Been some time since I've updated this thread, so here's what is currently happening or not happening as the case may be. Recent health issues have slowed me down a bit, but hoping to get that corrected soon. Getting older is a bummer as we used to say.
This is the current track plan that I've been using and operating.[
attachment=7530] Very simple yet prototypical track arrangement for an industrial spur. With only 4 turnouts it probably appears too simple for some folks, but we each have our own like/dislikes and thoughts on layout construction. I sure have no problem with that.
On this plan, the train is staged at the left (west end we'll call it), as though it had just entered the spur off the main track, with a maximum of 5 inbound cars. The train is shoved to the east end to begin working the spur. The train works it way back west, switching each industry as required.
Peerless Confections (based on the former facility in Chicago, IL) can spot one tank car of HFCS and one Airslide hopper of sugar at any one time. Only problem here is that the structure will be between the front edge of the layout and the track, but other than not seeing the cars on spot when viewing the layout unless you view the layout from the east end, I haven't found that to be too much of a problem, but perhaps just not an ideal situation.
Durkee Food Service (based on Trujillo & Sons, Mimai, FL, but taking the name of a similar facility that used to be on the L&N in Louisville, KY) can spot one tank car of vegetable oil, and two box cars or a box car and reefer at any one time.
Chesapeake Container can spot up to 4 box cars of pulpboard or paper rolls at any one time. I keep going back and forth as to whether this will be Chesapeake Container or a distribution warehouse, but that's neither here nor there at the moment as they both would spot box cars and rarely more than 3 at any one time. Got to have plenty of box car spots for those colorful IPD box cars I have.
Finally, the transload track handles cars of lumber, brick and building products along with the occasional car of Budweiser and also spots covered hoppers of feed and/or fertilizer to be off-loaded in to trucks using a portable conveyor.
When all switching has been completed, the train simply moves back to the west end as though it was heading off the spur back on the main and to the yard where it originated. Operating sessions are taking from 45 minutes to an hour with no "time killing" other than just operating at scale speeds; stopping to flag a crossing when required and; waiting a couple of seconds after coupling/uncoupling cars. Have also found that when two of us have operated this plan, it tends to take even longer.
Now here is another possible track plan that I've been playing around with some. Again, a very simple plan. [
attachment=7529] You'll quickly note that this one has only three industries and includes a run around track, more or less required in order to work spurs in both directions.
I now have Bloomer Chocolate (based on the facility in Union City, CA) on the west end, which spots covered hoppers of cocoa beans at the end of the track, then can spot tank cars of HFCS and Airslides of sugar toward the east end of the structure. These are often placed as either one tank, one Airslide or sometimes only two of each depending on the customers requirements. On this plan I'm going with a distribution warehouse that can spot up to 4 box cars, but seldom more than 2 or 3 at any one time. The Durkee Foods plant has now been modified to more closely resemble the track arrangement of Trujillo & Sons in Miami, FL, but still can spot only 3 cars at any one time as per the prototype.
On this plan, the train could either be staged at the west end as per the current operating scheme or the whole spur could be operated as though it were a separate operation and treat the west end as an interchange point. One other thing that I've had mixed feelings about lately is that due to my self imposed 5 car inbound train length, perhaps fewer industries would work better. A little less variety in some ways, but still uses all my car types, except a few bulkhead flats with lumber loads that I have. With each industry having multiple car spots, it should still provide plenty of operation.
I'm rather undecided at the moment about making this change and may just have to actually get off my rear and place the track to see how it feels. Guess what's stopping me from changing the track is some fear that I'll change it all and then decide that the first plan was actually better! I keep working this plan in my mind and it seems okay, but just not sure if it's what I'd ultimately want.
One other wrinkle has come in to the equation recently. I may actually have more space available for my ISL, provided I can convince SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) to get rid of some of the junk down in the basement and to be able to get rid of some of my own junk. Amazing how much junk two people can acquire over the years! Not only that, but it seems that over the past few years, my basement has also become a storage facility for some of the in-laws! Not what I ever envisioned when we purchased this house!
