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Model RailroadingOperations 101:
Review of Topics
Tom CrosthwaitPresident, Mogollon & Southwestern RR
&
Fred Bock, MMR,Chief Dispatcher, M&Sw
What is “operations”?
• “Fun Running” (sometimes called “’round and ‘round”) is running a locomotive and cars over a layout for the fun of watching the trains go.
• Most model railroaders, even expert model builders, are “fun runners” (source: Kalmbach Pub. Co.).
• • “Operations” is simulating (in miniature) the
day-to-day activities of real railroads -- picking up freight, assembling trains, delivering cars to consignees, sorting arriving freight cars by their future destinations, returning empty cars.
What is “operations”?
• “Operations” is simulating (in miniature) the day-to-day activities of real railroads -- picking up freight, assembling trains, delivering cars to consignees, sorting arriving freight cars by their future destinations, returning empty cars.
Simulating: -- keep important details -- omit unimportant ones
-- objective: have fun!
Train Operations
It’s a game!
The “Rules” of the Game
• (All games have “rules” – e.g. Monopoly).
• On the M&Sw, the “rules” are:– The M&Sw “Standard Code of Operating Rules for Model RRs”.– The M&Sw “Employee Timetable and Special Instructions”.
» (The above documents are modeled on the prototype).– A RailOp Switching Manifest.
• All M&Sw employees will receive a copy of the “Standard Code” and of the “Employee Timetable” and should keep these with them while on duty. [Rule 4]
• (An “employee” is a person who has been invited by the Superintendent to participate in an operating session and has accepted the invitation for a particular date and time).
Model Train (vs. Prototype)
• Engineer can easily see what’s ahead.
• Can stop train in 3 feet.
• Cost of accident:– usually < $500– usually nobody killed
Simplification for fun’s sake is OK.
A typical freight train
• A “train”:– Has a locomotive at the front end.– May have 0, 1 or more cars behind.– Displays “markers” at the end of the train
• On the M&Sw: freight trains must have a caboose. [Rule 19]
Train Crew Roles• Engineer:
– Operates the locomotive.
– STAYS AHEAD OF HIS MOVING LOCOMOTIVE AT ALL TIMES!
– Communicates only with conductor.
– Keeps a keen eye on his loco and train.
– Watches / listens for derailed cars or locos.
• Conductor-Brakeman– “Boss” of the train.– Directs the engineer on
running the train.– Communicates with
dispatcher, yardmaster, and other conductors.
– Directs switching moves.– Throws turnouts.– Uncouples cars as needed.– Does roll-by inspections of
other trains. [Rule 712, Rule 713]
– Watches / listens for derailed cars or locomotives.[Rule 920, Rule 800, 801, Rule 712]
Model Railroading
Using the M&Sw’s throttles• Keep the antenna vertical.• Don’t touch the antenna.• Hold the case in your left hand*• . . . at least 1’ from your body.
• Rotate the speed control knob with your right hand. *[use two hands]
• Rotate GENTLY – it breaks.
• Don’t MASH down on the keys; be GENTLE – they break.
• Turn Throttle “OFF” when done.
Turnouts – Ground Throws
Main route – usually straight
Diverging route – usually curved
HAND SIGNAL:
“Throw Turnout” -- Tap top of head with hand several times; point at turnout to be thrown.
Spurs and Sidings
• A spur is a track on which cars are left for loading, unloading, or (sometimes) storage.
• A siding is a track which is used by one train to meet or pass another.
• Normally, cars to be loaded or unloaded are NOT left on sidings . . . sidings are kept clear.
• An empty double-ended spur may be used as a temporary or emergency passing siding.
Repeat
Spurs and Sidings
This is a passing siding.
This is adouble-ended
spur.
(This train has taken the siding to meet an oncoming train).
Note: This is a meet between two trains.
(The freight car isbeing unloaded)
[Rule S-89]
This is asingle-ended
spur.
Common Hand Signals• Back-up (reverse)
• Slowly (inching)• Controlled stop• Stop
• You are coupled up
• Go forward
• OK
• Highball (leave town)
- beckon toward self with circular motion. - fingers come together- hands come together- hold closed hand up.
- make closed fist, shake once.
- move open palm, fingers closed, up and down away from you.
- thumbs-up /or/ circle
- pull imaginary steam whistle twice (“Toot – Toot”)
[Rule 8]
Model Railroading
Facing point spur – set-out
(freight house)
This is where we want the refrigerator car
to be set out.
This move is not possible without a run-around move first.
(This requires a double-ended siding or spur nearby).
Caboose Run-Around Move
• If you reach the end of the line, and have to return back to the terminal the way you came, then you must do a caboose run-around.
• (Or, push your caboose and train backwards all the way back!! Not good!).
• Objective: swap the locomotive(s) and caboose to the opposite ends of the train.
• So that: the caboose (with its marker lamps) is at the end of the train on the return trip.
Trailing point Pick-ups – Entraining Cars – Front of Train
• Some cars should be entrained (positioned) at the FRONT of a train:
– cars that will be set out at towns sometime later during the remainder of the trip.
– heavy cars – loaded hoppers, ore cars– stock cars – far ahead of caboose – smell!!– chemical tank cars – far ahead of caboose
– loads that can shift – not next to loco or caboose
Pick-Ups – Rear of Train
• In some cases, the cars that are picked up should be entrained at the REAR of the train, just ahead of the caboose.
• Cars that should be on REAR of train:– cars returning all the way to final destination
(not scheduled to be set out).– lightweight cars of all types– empty cars: flats, hoppers, ore cars– fragile cars: wooden flats, boxcars, ore cars
[See “Special Instructions, M&Sw Timetable #4]
Interchange – end of branch
(freight house)
(end ofbranch)
Objectives: (1) Pick up cars on interchange track (2) Drop off the cars in the train on interchange. (3) Run-around train (4) Return back to terminal.:
(connecting railroad)
Interchange/run-around track
YARD SWITCHING
• A Yard is a collection of parallel tracks.• It is controlled by the Yardmaster.
• A Yard is used to:– receive an arriving train– break down cars in an arriving train– sort cars into groups going to next destinations.– make up a train going to a destination
• It is NOT used as “storage” for cars not in use.
M&Sw yards -- Globe, Arizona
Arrival Track
caboose track
yard ladder tr
ack
yard run-around tra
ck
Makeup/departure tracks
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
road locoescape track
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
loco ready track
Globe yards – arriving train
Arrival Track
caboose track
yard ladder tr
ack
yard run-around tra
ck
Makeup/departure tracks
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
road locoescape track
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
loco ready track
M&Sw yards -- Globe, Arizona
Arrival Track
caboose track
yard ladder tr
ack
yard run-around tra
ck
Makeup/departure tracks
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
road locoescape track
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
loco ready track
Breaking trains, sorting cars
• For an arriving train, once the locomotive and caboose have been removed, the cars in the train must be broken up and sorted.
• Cars from a train are sorted according to the departing trains that will take them to their next destination.
• The yard crew uses a switcher to do this.
Breaking train & sorting cars
Arrival Track
caboose track
yard run-around tra
ck
Makeup/departure tracks
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
road locoescape track
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
SPCATSFPFE SP B&OSFRD GN UPPFE
4
3
2
1
Way Freights
Flagstaff Express – to ATSF
AZS & FCP
to SP
loco ready track
Globe Local switching
Globe Switch List 4/4/06SP 123456 GlobeATSF 38432 Flagstaff
GN 33498 Happy Jack
UP 3353 FlagstaffB&O 43987 SP Intrchg
SPC 361 MiamiPFE 35498 Miami
PFE 43826 Mary LakeSFRD 2348 Miami
Step 4: blocking a train:
caboose track
yard run-around tra
ck
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
4
3
2
1
loco ready track
SFRDSPC
UP
B&O
GN
SP2
Flagstaff Local Switch List
4/4/06
SPC 361 MiamiSFRD 2348 Miami
PFE 35498 MiamiGN 33498 Happy Jack
PFE 43826 Mary Lake
PFE PFE
ATSF
OBJECTIVE: get the cars for the local to be grouped
in blocks, one block of cars for each town, to be in the order of the stations along the way where they will be switched.
Step 4: blocking a train:
caboose track
yard run-around tra
ck
Yard (switching) leadYard (switching) lead
(to
Yard Limit)
SP interchange track
SP branch (to Bowie, A
Z)
4
3
2
1
loco ready track
SFRDSPC
UP
B&O
GN
SP2
Flagstaff Local Switch List
4/4/06
SPC 361 MiamiSFRD 2348 Miami
PFE 35498 MiamiGN 33498 Happy Jack
PFE 43826 Mary Lake
PFE PFE
ATSF
Miami Happy Jack Mary Lake
Yardmaster vs. Dispatcher
• As Frank Ellison once put it:
• “For all practical purposes, main line and yard are two wholly independent operating layouts connected by the fewest possible entrance and exit tracks. . .”
• “The yardmaster is supreme in one, and the dispatcher in the other. . .”
• Movements between the two are made only by mutual agreement.”
(Quotation from Bruce A. Chubb, “How to Operate your Model Railroad”)
• #1: Keep trains on the main line from crashing into each other!
• #2: Keep trains from creating a traffic jam that ties up the railroad.
• #3: Keep traffic flowing smoothly• #4: Give each train crew the “time and track”
it needs to get it’s job done.
• On the M&Sw, it’s usual practice to have a dispatcher when there are 3 or more trains in mainline operation at the same time.
[Rule 990]The Dispatcher
Leaving the Yard
• A conductor needs permission of the Yardmaster for his train to move thru the yard to the Yard Limit.
• A conductor needs permission from the Dispatcher for his train to pass the Yard Limit and proceed out of the yard onto the main line.
• The Yard Limit is the boundary between the Yardmaster’s yard and the Dispatcher’s railroad [Rule 93].
Yard
RailroadMainline
Yard Limit sign
The Yard Limit sign will be on the right-hand side of the track as you ENTER the yard. (the engineer’s side).
The Yard Limit sign will be on the left-hand side of the track as you LEAVE the yard.
SP CommonStandard sign
(used on M&Sw)
Simulated Radio Traffic
• “Yardmaster, Globe: this is Conductor, Train 121 (holding on Track 3) (over).”
• “Go ahead 121”• “Yardmaster: Train 121 requests clearance to
depart Globe Yard for Miami at 1:12 pm”.• “Hold one, Train 121, while I get clearance (from
the Dispatcher); Dispatcher: this is Yardmaster, Globe Yard (over).”
• “Go ahead, Globe.”• “Dispatcher: Train 121 is ready to depart Globe at
1:12 pm and requests clearance to Miami (over).”
Simulated Radio Traffic
• “Dispatcher: this is Train 121, OS in Miami (over)”.
• “Very well, Train 121, I have you OS in Miami”.
• “Dispatcher: request 1 hour ‘time and track’ in Miami for local switching (over).”
• “Train 121: you are cleared for 1 hour ‘time and track’ in Miami. Please notify me when you are done.”
• “Dispatcher: will do. Train 121 clear.”
WHY??
WHY??
RailOp Switching Manifest - Miami
• TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn• Miami:
» <<Pick-up>>
– BREX 2334 Reefer San Carlos Packing– CB&Q 2134 Cov.Hop. Bock Perlite
» <<Set-Out>>
– SP 32861 Box Team Track– PFE 12345 Reefer San Carlos Packing– SFRD 8923 Reefer San Carlos Packing
• Arizona Southern Junction:» <<Pick-Up>>
– NdeM 4423 Flat AZS Interchange– FCP 23876 Box AZS Interchange
» <<Set-Out>>
– M&Sw 798 Flat AZS Interchange
Cars that left Globe on Train 121; your job is to set them out at the industries listed for Miami.
Train 121 is to pick these cars up in Miami.
Train 121 sets this car out on the AZS Interchange Track.
Train 121 picks these two cars up off the AZS Interchange Track.
Turnouts – Ground Throws
Main route – usually straight
Diverging route – usually curved
Rule 104: Train crews are responsible for the position of turnouts used by them and members of their crew, except when control is remote. Turnouts must be properly lined after having been used.
Meets & Passes: Etiquette
Passenger and Freight Trains
• A passenger train almost always takes the track next to the station, regardless whether it arrives for the meet first or second.
• A thru passenger train that does NOT stop at the station will normally take the mainline past the station.
• The train arriving first for the meet or pass stops and re-aligns the turnouts behind it for the train arriving after it. [Rule S-89] [Rule 104]
• The train departing last makes sure the turnouts it leaves behind are aligned for the main line. [Rule 104]
• Rule 107: Trains must run at restricted speed when passing a train that is receiving or discharging passengers at a station. They must not pass between the standing train and the station, except when properly protected.
• Rule 108: In case of doubt or uncertainty, the safe course must be taken.
Simulated Radio Traffic
• “Dispatcher: this is Conductor, Train 122, OS at Miami (over).”
• “Go ahead 122; I have you OS at Miami (over)”• “Dispatcher: Train 122 requests clearance to
depart Miami for Globe Yard (over)”.• “Hold one, Train 122, while I get clearance
(from the Yardmaster); Yardmaster, Globe Yard: this is Dispatcher (over).”
• “Go ahead, Dispatcher.”• “Yardmaster: Train 122 is ready to depart
Miami and requests clearance to enter Globe Yard (over).”
WHY??
Dispatching & Signaling• Myth: “You can’t operate a large model railroad
without a dispatcher and an electronic CTC panel.”• Fact: Dispatching is helpful on a large model
railroad, but not always necessary if all trains are locals. A “train graph” (paper) or “manual CTC” is all that is necessary for train control. (Used on M&Sw).
• Myth: “You can’t operate a large model railroad without signaling.” (False)
• Fact: Many prototype railroads for years did and still do operate “dark” just fine. So does the M&Sw.
• Myth: “You must have 3-position light or semaphore signals for effective operations.” (False).
• Fact: Model railroads with signaling systems work fine with just red and green. And cost less.
WHY??
WHY??
Dispatching on the M&Sw
• Train sequencing –– RailOps (regular freight)
– Manual (passenger)– Manual (special freight)
• Simulated radio-telephone train orders.
• CTC – manual
• Train-order signaling– Currently only one station –
Strawberry – has a train order board installed; not operating.
• Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) – (block detection)– Currently only one block has
ABS: the start of the Arizona Southern System.
– Currently, staging for the AZS has ABS and control panel display.
– Under discussion: ABS for “the Helix” between Payson and Strawberry.
Dispatching Signaling
10
Speed Limits• On a model railroad, speed limits are posted to
protect you from having to purchase a new locomotive for yourself or your buddy.
• On the M&SW– The Zingerle Bridge (wood truss) is 200 scale feet above a
concrete floor.– Adams’ Trestle and the E. Verde Creek wooden bridge-
trestles are 350 scale feet above a concrete floor.– The Mogollon Rim (the upper deck) is about 500 scale feet
above a concrete floor.
• The posted speed limit across the Zingerle Bridge (just north of Globe), Adams’ Trestle and E. Verde Creek bridge (just north of Strawberry) is 10 mph.
• In HO scale, 10 mph is about 10 real feet per minute, or about as slow as you can go without stalling.
[Rule 720]
Whistle & Bell Signals• All aboaaaard!• Train is leaving
• Grade Crossing warning
• Approaching Station
• Approaching Station (last 200’)• Leaving Station (first 200’)• While Switching (sometimes)
• “TooooooooooooooooT”• “Toot-Toot” (two short)
• “Toooot-Toooot-Tut-Tooooooot”
• (last “toot” is extended until the loco passes over road crossing)
• “ToooooooooooooooooooT”
• (ends after loco is past the station or comes to a stop).
• Bell should start ringing to warn people on the ground near the train before the train stops or before the train begins to move again.
[Rule 30]
MODEL RAILROAD
^
THE ENDof
Review of Topicsfor
Model RailroadingOperations 101:
QUESTIONS??
HAPPY JACK MINING DISTRICT
Housetrack Drill
track
Maintrack
Passingtrack
Freighttrack
Chemicaltrack
Minespur
