Large Scale Central

Operations on the J&B

Operations
#1

Just a beautiful September day - what better time for an ops session?

Ken is driving down from West Grove and for some unexpected reason runs into DC traffic. :wink:

Well, in the meantime, I have to get ready.

I’ve already printed up the manifests from the operations software. We’re planning on running two trains today; one eastbound; one westbound.

Green Springs Yard is the starting location for Train #1.

Just past that is Smith Pond Mill. A boxcar awaits pickup from one of the trains.

Brunt Interchange is the location where we get our foreign road cars.

After that, the small town of Occoquan. Here we have McCown Freight.

And Mystery, Inc (2 boxcars), and the team track (cleverly disguised as a passing siding)

Oates Furniture is actually accessible from Green Springs Yard…

Next, the train curves around to Jackson.

Matheson Textiles is my largest industry.

Next to it, Salmons Produce and Mills Fuel.

Finally, we have Buchanan Tool & Die and the bucket coaling station.

A view of Jackson from Matheson Textiles

Lexington is my staging area. Here, Train #2 waits patiently - we won’t run it until we’re done with Train #1, which departs from Green Springs.

The cars are all setup and the manifest is ready to be followed. It provides a quick list of all the tasks that are to be performed by Train #1.

#2

It’s quite a drive, but Ken endures and we’re ready to take out the train, leaving from Green Springs Yard.

Ken has decided to act as the conductor, and I will be the engineer.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1274.JPG)

We bring the locomotive into the yard and begin to make up the train. It will consist of 5 cars.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1275.JPG)

Once it is made up, we can take the short trip into Occoquan.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1276.JPG)

There’s a bit of switching as we deliver cars to Smith Pond Mill and McCown Freight. Then it’s off to Jackson.

Jackson is always interesting as it is a combination of short spurs with leading and trailing switches.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1277.JPG)

It always seems like there’s lots of running around the train to do.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1278.JPG)

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1280.JPG)

And when you get down to placing a car, it can be interesting. We have to put the new car next to the unloading/loading platform, so this means a lot of switching as there is never enough room to pull the whole string at once.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1281.JPG)

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1282.JPG)

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1283.JPG)

We do eventually complete the assigned moves and pretty soon it’s time for Train #2.

We were a bit surprised this time. The train left Lexington with 5 cars and arrived in Jackson with the assignment to deliver all 5 cars and pick up 5 new ones.

Some of the switching was done at Salmons Produce.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1284.JPG)

But the rest involved Mills Fuel, Matheson Textiles, and Buchanan Tool & Die. The passing siding serves as a work area.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1285.JPG)

Delivering a car to Buchanan Tool & Die.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1286.JPG)

Then it’s back on the main line.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2013.9.4/IMG_1287.JPG)

Of course one does get busy, and I kept forgetting to take more pictures! I guess I need to invite Vincent next time!

So, after about three and a half hours, we completed the two trains. Ken helped to put the trains in their proper place and we were all done.

A great morning of running trains and then we were off to lunch to discuss the day.

What could be better? :slight_smile:

#3

Looks like you had fun, great day here in N.E. as well but i didnt get to run trains.

Al P.

#4

Bruce Chandler said:

It’s quite a drive, but Ken endures and we’re ready to take out the train, leaving from Green Springs Yard.

What could be better? :slight_smile:

What could be better is if you lived about 90 miles closer, say on this side of DC and Baltimore…:wink:

But it was well worth the drive. And a beautiful day. I always enjoy running on Bruce’s layout, It’s so different then mine. A lot of little switching puzzles to figure out, which gave a fair share of head scratching.

The best part of this is getting to compare notes on how the JMRI software works. Thanx Bruce had a great time…( and I found a present in my pocket, in case your looking for your little card thingie)…:wink:

#5

Oh man, we are headed down that way in October, you could have waited! :slight_smile:

#6

Really nice photo essay. I got to see views of the railroad I don’t remember seeing before.

Weather was great here too. I got home early and decided to clean up the railroad from the weekend heavy rain and run a train. Took almost 2 hours to clean the switches, run a set-out train, one extra and a sweep train :]

#7

Vincent D’Agostino said:

Oh man, we are headed down that way in October, you could have waited! :slight_smile:

Well, I’m betting Ken could come down then, as well. But…it does depend…what time in October?

#8

Ken Brunt said:

Bruce Chandler said:

It’s quite a drive, but Ken endures and we’re ready to take out the train, leaving from Green Springs Yard.

What could be better? :slight_smile:

What could be better is if you lived about 90 miles closer, say on this side of DC and Baltimore…:wink:

But it was well worth the drive. And a beautiful day. I always enjoy running on Bruce’s layout, It’s so different then mine. A lot of little switching puzzles to figure out, which gave a fair share of head scratching.

The best part of this is getting to compare notes on how the JMRI software works. Thanx Bruce had a great time…( and I found a present in my pocket, in case your looking for your little card thingie)…:wink:

OK…I guess you can keep that. :slight_smile:

I think I’ve got another somewhere. If not, I’ll make one.

Thanks for coming down!

#9

We will be heading to Charlotte N.Carolina for Columbus Day weekend (watching cars turn left a whole bunch of times at the races)
Our route takes us 95s then we pick up 85 in Virginia to Charlotte.
So I don’t know how far you guys are from where we will be traveling , but we most likely will be driving back around your area on Sunday the 12th.
Let me know how far off the travel path you are and maybe we can swing by, would like to check out the railway… And make sure that engine you had at Bobs is still doing okay :slight_smile:

#10

Well, I’ll be out at Andy’s on the 12th, in Nashville IL.

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/18044/bluestone-southern-s-proposed-20

#11

Great pictures! Looks like a good time.

#12

Ken Brunt said:

Well, I’ll be out at Andy’s on the 12th, in Nashville IL.

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/18044/bluestone-southern-s-proposed-20

Oh well, maybe next time. Andy’s would be too far out for us to hit on the way coming home… unless we just don’t come back home
:slight_smile:

#13

Referencing the other thread on Saw By’s, your railroad would be perfect for this if you started one train and planned a meet somewhere in the middle. Then work the second train until the meet is achieved. The meet might cause the reason for using more motive power as an engine would be required for both trains on the line at the same time.

Just thoughts. You were talking about TT and TO’s, the meet forces this.

#14

Vincent D’Agostino said:
We will be heading to Charlotte N.Carolina for Columbus Day weekend (watching cars turn left a whole bunch of times at the races) Our route takes us 95s then we pick up 85 in Virginia to Charlotte. So I don’t know how far you guys are from where we will be traveling , but we most likely will be driving back around your area on Sunday the 12th. Let me know how far off the travel path you are and maybe we can swing by, would like to check out the railway… And make sure that engine you had at Bobs is still doing okay :slight_smile:

Vince, if you ever do find yourself traveling down this way again, I’m about 30-45 minutes from the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Bruce is about 15-20 minutes from 95 at the 495/95 split in VA, and if you just happen to get to the train show in York in the spring, I’m a little over an hour away from there. I try to have an open house for anyone who wants to visit after the train show(or before, if that’s convenient).

#15

Ken Brunt said:
, and if you just happen to get to the train show in York in the spring, I’m a little over an hour away from there. I try to have an open house for anyone who wants to visit after the train show(or before, if that’s convenient).

We are heading to the York train show in March
:slight_smile:
I have never been, so I already blocked off the dates!

#16

I see you guys at ECLSTS, and it just amazes me that you come from PA, VA, IL, MA and now RI!

Look forward to meeting you, Vincent!

#17

And there’s a few there that come down from Canada…:wink:

#18

How could I forget John & Crew??

I was just looking back at the pichers, and it’s a good thing Ken didn’t have flippers on, he would make a good GODZILLA!!! GODZILLA STOMP!!!