| Author |
 Topic  |
|
lv4142003
Engine Wiper
USA
161 Posts |
 Posted - 09/03/2008 : 12:52:10 PM
|
| Geez, I thought those weird round black things with all the little yellow dots were some kinda dice ! Hueber |
 |
|
|
hunter48820
Fireman
6029 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 4:27:19 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
Andy...were you having continued problems with the turnouts, or is this technique more of a preventative measure?
Hi Rick,
It is a preventive measure since Atlas relies on non-solid contact for the point power. Once you get dirt, paint and scenery around those points (either end), you may start having point pickup problems and I decided to do this as I installed each turnout. It goes fast after you've done a couple.
|
Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 5:26:51 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hunter48820
It is a preventive measure since Atlas relies on non-solid contact for the point power. Once you get dirt, paint and scenery around those points (either end), you may start having point pickup problems and I decided to do this as I installed each turnout. It goes fast after you've done a couple.
Oh boy, it looks like I know what my next project will be! [:-banghead]
Looks like a good fix Andy. We only had a couple of turnouts that had contact problems out of the box and those were an easy fix. Everything on the Atlas turnouts is based on pressure contact, which will work for a while, but now that you've brought this to our attention, I can see how with paint and weathering, more problems could surface.
Thanks for the tip.... I think! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 5:29:25 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
I'm sure one of them will correct me if the configuration isn't correct (the two heads are for a crossover and diverging route, in this case the Commonwealth branch), as well as question my sanity for even venturing into this. Having recently encountered a layout with working signals, I'm suddenly fascinated with the prospect of signaling in order to make the HTRR's "Seven Miles of Sheer Terror" more prototypical for operators....but that's somewhere in the dim future.
They actually look pretty good Rick! For now, placement isn't critical. I may be moving them Saturday night as the session goes and we figure out logical placement. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 5:39:28 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by lv4142003
Geez, I thought those weird round black things with all the little yellow dots were some kinda dice ! Hueber
Joe...that's what "banjo" style signals look like when they've grown up....LOL |
|
|
|
hunter48820
Fireman
6029 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 7:01:10 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
quote:
Originally posted by lv4142003
Geez, I thought those weird round black things with all the little yellow dots were some kinda dice ! Hueber
Joe...that's what "banjo" style signals look like when they've grown up....LOL
Yeh, if they don't smoke!! [:-eyebrows] |
Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
|
|
|
nhguy
Fireman
USA
3689 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 02:04:31 AM
|
| I use the same method Andy. Except I put in a "U" shape at the pivot point to allow movement. That doesn't interfere with the point movement without a "U" at the joint? It just makes them more reliable with DC or DCC. |
Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 02:12:33 AM
|
Well, for those of you following this madenss, here's an update on the operational side of things.
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I volunteered to put an operating scheme together for Rick's layout, an aspect of the hobby I truly enjoy! As I mentioned, what makes Rick's layout unique is that the majority of his operations are related to the steel industry. HARSCO is accountable for about 70% of the traffic on the layout. There is an endless parade of shipments of ore, coke and other additives to the blast furnace, as well as movements of hot metal and slag.
We got information as to the proper proportion of loads in to feed a complex roughly the size that Rick is modeling, so for example, over the course of the session, the blast furnace and open hearth receive;
- 60 ore jennies delivered to the mineral yard.
- 24 car loads of coke delivered to the mineral yard
- 12 gondolas of scrap metal to the blast furnace.
- 10 covered hoppers of dolomite
- Approximately 12 cars of additives
This is only for the blast furnace and doesn't include traffic to the BOF or the coke works, nor does it include any of the general freight.
In previous sessions, we simply worked the two HARSCO facilities (the blast furnace and open hearth and the Basic Oxygen Furnace) to see how everything worked out. We did all the switching within these two complexes, including the movements of slag and hot metal, as well as handling all the inbound mineral traffic.
Our next session will bring the general freight operations for the rest of the layout online, adding a variety of traffic to the railroad! Over the course of a three hour session, we expect to run 18 scheduled trains, 9 of which are locals and turn to go back to their points of origin, so we actually have 27 movements. In addition to this, we have at least 3 runs of slag to the slag dump and their respctive return trips, as well as a variety of 'hot movements' from the blast furnace and open hearths to a variety of online customers. Remember, Rick's modeling only about 7 miles of trackage and I anticipate approximately 40 movements during the three hour period, so the traffic density should get interesting! (Yes Rick, I keep saying 'interesting') Our goal for the next session is to see how the traffic flows following the initial schedule that I set up. One thing is for sure - operators will be busy and have to be on their toes!
We are looking foward to his next session and will post pics here! Wish us luck!!! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
hunter48820
Fireman
6029 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 02:31:06 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by nhguy
I use the same method Andy. Except I put in a "U" shape at the pivot point to allow movement. That doesn't interfere with the point movement without a "U" at the joint? It just makes them more reliable with DC or DCC.
Hi Bill,
I make sure that the point rail is against the stock rail when I solder the wire. That way, the rail pivots inward which slightly flexes the wire (which is not enough to see but if you don't have it, it will interfere with the movement). I've had no problems doing it this way. I tried adding the loop when I first started doing it but decided that it was harder to do than what I am doing now and the wire doesn't show as much this way.
One thing that I do that makes it easier for me is that I will use a very long (several inches)piece of wire strand from a #14 stranded wire. I've found that there are two sizes of wire strands in the #14 and #12, I use the thinnest strands for more flexibility. I will tin the whole thing and tin the points on the rails where I will attach it. I then solder the wire in place having the long piece to hold onto. I nip it off after soldering it at both points.
Hope this all makes sense!![:-boggled] |
Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
|
|
|
Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 05:16:40 AM
|
Since I haven't as yet painted or ballasted my track, it would be a good "rainy day" project to make up a bunch of these feeders and install them...kind of an insurance policy against future frustration. Right now I'm using Caboose Industries ground throws for all the turnouts, which will remain except for the mainline ones, which will eventually be motorized and (hopefully) actuated via a dispatcher's panel in my workshop. Having learned my lesson after the Herr Street yard chalk weathering debacle, and seeing how operations can grind to a frustrating halt when things aren't conducting, I don't want a repeat performance again.
Mark and I have a running debate going about the operations; he keeps using the word "interesting", which as a novice, I'm not sure how to take...guess we'll find out this weekend. |
|
|
|
hunter48820
Fireman
6029 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 05:45:05 AM
|
Hi Rick,
I am basically doing the same as you. All my mainline switches (even customer sidings) are Tortoise powered. All the other off-mainline switches use Caboose groundthrows except for using Howard's Humpyard Purveyance switch controls for my passenger terminal (a gang at each end of the terminal).
I also hope to one day have a CTC panel but that is a little ways down the road for me.
I have crewmembers that would like me to have some dark territory. Of course, that will slow traffic all the way across the railroad so I'm trying to figure out what I want.
At least for now, I will run TT/TO until I can afford signaling the railroad and building a CTC panel. Although, there is always the option of a computer monitor for the CTC panel but after looking at panels like Ted's, I sure wouldn't be happy with anything short of one of my own for very long!![:-boggled][:-eyebrows] |
Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
|
|
|
nhguy
Fireman
USA
3689 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 2:10:25 PM
|
Andy,
How do those Hump yard throws work for you? I've been thinking about using those in my two tower positions to make it more like the real thing for the operators. (The tower positions aren't operational yet) I thought that would be a neat thing to do throwing turnouts with the Hump yard throws.
As for "dark territory' you could always put in a branch line!
OK maybe something more in the way of a restriction order because of signal maintenance. Your Dispatcher would have to include it with all train movements, even scheduled trains, before they go on the road. Number the order and include that with your form 19. In the block that tells how many orders, if you number the restriction as order #1, then the Dispatcher would tell the crew:
To C&E of Extra XXXX I have 2 orders for your train. Order # 1 Maintenance Restriction Order. Order # xx would be the running order: "Run extra.......to........" and so on.
That would be one way to do it.
|
Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 2:27:09 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hunter48820
All the other off-mainline switches use Caboose groundthrows except for using Howard's Humpyard Purveyance switch controls for my passenger terminal (a gang at each end of the terminal).
Andy, what are 'Howard's Humpyard Purveyance switch controls'? Are these the throws that looks like miniature levers? |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 3:38:13 PM
|
| Yes....I did a quick Google search after reading Andy's comments this morning. They look like miniature Armstrong levers and can be mounted horizonially, vertically, under a fascia, on a fascia....etc. Would be kind of neat if you installed them at pre-designated tower locations. |
|
|
|
dnhman
Fireman
USA
1049 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 5:16:07 PM
|
Rick,, My Garman is loaded for Saturday!!!! see ya
Joe
|
Cheers!, Joe |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Harrisburg Terminal Railroad (HTRR)
