Operations
TOMA Ideas in practice
I have been wanting to explore what can be done with 48" sections - module style without fixed end connections - or The One Module Approach or TOMA.
Now that I have actually started to create sawdust it is clear that some more forethought would have been benifitial. Not too late though as this is a chainsaw. Some of my concerns may be no big deal but I thought I'd post them here for your imput.
Modern BNSF operations paperwork (switchlists, manifests, etc)
Hi all,
I'm looking for examples of modern BNSF operations paperwork, such as switch lists, manifests, their version of a Form D, etc.
I'm using the JMRI Operations software and would like to format my paperwork in a similar way to the prototype. I would also like to find out the paperwork involved if a local crew wants to switch a facility that requires occupying part of a main track (if that situation still exists) or if a maintenance of way team needs to occupy a section of track.
ProtoThrottle in beta testing phase
Below is a very short video showing one of our ProtoThrottles that we are currently beta testing on Joe Atkinson’s IAIS layout.
Through freight modeling option
Here’s an option for a unique unit train that would be a show stopper for a through freight on just about any large layout:
Photos credit: Iowa Interstate Railroad
JMRI OPS
Hello all I just started using JMRI ops starting small so here is my scenario have a grain elevator that has a spur that can handle 3 hoppers it except empties and returns loads .
Another use for coffee stirring sticks
Another use for those green stirring sticks from that corporate coffee company is uncoupling. I trim off the bottom circle and file each side down to a point and use them to uncouple cars. Easy to find on the layout because of the size and color.
TT&TO Temptation
Since I started building the layout I have been expecting to use either the MBS (Manual Block System) or OCS (Occupancy Control System) method to control train movements. My initial era (mid 1990’s) put it squarely into the OCS era. I knew that CN used TT&TO until the early 1980’s but this was a bit of esoteric information for me when construction commenced. Since then I have backdated to the 1980’s for my era, but I continued to expect to use OCS.
Operating positions on the W&N June 2017
On the 1903 W&N branch operating in June 2017 for OS Omaha I will have 4 positions available.
1. Wilmington Yardmaster and Shifter
This position based out of the 6th St yard serves as the general yardmaster for the Wilmington Terminal and supervises the yard engines there. As the yard shifter, the job classifies inbound trains and cuts and builds the outbound trains and cuts. If required it could do industry or interchange work.
Here is the yard at Wilmington:
N Scale small switching layout
I have a good HO scale layout in a 1200 square-foot room in my basement. I am five years into it's construction and enjoying the continuing improvements and now operating with 8 to 12 friends on somewhat of a regular basis. I have an area in my workshop in another part of the basement I'm considering putting an N scale switching layout in. I am running my HO railroad with the RailPro system by Ring engineering and absolutely love it.
Random Thoughts on a car card & waybill system
Or.... How to potentially thoroughly mess up an operating session.
I've always had mixed feelings about the traditional 4-cycle waybill system. It does seem to work, normally, but it also seems fairly maintenance intensive - all the waybills have to be flipped between operating sessions and the like. I did not become a model railroader in order to do paperwork (which is also why I'm figuring on a TWC system instead of TT&TO). It also seemed like it had a certain lack of randomness.
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