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OK I will do that. With the understanding that this will be a first draft open to changes deletions and additions. It will be an open discussion.
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Ah, I see. I guess I thought we'd be "metaphorically" shipping by perhaps building a car that looks like another modeler's and then making some arrngements with that modeler to create operating scenarios that include the other's layout as an imaginary destination. We could post pics of "the other modelers car" on our layouts doing work requested by the other modeler. I can see dilemmas with actually mailing cars back and forth...but am still willing to consider the idea.
Ralph
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Ralph Wrote:Ah, I see. I guess I thought we'd be "metaphorically" shipping by perhaps building a car that looks like another modeler's and then making some arrngements with that modeler to create operating scenarios that include the other's layout as an imaginary destination. We could post pics of "the other modelers car" on our layouts doing work requested by the other modeler. I can see dilemmas with actually mailing cars back and forth...but am still willing to consider the idea.
Ralph
And... finding some older kit cars would be cheaper than mailing one piece once.
Tom
Model Conrail
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jwb Wrote:Railroad Line Forums has a program that's maybe somewhere between the Big Blue boxcar thingy here and what you have in mind. In that, each participant sends one car from his layout (whether private-road or just anything off his layout) around on a circuit determined by the number of people who sign up in a given year. There's no "interchange" per se, in the sense that modeler A models the DM&IR and sends ore to a steel mill on modeler B's PRR layout. Instead, a sort of freelance narrative has been imposed that I find somewhat silly.
I just looked at their exchange. It does appear that they just rotate cars around arbitrarily. I think this is going in the way of shipping commodities or merchandise from one layout to another. Not just rotating cars around. I did get a copy of their rules to look at.
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modifications are expected and requested
1. Rolling stock involved in the exchange remains the property of the original owner, and participants are NOT to make any changes in parts, modify, weather, or paint another member's model unless approved by the owner.
2. It is strongly suggested that a model be packed tightly in a regular kit box so it won't move. That box should be wrapped in bubble wrap and placed inside another box with surrounding plastic peanuts or adequate packing material and then well taped with packing tape. Models should be sent out first class mail...not expensive for a small, light box - insurance optional. This shipping box should be retained by the recipient for use in re-shipping the car to the next member of the group.
3. Shipping orders / requests shall be in writing preferably through this Forum.
4. A photographic record of the cars travels through your layout is expected.
5 all participants are to supply a list of business's shipping and receiving material and what the material would be.
6. Any rolling stock used in this exchange is at the owners own risk.
Damage from shipping, from wear & tear, or from an accident while in the possession of another member must be reported to the owner immediately. If the model is damaged after it is in possession of a participating member, a plan for the repair will have to be submitted to and agreed upon by the owner. All repair parts and associated expenses will be the responsibility of the member in possession at the time the damage was incurred. Unless otherwise agreed upon by owner.
7. Failure to return, report damage to, or abuse of another member's model will result in expulsion from the group.
8. Models should be shipped on or close to the date expected by owner.
9. The activities of the group are in no way connected with Big Blue, The Gauge.net, its owners, administrators, and moderators. Participation in this group is strictly voluntary and each participant assumes all liability for loss or damage to their own property.
10. Participation in the Interchange Group as a member constitutes agreement with these guidelines.
I'm wondering if there should be a group "moderator" or coordinator, and maybe a backup. That goes also to how you join. And how do members request cars or declare that a car is available to ship? (There might be a set of "procedures" that's referenced in the overall rules, but not contained in them.)
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I think Tony Koester and Alan McClelland used to simulate whole trains moving from one layout to the other back when Tony still had the Allegheny Midland. I think Tony had a set of locomotives decorated for the V&O and Alan had a set decorated for the AM. I'm not sure if they went so far as to send each other a consist list, but each would have a train from the other railroad in staging and when the train left the V&O, Alan would call Tony and let him know that it was on the way. That would be the signal for the train to come out of the AM staging and cross the AM. When the AM train that was scheduled to go over the V&O went off the layout into staging, then Tony would call Alan.
I would think that actually shipping freight cars from one location to another risks damage, and possibly getting lost in shipping.
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OH MAN!!!!! That all sounds great!!!!
Russ Bellinis Wrote:I would think that actually shipping freight cars from one location to another risks damage, and possibly getting lost in shipping. I would say that whatever the risks, it's done, and there's a more or less active program for doing this on the Railroad Lines Forum. Should we get as far as having a "procedures" doc, I would certainly recommend that it say participants should only send equipment that they don't mind losing or having damaged. It also wouldn't be a good idea to send stuff with delicate details. This isn't a contest, it's a way to have fun. Koester and McClelland had another way to have fun.
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JWB
I was thinking that if all businesses were listed then I could place / post an order to your business from one of my businesses. At that time you could dispatch the necessary car. to that business to be loaded. Then make up the shipping orders and send it on its way. You would have a copy of the request and your orders so you know where it is . When I receive it I would bring it onto my layout deliver it to the receiving business to be unloaded. You could include in your orders to be returned empty or taken to a business on my layout to ship something back. I don't think the shipping orders would need to be posted but hard copy included with the car.
As far as a moderator or coordinator goes what would they do?
Membership could be a time frame of membership at Gauge or certain number of posts to make sure they are an active member. I don't know you tell me.
Russ
What we are talking about is one car. Not a whole train, the picture part is so we can all see a car pick up at a place on your layout and deliver on mine.
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Russ Bellinis Wrote:I would think that actually shipping freight cars from one location to another risks damage, and possibly getting lost in shipping.
I agree with Russ: it's too easy to lose stuff in the mail or have it damaged, either in transit or in service. It was with some trepidation, when I sold-off some locos and rolling stock here on Big Blue, that I mailed it out to the buyers. That's the reason that I advised everyone to not send payment until they had the goods in-hand and in good condition.
Wayne
Not all of my fleet is at the same standard, or for that matter, it's easy to go to a swap and find something for a few bucks that could be equipped with Kadees or whatever and used for a program like this. Participation is naturally 100% voluntary -- if you're concerned about losing something, then by all means, it's up to you not to participate. My goal in participating would be to increase fellowship with other modelers and have a little fun seeing a piece of my equipment, however basic, on someone else's layout. I would balance this benefit against the risk of losing something that cost me $5 or whatever 15 years ago, and to me, that's an acceptable risk. This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it does sound like some guys are interested.
Les, you might be right, if we can get the rules and procedures clear enough, there might be no need for a coordinator. On the other hand, if I say "I need an empty clean-lading XM for my grain elevator at Zenith", where do I post it? Would there be a subforum here for that? If so, there'd have to be a moderator.
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I was thinking we could just start a thread here. You could place your request in the thread or who ever is requesting your grain could send you an empty. That raises an interesting possibility. Jim needs a load of grain. You don't have an available car. So you post a request for what is needed.I see that and decide I can supply a car so I send it to you, you load it send it to Jim, he returns it to me empty. Photos the whole way. That is probably not how it would be done in real worldbut food for thought.
Hmm - a little like the M,N,O,P photo thread, in fact. Might work, as long as everyone understands the basics and is working toward keeping a good thing moving.
So Les, should we maybe start a pilot/test program? That might be a way of shaking out other questions and issues, and building some sort of record of what works (or doesn't).
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Sounds good to me I will start a thread called shipping. I will list my businesses, and we can go from there.
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