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hunter48820
Fireman
6024 Posts |
 Posted - 11/28/2010 : 11:26:41 PM
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Wow Rick,
That is one heck of a long wheel cleaner!![:-eyebrows] I'm glad that you like the wheel cleaning idea. It's always fun sharing ideas that other feel are worthwhile!!
Always like pics of your op sessions. Regarding the DS visiting the layout to see what's going on, I'm a firm believer that the DS not be allowed in the layout room. He is supposed to be in some far off location and communicates by phone (or radio). If he can't figure out what's going on by either of those means, too bad, he's just out of luck!![:-eyebrows]
Actually, I've had trouble enforcing that one but my plan is to really enforce it once sessions are standardized and the DSs really understand the layout and traffic flow.
Gotta love op sessions!
Oh buy the way, my buddy and I have both ordered the full sets of Radical Flats ($115 total price). Can't wait to get them and play around with them. I used pics of yours in my clinic and the guys were very impressed.
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Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
Edited by - hunter48820 on 11/29/2010 12:35:46 AM |
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
USA
722 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 12:03:43 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
Well, another couple of months have gone by, which means that the usual gang of gypsies, tramps and thieves showed up to bust chops, consume goodies, and once again put the Seven Miles of Sheer Hell Route through its paces.
Great to see pictures of another ops session, Rick!
Vagel |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 10:04:58 AM
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Thanks for the comments, guys...two years into operating and we're still "tweaking" the schedule and sequence. Steam operated Division Street and noticed that the pace was fairly good until the final hour, when he got slammed by the arrival of three through freights, which must then be classified by the end of the night so that the locals are ready to roll for the next session. As Mark, our scheduling guru will attest, the @#*&^% steel mill throws a LOT of monkey wrenches into the sequence; one simple change can have a cascading effect on Herr and Maclay Street operations, so a lot of skull sessions have to take place to ensure that changing one thing doesn't screw up something else.
I can agree with your observation Andy about the dispatcher being in the room, but in fairness to Mark and Steam, sometimes it's inevitable since the mainline is so short and the number of trains trying to maneuver around each other is such a relatively small area practically demands a peek from time to time. Perhaps someday (in an parallel universe), the installation of signals and interlocks will preclude needing to do this...the dispatcher will just set the turnout and signal and tell the operators to watch them....simple, huh? All that's needed is <shutter> a lot of $ and electronic know-how.
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9272 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2010 : 12:30:04 AM
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Ah yes, I will attest to, as Rick puts it, the @#*&^% steel mill and the monkey wrench it throws into the schedule! Most of the mainline movements that feed the steel mill facilities must be coordinated with the mill, ie., coke cars are emptied and ready for pickup before the arrival of the coke job, and all this around the timing of the blast furnace taps and associated movements! It's a challenge... but fun!
Now, as for the dispatcher coming into the room, while it is sometimes unavoidable to have to 'sneak a peek' to clear up some confusion, it's also fun to go out and witness first hand the confusion and chaos that you as the dispatcher have created!  |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2011 : 9:10:24 PM
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Guess a little update is in order; Mark and Steam were over the other night to continue installing switch machines on the mainline...next up for the improvement program is Lucknow. When that's finished,next comes Herr. Steam has indicated I will need to keep a fifth of scotch on standby when he starts to tackle that one (9 switch machines for the Herr Street East interlocking alone).
Anyway, I've been futzing in Capital as the saying goes; for some time now I've been trying to figure out how to fill a wedge shaped void behind the Barrett Industries warehouse. After trying several different variations, I settled using one of the Radical Flats buildings and jazzed it up a bit by adding 3D pilasters and a few roof top details. Next came the much needed finishing of W.O Hickok Boiler Works...an old Revell bakery semi-bashed and a Walther's overhead crane for unloading raw materials and shipping out finsihed boiler units. No under construction pics this time, but here's a few of the "done for now" shots:
A pre-work shot of Hickok with Barrett in the background:
Hickok is made from two old revel barkery kits picked up at Timonium...I remember when these were state of the art:
A shot directly down the freshly installed Capital Street...going for a different look, I used Plastruct brick sheet; the asphalt patches are the infamous grout. The background was chosen to suggest the street bends to the left:
The newly installed "wedge" building behind Barrett:
A side shot:
Wilsbach Distributing as viewed from Hickok's yard....did a little upgrading to this rather than trying to replace it:
The "eastern" side of Capital is still in the pondering stage...I need to decide on a layout for capital iron as well as construct the heretofore phantom New Idea Spreader Company.
Another side project which resulted from my latest idea (much to Mark's chagrin)to initiate commuter service between Enola and downtown Harrisburg: a passenger stop at the recently created Wiconisco Street:
Yet to be fabricated is the actual Wiconsico Street bridge, which is currently in the design phase.
That's it for now; I apologize for the picture quality, but since my camera went belly-up last winter, I've only had my iPhone camera to work with.
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hunter48820
Fireman
6024 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2011 : 9:19:23 PM
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Hi Rick,
It's coming along very nicely. You are getting a lot off great depth with your backdrops. What picture is that that you have angled behind the truck. The building has a sign that states Upt? Cold Storage. I love the angle that it gives you.
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Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
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sjconrail
Engine Wiper
USA
131 Posts |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23230 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 10:12:07 AM
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Nice additions, Rick. It shows that the old classic styrene kits can still be useful.
I agree with Andy that the photo backdrops really blend in well and add depth to the scene.
I will once again put a plug in for you to apply for the Golden Spike certificate. Remember that the completed areas needed to match the square foot requirement do not need to be next to each other. |
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9272 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 10:21:22 AM
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| Great to finally see this update Rick. The Capital Street area looks even better in person! As for the backdrop, that was one of the first we placed on the layout months ago. It just kind of fit there and the scale was perfect! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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dlwrailfan1
Crew Chief
USA
574 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 12:17:56 PM
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Rick,
Kudos on this city industrial scene -- you have captured the flavor of these older warehouse areas.
Details abound -- speed limit sign, lamps, weeds along the ROW, brick/macadam/concrete, patches, junk on the loading platform, roof detail, vines on the wall, dirt on the walls, etc.
Very nicely done!
Eric
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
USA
722 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 12:23:28 PM
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The Radical Flats building is a great idea, Rick, and it worked beautifully in that space. It reminded me that I need to start getting serious about a permanent solution to that big whole in the wall at Chambersburg!
And those Revell structures still give Walthers and DPM a run for their money.
Thanks for posting the pictures.[:-thumbu][:-thumbu]
Vagel |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 1:50:50 PM
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Thanks for the comments, guys.
Vagel: I'm of two minds regarding the Radical Flats buildings; while a part of me really likes the effect, another is a little ashamed since they aren't actual 3D models, it almost feels as though as if I'm cheating. Since my layout depth is limited to anywhere between 24 and 30 inches, there aren't a lot of places for four-sided structures that don't impact or interfere with the track arrangement (Mark is already accusing me of trying to cram in too much). That means building flats, which naturally lead to the Radical Flats. I have tried to "improve" them a little by adding 3D details such as pilasters, downspouts, awnings, vents, billboards, etc. With the advent of digital cameras, photo editing software, and high quality printers, this seems to be a growing trend, especially since you can cobble something really eye-catching within literally fifteen minutes instead of fifteen hours. Lance Mindheim's recent articles in hobby magazines point out how enticing this approach can be, especially for things like roads, walls, and roofs. One thing I didn't try but should have was to cut out all the windows, then remount them inset to the frame. Or, another variation would be to replace them with Grant Line or Tichy ones. For the moment I still consider them "placeholders" until I have the time and interest to scratchbuild or kitbash their replacements....or maybe not!
Andy: that backdrop building was included on the RR Graphics disk I spoke about way back in this thread...as Mark said, it seems to fit perfectly.
Phil: Yeah, Mark was....how can I word this, a bit underwhelmed with my commuter service idea. Never been a big passenger fan, although I did grow up within a stones' throw of the Pemberton Branch which allegedly featured the only "push-pull" commuter the PRR ever employed and served as the inspiration. In fact, the engine (Baldwin) and coach (P-70) I'm using duplicates what they used; the coach only needs to have safety stripes put on the rear and it's almost a exact replication of the train I used to watch every day. Trooper that he is, Mark managed to squeeze a twice daily "ping-pong" into the schedule to mirror an early morning and shift time run....the last will be happening just as the "Seven Miles of Sheer Hell" route starts to really heat up (heh,heh,heh!) |
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hunter48820
Fireman
6024 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 2:49:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
Andy: that backdrop building was included on the RR Graphics disk I spoke about way back in this thread...as Mark said, it seems to fit perfectly.
Rick I hate to ask but can you give me the info on that disc again?? I think I'm going to need to get one!! Thanks!
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Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
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pcmatt
Engine Wiper
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 6:44:30 PM
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Another impressive update Rick. Everything looks awesome, can't wait to see it. From the pics, it looks like you're getting alot done across the layout just not one area.
Futzing....you gotta teach us the art. LOL
Now all we need is an update from Mark (hint, hint) |
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26375 |
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jbvb
Fireman
USA
1860 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 10:26:48 PM
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| I've always liked running passenger; it emphasizes train handling of a different kind than local or through freight. Commuter service does need infrastructure that isn't present in most layouts - industrial spurs off running tracks instead of the main, runarounds that don't tie up the main, multiple main tracks etc. On my own layout I'm hoping that operators will enjoy the mix of TT/TO, automatic block signal rules and lots of scheduled passenger trains. |
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Harrisburg Terminal Railroad (HTRR)
