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