Large Scale Central

The Storage, Care and Feeding of Rolling Stock

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

On our travels this summer, we observed many different ways people stored rolling stock. Everything from leaving out all the time, to the infamous “Bread trays”, to all switching done in buildings with only long runs outside.

All great ideas and no one way was perfect, but lots of examples of how we all attack this game of Operations differently.

Because I like the switching, I enjoyed running the setup trains. However, leaving the equipment out, so it is handled much like the indoor railroads was certainly enjoyable.

It all just cause you to think of ideas and theories.

#2

As indoor fiddle yards go, I really liked Al Pomeroy’s Interchange. Much easier to access cars than my shelving with parallel tracks along the wall. Also like his idea of raised center retainers Vs groove in the shelving.

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/post4/RGSofNH_8-14_4.JPG)

#3

Looks nice Jon. My train room is a mess and last night the wife was asking two questions, how does it get like that and how do you get anything done in here.

#4

Al’s shelving pigeon holing really did work. I believe he listed that in his train orders as 'the Interchange".

You know, one I kind of forgot, was the new incline into the storage shed on the Finger Lakes Live Steamers #1 trackage. They had a large table/deck with a number of tracks and then shelves with “bread trays”, across the aisles, inside a new large storage shed. Kind of a combination of the 2 systems of bread trays and setup trains or what has become known as “the Canadian Way” and “the American Way”.

I really enjoy when the setup and tear down become part of the Operations. Bob’s idea of putting all the cars in Franklin Falls and in Burke and then making up switch lists to get them to the right locations on the railroad, really did teach participants “the lay of the land”.

#5

Thanks John - but not mine - it’s Al Pomeroy’s.

#6

I have a locked cabinet outside, with shelves like Al’s. I also have a similar unit in the garage. Getting the cars from the garage to the railroad I use a carry tray I built. It’s like an old tool carrier.

#7

Some stay out, most go into a cabinet. Ideally, I would like to drive all of the trains into some sort of outdoor stooge, rather than having to pick them up and put them in the cabinet.

#8

I keep mine stored in the “Interchange” at Burns Jct. Which is nothing more then

the garage window leading to the “Fiddle Yard” inside the garage.

The Fiddle Yard consists of 2 shelves along an outside wall and an inside wall.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/2014/FiddleYard07.jpg)

Just inside the window is a 4-way transfer table that can route the cars onto different tracks.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/2014/FiddleYard05.jpg)

At the bottom left in the pic is a 18" piece of track that gets inserted when the window is open.

There are 2 shelves where cars are stored that aren’t connected to the yard tracks.

I try and keep like cars together so they’re easier to find when I set them out for an Ops session, which I usually do by carrying them out by hand. The “Car Roster” that gets printed out lists the areas in alphabetical order, with Coal Creek first, Delores second and so on. Sometimes, if I’m in the mood, I’ll run a set up train to place the cars in their various locations, but it’s usually quicker doing by hand. I do run a sweeper train to pick them all up at the end of the session. Then I’ll back 4 cars at a time up the grade to the window at “Burns Jct.” That’s all a loco can handle with the grade there.

(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Sept%20Ops%20session/fall_ops017.jpg)

During an Ops session, Burns Jct. is the first and last stop on both an East bound and West bound freight so any Interchange cars are picked up or set out first and last. Then any work being done at Mills is done at the same time, since it’s just to the left of the “Interchange” window.

#9

Ken,

Knowing your layout and interchange, have you ever thought about leaving the rolling stock outside like Stan does? Do you think it would be safe? You know all of our basement trackage started as a way to bring the trains inside without picking them up. And then the cabinet at Excell Bottling Company and the shelving at Fiddle were all results of trying to put the storage and the destinations of the rolling stock in a safe place.

#10

Roll these up to the tracks, and unload, 21 cars per unit:

#11

Ric Golding said:

Ken,

Knowing your layout and interchange, have you ever thought about leaving the rolling stock outside like Stan does? Do you think it would be safe? You know all of our basement trackage started as a way to bring the trains inside without picking them up. And then the cabinet at Excell Bottling Company and the shelving at Fiddle were all results of trying to put the storage and the destinations of the rolling stock in a safe place.

I have done that but strictly by accident. The heat and humidity aren’t very kind to the cars, axles get rusted, paint and decals start peeling off, creepy crawleys making homes in open cars and other undesirable stuff. Besides it’s all part of the fun, seeing how many cars I can pick up and still make it back to Delores…:wink:

If I start in Mancos and work my way into Hesperus it’s all down hill from there, so I can usually gather all of them up that way. Had about 15 cars behind one of the Annies one time.

#12

Good thread, Ric…always good to see what, and why people use the methods they use to set up for an operation.

Trying to store all your rolling stock on track, makes putting the cars out at the locations needed for the operation, an operation in itself. Then returning them to the storage area is another operation.

A lot has to do with what “An operation” is to the person who owns the railroad.

Using RailOp, or any other program, forces us to place cars in locations that are in agreement with the known locations in the program. It would be great just to leave the cars where they are at the end of an operation…but, just like the real railroads, the cars start to deteriorate as soon as they are built, but true to their size; our models deteriorate very quickly out in the real world.

Added to this, on our pike (The IPP&W) we have two separate operations, using different sets of equipment. (Over 200 cars in each)

#13

Hey Fred,

I’ve lost track of how many different railroads we’ve had the opportunity to operate on this Summer. I’m not saying anyone was right or wrong. All the different layouts and situations were functional. Many setups were simular and a spin off of the IPP&WRR’s system and I think you should be able to take that as a compliment.

The two most drastic departures from the bread tray method were Al’s and Stan’s.

Al had all his destinations inside in different buildings or in his basement and the operations ran through the outdoors, but switching was done under cover, except for one siding. If you think about it, this could be almost operated year round and any time of day or night… Rain or snow would probably not impact OPS, too much. Al used ShipIt for OPs control.

Stan had all his equipment left out in the weather and used car cards and waybills, which he did bring in. There was a plastic bag marked for each location and that was taken out to the location. Obviously, it was very impressive and I think the environment, under the tall pines did provide some protection for the equipment from the elements, but I did get pine tar on my arm and I wondered how much got on the track and equipment.

I know you change from narrow to standard gauge and that does add an extra angle, but I wonder if you didn’t change scales, could you cover the destinations with heavy canvas and leave the cars in place.

Bob’s process of putting all cars at the two ends of the railroad and then running setup trains to get to the correct locations, was a great way to learn the trackage.

Try as he might, Doug couldn’t help himself from picking the cars up and carrying the cars to the required location. I kept telling him, “Its not a race”. He struggles and the biggest battles are with himself. :wink:

Just thoughts.

#14

…Time is a restraint, when setting up for an operation, as is how true to prototypical practices a person wants to be.

We average just under an hour, for the guys to put out the cars, using the “Bread Tray” method.

There is more to our use of bread trays as storage units. They also act as part of the car location system.

Each tray is labeled, with clip on cards, showing general locations for the cars in the tray. At the locations on the actual railroad, lists generated by the RailOp program, designate where each individual car is supposed to be placed at the start of operations.

At the end of an operation, the cars are placed in trays with attached cards, noting where the cars were located.

Since RailOp allows for a continuing program of operations; the trays are then ready for the next operating day.

There are always a few cars out of place, but this is handled easily by one person who looks up any misplaced car on the master list. We seldom have to do a complete “Resort” of the cars, but two of us can do it in little more than a hour.

With a railroad like the IPP&W; it would be great to have a number of storage cabinets, located around the railroad, to cut down on the distance a tray needs to be carried, but due to space limitations, we have most of the storage at one end, and a smaller space at the other.

If I could start over; I’d use the same system, but would build more smaller cabinets spread out along the pike.

Storage has to be well planned to prevent damage to the rolling stock. The latest models on the market are getting rather delicate for handling and storage. Storing them in their own boxes seems to see parts falling off every time they are removed from the boxes. This is one reason I gave up an attempt to go into the 1:20.3 scale railroading. Storage would have been a rather large problem…the stuff is just too delicate for practical purposes, from my experience of owning over 40 cars at one time in my life.

Bread trays need to have a foam sheet layed on their bottoms to protect damage, and most will easily handle 5 cars in 1:22.5 scale, or the same in 1:29 scale as long as you don’t get into those new long modern cars. We just took our two Evans box cars out of service, due to their length.

…Modern passenger cars are another story, if you have the Aristo heavy weights, or the USTrains long ones…We still have not found a great way to store them, but then we don’t need many for our limited passenger services.

#15

Ric…I agree…everyone has to find what works best for them.

I just thought I’d describe our system so anyone interested could be better informed.

As far as leaving cars out all the time;

Your location is the determining factor. I probably could, as I haven’t had any real problem around here, but it would be a risk as we are in a rather built up neigbourhood. But as you point out, we have two alternating operations.

We still have to store everything during the Winter so, I still need the storage space inside.

Having inside operations is not an option here…as you know.

…another factor is…the supply of bread trays !! I got them but there are good ones that work well, and there are others that don’t.

Yes you could build them, but building them from wood would make them rather heavy.

. I doubt that many bakeries or suppliers would give them away free…and I haven’t a clue what the price would be.

#16

To end my long winded tirade on bread trays…

We operate every Saturday morning, not just once a month or less, like other groups do.

So we have, over a rather long period of time; proved that the system we use is best for our needs. (So far)

It sure isn’t perfect…by gar it sure isn’t…but we keep looking for ways to improve.

That is why, Ric; your timely opening of this thread is most helpful. I hope I can gain something from others experiences, and share mine with them.

We do take it as a compliment, to be used as one of many examples of ways to store LS model railroad rolling stock. I say “WE” as around here it is a team effort. A lot of ideas have been put in place in order to enjoy the operations, and have fun.

#17

I have found that since I built an outdoor storage shed into which I can just roll the equipment, my enjoyment of the railroad has increase immeasurably. I don’t do regularly scheduled ops sessions with multiple operators; my railroad is simply too small. However, if I’ve got 2 hours to kill on any given day, I simply pull out the cars, set them at their appropriate sidings (usually by hand as it’s fastest), and have at switching things to their next locations. If I’ve got more time, I’ll use a loco to set all the cars out to their initial start points, then switch them to their next locations. Sometimes, just pulling out a string of cars (7 plus caboose) and moving them to their locations is about all I have time for, but they’re ready to go whenever the mood strikes.

Later,

K

#18

When I built my train shed, I ran a track from the back yard RR and into the shed. Only thing I didn’t think of during construction of the shed was to put the electrical outlets on that wall above the 15 inch high yard. Those outlets along that wall are inaccessible under the yard. I’d show you pictures, but the whole process is so cumbersome. Trust me, thought, it works very well!

#19

My basement will eventually have a 2 layered layout in it… the bottom layer will be the freight yards for the town just outside the window, Bluefield…

I too, take all my equipment inside when not in use… This is done by opening a window and installing a ““Bridge section”” from outside to inside… During Ops sessions, I have a yard master inside, who controls entry and exit from the yards, and makes up and breaks down trains in the yard area…

Currently, the yard area is not capable of holding aall the frieght cars used during Ops sessions, so, the upper level along the west wall has become a ““Fiddle”” yard… It stores all the excess freight cars that the bottom can’t currently handle…

My engine facility is shelves mounted on the south wall, to store locomotives and charge them…

The first trains run during an Ops session are the setup trains, taking the freight cars out to their locations…

The last trains of the Ops session are the collection trains… The pick up all the cars out at locations and bring them into the ““yards””…

I do have Railop setup to use as my basic program, however currently, I do not use Railop, but I make up a Train sheet for the trains… Crews annotate all cars picked up on the sheets and they depart the yard area, and/or pick up cars from industries/sidings…

#20

I think it is so cool when someones layout is setup to run into a shed or basement. It sure makes things easier. A friend doesn’t run much on his RR due to his having to lug everything from his basement.
I have 12 “sacrificial” cars that stay out year round that are spotted around the RR at various sidings and spurs. My locos come inside when done playing. Last evening I brought out about 15 of my special cars and it was a chore but I’m lucky I only have 4 steps and 40 feet or so to the RR.
Since it is a chore to lug equipment out I usually end up hauling around and switching out the outdoor cars and that is fun.

I guess the best thing we can do if we don’t have the luxury of an enclosed area to park trains is to use bread trays or build a neat rolley unit like Greg did or stick one car under an arm and one in each hand OR run shorter trains.