Input on a "Temporary" Shelf Track Plan

[Brakie]

Another way of complicating your life, and extending the "gameplay " and "time period" while switching on a small switching layout is to use "Games Theory". Use two six-sided dice (dies) - or look around the internet or your local war-games store for a 12-sided dice. Either roll the two dice, or the single 12-sided one, to simulate weather conditions Two D6 (added together) have a minimum roll of 2 and a maximum roll of 12, so you have 11 possible scenarios - a D12 will obviously be able to roll a 1. Roll for weather and read it off a chart - the weather conditions apply for your complete shift - not all conditions are bad, but some are really nasty, and may make your switching really difficult - I have a chart for north-eastern USA RR's where the weather can give you some severe conditions - if anyone wants a copy email me, chacmool at lineone dot net (no spaces/ symbols replace words).
Have Fun!
Jack

Jack,I have found over the years of operating ISLs that it hard to beat car cards/waybills or a switch list since both allows time for a car to be unloaded or the need to pull a partially loaded/unloaded car-other then cover hoppers or tanks cars which should be unloaded at the last spot on the industry spur due to the unloading devices being use on or around the cars- to spot a inbound load or empty and allowing time for the switchmen to release or set the handbrake..

IMHO its best not to operate a ISL like a board game..Its far better to operate prototypically at scale switching speeds and allowing time for the switchmen to do their work.It would probably take me 45-60 minutes to switch Matt's layout prototypically..