Year in Review

A year ago, I started setting up a number of my retired UMG modules to have a home layout and the White River Southern (WRS) was created .

This is the system map of the first version of the WRS created by my modules.

This Blog was started to follow the work and activity on the WRS.

On February 19th, the first operating session was held. The four crews ( Yard, Junction, Dogwood and Rosetown) when off to perform their assigned duties.

In March, there were two more operating sessions and a couple more modules were added to the layout.

In April, another area was added to the layout, Bartown. The revised system map is on the left. There was one operating session.






In May there was an operating session and a section was added to Dogwood.

In June there were two operating sessions.

In July, there was a major change in the WRS. The layout was rearranged by moving Junction to the other end of Dogwood and connecting Dogwood and Rosetown together. This changed the WRS to a point to point layout. Also Blue Ridge area was added to the the other leg of Junction.




In August, the changes to the layout was completed and an operating session was held at the end of the month.


In September, a much needed run around was added to Blue Ridge.


In October, there was little activity on the WRS due to other commitments.


In November, operations returned to the WRS, with two operating sessions. Between the two operating session, the classification and departure tracks in the Yard were increased in length to handle the increased traffic on the WRS.

In December, the WRS expanded again. The area beyond Bartown was added. This included the new town of Riverside and the new Yard. The plan is to add an Interchange track(s) to the Yard to allow for movement of cars off of the WRS. With a new Yard, the old Yard will be converted to the Mill (White River Paper Company). This will be the major industry on the WRS.



This year, a dozen operators have helped make the eleven operating sessions on the WRS possible and enjoyable. The WRS has grown from 13 industries with 20 car spots to now 20 industries with 53 car spots. The four crews at the start of the year, has been replaced with seven crews (Yard, Bartown Local, Rosetown Local, Mill Run, Mill Job, Dogwood Switcher and Junction Switcher)


Projects for 2008 will include installing the Interchange trackage, completing the Mill complex track work and installing more buildings on the WRS. The first area to be addressed, is Bartown with the arrival of Green Mountain Limestone Bulk loading complex.


thanks

Doug

Yard Version II

After having a little time over the Holidays to think about how the new Yard was going to operate. An issue came to light. The loco(s) were trapped when they entered into the arrival tracks. To over come this issue, a pair of switches were installed been the third and fourth tracks in the Yard. The picture below shows the installed switches.


The picture below is of the Yard just before an operating session starts.
Track One (next to the wall) is the departure track for the Mill Run (15 cars).
Track Two is the departure track for Roseton Local (10 cars)
Track Three is the departure track for Bartown Local (6 cars).
Track Four is the arrival track for the Mill Run.
Track Five is the arrival track for Roseton Local.
Track Six (which was just added) is the arrival track for Bartown Local.

Now just a few more wires need to be install to provide power to all tracks and then the Yard will be fully operational.

later

Doug

Staging Yard

While taking a break from working on changes to the Yard .... the story for another day ... I did not want to make the same mistake on the Staging Yard. So I started working on the new operating requirements for the new arrangement. I found out that I need three sets of cars for each job and not two that I had on the last version. So now the Staging Yard will need to hold around sixty cars and not the thirty I was planning. This also means that I will need somewhere between hundred and fifty and hundred and eighty cars to operate the layout. May have to open a few of the kits and start building again.

Time to check things again to make sure that I do not need a fourth set of cars.

later

Doug

New Yard

This is the being of the Yard. There are five tracks, the back three are the departure tracks and the front two are arrival. The track with the Conrail units will be the track to staging.



This is a shot of the middle of the Yard.




This shot was taken from the end of the Yard.



Yes I add on to the first two departure tracks. The one with the tank car will be for the Mill Run, which will be a 15 car train. The track with the all door car will be for the Roseton Local and track with the orange boxcar is for Bartown Local. The white boxcar is on one of the two arrival track.

later

Doug

Happy Holidays

The Management of White River Southern wants to wish all the Crews that have made the last year possible, a Happy Holidays and may Santa put many train related items under your tree this year.

later

Doug

Blue Circle Flour Relocates

Blue Circle Flour has moved from Greenfield to Blue Ridge. This relocation was required for the construction of the Mill Yard. Beside me, who would build a Flour Mill next to a Paper Mill.

later

Doug

Ripping Crew

The Ripping Crew was busy, only a few of the departure tracks are left. These are being left in until after Christmas just incase some operator drops by.

Last Trains out of Town

With the operating session in the books, the WRS crew was busy collecting the cars in the Old Yard before the Ripping Crew arrived. You do not want cars on the wrong side of disappearing tracks.

This is the last train out of town.


This is the view from the other end.




The Ripping Crew waiting for the Train to get out of town.

Once the required switches are removed, work will continue on the New Yard ... errr ...The Yard, since the old yard is now know as the Mill Yard.

Later

Doug

Operating Session Dec 17

This was the last planned operating session using the old yard. Sorry no pictures again. Were a little short handed this operating session with the holiday season upon us, so I had to work a couple of the jobs.

The Bartown Switcher had a small change in its normal routine, it continue on past Bartown for the first time and visited both Riverside and the New Yard.

Another noteworthy item is that Bruce was out of the Yard and working the Junction Local and the Dogwood Switcher.

later

Doug

Revised System Map

Below is the revised system map for the WRS.

The old yard is still at the location marked The Mill. This area will have the track removed after the next operating session on Monday Dec 17. Work is continuing on the WRS Yard, it maybe available in limited usage for the next operating session. The staging area will not happen until after Christmas.

The WRS will be roughly seventy five feet of mainline from the WRS Yard to the Mill Yard.

later

Doug

WRS track crew reaches the New Yard

The WRS track crew has been busy again, they have now complete the section from Riverside to the New Yard and have started work in the Yard. For now the crew will work on the roadbed in the Yard, but track work will be on hold until a couple of switches from the old yard can be transferred to the new yard.

later

Doug

Inspection Train Part 2

Management finally arrived at Riverside. There are two industries in Riverside. One is an old customer of the WRS, Valley Produce. Their new warehouse will be built on the siding next to the inspection train. The blue wall on the right is the second business, Valley Growers Assocation's supply warehouse, which is a new customer of the WRS.

Later

Doug

Inspection Train

WRS management when on an inspection run from Bartown to Riverside to check out the new track work and the business in Riverside.

This picture was taken has they finished acrossing the bridge over the White River north of Bartown.

The train is now taking the curve into Riverside.

later

Doug

Update Dec 6

Working on the next section of the benchwork, hoping to have it finished this weekend after a visit to the hardware store. Also been spending time with Cadrail working on designs for the new yard. Need to work on how trains will arrive and depart.

Will update as more things happen

later

Doug

30 Feet Revisited

Last month I discussed adding another thirty feet to the layout. This weekend the benchwork was started and now roughly twenty five feet of the benchwork has been installed. The picture below is the connection to the layout at Bartown.


This is a view in the other direction. Riverside will be at the bottom of the picture and at the top will the location of the new Yard.

Will keep you updated as more work is done on this section of the railroad.

later

Doug

Green Mountain Limestone

Ross of Young Construction reported the last of the material to complete the construction of the bulk loading complex has arrived and the project should be completed in the next few weeks. Pictures will be coming when the project is complete.

later

Doug

Framer Brown's Lane Revisited

This an overhead shot of Farmer Brown's Lane grade crossing hopefully showing the Lane better. The track is in a small cut, with the lane going uphill on both sides. Note only four wheel drives and farm tractors can use the lane at present. Farmer Brown is hoping to have the lane leveled out soon.

Roseton switches

After many complaints from the engine crews of the loss of traction on the switches at the Whiskey Falls end of the pasting siding at Roseton, the maintenance crews removed the switches and replaced the insulated rail joiners with the metal version. This is hoped to improve the power to the traction motors on the units. The crews are hoping to repair the other end of the sidings in the next few days.

later

Doug

Farmer Brown's Lane

The crews have just finished the grade crossing at Farmer Brown's Lane.

Blue Ridge gets some colour

The picture below is the passing siding in Blue Ridge with the spur line for J & B Produce on the right side.



The picture below is what it looks like today after a little foam and "green" stuff have been added.

Operating Session Report Nov 26

Monday Night was another operating session on the White River Southern. It was an interesting evening. Murphy's Law happened when Don plug in his throttle and it caused a short for some reason in the communication bus. Likely two of the pins were touching each other. After a little work, he was able to get the plug out of the jack. After this it was just the normal amount of shorts and a few derailments. Everything runs ok on Sunday, but for some reason they do not on Monday.



Dave and Ross busy at Blue Ridge.

Gray and Pierre at Whiskey Falls

Doug and Don busy at Blue Ridge.

Glen at Dogwood, with Ross and Dave in the background at Roseton. Don on the right is busy at Blue Ridge.

With the different crews, the operating instructions were read in some strange ways. One crew had to return to pick up the other half of their train, when they forgot to pick up the cars from the other switching job. A local switching crew picked up its cars from the local industries, before their cars to be delivered arrived at the local siding. Which caused a few interesting moments, then the first crew return to the siding with its cars in tow and the other crew had placed the cars for pick up by the first crew on the siding. This cause a few moments discussions on the rules of the railroad and how the run around would happen. They worked it out, I think because all the cars were delivered.

We were missing our normal Yard Master, Bruce, who could not make it. So I had to be Yard Master. I will clean up the Yard in the next couple of weeks before the next operating session.

Part of the operating session was video taped. I think the blackmailing will start soon.

Every one had fun and that is the most important thing.

later

Doug

update Nov 26

With the operating session tonight, the weekend was spend cleaning up the layout and the basement for tonight.

The proper paperwork is on the rack and the cars are where they should be. (see notes from the last operating session http://whiteriversouthern.blogspot.com/2007/11/nov-6-update.html).

While I was cleaning up, I finally decided to deal with the missing scenery at Whiskey Falls. Whiskey Falls started as one of my UMG corner modules. For some unknown reason, when the glue was applied to the plaster for the scenery, it did not bond and I was left with a thin shell of scenery. With all the moving to and from shows, this thin shell cracked and piece lifted or fell off. So out came the glue and scenery material. So now the areas of white have gone again.

later

Doug

Mill Switcher

On Saturday I picked up this 70 tonner at the Dartmouth Show. The plan is have this unit work the Mill Job. Until then it will be working the Yard.

The Unit runs well and can be noisey at times, I am hoping the NCE decoder for the Bachman decoder replacement will work on this units, since I do not want to remove the weight above the decoder.

later

Doug

Departure Yard

The work on the lengthing of the Departure Yard is now complete . The two Local Trains are now on T1 and T2 (upper left) waiting for the arrivial of the Crews to start their busy day on the WRS. The Yard Crew is about to start sorting the Classification Yard (on the right) for tomorrow deliveries.

Paper Work

With the next visit from the Monday Night Gang, being next Monday, it was time to do the paper work for the operating session. It is strange to have it done a week ahead of time, normal it is gone just before the Gang walks in.

One of the requested from the last operating session, was to create a list for the brakeman to check the cars in his train. This session there will a Brakeman List in the package, which will include the car type and reporting marks, will also include which cars are to be deliveried to each area that the Local services. This will be the same list used by the Yard Master to make up the Locals.

To reduce the time required to setup an operating session, each Local will have two list for industies to be switched. Half of the car spotting locations will be on one list and the second half will be on the other. The Local for Dogwood / Junction / Blue Ridge, will have a Blue and Red Lists and the Local for Roseton / Whiskey Falls / Bartown will have a Green and Yellow Lists.

We will test this paperwork for the next few sessions to see how it works.

Later

Doug

30 feet

Scott ask for pictures of where I was going to add Thirty Feet to my layout.

The picture below is the end of Bartown, which is where the new benchwork will start. Just behind the post is where the present track is.

After making the turn, the layout will continue along the wall. You can see the changes to the Departure Yard on the right of the photo. This section is going to be 9" wide, with one industry on this wall. From the beam to the corner is 12 feet.

Another 9 feet will be added along the back wall. This section will be 6 to 9 inches wide.

The last 8 feet will be on the top of the shelf, the white object with all the junk on top of it. This will be 12 to 14 inches wide.

The stage yard will be entering the other room somewhere on the shelf area. Even with adding the shelf where will be between 30 to 36 inch walkway for operators. If I move "the place where projects go to die", I could add another 8 feet to Blue Ridge :-)

Things are changing

In developing the new paper work for the layout an issues came to a head. T2 in the Departure Yard was one car too short. Two options, shorten the train or lenghten the track. In the past I have just added to the benchwork and added more track. But this time, this not an option, cause of the clearance required for the full body owner. This morning the switches for the departure tracks were lifted and the first switch was moved down the mainline. When the work is completed, each of the departure tracks will be able to hold one car more.

During the next few months, another thirty feet of benchwork will be added past Bartown. This new area, which has not been named, will be using T3 in the Departure track.

When the new area comes online, there maybe crew changes. I would like to go from two one hour sessions to one two hour session. More on this as time goes on. But this may have to wait until the staging yard is build.

later

Doug

Nov 6 Update

The second operating session was last night. For a couple of the operaters it was the first time for them to see the updated layout. Once we got the right train orders. (Note: check to see that you have this week's orders and not the ones from the last session). The two Locals finally left the Yard for their appointed locations. Sorry no pictures again, I had to help on the layout last night as a crew person. After the crews finished their jobs the Locals returned, only to have to wait for the Yard Crew to finish their work. Something was said that maintaince department had not serviced the switches. (Note: clean all the tracks and switches and not just the mainline).

The Crews collected the paper work for their new jobs and headed out again.

They all said they had fun and will return again. Before next operating session, I need to address a few issues. Need to adjust some of the paper work. Need to add a printed list of cars in each of the Locals to be attached to the Trains Orders, so the engineer can check their train. Also need to balance the switching in each of the four areas. There also maybe a few changes to the Locals. More things to work on before the next time.

Doug

Update Nov 2

Yes it is time to get the WRS back to work. The Strike at Head Office is over. Trains will be moving again by Monday night.

Ok after sending time doing other things lately, it is time to again focus on doing operations again. The new run around has been installed in Blue Ridge,(also know as Blue Spruce on some updates), and a new industry has been added. Present plans are for this industry to be J&B Produce.

The train orders for this area will have to be adjusted, since they will not have to run over to Roseton to run around the cars to service the industries.

After my visit to Northern Maine, I may be changing a few of the industries in Whiskey Falls / Bartown area.

Will update again after the operating session on Monday Night.

Before then need to update the paperwork, and finish chipping a second S4.

later
Doug

Exploring the Outside World Part 2

In my last post I forgot to talk about Day Three of the trip.

Mother Nature decided to give us a little liquid sunshine. So Bruce and I headed for Warren, Mass to pick up a few needed detail parts for projects.

After spending a few hours going from room to room in the old house, which the hobby shop is located, looking at this and that, we finished our shopping and headed for lunch. On our way to Palmer, we saw our first train of the trip, a CSX mixed freight heading for Boston, was holding on a siding. Once in Palmer, we when to the old train station, which has been restored into a train theme resturant. While we where eating a CSX auto rack unit train from Boston, when by. So that makes two trains for the trip, but no MMA.

After leaving Palmer, we had planned on visiting one more hobby shop, but the Friday afternoon traffic was heavy and we ran out of time.

Exploring the outside World

Last week Bruce and I headed for Northern Maine to visit the area serviced by MMA, the railroad which Bruce is planning to model for his home layout. The reason for the trip was to do research on the industries that are or were served by MMA (or BAR in the past). The plan was to find the industries on his list, and photograph the buildings and trackwork and record the cars which serviced the industry. We started on the Presque Isle Sub which includes Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Easton. There are a large range of industries on this sub, which include propane and oil dealers, grain silos, printing operation, engineered wood producer, veneer plant, frozen food operation and a potato flake plant. There are a few old warehouses and team tracks along the line, which it is hard to tell if they are still used or only used once and awhile.
The next day we visited the paper mills and yard in Millinocket. Since most of the trackage for the paper mill was inside the complex, it was hard to get pictures of what was going on. After leaving th mills, we followed the line north to Oakfield Yard. There were signs of old industries that were served in their day, but must were out of business now. Most looked like they were in the Forestry Industry.
After lunch we headed South to look at the industries below Millinocket. We ended the day in the port area of Searsport. This is the end of the line for MMA. We were not allowed in the Park because of "Home Land Security".
On our last day we spend in the Bangor area, visiting the main yard of MMA and the Industries in the area.
It was a very interest trip for me. While I am not modeling the MMA, the WRS is based in an area which is close in nature to the same area serviced by the MMA. Found a few different industries then you normal see on model railroads, which may make their way onto the WRS. Also was able to see the different arrangement of yards on the railroad.
Taking over one hundred pictures, many from a moving car, helped me to improve my drive by shooting skills.
Now it is back to planning the next phase of the WRS.

WRS System Map

Below is the System Map of the present WRS System.

Local Switchers:

Whiskey Falls/ Bartown

This switcher picks up it cars in Roseton from the Roseton Turn then goes to Whiskey Falls and Bartown to service these areas.

Dogwood

This switcher is located at Dogwood and services the industries in the area. The Junction Turn drops cars on its way to Junction and picks up on its return trip.

Turns:

Roseton

Departs from the WRS Yard and travels to Roseton, where it switches the local industries. When finished it returns to the WRS Yard.

Junction

Departs from the WRS Yard, drops cars at Dogwood for the Dogwood Switcher and then continues to Junction to switch the industries in Junction and Blue Ridge. When complete, it returns to the WRS Yard, after picking up cars setout by the Dogwood Switcher at Dogwood.

Oct 8 Update

This is a strange time for me this year. Most years, I would be busy getting ready to take modules to the Truro Show this coming weekend. But since most of my modules are now part of the WRS layout, they will not be leaving the basement as they have in the past.

This year, instead of being busy at the layout, I will be standing behind a sales table. Bruce and I have decided to "thin" some rolling stock. The last couple of weeks I have been going over my "collection" in the basement and seeing what fits into my plan for the WRS. Since the WRS will be based in the late 90s, I will be selling off most of pre 75 stuff and also a few modern pieces that do not fit into the industries planned for the layout.

Hope to see you in Truro on the weekend.

Doug

Sept 27 Update

Not much to report, since I have been away for most of the last two weeks.

Did pick up a few new autos to add to my collection when I was away. Need to build a town soon, so I can have a place to display some of my cars.

Also picked up two new UT4 throttles to fill out the requirements for operators. With the new arrangement, I have gone from needing four throttles to needing six. I also need to chip a few more locos to cover for the units that are out at shops getting work done.

Not sure when the next operating session will be, since the next few Monday nights have other things already booked for them.

thanks

Doug

Sept 6 Update

Here is lastest addition to the WRS. Yes, Scott I have pictures to help you. This run around was installed in Blue Spruce (on the Branchline) to allow for the BSJ Switcher to perform its work without having to go to Roseton to run around its train. As a side benefit of this project was the addition of another spur track in Blue Spruce. Developers are discussing with a few companies on building on this spur line.





This is a view from end of the line in Blue Spruce. On the right is T & M Lumber and in the background is the new area added to Blue Spruce.

Here is a picture of Junction, with the mainline in the middle and brachline in the back. The large white building is Mama's Pasta, one of the larger industries on the WRS. It recieves one or two cars per day.

Now it is time to update the train orders for the BSJ Switcher.

later

Doug

Aug 27 Update

On Monday Night, we had the first operating session on the revised WRS layout. First, sorry no pictures, due to an operator shortage, I had to work the layout. We tried a few different things. One the first shift Pierre and Don did the switching at Dogwood and Junction/Blue Spruce as one crew, while Ross did Roseton and I did Whiskey Falls / Bartown. Bruce was busy in the Yard sorting cars. With the enchange yard now holding twice as many cars, it took him a few extra minutes to get his work done.

On the revised WRS, there are now two locals departing the Yard: Roseton, which has cars for both Roseton and Whiskey Falls / Bartown. There is a switcher and caboose stationed at Whiskey Falls, which picks up the cars for Whiskey Falls and Bartown at Roseton from the Roseton Local. Once the WFBT Switcher leaves, the crew from the Roseton Local switches Roseton. After the WFBT Switcher returns, the Roseton Local puts together its train to return to the Yard.

The Second local serves Greenfield, Dogwood, Junction and Blue Spruce. Greenfield is switched on the GDJBS Local return trip to the Yard. Dogwood will have it own switcher to deal with the cars dropped by the GDJBS Local. After departing Dogwood, the GDJBS Local backs into the branchline at Junction to service the industries in Junction and Blue Spruce. Because there is no run around track presently in Junction or Blue Spruce, the GDJBS Local has to return to the Mainline and go to Roseton to run around its train to finish switching the remaining industries in Junction and Blue Spruce.

After this operating session, I am going to look at installing an one or two car run around track somewhere on the branchline. I am also going to have to rewrite some of the train instructions. Something about cars and cabooses been left on the mainline.

Then I will have to find names for the Locals and Switchers.

It was a good time on Monday and I believe most people enjoyed the changes that were made. It will be interesting to watch things develop, once the crews have done the jobs a couple more times.

that is it for this update, time to start working on the list of issues that need to be addressed. You know those items that work ok when you are setting up for an operating session, but some how act up once the people show up :-)

thanks

Doug

WRS Update

Warning this a long posting :-)

The WRS has gone a few changes since the last update. The WRS is a point to point layout now with a small branchline.

This a view of the yard, with the WRS yard to right. The three tracks have been lenghted to handle the longer trains of the new layout.







This is a view from the other end of the Yard. On the left in the distance is the WRS Yard and on the right is the new Interchange Yard. More tracks have been added to increase the Yard size to thirty cars.




This is a view of you entering Greenfield, the first area after leaving the yard. This is the home of Blue Circle Flour.


After you leave Greenfield, you pass Framer Brown's Lane on the way to Dogwood.




Now you are entering Dogwood. Some of the tracks have been extended to allow for better operations. This is a busy area with five industries, Marc's Printing, T&T Warehousing, Big Red's Metals, Reload track and a team track.


After you leave Dogwood there is Junction, which connects the small branchline to the mainline.

(sorry no pictures)

Just pass the junction is a new area where a few houses have appeared. Hopefully this will develop into a small town.



As we leave the new town we pass through Reily Cross on our way to Roseton.


This the far end of Roseton. Roseton is another major switching area. Industries include Leo's Feed, Inland Cement, A & D Plastics, R&C Transfer, Reg's Fine Leathers and Dougs Organ Works.





After Roseton is the area called Whiskey Falls. There are two industries in Whiskey Falls, W&S Fish Products and Ice Box Cold Storage.

After you leave Whiskey Falls you enter Bartown. (sorry no pictures) This is also a busy area, with Green Mountain Limestone, Valley Produce and XYZ Co. This is were the WRS lines end now.



This is a view of Junction from the branchline side. Industries in Junction are Hardwood Furniture, Mama's Pasta and Black Cat. Further down the branchline is T&M Lumber.



That is the tour of the new WRS. We will be doing the first operating session on Monday night. It should be interesting as the new layout comes to life.