Ops Session Nov 28

The WRS finally had another operating session.

Barry headed for the MEC/South Yard to see if the changes Management had made since the last ops session will improve how the Yard operates. Pierre and returning operator Jeff headed to White River Paper to operate the local mill switcher. Glen headed for the North Yard to pick up his train and headed for Dogwood. Dave headed for Roseton to switch the town. And Wayne headed to the South Yard to pick up his first of his five mainline trains. With the return of the MEC GP38's, Wayne had to use a pair of leased BN C424's.





Barry working the MEC/South Yard



Wayne at the South Yard waiting to depart with his next Mainline Train.


Pierre and Jeff at White River Paper


Dave at Roseton

Glen at Dogwood

During the ops session, I have two jobs. One is the North Yard Switcher, which is mostly to move the cars from the Arrival Track to a storage track after the Mainline Train departs. The other job is the MEC Transfer, which runs from the MEC Yard to the Paper Mill and back. That is when the "fun" happened. I was picking up my caboose and I was watching the end of my train and not the front. The engine left the Yard and entered the Mill, almost hitting the Mill Switcher. But the loco did run one of the switches. So when I started backing up to pick up the caboose, the engine and first car in the train "tried" to enter the Boiler Plant.

The revised plan for the operations of the MEC/South Yard was an improvement, but there are a few plant issues that need to be addressed before the next session.

It was a great session and everyone had fun, which is why we do it.

later

Doug

Summer Project

In July I got a phone call from Wayne asking if I wished to come to the On30 construction night. Since I had used the two modules that was the mini yard for the local UMG shows on the revised Paper Mill, I wanted to see their light way construction methods.

After a few more visits to construction nights, Wayne asked if I wanted to go halves on the modules we have been working on. I answered yes I would and now I am part owner of two On30 modules. Which can be seen below as the basic frame work was completed.






Wayne had planned to install a tipple, which he had required for the project, on one of the modules. But after many hours on Cadrail, I could not get to fit on a standard 15" wide module. So a third module was required and it would not be standard. In On30 everything is four times the footprint that of HO scale. So the tipple, dump truck and siding required almost eleven inches in length to get everything to line up correctly. This required moving the mainline track from the centerline to one side by four inches, install a curve on the siding after the switch and install a "bump" on the standard module to get everything to work correctly.

After the basic module construction was completed, the modules were moved to my basement to start installing the track working and scenery, the construction of the third module had put us behind the group and Truro was coming. This allow us to work on the modules more then one night a week.

Below is a picture on all three modules connected together with the new module with the "bump" in the middle with the cork on it. As you can see in the picture the area where the Paper Mill as and more was taken up by the three modules.




During the next few weeks, foam was added to create the hill and road going up to the top of the tipple on the middle module. The cork and track were installed. Then it came to install plaster to cover the foam. From this time on, Wayne and I were working almost every night to get the module completed in time.

To insure the modules were going to work, the group had a test setup in a local church two weeks before the Truro Show, which moved up Wayne's and my schedule.

After the test setup there were a couple things to adjust and a few more things to get completed before the big show in Truro.

The modules are below.





This is the first module in the set with the road going up the hillside to the tipple.


This is the middle module with unloading area, tipple and siding. Yes many hours were spend in doing the rock work to get it right.




This is the view of the middle module looking at the tipple and siding. Wayne build the tipple and the building on top on the hill.





This is the third module. The river was not planned at first, it was going to be two bodies of water on each side of tracks. One thing lead to another and it ended up the bridge over the river.

I had fun building the bridge one stick at a time. I had got the drawings from the web and cut and weathered the wood to construct the bridge. I even had to hand lay the track.


The second construction project was a little wood shed I build from scale lumber except for the window. I still have a few details to add to it. Here is a picture of it.



These projects were interesting as I had to use different skills then I have been using and working with Wayne and other members of the On30 Group, I learn other ways to doing things.

Wayne and I still have more details to add to the modules over time. But for now the modules are stored under the WRS, as it is time to get back to working and operating on the WRS.

later

Doug

Update

I was reminded today, that I have not posted in some time.

I have not been working on the WRS of late or have had an operating session.

Have picked a few new pieces of rolling stock at the Truro show and from a couple of people thinning their fleets to fill a few holes I had. Yes, even with the amount of rolling stock I have, there where some how holes. The Paint Shop has a few cars to renumber and/or repair before the next session.

I have been doing projects in the basement of late, which has been causing issues with the layout. With the moving of the Paper Mill and the addition of the new South Yard, the only space I have to work on larger projects is now where the Paper Mill was located. This lead to the layout being used as an area to store objects during these projects.

During the last week, I have been working on trying to "find" the layout again. On a high note, most of the layout has been found :-)

One of the big issues at the last operating sessions was the South Yard. I have started to address some these issues. The paper work is being adjusted and improved. One or two of the trains will be pre staged.

So I fired up the system to stage the trains, well I now have a few more things on my "to do" list.
I am hoping that a cleaning of the track and loco wheels will address most of the issues, if not there will have to be track work done :-(

I am hoping to be able to spend more time on the layout as the weather gets colder and have another operating session soon.

later

Doug