Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[FCIN]

Hey Ed, could you tell me how you would operate the layout?

Of course it would depend on what theme you choose for the layout. I gather that you're thinking Conrail now?

If the layout represents the end of a Conrail branch line, such as suggested by GEC, then I'd stage the train at the upper right side of the plan as though it were just arriving at the town. Switch out the two trailing point industries (Lowes, Munson's), runaround the train and switch the other industries then depart. Good operating theme in my opinion. And if you've been following the Conrail Shared Assets thread: http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=26&t=4204, you can get some good ideas off that thread for such an operation.

If you were operating the layout as though it were just an industrial spur, then you could stage the train at either end, depending on which end of the plan you consider to be the end of the spur then work the industries as required and return to the staging point.

If I were trying to treat this plan as though it were a separate short line or switching company, then I suppose I'd keep my engine at the end of the spur by Lowes or perhaps on the Munson's track and stage inbound cars on the main between the runaround switches, as though the connecting road had set them off there during the night or whenever. You'd then block out your cars and switch out the industries as required using the runaround track as necessary. When you've finished switching your industries, the outbound cars would be left between the switches of the runaround track to be picked by the connecting road and then tie up your engine where ever you choose to keep it when you aren't working.

Personally, with this track plan, I'd have the theme to be the end of a branch line. Just seems to fit the plan better than it being strictly an industrial spur or even a separate switching company, although treating it as a separate switching company might be my second choice.