Large Scale Central

Matheson's Rock Quarry

Operations
#1

During the Invasion, some of us had an Ops Session on Doug Matheson’s Layout. Bruce got assigned the quarry train and it produced quite a unique switching puzzle. At least unique to me.

The instruction read-

At the quarry, exchange the cars for the 5 cars that are there, then push those cars up the hill – there is less chance of derailment if the light flats are first with the heavier gons against the loco.

The track plan in the quarry is a siding at the bottom of a steep hill that holds 5 loaded rock hoppers.

Next to the rock siding is a pair of run around sidings, that each track holds 3 cars. The tail of the run around siding is only long enough for the engine.

Instructions state the motive power must always be on the down hill side of the train, when coming down the hill with 5 empties and going back up the hill with the 5 loads.

Bruce worked at it. I got done with my work and went over to help. We couldn’t figure out how to exchange the 5 empties for the 5 loads and keep the engine on the down hill side.

I have no graphic abilities on these confusers, so if someone wants to draw this puzzle up, the help is appreciated.

By the way, we were called to lunch before we completed the puzzle. Doug swears it can be done.

Step 1 - Move 3 empties to one of the two run around sidings (run around track A).

Step 2 - Escape on the other leg of the run around track (run around track B).

Step 3 - Put 3 of the loads on the run around track you escaped on (run around track B).

Step 4 - Grab the other two loads and then pick up the 3 empties you put on the first run around track (run around track A).

Step 5 - Put those empties off of run around track A into the now empty rock siding.

Step 6 - leave the 2 loads coupled to the 3 empties on rock siding.

Step 7 - Pick up other 2 empties off of track lead and put in run around track A.

Step 8 - escape on run around track B pushing loads up to now empty track lead.

Step 9 - Pick up other 2 loads that are in the rock siding with the 3 empties.

Step 10 - Pick up 2 empties on run around track A and put in rock siding with other 3 empties.

Step 11 - Leave 2 load on empty run around track B.

Step 12 - Use run around track A to get down hill of those last 2 loads.

Step 13 - Shove 2 loads up to couple with 3 loads on the track lead and shove all 5 up the hill.

Seems simple enough, right Bruce?

#2

Ric, What no pics , videos?:stuck_out_tongue:

#3

Ric, I started puzzling over this,

The key being the designated hill start. The instructions only state engine on down hill side of train when on the hill. If this is the case, then from reading your move list it seems doable, as long as the engine can be closest to the hill during the switching moves.

Yes, a sketch would help with the logistics so I took the time to rough it out.

(http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/dltrains/dougsswitching-2.png)

hope this is clear enough. Green are loads, Red are empties and Blue is loco

Oops forgot the engine on 8, but it would be between the two sections of loads at this point

and I reversed the order of cars in #5 the empties should be next to the loco

I redid the drawing to correct it

#4

Yep, I think Dave has it. The first problem is that when you are there, it LOOKS like each of the tracks can hold the train; so, my first two moves were trying out the length of the track.

I do believe that each track can hold four cars…but I never got that far to try it.

#5

I guess I didn’t get any good pictures of this part.

This shows the steep track going down to the quarry.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/invasion2013/IMG_1056.JPG)

And, all I have is a distant shot of the quarry siding itself.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/invasion2013/IMG_1006.JPG)

You can see the “loads” on the inner track, and barely see the two spurs next to it.

I ended up putting rocks on each of the “loads” so I would not get confused as to which was a load and which was an empty.

It was a nice challenge. Luckily, the call to lunch ended the session, so I wasn’t too embarrassed.

#6

I heard about it but I missed all the fun. I was busy on the track accross the aisle from him wondering how to get around my train on a passing siding that was too short to get a car on another siding…:wink:

#7

Of course if you are in a rush, you could let gravity be your friend and set/release brakes when needed

(http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/dltrains/dougs2.png)

#8

Dave,

You pegged it. Thank you.

I just don’t wish to take the time to learn those skills to learn to do the graphics.

You know, when I was younger, the switching puzzle each month in MR were one of my favorite parts. I wonder if that DVD of the 1,000 years of MR has all those puzzles? That alone would be a reason to get it.

#9

That was quick and easy lines in MS paint Ric. And I prefer the gravity switching route.

Yes I learned a lot from those old puzzles in MR

#10

One of my first full time jobs was working at Breckenridge Material Co. on the Missouri Pacific lines in St. Louis County. Part of the job was unloading hoppers of cement and trap rock on a concrete trestle out over a valley with about 10 bins to hold the products and the concrete plant at the end.

Shoved cars out on to the trestle with an old 10 ton Army truck that had 10 wheel drive and a huge hunk of concrete over the rear wheels. Shoved cars up one at a time and started the process by getting loaded car moving with a chain from the truck pulling it. Release brakes, get car moving, by chain hooked into side frame. Let car roll past as you take chain off. Get behind car and start shoving with truck. Get to unloading point. Set brakes on truck. Set brakes on hopper. Put blocks under wheel of hopper and behind wheels of truck. Unload hopper. Pull blocks. Hold hopper in place with brakes. Back truck away, throw turnout to empty track. Release brakes and ride the car down in to the empty track. That was the best part and made all the unmentioned work of unloading and heat worthwhile. Plus the paycheck.

#11

Ric,

The DVD has every pages of all of those issues from January 1934 until December 2009.

I’m not certain when they ran, or what they were called, but I did get a number of different pages when I searched on “switching” and “puzzles”.

The DVD is a great resource as it provides a great amount of information for learning how to build from scratch, as well as great ideas for building and operations.

#12

Soun ds like another dastardly deed from the mind of Doug Matheson

#13

Bruce Chandler said:

Ric,

The DVD has every pages of all of those issues from January 1934 until December 2009.

I’m not certain when they ran, or what they were called, but I did get a number of different pages when I searched on “switching” and “puzzles”.

The DVD is a great resource as it provides a great amount of information for learning how to build from scratch, as well as great ideas for building and operations.

Sounds like I need to get this DVD

#14

Yeah,

At first I thought it was a waste, but more and more it seems like it might be worthwhile. I really did look forward to the switching puzzles every month.

Always struggled with what counted as a move? Still never know when to count or not, but anymore I don’t care, so I just enjoy doing them. Same on the Timesaver. :wink:

#15

I too like what it has to offer, but … http://www.kalmbachstore.com/15120.html … at this price I might wait till my rich Uncle Payitall passes.

#16

Dave Marconi said:

I too like what it has to offer, but … http://www.kalmbachstore.com/15120.html … at this price I might wait till my rich Uncle Payitall passes.

Not cheap, but a bargain still. Over 900 issues. Just over 20 cents an issue :wink:
Ralph

#17

It certainly would take up a lot less space than the 30 + years I have stored away, I wish the Shortline Gazette would do something similar !

#18

Gary Buchanan said:

It certainly would take up a lot less space than the 30 + years I have stored away, I wish the Shortline Gazette would do something similar !

I agree, that would be serious technology and history n a disc

#19

One of the real benefits of having 75 years of MR on the computer is the ability to search across the entire collection. For instance, I just keyed in “timesaver” and it very quickly shows me six different articles on the timesaver - in various configurations.

I like to think that my town of Jackson is rather influenced by the Time Saver. Not quite the same, mind you, but still quite challenging.

(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Operations/2009.10.20/Jackson.jpg)

#20

Bruce,

To me, that is exactly what John Allan had in mind. You’ve got the runaround, trailing and leading point turnouts and limited track lengths. If you establish switching limits by “Yard Limit” restrictions that’s it. Nice illustrations.