Looks like everyone had a good time. We also play trains some what like you do.
G gauge ops.
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That would be fun I live steam too!l. Add an extra bit if fun and sound. The steamers would have to be in good "tune" so as to self start and stop smoothly. Radio control would help too or there would be a lot of climbing around!
What a fun time. My dream railroad is to have switching like that for when friends are over. Run sessions are fun!
To open up this subject....
Does anyone actually MODEL the OPERATION of a railroad in Large Scale...besides Barry Birkette, the originater of this thread...?
I suggest that modelling the operation of a branch line, or short line, might be of some interest, after the fun, and novelty of just running in continuous circles has started to wear off.
However, this is not to say that operations are for everyone...to each his own.
FJM
Does anyone actually MODEL the OPERATION of a railroad in Large Scale...besides Barry Birkette, the originater of this thread...?
I suggest that modelling the operation of a branch line, or short line, might be of some interest, after the fun, and novelty of just running in continuous circles has started to wear off.
However, this is not to say that operations are for everyone...to each his own.
FJM
Fred, My railway is now dismantled but I operated, with live steam, in a sort of prototypical fashion using simplified train orders and use my imagination to make the layout and it's one depot and tracks ( the main line is a kidney shaped oval) be three different ones. I start with train make up and switching from the train orders, then proceed with the train to next place on the line (in reality 5 laps of the circuit) where I consult train orders for what cars I need to place and pick then go on to final desitination (another 5 laps )to place cars as listed on the simplified train orders sheet.
With live steam locomotives it is challenging but extremely satisfying and a big change from the usual "round 'n around" running. I start with placing cars in a starting position on various places on the layout and use the car numbers on the train order sheet.
I have attached below a copy of a typical train order sheet and a 'schematic' track diagram of the 3 destinations that is really just the same depot and track as explained before and some imagination is needed.
This particular set of simple train orders takes quite while but seems only like minutes. As the trains can be long it pays to have a 'conductor/brakeman' person with you so two can play at this with hand signals for coupling and uncoupling by the brakeman to the driver as well as changing the switches and agreeing on switching moves.
Please you must have a look at a previous post of mine where I have an explanation and images of some switching so follow link Switching session with live steam.
I hope this all makes sense as explaining the operation is more difficult than doing it and I must mention having 'reverse entry' sidings and also starting by steaming from the engine depot make it even more interesting. Operating large scale trains even on a simple 'oval' layout in a more prototypical way is most satisfying.
Russell
With live steam locomotives it is challenging but extremely satisfying and a big change from the usual "round 'n around" running. I start with placing cars in a starting position on various places on the layout and use the car numbers on the train order sheet.
I have attached below a copy of a typical train order sheet and a 'schematic' track diagram of the 3 destinations that is really just the same depot and track as explained before and some imagination is needed.
This particular set of simple train orders takes quite while but seems only like minutes. As the trains can be long it pays to have a 'conductor/brakeman' person with you so two can play at this with hand signals for coupling and uncoupling by the brakeman to the driver as well as changing the switches and agreeing on switching moves.
Please you must have a look at a previous post of mine where I have an explanation and images of some switching so follow link Switching session with live steam.
I hope this all makes sense as explaining the operation is more difficult than doing it and I must mention having 'reverse entry' sidings and also starting by steaming from the engine depot make it even more interesting. Operating large scale trains even on a simple 'oval' layout in a more prototypical way is most satisfying.
Russell
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Thank you, Russell;Fred, My railway is now dismantled but I operated, with live steam, in a sort of prototypical fashion using simplified train orders and use my imagination to make the layout and it's one depot and tracks ( the main line is a kidney shaped oval) be three different ones. I start with train make up and switching from the train orders, then proceed with the train to next place on the line (in reality 5 laps of the circuit) where I consult train orders for what cars I need to place and pick then go on to final desitination (another 5 laps )to place cars as listed on the simplified train orders sheet.
With live steam locomotives it is challenging but extremely satisfying and a big change from the usual "round 'n around" running. I start with placing cars in a starting position on various places on the layout and use the car numbers on the train order sheet.
I have attached below a copy of a typical train order sheet and a 'schematic' track diagram of the 3 destinations that is really just the same depot and track as explained before and some imagination is needed.
This particular set of simple train orders takes quite while but seems only like minutes. As the trains can be long it pays to have a 'conductor/brakeman' person with you so two can play at this with hand signals for coupling and uncoupling by the brakeman to the driver as well as changing the switches and agreeing on switching moves.
Please you must have a look at a previous post of mine where I have an explanation and images of some switching so follow link Switching session with live steam.
I hope this all makes sense as explaining the operation is more difficult than doing it and I must mention having 'reverse entry' sidings and also starting by steaming from the engine depot make it even more interesting. Operating large scale trains even on a simple 'oval' layout in a more prototypical way is most satisfying.
Russell
I'm glad to hear that you have been involved in that part of the hobby, and that Barry, and I are not the only ones !! It can be another way of enjoying Model Railroading, in Large scale. Using Live steam would sure add to the fun, if it is part of your area of interest.
We are a bit different, in that we use the RailOp program as our method of providing "Train Order/Manifests"...but then we are operating a rather large railroad !! www.ovgrs.ca
FJM
Theres one video I saw where the guy only does switching with his Lady Anne with a slo-mo installed. His layout was an end to end of a branch depot. So he couldn't go round n round.
I hope to use my Ruby as a yard switcher and make the train, then do the mainline circuit with a bigger engine, drop a car or two in a town halfway around....
Need to get the layout built up that way.
Tyler
I hope to use my Ruby as a yard switcher and make the train, then do the mainline circuit with a bigger engine, drop a car or two in a town halfway around....
Need to get the layout built up that way.
Tyler
I don't know about "modelling" the operation, but there are a bunch of guys in LSC who built layouts that are prototypical in scope and they run trains to an operating schedule, using manifests, etc.Does anyone actually MODEL the OPERATION of a railroad in Large Scale.
Operations
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