The New WRS

The redesign of the WRS, all started after an operating session a few months ago. During that operating session, where was an issue with people movement around the layout. The Mill is the busiest area on the layout with two operators, on the opposite side of the aisle is Riverside. This aisle is only three feet wide. So at one time there was four people in an area three feet wide and eight feet long. Then the brakeman from the train working Dogwood want thru this same aisle so he could get to the other side of layout to assist the engineer in switching a section of Dogwood. This required everyone to stop and find some spot to hide in, while he when thru. Then ten minutes later, it happened again when the brakeman wanted to get back to the Roseton. During this time there was only one person in an area four feet wide and sixteen feet long, the aisle between Roseton and Dogwood.

So the redesign started. First the Mill was going to move completely in its present arrangement, to the area next to the stove. This would increase the length of run by twenty feet from the Yard to the Mill and address the issues of crews being in the same place at once.

this is a early version of the planned changes.

This would require first removing Junction and Blue Ridge area and a two foot section from Roseton and replacing this with a 180 deg corner set. Then adding a balloon section to the end of Dogwood and then a long straight section to collect the Mill in its new location to the layout.

I was planning to add a two track hidden staging yard between the Mill and the new corners connecting Roseton and Dogwood. This would address another issue I had with the present layout of having only one connection to the "outside world".

At the end of June, we had an operating session, where I tried the new operating plans. A Northbound train was staged on Track 1 at the Mill to begin the session. It worked better then planned, except I found that I would need more then two trains heading North from staging. So back to the drawing board. I am still working on the plan, so that is why I have not posted any drawings of the new layout.

Since I am re-using my present modules for most of the new arrangement, it will still be a single level layout and not the double deck that I presented back at Christmas, which is on the back burner until I can address a few issue with the design and the basement. Also the WRS would be out of operations for six month to a year as the layout was being build.

So that is a little history of why the changes are happening. At present, the new connection between Roseton and Dogwood has been done after old connection was removed (see past postings). The layout is back in operating condition. During the next few months, I have to work on a few items in Stage 1 that still needs to be completed, before I start on Stage 2.

later

Doug

Stage One - Update 2

The connection between Greenfield and White River Paper Company has now been finished and rail service to the Mill has been restored.

Now comes the hard part, finding a new home for the modules that were removed and all the "stuff" that was stored under them.

later

Doug

Stage One - Update

WRS Inspection Train on its way to Dogwood

WRS is pleased to report that rail service has been restored to Dogwood. Management is hoping to have rail service to White River Paper Company completed before the Mill finishes its yearly shut down.

later

Doug

Stage One

Stage One of the new WRS has started. This week I have removed the last section of Roseton, Max's Corner, Newtown, Junction and Blue Ridge sections from the old layout. The Newtown section will be reused as well as one on my older corner modules.

This is looking down the line at Roseton at the new sections.

To square up the layout a wedge was added between the end of Roseton 0n the right and the old Newtown module, dark brown corner module. On the far left, between the two corner modules, is where the "river" is going.

That is Roseton on the back right, the edge of Dogwood on front right. The old corner module, is the one with green on it. The gap will be closed when Dogwood is moved and connected to the corner module. The track on the corner modules will have to removed and relocated, since the old corner module was build to Group "X" standards for the first Railfest.

Now back to working away on the layout.

later

Doug