Large Scale Central

Too many cars !

Operations Train Operations Software
#1

It’s probably been 2 months since I’ve used JMRI to create a switch list. During that time, no thanks to LSC & Facebook, I have acquired quite a few more cars. Being a mostly rainy day today, I wanted to run a train on the indoor division. JMRI refused to build a train with more than one car. A quick look at the build logs showed why: There is only one open car spot at each end of the railroad. JMRI has tons of cars wanting to move, but no where to put them!

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

What I plan to do is to dedicate one track in each yard as an arrival/departure track where nothing is stored. Then, in the software, I will add one or two more yard tracks that represent the storage shelves accessible from the arrival/departure track. Hopefully I can open 5 or 6 car spots this way and get things moving again.

#2

“I have acquired quite a few more cars.”

Jon,

I like your solution, don’t liquidate rolling stock, build more yards(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#3

Rick Marty said:

“I have acquired quite a few more cars.”

Jon,

I like your solution, don’t liquidate rolling stock, build more yards(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Another solution is to just get out all your stuff and go roundy round while taking scenic video or pics of the RR.

ROOSTER NOTES: that is an all day (meaning ALL DAY) event for him.

#4

Rooster said:

Rick Marty said:

“I have acquired quite a few more cars.”

Jon,

I like your solution, don’t liquidate rolling stock, build more yards(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Another solution is to just get out all your stuff and go roundy round while taking scenic video or pics of the RR.

ROOSTER NOTES: that is an all day (meaning ALL DAY) event for him.

I did have a plan to enable a version of RR, loop to loop…

But when I went to actually build it, terrain surveys proved it unworkable with better than 5% up and down within the loop. The part near the border stones was built as the Engine House lead a few years ago and Walk Crossing Trans Load was built ending at the flagstone path. The bridge across Deep Cut was placed a few years ago as an abandoned section of track. I was going to connect it as a spur to a coal dock, but I think I am done expanding on the ground.

#5

Rick Marty said:

“I have acquired quite a few more cars.”

Jon,

I like your solution, don’t liquidate rolling stock, build more yards(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

I just can’t pass up a deal (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)A few years back I was converting couplers on Delton Classics cars to fill-in for my lack of cars. I don’t have a problem with the size difference and keep a picture of two generations of box cars together as justification for the size difference. Detail-wise they aren’t far off. If they were I would liquidate them first. Just wish they were lettered correctly for an early generation wood car. Oh crap, another project.

#6

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

As you should be aware of Jon, my entire shed is where I store my cars. It’s also an Interchange, so cars are moved in and out of there on a regular basis. During an operating session it’s usually only half full. Porter also has an Interchange track. But that’s only used during an operating session.

#7

Ken Brunt said:

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

As you should be aware of Jon, my entire shed is where I store my cars. It’s also an Interchange, so cars are moved in and out of there on a regular basis. During an operating session it’s usually only half full. Porter also has an Interchange track. But that’s only used during an operating session.

I have the car ferry at Williamsport set up as an interchange yard, not an industry.

#8

Jon Radder said:

It’s probably been 2 months since I’ve used JMRI to create a switch list. During that time, no thanks to LSC & Facebook, I have acquired quite a few more cars. Being a mostly rainy day today, I wanted to run a train on the indoor division. JMRI refused to build a train with more than one car. A quick look at the build logs showed why: There is only one open car spot at each end of the railroad. JMRI has tons of cars wanting to move, but no where to put them!

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

What I plan to do is to dedicate one track in each yard as an arrival/departure track where nothing is stored. Then, in the software, I will add one or two more yard tracks that represent the storage shelves accessible from the arrival/departure track. Hopefully I can open 5 or 6 car spots this way and get things moving again.

I had a yard at one end of the railroad and we would start there and build out train #1. Train #2 started at the other end, but was already built and just lived on a staging track. The theory was that building a train was lots of fun the FIRST time.

#9

Ken Brunt said:

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

As you should be aware of Jon, my entire shed is where I store my cars. It’s also an Interchange, so cars are moved in and out of there on a regular basis. During an operating session it’s usually only half full. Porter also has an Interchange track. But that’s only used during an operating session.

But do you have off-line (not on live rail) storage in there as well? I know you have a ton of track space that’s connected. I’ve run out of room in the basement to add more track without major demo/construction so I am opting for shelf storage above or below the existing bench / track. Similar to what Ric did in his garage, but organized like Al has set up in under his basement benches in NH…

I already have a bunch of car storage shelves, but they are jammed with locomotives stored for projects that haven’t been envisioned yet, so new shelves are needed. I like the way Al did it, with cars organized on the shelf so ends are visible which allows for easy access to more cars in a small space.

I scoped out locations last evening. I’m undecided about above or below existing bench. If I go below, I’ll need to find new winter storage for summer stuff that lives there now. Above will be easier to see and access. I have lumber in stock to build them. Just need the MOJO to get started.

#10

Bob McCown said:

Ken Brunt said:

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

I have the car ferry at Williamsport set up as an interchange yard, not an industry.

OK. During op sessions I remember working the ferry like an industry. Do cars leave and re-appear on the ferry via the Mark 5 crane?

I’ve considered using “cassettes” similar to what is done in small scales. Ric talked about this a few years ago. Trouble would be finding a place to install it!

#11

Jon Radder said:

Bob McCown said:

Ken Brunt said:

So, it’s time to add a fiddle yard to the operation. I think I have a good idea on how to work this in the software, but if anyone has included storage shelves in their active car roster and has suggestions, I’m all ears.

I have the car ferry at Williamsport set up as an interchange yard, not an industry.

OK. During op sessions I remember working the ferry like an industry. Do cars leave and re-appear on the ferry via the Mark 5 crane?

I’ve considered using “cassettes” similar to what is done in small scales. Ric talked about this a few years ago. Trouble would be finding a place to install it!

When I build the first set of trains in the morning, I only put on the float the cars that are going to be needed in that session, the rest I mark as OOS. That seems to work well enough for us, though I suppose I should have all the cars that belong there nearby for the 0-5-0 to put them on the ferry, but that just seems messy.

#12

Most of the passenger cars I keep on a shelf above the storage tracks. 3 of them are lettered for Bruce’s RR. (When he gave them to me I had plans to change them to my RR colors, not so much now. Maybe use’m for a tourist train.) And a few other cars are on a shelf that isn’t connected, that aren’t used that much.

And there are other shelves in there I could use too, they would just need to cleared off.

I haven’t gotten to the point where I would need to use Al’s storage method, but that is a good idea.

#13

I always envied the folks with storage sheds AND room for tracks inside. The problem is that when you handle the cars it’s just too easy for something to break. An ideal solution is to have enough room to store your cars on tracks so they never need to be handled. (Heh, you MAY HAVE to move! :speak_no_evil:)

#14

Jon,

I built in a similar car storage area under the indoor yard, works well.

#15

Marty had a better solution

(https://www.largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/6c/a8/01/1a5c5_a5d8.jpg?c=d46e)

#16

Funny Sean! I guess you missed the part where this is an indoor problem. If I include the outdoor trackage when a train is built, it has no problem as all of those sidings are calling for cars with none to pick up.

I still have not addressed this, and back to work, even just 15 hours/week is really draining me. I’m no longer used to standing all day. But today is day 1 of 4 days off and it’s raining, so maybe I will at least get the design work done.

#17

I don’t think I have a prayer of getting this area to look as nice as Rick’s new train shed, but it will be a definite improvement over this…

Today being a steamy and somewhat rainy day as we await Fay’s arrival, it was a good day to work indoors. I started by taking a detailed survey of the area and then sat down with Visio and drew up a plan. The storage shelves will be 15/32" plywood, 22" deep, framed with 2x2 lumber that I will rip from 2x4’s. This will create an open side tunnel for the track areas near the wall. I may need to remote control that switch at the left. That’s kind of been a back burner project for a while anyway. The existing shelves at left, with my remaining 1:29 stock on it, will be removed, and that stock moved to deep storage.

It looks like I will be able to fit in 20 cars, 10 on each shelf with a little extra room on the end and a shallow shelf above for maybe a loco or two…

Originally Posted incorrect version of plan. Fixed now

I am back to work part time, three short days mid week, with a 4 day weekend every week. Kinda feels like semi retirement. If I could afford to keep that schedule going forward it sure would be nice. Point is, I should have time to get this built. I have all the materials in stock, just need to cart them back and forth to work to cut on the panel saw to make life easier.

#18

Jon,

I don’t know what you used for the max. car outline, you show 1/2 inch between cars and it looks like you have a little extra room on the right ends.

Suggestion; space the cars a little farther apart and use that wasted space. Even a 1/8th of an inch of extra space between cars can make a difference sometimes.

#19

Thanks Rick. NOTE TO ALL - The Visio drawing was wrong. I have now replaced it with correct one. Not sure how that early version snuck in.

Rick - I am using my Bachmann 45 Ton Diesel and adding about a half inch to determine the max for my railroad. The dimensions used to draw the outline are 6" wide x 7.5" tall. My shelf clear space will be 8". I thought about your suggestion of adding a bit more pace, and may still do that, but I have lots of crap that could squeeze in that extra sopace at right!

#20

I have too many cars myself and need to sell some.

(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)