08-01-2010, 12:08 PM
Well, I'm still waiting for the layout-building elves to finish the second level of my layout, but I'll be doing essentially the same thing. Trains of loaded coal hoppers will enter the layout from a staging track (it represents an interchange with another railroad) and will traverse the layout (with a change of locos and direction at about the mid-point of the journey) and will proceed to the staging yard at the end of the upper level. I'm modelling neither the mine nor the power plant, and since both are represented by staging, "loading" and "unloading" will occur, essentially "off layout". Since I'm usually the sole operator, there'll usually be, at most, only one move of the coal train during an operating session, either a loaded train northbound or empties southbound. I use "live" loads, which will be added/removed between sessions. Since there's only one staging track at the south end, the empty hoppers there will be removed when they arrive. Coal trains are scheduled only three times per week, so the track space needs to be free for other trains.
Even for single open cars, the loads are usually added or removed between operating sessions. The time to load or unload adds a time factor to operations and also gives you an excuse to add to your roster of freight cars - after all, you can't keep your customers waiting just because you don't have enough cars to run your railroad.
Wayne
Even for single open cars, the loads are usually added or removed between operating sessions. The time to load or unload adds a time factor to operations and also gives you an excuse to add to your roster of freight cars - after all, you can't keep your customers waiting just because you don't have enough cars to run your railroad.
Wayne