so about 45 linear feet. Thirty inches is my max depth. I had to offset the run to accommodate a sewer line.

I’ve had some friends over to operate the layout. I can keep four guys busy for a few hours running the cycle twice in each session. I would like to do it monthly, but I can never develop a consistent time.

The whole idea of doing this came about after Model Railroader did a five part project layout on the ‘Beer Line’ in Milwaukee! 

If you really want to see a great operating layout, check out Elliot, Bigboy4005’s, thread. We visited it last summer and it is a first class operational layout!

Unless, rarely, I just want to sit back with a cup of java and see and hear the sound of trains on my layout, switching and making up orders and drop offs is what I do every time.

I have 2 switchers I use to set up a consist, 44 and a 0-4-0. Cards of each freight car is shuffled. Then a card from 1 to 12 is picked for one mainline. Example, 6 so 6 freight cars from the cars picket are set up for train one. Then a mainline engine is picked, which must be fueled at either the coal, sand and water stations, or diesel fueled and sand stations,then picks up a caboose also. Caboose is dropped at siding while engine couples onto consist then moves out and attaches caboose to end. Same is done for main line 2. Cards from plants are picked to either pick up a full or empty and correct cars dropped off as required for the business. Also a passenger train may replace one of the freight trains and it has priority so on both mainlines.

My 2013 post: "Interesting thread.  In the past 2 months I have investigated the waybill system too add an operating element to my model rr.  I came upon a website that explained the waybill system that I could understand.  There is also an explanation of operating the system once car cards, waybills, destination, card boxes and inventory is completed. It is more than a bit tedious but I enjoyed the process so far.  I do not have a staging area so I will have to add a siding or two to replicate that.  I also have to reconfigure a yard area.  The process has really brought some operational strategy to my model railroading rather than merely running trains around the layout.  I also make use of my imagination about off line destinations and interum traffic movements.  It does make my mind spin a little and I have reread the explanations again and again."

http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/ccandwb.html

TODAY: I won't bore you with too much detail but here are the basics of my operating sessions. 

1. I make sure all my trains are in their starting positions.  I have fixed trains, such as local passenger and mail trains, and tanker trains. Coal trains are made to alternate with the tankers.

2. I make trains for switching other freights from the yard to businesses.  I transfer the drop offs to the town businesses and pick up the cars for transfer to the yard per the train order card for that session. 

3. I make mixed freight trains in the yard for several runs around the main line to a yard in imaginary towns.  I also run fixed tanker trains or alternate coal trains, and passenger or alternate mail trains in the same manner. 

4. At the end of a completed session, the cars and locos are in their starting positions for the next session.  If I don't complete a session, I place a paper clip on the waybill/order card that I am working from, indicating where I stop operations.

I will try to find a previous post where I posted a photo of my card system.

EDIT: Cards.

I sure do.  A NYC 0-6-0 does duty in the yard when I'm in steam mode, A U.P. U-25b takes care of that when in diesel mode. And a 44 tonner handles the industrial switching for both steam and diesel era.  Every thing has Kadee's.  

Clem 

I built my layout with switching in mind,  The main line (designated PC) loops around the entire layout and has four industries and a small yard that holds about eight cars.  The secondary line (designated ACY) interchanges with the main line at two locations, with two crossings.  Each industry has a list of cars that might serve it.  Most of the cars I run can be used at the various industries,  There are a few that are designated as "run through" and are not spotted at any industry, but are just along for the ride.

I have several switcher or road switcher locomotives that I operate, but my two favorites are my Legacy Penn Central RS-11 and my Legacy AC&Y H-16-44.  These units have the smoothest slow speed operation and I like the brake operation. I run TMCC.

A typical operating session starts by randomly pulling eight or so cars out of storage and place in the yard.  I check the list of industries that can use each type of car and assign its destination.  The RS-11 hooks up to the train and pulls it out of the yard.  After hooking up to the caboose, I let it run several laps around the layout.  I then set out any cars that are to be sent to the ACY.  While the ACY locomotive is working the secondary line the PC locomotive is running laps around the main line.  The ACY has to work around the PC schedule so as to not have a collision at either crossing.  The ACY loco picks up outbound cars at the industries and spots the inbound cars.  It then returns the outbound cars to the interchange point.  Meanwhile, the PC train is picking up outbounds and spotting inbounds along the main line.  When all inbound cars are spotted at their appropriate locations, the PC picks up the cars from the ACY and returns to the yard.  The cars are then put back into storage until the next session. 

If I am doing a solo session, it takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to complete,  A second person cuts the time  to about 1 1/2 hours.  By then I'm mentally drained and ready for a cold one.

Here is a video of the PC unit switching a warehouse on the secondary line.  (This line has since been turned over to the AC&Y.)  Note the freight train passing in the background on the main line.  This is typically the speed I operate all of my trains.  It makes the layout seem larger than it actually is.

Tom

Great topic.  My train room area is limited and the best I could do was point to point with many sidings for switching.  I use a simple switch list with pick ups and drop offs. One small freight yard, interchange track and many industries to service. 

-Tom

I do a lot of switching now thanks to my new $1 uncoupling tool I made. this homemade ingenious device has changed the way I run my small layout. I can now easily switch almost any 3 rail car made anywhere on my layout within reach of course. I no longer use my exspensive uncoupling tracks . now I am getting board somewhat board switching on my small layout and am planning my big layout wich will be based on a bnsf HO layout I saw in a video. all modern equipment and lots of industries. on this next layout I may use atlas or ross track not shure yet though.

NYC Z-MAN posted:

I use a “poor man’s” system I got out of the Lionel Trains book they call the train game. Each piece of rolling stock gets a business card envelope with a printed label as shown below:

The sheet inside the sleeve shows the destination for the car and whether it’s delivered locally or outbound once loaded or empty. The sheet simply gets flipped over once the delivery has been completed.

Operation starts when a 12 -14 car train transfers cars into a arrival/departure track where a local Switcher pulls the outbound cars out of yard tracks and replaces them with the inbound cars just delivered. The transfer locomotive then leaves with the outbounds onto my main layout where it can run continuously to its hearts content.

The switcher then classifies the inbounds into two separate industrial jobs on the yard tracks:

The track schematic below gives you an idea of the yard arrangement:

The switcher then goes about working the two industrial jobs according to a printed switch list until all work is complete with delivered cars to industries and pick ups back in the yard tracks waiting for the next cycle. Here’s an example of an industrial site card box:

Finally, here’s an birdseye view from the end of the industrial area looking back towards the yard:

The layout takes a 90 degree turn to the left by the Ford plant at the end where the arrival/departure track is and a couple more industries. Out of view to the right is a grain silo and another small industry. Your looking down about 30’ of layout and another 15’ after it turns so about 45 linear feet. Thirty inches is my max depth. I had to offset the run to accommodate a sewer line.

I’ve had some friends over to operate the layout. I can keep four guys busy for a few hours running the cycle twice in each session. I would like to do it monthly, but I can never develop a consistent time.

The whole idea of doing this came about after Model Railroader did a five part project layout on the ‘Beer Line’ in Milwaukee! 

If you really want to see a great operating layout, check out Elliot, Bigboy4005’s, thread. We visited it last summer and it is a first class operational layout!

 

 

 

Sounds like a great place to start.

Dave

The layout was built with switching in mind but I am still doing research to figure out the best way to do it on my layout. I currently have a 6 track rail yard but may have to make some adjustments to have a more prototypical one. I love structures so I have several sidings that will either have full buildings, flats and shadow boxes, or a combination of both. So fortunately there won't be a lack of business for the shipping and receiving departments and employment percentages will be solid in my little world. I also "found" some space that I may be able to have a small staging yard and once I confirm this possibility that will help with the switching aspect of the layout. 

Once those kinks are worked out I plan to host operating sessions and also be able to do a one man show as well. This, to me, will make operating the layout more engaging. 

Though switching is one aspect of the layout I must admit I too, just like to watch the trains run and simply "railfan" the layout. After all, that is what fascinated me with the railroad growing up. Until I got older and walked the tracks, I didn't even realize switching went on and always wondered where the trains got put together and changed to different consists. 

Great thread!

Dave

Thanks Jim.

I just about have everything in place to do full operations with a crew. industrial switching, yard switching and scheduled mainline running. The car cards are made for every car as it added to the layout. The waybills are started, but we'll need more, once we get going. I still need to get my uncoupler magnets wired up.

This is CP's Pig's Eye yard.

The Hiawatha Milling District with nine different industries.

Red Wing is a tight switching puzzle with six industries.

At the far end is the Ford Plant with eight tracks, and a five track holding yard in the foreground.

Steve C:  Great video of switching on a really interesting layout.  I really like the trackside scenery.  I do not have the magnet coupler release  mechanics on my layout so its all by hand.

Elliott:  Nice look at your yard.  You got the planning/vision skill set I wish I had.

pennsynut posted:

Steve C:  Great video of switching on a really interesting layout.  I really like the trackside scenery.  I do not have the magnet coupler release  mechanics on my layout so its all by hand.

Elliott:  Nice look at your yard.  You got the planning/vision skill set I wish I had.

Thanks, it makes it a lot easier that I'm just following the prototype. Then it's just a matter of compression to preserve the flavor. The overall design is long and narrow, very shelf-like, and just follows the mainline. This doesn't leave a lot of room for structures, that don't belong to the railroad or are served by it. Those are my secrets, but few 3 railers do layouts that way.

elliot, nice layout. your concept is just like the HO guys do layouts. if I may ask how wide are your scenes back to front table wise? can you reach all the tracks by hand?

My layout is all conventual, no command control and that forward, neutral reverse neutral forward is too much monkey business for me.

If I was starting I would be tempted to have no switches like Lee Willis

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

elliot, nice layout. your concept is just like the HO guys do layouts. if I may ask how wide are your scenes back to front table wise? can you reach all the tracks by hand?

Thanks Roger, that's a good observation, and that's what I did. The scene depth varies mostly between 3 and 4 feet. There are a few spots that are a little tough to reach, but most of it is pretty easy. That was a big design consideration. If you want to see the whole mainline, watch the train ride video in my signature.

I have made many modifications and additions to my layout to improve the switching operation. 

I have about 45 fastrack switches, 6 towns, and a total of about 15 industries to switch. There are 3 yards for building trains. Eastbound trains switch some industries and westbound trains switch the remaining industries. I use a magnet board to keep track of the various jobs required to complete an operating session.

I have made a number of changes to the switching logic, trying to make it work cleanly for 3 operators working the layout at the same time. Still some bugs to work out, including running out of siding space part way through the operating session in some areas. Also dividing the work so that all 3 operators are working at the same time, without getting into each others way.

I use a car card system that I created myself, using a variation of the traditional card systems. Each car has a folder with a picture and number of the car for easy identification. I then have a 4 cycle waybill that fits into the car pocket.

These car cards are placed into pouches on the layout, with one track per pouch so you can keep track of where each car is stored. I use paper pouches (some use wood), since I am still experimenting and making changes. I may build wood card holders in the future when I have figured everything out and have a clean operating session logic.

I have created a route map for each scheduled train, showing what industries are on the route, which way the sidings face, and how many cars can fit into each siding. (this picture is upside down, and I cannot figure out how this happened, as the original picture is not in this orientation). This lets the engineer build a train and plan how to group the cars to make switching the industries easier. I have a 10 car maximum train length limit, so some trains need two sections. This length limit prevents issues with some hidden curves, and makes the operating session more interesting by needing to run more trains.

The current version has 9 scheduled trains, with some needing two sections.

I have about 70 cars on the layout to switch, and can use about 7 different engines. The number of engines can be more or less than 7, depending on how the operators want to re-use the engines after their run.

As I find issues with crowded sidings, I have been removing some cars from the layout. Eventually I will have a session operation that will not have extra cars plugging up the main line.

I find running trains with a purpose on a switching layout to be quite enjoyable.

While I have three Ross double cross overs as well as 2 Ross Yard 4 ways,  I only utilize them when changing trains on the main line.  I do not have a boredom issue with my loop running because I run 2 - 4 trains per loop and most of the time I am trying to operate the other train on each loop and my grandchildren are each running a train on "their" loop.  It gets interesting when you are running 8 trains simultaneously yourself or trying to keep 4 trains separate while only controlling 2 trains with two grandchildren 5 and 9 running the other trains.  It keeps me hooping and not switching.

Switching means at least two things to me on my layout.

One is switching cars to make up a consist or string of cars or say loading a log car with logs, moving it to the saw mill and unloading it.

The other is clearing most of the trains off the layout (I usually have 5 or 6 trains on the layout) and the running one or more trains through different routes on the layout.  The layout has 27 switches, turntable and round house, conventional control with three distinct loops and means to operate one, two or three trains most any where on the numerous routes.  Often I will run one train switching all over the layout, then switch this train out with another on a siding and run it all around, etc.  This is the more fun part of operating trains on my layout to me.

I do not have the patience to make up card lists and do the detailed operations to carry out the card list orders to make and unmake trains.

Layout diagrams and picture below.  Details on how I built it are at  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ra-027-layout?page=3

Charlie

This is a great thread!  I want to do switching on my layout also!  I saw that its quite popular with the HO guys and came to realize that may be why HO (size also) is leaps and bounds ahead of O in the operating sense.  Ive spent a lot of time watching layouts on Youtube (a great tool). Rarely do you see an HO layout that doesn't have switching in mind.  Lots of them are just point to point without any continuous loops. Now go to youtube and look for O gauge switching layouts.   Maybe 3 or 4.  

Lots of good stuff to read and see here!!

Jim

Nice thread. I've done switching in the past, don't do it much now. This thread captures the fact that people like to run their trains differently. My current preference is to run a bunch of trains in circles and schmooze with company. I really enjoy that. When I don't have guests, I'm more inclined to switch.

Gerry

I think this proves that switching isn't just for 2 railers anymore. It makes me happy to see that 3 railers are discovering this fun and interesting aspect to the hobby.

Last week there was a similar switching topic, where a forum member was wondering if anyone used operating cars and accessories in conjunction with switching. You can read about it here.

THANKS TO ALL !   Great IDEAS & PICTURES !  & videos ! 

Thanks  !

WRGMILW posted:

…..  Do you have a favorite switcher engine? …..

The Lionel Genset gave me the best smooth, low-speed operation on my 3-rail dedicated switching layout.

Have fun.

Jim

After reading the above illuminating replies that explain realistic switching, the truth is that, although I have a switching layout, I do little true switching.

I now have an idea of what I would need to do to have more realistic switching on my conventional Postwar layout. I will share a few of these things because it might help others who want to do more switching.

First, I need to tune my remote control uncoupling tracks and the couplers on my train cars. The uncoupling tracks are a little inconsistent; sometimes they don't work. Regarding the couplers, many are taped shut because they have weak springs (they would open while the train was running so I taped them shut).

I also think I may need to add a few more uncoupling tracks and position them in strategic places to do more realistic switching.

In addition,  I find that having continuous train runs, videotaping them and posting the videos on the Forum to be light-hearted fun and relaxing, and that I can do same myself. The more sophisticated switching activities described in this thread seems more like hard work than what I typically do, and might be more fun with another operator involved.

The above are my thoughts that first come to mind.

Arnold

The thought occurs to me that the more complicated modern operating systems offered by Lionel and MTH that I don't have may facilitate sophisticated realistic switching operations. Arnold

My operations are fairly simple actually even though I don't have magnetic uncouplers.  But remote control for the engines in switching movements is really a plus.  I find that after 20 years, all of my model railroading is just one continual  enjoyable experiment.  And developing and working my version of a card/order system is just that.  I enjoy watching your videos Arnold.

HO guys use a scewer to manualy uncouple thier kaydee cars in most operating session videos I have seen. try my uncoupling tool and you wont want to buy or hassel with those exspensive uncoupling tracks again. plus you wont have to spend money converting your cars to kaydees either. its a win win for me and its so simple I wish I would have thought about making one years ago. the idea came to me from a European modeller off youtube. I just modified it to work for 3rail trucks with the lobster claws.

Click on the triangle for a Photobucket video. 

I designed my layout to be mainly for running train, two loops.  But I have a yard to store trains on can do switching if there is no train running on the inner loop.  But I also did squeeze a Inglenook Sidings style switching puzzle layout in the center of my layout so I can do some switching while trains are running on the outside loops.

Thank you all for sharing!  @Tom Densel I love your concept.  Would you be kind enough to share your track plan?  @Choo Choo Charlie I've admired your layout for years.  Action packed and so nostalgic-- really reminds me of the layout my brother & I had growing up!  Love this thread, keep them coming!!

On my railroad, all trains have switching to do.  The locals have individual cars to pick up and set out.  The symbol trains have blocks of cars to change out at the yard.

I wish i had made switching operations and stuff. like that. .and crossovers..Then i met a friend Clem and he invited me and my wife over to see his layout.best layout we ever seen. And all the help and ideas I get from this forum.

Mike CT posted:

Click on the triangle for a Photobucket video. 

This is the video that started me in "O" scale. Prior being in "N" and "HO".  I haven't looked back since. This scene also reminds me of several places around my home town. CO-OP and grain elevator with a siding and ramp were a farmer could pick up his new Farmal tractor, (dad was a Farmal man rather then John Deere).

I'm always grateful to Mike for putting this video up, and never tire of seeing it again and again.

I always wanted to until I realized how much space it took up. 

I switch all the time, I switch Locomotives when they get "tired". I switch rolling stock when I want to run something

else. I switch passenger cars when I want to run passenger service.

My friend chooses to run 5 or 6 trains at once and sit and watch. When I started building my layout, I knew I wanted it to have function and to occupy the imagination of my grandkids. So I designed it (with help from Richard) to do some switching, consist building, and incorporate 4 industries. I really enjoy it. I use tokens, as I deal with enough BOL’s on the job. 

Ted S posted:

Thank you all for sharing!  @Tom Densel I love your concept.  Would you be kind enough to share your track plan?  

I had to dig this out.  I made it when I was designing the layout.  I just added the numbers for the industries and other buildings.  The room is 10 1/2' x 12'.

  The Penn Central is indicated in black.  The AC&Y is indicated in red.  The green is the interchange.

1. Z4000 transformer  2. Switch tower  3. Passenger station.  4. House.  5. House with garage.  6. Pipe organ factory (R).  7. Produce distributor (R).                       8. Gas station.  9. Scrap yard (R).  10. Lumber yard (R).  11. Grain elevator (R).  12. Down town.  13. Fuel Distributor(R).  14. Fertilizer plant (R).  15. Feed mill (R).  16. Electric sub-station.  17. Factory 1.  18. Factory 2 (R).  19. Warehouse (R).  20. Railroad offices.  21. Oil well.  22.  Coal yard (R).     (R) Indicates rail service

If I had to do it over, I would have reversed the orientation of the crossover by #11.  As it is, I can reverse a train by running it through the crossover or interchange track, but, I have to perform a reverse move to get it back to its original direction. There is a lift out bridge over the walkway, between #2 & #21.  Removing the bridge adds another element to operation.

I operate with TMCC.  Track is Gargraves with Ross switches. 042 curves.  All switches are remote control with DZ-1000 switch machines.  Power is provided by a MTH Z4000 transformer.

Here are some overview shots of the layout.

Tom

has anyone though about or have parts of the layout interchangeable so you can have deisel era and a steam era scenes?

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

has anyone though about or have parts of the layout interchangeable so you can have deisel era and a steam era scenes?

I thought about that very thing but more in line with late 1800s in the south west vs. a 1940s urban area.  Steam vs. Diesel might not change too much as far as geographical formations and actually regarding buildings, we see diesels in areas of old urban areas that were once well traveled by steam.  Curious Roger if you have done that.  But your concept is what I thought I could do as far as just changing buildings with different architecture and height to keep the layout from getting too stale.  Otherwise, what would I do with all the scratch built ideas I have to store off the layout? 

I may do this via small building sceen moduals that I can place on the layout such as a group of small industries that are lit up and mounted to a thin piece of foam core or plywood and can be pluged in via a barrel jack femal plug on the small board. then I could swap these out depending on what I am running steam or modern diesel. _

I also am thinking of having a whole modual section say 3x4 or so that has plywood on both sides of the modual. on one side  a turntable with round house and steam  facilities such as a coaling tower yard office and other steam related items would be mounted. at least as much as possible so as to avoid removing to much when changing to modern diesel running.

then have on the other side a modern engine house,fueling rack and other diesel  related items mounted down. again as much as can be mounted down.  then my Idea is to have the modual flip over completly in some way being able to lock it in place after rotating it. this modual would be placed  on an end section of the layout. I would then pull the modual away from the layout so as to be able to flip it to which ever side I want to use at the time. then pushing it back into place attaching it to the layout. only problem is having to remove all the engines and buildings and such each time the modual was fliped. this I still just an idea in my head at the moment. I have to plan it out on paper to see if it would work. in theory it sounds like it may just work, but in reality it may not work at all. has anyone ever tryed somthing like this? 

the seconds option is maybe to have two seperate engine facilities moduals that are able to be raised and lowered and the benchwork on wheels so when one is being used the other can be stored right below the other one. this would save on room space when storing the moduals. 

I am thinking about these to methods for these moduals because it would be just me having to swap them out each time and a 3x4 modual may be two awkward to handle if I were to just have to manually set each modual in place say on benchwork that was slightly lower that the other benchwork. 

I maybe over thinking this,but its just an Idea like I said right now.