Model Railroad Operations

An Introduction

John Parker

Copyright, 2013 John Parker. All Rights Reserved.

Model Railroad Operations

Introduction to Model Railroad Operations

This is an Introduction..
Basic Planning Concepts for Operations
Overview of Basic Model Railroad Operations
What is model railroad operations?
Does size matter?
Establish an Identity
Functional components to make the operations work
Car Forwarding
Traffic Control
Yards
Staging
Performance

Environmental accommodations for people

Resources

Q&A Ask!
Survey Says.

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Why Model Railroad Operations?

Model Railroad Operations

Why Model Railroad Operations?

Fastest Growing Segment in Model Railroading
Build it to Create a Sense of Purpose
Emulating a transportation system
Nothing done without purpose just like the prototype
Use the prototype for inspiration prototype or freelance?

Evolution of Layout Progress Towards Operations

Lone Wolf
Few operators
Full operating Crew

Design will Impact or Enhance Operations

Layout changes, or build new layouts, as interests change

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Key Layout Design Concepts

for Operations

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Layout Design for Operations

Plan for People First, Not Track
Layout design ideas from a casino?
Influencing the movement of visitors and controlling where visitors look
are key elements of casino design ... and we can borrow a couple of
ideas Byron Henderson
Objectives
Direct and focus on the action
Create an attractive/comfortable space
Guide operators and visitors way finding
Caught in the action - difficult to find an exit!

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Layout Design for Operations

Facilitate People Movement - Aisle Width
Wider at yards and stationary operating positions
Operators often congregate in these areas
24 radius people for planning purposes

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Layout Design for Operations

Create the Feeling of Isolation

Places the operator in the scene

Use of view blocks and pockets/alcoves isolate the operator
Backdrops/walls separate adjoining aisles/work areas
Obstructions curved aisles and benchwork
Perception of longer trains and length in distance

Tony Koester's Allegheny Midland

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Layout Design for Operations

Defining Space
Tell them where they are,
and where they are going way finding

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Layout Design for Operations

Avoid stacking on multi-level layouts

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Does Layout Size Matter ?

No!
Smaller Layouts operate just
as well, and are just as fun
as large layouts!

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Does Size Matter?

Small Layout - Industry specific/Yard

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Does Size Matter?

Medium Layout - Shelf/Bedroom sized

Model Railroad Operations

Does Size Matter?

Large Layout
Usually a
combination of
long mainline,
interchange, yard,
industry
Basement empires

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Does Size Matter?

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Establishing an Identity
Tell your Operators about your railroad.

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Establishing an Identity
Freelance or Prototype?
Convey Identity
Railroad Equipment
Infrastructure
The Blacklog & Shade Gap Eastern

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Establishing an Identity System Map

The Blacklog & Shade Gap Eastern

The B&SGE is a freelance concept based on a "could've been"

expansion of narrow gauge railroad development in the
mountainous region west of the Susquehanna River and
sandwiched between the Juniata River to the north and the
Potomac River to the south. I won't go into that convoluted
historical dissertation here, except to say the B&SGE connects
with historical 3-ft gauge East Broad Top to the west and
Tuscarora Valley to the north and with another fictitious 3-ft
gauge railroad, the Cumberland & Susquehanna, an On3 model
railroad owned by historical and model railroad author Deane
Mellander.
In the system map below, the PRR's Cumberland Valley Branch
is highlighted in Red, the South Penn Branch in Dark Blue, the
B&SGE in Green, the C&S in Orange, and the Tuscarora Valley
in Light Blue (the dashed lines indicate it had been abandoned
by 1938, the year in which the B&SGE layout is set and three
years before this map was published by the PRR).

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Establishing an Identity Layout Schematic

The Blacklog & Shade Gap Eastern

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Functional Components
Car Forwarding.

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Car Forwarding = Servicing our Customers

Defining Your Industries
Raw Materials, Finished Goods, Services, etc.

Moving Freight
Car Cards and Waybills
Switch Lists
Computer Generated Manifests/Switch Lists

Which One is Right for You?

Look at your Prototype, era, etc.

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Car Cards and Waybills

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Switch Lists

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Computer Generated

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Functional Components
Traffic Control.

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Traffic Control Getting Trains There. Safely

How Do We Move Trains ?
Yard Limits
Mother May I ?
Block Control and Track Warrants
Time Table and Train Order
CTC (Signaling)
Which One is Right for You?
Look at your Prototype, era, etc.

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Moving Trains Yard Limits

Rule 6.13, 6.14, 93, etc.
Provides unrestricted movement
Restricted speeds
Permission required before entering

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Moving Trains Mother May I ?

Used early in model railroad operations
Not prototypical
Difficult for Dispatcher to remember
Problematic

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Moving Trains Blocks and Track Warrants

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Moving Trains Time Table & Train Order

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Moving Trains CTC/Signals

Most efficient method of control
CTC, ABS,
signal indications

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Functional Components
Yards.

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Yards Not Destinations

Where Does it All Go?
Placement of industries, yard, staging, in relation to each other is
critical
Avoid towns/cities within one train length, or visible from one
another (linear)
Increases sense of distance and isolation
Provides for unknown opposing mainline traffic
Yards should have prototype purpose/location
Sub-divisions, branch lines, and interchange connections
Provides more classification and yard work
Keep everything within reach

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Yard Design Increases Operating Capacity

Fundamentals are key to traffic flow!

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Functional Components
Staging.

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Staging An Off-Layout Destination

Where Does it All Go?
Placement of industries, yard, staging, in relation to each other is
critical
Which Staging is Best for Your Layout?
Depends many variables
Space
Access
Layout size/type
Availability of operators
Number of trains
Etc., etc., etc.
Its True: Youll NEVER have enough

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Functional Components
Staging Self-Staging
Operators stage own trains as part of run
Accessible from layout aisles
Keep accessible

David Lotzs Burlington & Missouri River Railroad (both pictures)

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Functional Components
Staging Visible Staging
Visible layout element scenery
Operators stage own trains as part of run

Rick Rideouts L&N Henderson Subdivision

David Barrows Cat Mountain and Santa Fe

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Functional Components
Staging Active Staging
Dedicated operator hidden, mole
Reduces hidden run time for operators

Lee Nicholas UCWRR

Joe Fugate's HO Siskiyou Line

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Functional Components
Layout Performance.

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Performance Keep Them Coming Back

Manage a Trouble-Free Layout
Reliability is the key to prevent operators fighting your layout
Ensure clean track, trouble-free equipment, and excellent
operating trackwork
Avoid operator frustration to keep them coming back!

Use Command Control It is Preferred

Operators will prefer DCC over DC layout owners may not
The most effective system is transparent to the operator and
requires no sermons on how to use - keep it simple

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Manage a Trouble Free Layout

Ensure excellent track work, electrical, and
equipment performance
Clean Before Your Session
Track, loco wheels, etc.

Maintain equipment standards

Coupler heights,

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Functional Components
Digital Command Control (DCC)
DCC adds flexibility
and realism
Plan carefully for ops.
Boosters near yards/staging
Placement of buss
runs, detection boards,
Signaling decoders, wireless,
throttle jacks, etc.

Operate Your Trains,

Not Your Layout

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Environmental accommodations
for people
These are Your Friends!

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Take Care of your Friends

Create a warm, friendly operating environment
Provide a place to take a break
Provide a comfortable operating area

Ensure operator safety

If you keep it clean and neat - your operators
will respect and take care of your equipment
and layout.

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Environment -Plan for the Creature Comforts

Room Ventilation
HVAC and returns
Load balancing for ops. changes
can be difficult to manage
Pre-heating/cooling may
be necessary
Access for HVAC changes

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Environment -Plan for the Creature Comforts

Flooring
Keep em off the concrete
Carpet squares
Easy to replace

Temperature Changes

Layout Skirting
Eliminate distractions - hide the mess/storage

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Environment -Plan for the Creature Comforts

Plan for/Prevent Emergencies.
Egress and markings
Lighting
Emergency Devices

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Environment -Plan for the Creature Comforts

Crew Lounge
Take care of your operators
Lounge vs. layout space
Living/family rooms also work

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Environment -Plan for the Creature Comforts

Crew Lounge
Not too comfy!

Lee Nicholas UCWRR

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Suggested Resources:
Operations Special Interest Group (www.opsig.org)
Quarterly journals, web resources, industry listings

Layout Design Special Interest Group (www.ldsig.org)

Quarterly journals, web resources, layout reviews

Gateway NMRA, Designing Model Railroad Operations

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/designops.htm

Layout Design Journal Special Freight Yards Issue (LDSig)

Track Planning for Realistic Operation Kalmbach Publishing (John Armstrong)
"Realistic Model Railroad Operation" Kalmbach Publishing (Tony Koester)
"Realistic Model Railroad Design" Kalmbach Publishing (Tony Koester)

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