04-01-2014, 09:40 PM
Brakie Wrote:Larry,If I may interject a prototype operation thing here..
As a student brakeman I soon learn how we avoided any runaround moves if at all possible since these things takes time.
Heres why.
You got to unlock both switches,set at least 2 or more handbrakes(depending on train length)but,never less then two on a short local,close the air valves,uncouple and make your move,relock the switch,run around your train,couple up,connect air hoses,open air valves,release the handbrakes..Pull out.stop,close and lock the switch..
You will need to repeat the above steps after you finish the required switching work.
Better method.
Reverse move into the industrial lead and when finish switching the industries and upon reentering the main all that is left is to reverse move back to the yard or continue your run..
You will save around a hours time by eliminating the unneeded runaround.
Brakie,
Thank you for the lesson on switching. I don't claim to know much about it and any information helps. However, that being said, I have to agree with Chris that a runaround maybe located in the woods. Its obvious that Heritage Propane was once served by rail. The turnout that served this industry is in plain view. The rail that serves the scrap yard can be seen maybe twice through the trees and appears as a straight line. If you follow line to the west it matches the track that the scrap cars are occupying.
There is no reason not to believe that the track servicing the propane tank business, continues on into the woods and ties in to the scrap yard track under the tree canopy. After all, the track shown in the Google Mapping totally omits the turnout at Heritage Propane so it cant really be deemed reliable.
Switching industries to the west of the scrap yard would be a hassle in itself only because work would have to stop at the scrap yard while the partially filled scrap cars were pushed west with other cars. It might be feasible that a train delivering cars to industries west of the scrap dealer first grab on to the scrap cars and haul them into the trees, uncouple and then take the runaround to get ahead of the scrap cars and either leave them in the trees, or move them back to the scrap yard area. When heading back east with cars the train would once again take the runaround and then push them back to the scrap yard.
While this is all speculation, we don't know what happens under the tree canopy nor do we know what arrangements are made with the scrap yard owner about car movements.
As for the overall plan, I think its good. The problem that you and Mike point out concerning the exchange tracks deserves some thought. Not sure if #4 turnouts would give much more room to move more than two cars at a time. I would probably attempt to move the exchange tracks to the area nearest to the door if possible since you are entering the exchange tracks from the top of the layout. As for being prototypical, that ship sailed when an engine house was proposed with a flipped layout that Mike suggested. Flipping the plan makes the new layout look like the Central Florida layout that Chris already had.