Mar 2 Update

It has been quiet on the WRS.

I have installed "foam" mats around most of the operator areas. Only Junction / Blue Ridge area is left to be done. Some of the areas were done for the last operating session and the crews enjoyed having them.

Have been working on some of the small issues that have shown up in operating session. Installed fingernail polish on the frogs of the #6 Peco systems since they were causing shorts.

Mother Nature has been causing problems with scheduling operating sessions, hopefully we will get back to a regular schedule after Easter.

that is it for now

Doug

Feb 15 Operating Session

Freight was moving again on the WRS, with one returning Engineer Jeff and one new engineer Barry, along with regulars Dave,Barry and Pierre providing the Crew for this day.

Jeff headed for Junction / Blue Ridge to do the Ridge Run. Pierre headed for the Mill to do the Mill Job and Barry departed the Yard with the Mill Run. Dave with new engineer Barry, departed the Yard with the Dog Run. I did the Bar Run.


Dave and new engineer Barry studying their work at Roseton

Returning Engineer Jeff busy at Mama's Pasta

Pierre and Barry busy at the Paper Mill

later

Doug

Design Update

I have been working on the new design. After moving the paper mill to the upper level and designing a platform for the operator, I was in the basement and noticed the beam supporting the floor. The beam would have been located where the operator stands to operate half of the Mill. After measuring the clearance under the beam, it was time to go back to the computer or find operators under five foot six.

So the paper mill is now back on the lower level.

In the re-design, I also increased the mainline radius from 30" to 33". This was to get the ratio of radius to length of longest car (9") over 3.5.

Started to working on the car movements on the layout to see what will be required. Presently looking at seven jobs. Two Yard jobs, South Yard and Paper Mill; four locals, Mill, Oxbow, Hollow and Glenford; and the last job is the North and South Exchanges.

later

Doug

Feb 1 Operating Session

WRS had it first regular operating session of the new year. Barry and Glen chose or was it chosen to do the Mill Jobs. Barry headed for the Mill and Glen fired up the pair of Conrail C424 for this run to the Mill. After departing the Yard with sixteen cars and a caboose in tow, Glen made is way to Junction to drop off cars for the Ridge Run. Due to crew shortage, Glen had to also run the Ridge Run Switcher. After removing the cars for the Ridge Run and re-installing the caboose, Glen departed for the Mill. Mean while at the Mill, Barry was busy switching the Shipping and Receiving Warehouses. After Glen arrived with the Mill Run, Barry and Glen finished the switching the Mill and putting the return train for Glen.

While Glen and Barry where busy in the Mill, Wayne and I departed the Yard with a GP7 and ten cars in tow. First stop was in Whiskey Falls to switch W&S Fish Products and then on to Roseton. After switching the trailing industries, the cars for Roseton where left on the siding and Wayne headed the GP7 for Dogwood. Since it has been a while since we had operated, specially me, there were a few "interesting" movements in Dogwood getting cars delivered and picked up. After this was completed, it was back to Roseton to finish switching. Somehow a few cars were put on another train and when we when to deliver the switch list these cars were missing. The Brakeman, aka me, should have checked the list before departing the Yard. After the trains was put back together, Wayne headed the GP7 for home.

Since we finished up before the Crew at the Mill did, Wayne and I headed to Junction and did the Ridge Run.

After Barry and Glen returned to the Yard, we changed Jobs. Wayne and I headed for the Mill and Glen and Barry did the Dog Run. Glen and Barry found the cars that were missing from Wayne's and my train.

Cars were delivered, the rust was knocked of the rails and we had fun.

Sorry no pictures, I have to "work" for a change :-)

The Bar Run was done the night before by Allan and myself.

later

Doug

Mill Extra

On January 24 there was an extra run of the Mill Run and Mill Job to handle extra traffic that had been building up. Visiting Engineer Allan from Moncton, run the Mill Run while Glen did the Mill Job.


Allan (with cap) and Glen working the Mill.

later
Doug

Design Update

Just before Christmas, I picked up the above book to help answer a few issues I was dealing with on going to a multi deck layout design.

Ok, after reading the book, most of the questions I had were answered, but a dozen new ones, I have to find the answers for. So back to the drawing board.

Some changes have been made in the design. Issues like: lighting the lower level. the 64 feet of track required to go from the lower level to the upper level, how much should be seen and how much can be seen. How wide should the upper valance be. And a few more that will come up as I make changes. Moving the Paper Mill to the upper level will likely cause a platform to be built for the Mill operator.

later

Doug

Jan 12 Update

I have been busy getting the WRS ready for the next operating session. I finally install the spreadsheet, I use for the paperwork, onto my laptop and took it to the layout to inputted the data. After correcting a small issue on which session I was going to run first. I have an odd and even sets. The Paperwork is already ready now for printing.

I had to change some of the cars on the layout, with new arrivals. Just before Christmas another shipment of hi-cubes for the Paper Mill arrived, the boiler plant at the Mill has converted from oil to wood chips, which required the replacement of the "stand in" tank cars with wood chip gons. Modern propane cars arrived at Christmas, which now replaces the older versions I was using.

Also been working on the new layout design, the Paper Mill has moved twice since I posted the first draft. Also been working on changes to the layout because the Paper Mill is now on the upper deck.

Ok that is this week's update.

later

Doug