Model Railway Operations

[mfjoc]

Not sure if anybody is interested but this is the operating scenario I am developing for the D&WJR. The freight workings are mixed in with the passenger trains throughout the day. As Paul will testify its great fun actually running trains and time just flies while you are doing it.

I might try and put it into timetable form later.

 

Operating Sequence

Daily Passenger Operations

CIE mk2 set and NIR mk2set and Hunslet on loan prior to delivery of Mk3’s. Third set is two cravens and a Park royal waiting for a CSV.

Up early passenger departs Belview PS crosses branch passenger at junction and into north staging.

Branch passenger departs , crosses up train at junction and then goes to Belview PS. After arrival train reverses out, runs around and reverses back into arrival platform.

Up express departs Belview PS and runs nonstop into north staging

Branch passenger departs Belview PS crosses down passenger at junction and then heads to Branch Terminus and runs around.

Down morning passenger leaves north staging crosses branch passenger at junction and heads into arrival platform at Belview PS. If necessary can run around

Up early afternoon train departs Belview PS crosses both down passenger and branch at junction and then heads to north staging.

Down midday passenger leaves staging an crosses both trains at junction , heads into Belview PS and after runs around

Branch passenger departs branch terminus and head into bay platform at junction. Branch passenger runs around and departs back to branch terminus where it runs around.

Down evening passenger leaves staging and crosses both trains at junction , heads into Belview PS and after runs around

Up evening train departs Belview PS crosses both down passenger and branch at junction and then heads to north staging.

Branch passenger departs branch terminus and head into bay platform at junction. Branch passenger runs around and departs back to branch terminus where it runs around.

Down late evening passenger train leaves north staging crosses branch passenger at junction and heads into arrival platform at Belview PS.

Branch passenger departs branch terminus and head into bay platform at junction. Branch passenger runs around and departs back to branch terminus.

 

 

Freight workings

Empty magnesite leaves south staging and heads to branch and exchanges for laden wagons also picks up empty oil wagons and heads back to south staging.

Empty beet leaves south staging leaves 4 empties in siding at junction and leaves remaining in siding at terminus and break van in headshunt. Loco used for Dolomite

Empty dolomite leaves Branch terminus and heads to quarry where it leaves empties and picks up laden and heads into yard where it runs around. After clearing passenger departs for branch and shunts laden wagons into siding.

Bulk cement leaves south staging and heads for junction and shunts into silo siding and return

Empty oil train leaves siding at yard and heads to north staging or vise versa.

Container train leaves yard and heads to north staging or vise versa

PW train heads from south staging to north staging or vise versa

Ballast train heads from south staging to north staging or vise versa

Lisheen heads from south staging to north staging or vise versa

Tara heads from south staging to north staging or vise versa

Bogie ferts head from north staging to Junction drop off 2 for unloading and on to yard where it drops off 2 and heads to south staging

[jhb171achill]

Exactly the type of thing I had devsied for Dugort Harbour. I had based my routine on the Albert Quay - Bantry working timetable, with two return passenger trains a day "up to the smoke". But instead of one goods train coming in early in the morning and departing late morning, I had two; the idea is one arrives from Tralee, the other from Cork. (In real life, they'd have combined them, I am sure, somewhere between Mallow and Killarney). 

Add to that paths for GAA, pilgrimage, beet, cattle and fair day specials and it is surprising how complex an operating session can become - on a busy day, my operating routine can take over two hours to complete. Lately, I have also introduced extra local workings relating to an imaginary mill premises, which is actually back to the fiddle yard - this was since Enda and IRM produced grain wagons! 

[Mol_PMB]

I can indeed confirm the sequence is great fun to operate, on a very well designed layout. It’s possible to have 2 or maybe even 3 trains running at once, and there are lots of shunt moves and run-rounds needed to handle the freight and branch traffic. 
You need your wits about you especially when the signalman sends an overload beet special to a station that’s already busy with other trains!

[jhb171achill]

5 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I can indeed confirm the sequence is great fun to operate, on a very well designed layout. It’s possible to have 2 or maybe even 3 trains running at once, and there are lots of shunt moves and run-rounds needed to handle the freight and branch traffic. 
You need your wits about you especially when the signalman sends an overload beet special to a station that’s already busy with other trains!

I had 24 cattle trucks to deal with tonight at terminus where the loop can only take 9, and the cattle bank 14……

It delayed the incoming passenger, which happened also to be the first run of one of my new IRM Park Royals….

[west_clare_wanderer]

6 hours ago, mfjoc said:

Not sure if anybody is interested.....

You bet we are! 

I find this kind of thing absolutely fascinating. One day, I hope I am lucky enough to have a decent sized layout to do this sort of thing myself, but in the meantime, I love to follow others who have that ability to operate such a system. 

5 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I can indeed confirm the sequence is great fun to operate, on a very well designed layout. It’s possible to have 2 or maybe even 3 trains running at once, and there are lots of shunt moves and run-rounds needed to handle the freight and branch traffic. 
You need your wits about you especially when the signalman sends an overload beet special to a station that’s already busy with other trains!

I like that 'American' concept of having a team of operators who each perform a role. I might crack under the pressure though! 

[jhb171achill]

2 minutes ago, west_clare_wanderer said:

You bet we are! 

I find this kind of thing absolutely fascinating. One day, I hope I am lucky enough to have a decent sized layout to do this sort of thing myself, but in the meantime, I love to follow others who have that ability to operate such a system. 

I like that 'American' concept of having a team of operators who each perform a role. I might crack under the pressure though! 

Mol will hold you to a very high standard!