Last Sunday evening marked the 1st anniversary of operations on the BS&T. The week previous was a mad rush to get things back together and cleaned up from two months of scenery and rearrangement work. Add to that figuring out how operations would work with the addition of the new staging area.
First of all I must apologize for not getting any pictures from the evening. Between trying to figure out the operating scheme, helping the operators figure out the operating scheme, and running a train once in a while, I didn't have much time to take pictures.
So, here's the train/job line-up:
Bayside Yard
Tidewater Yard
Stevenville Local
Chappellton Local
Kenville Local
Derwin's Drop Local
Hotshot Freight (turn)
East/West Transfer (turn)
East Wayfreight
West Wayfreight
Things went fairly well, overall. There were a few track issues. Not all the ballast was cleaned up through some turnouts which caused a few problems until it was cleaned out. The over-center springs on some turnouts are a little weak. I will be adding proper ground throws to most turnouts over the next little while (as of last evening, all the turnouts in Chappellton have ground throws).
Early on in the session the Chappellton switcher developed some mechanical difficulties and a replacement loco was called in from Kenville. The repair crew had a look at it on Monday, fixed the problem, and moved the replacement back to Kenville.
The operating scheme must change to reduce the minimum number of operators required. Actually, I think I'll have a couple scenarios I can use depending on the number of operators that show up. I've got it down to as few as 4 people (4 very busy people), or as many as 8 (16 with brakemen).
Anyway, at the post-session review the guys said they had a great time. The things they said they would change were mostly related to turnouts that the ground throws should fix.
So, until next time!
Scott
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Roundy, roundy
One thing I like about looped layouts is that when you have someone in to visit you can start a train moving and let it run unattended - at least until a derailment happens. I have not been able to do that on the Bayside and Tidewater, until now. The loop track was completed last Thursday evening. This track also provides access to the layout from staging. Trains from "points east" must run 1.5 times around the layout, roughly 100', before reaching Tidewater. I'll try to employ some scenic separation ideas and hidden track to disguise the fact that it's going through a scene twice. Derwin completed the staging yard last evening.
The picture below shows the new location for Chappell Seafood. You can see the loop track running behind Chappell Seafood. I'll use buildings through Chappellton to hide the loop track as much as possible. The area just in front of Chappell Seafood is the yard storage and warf for the new barge. The harbour will be to the left of Chappell's.
Turning 90 degrees, you can see some of the other changes in Chappellton. Der-Win Coal and Oil is in the foreground. The lead track for it is also the storage track for Naylor's Nails. That should make for some blue language during operations. :-).
The two storey building with the truck parked at it is Fred-Ex and behind that is Fixum Car Repair.
The disguised hole in the wall is the entrance to staging. Behind this hole is a 5 track, 6 foot long, staging yard. It's a little small, but we'll be able to make do.
The building flats at the far end of Stevenville hide the loop track as it rises up into the city. Clayton made these up as fillers for the city, but I think they may work out just fine here.
There have been so many things to do that I only do a little bit here are there. So there's not a huge amount of change in any one area. You can see that I have done a little scenery work around the tenement building.
Until next time!
Scott
The picture below shows the new location for Chappell Seafood. You can see the loop track running behind Chappell Seafood. I'll use buildings through Chappellton to hide the loop track as much as possible. The area just in front of Chappell Seafood is the yard storage and warf for the new barge. The harbour will be to the left of Chappell's.
Turning 90 degrees, you can see some of the other changes in Chappellton. Der-Win Coal and Oil is in the foreground. The lead track for it is also the storage track for Naylor's Nails. That should make for some blue language during operations. :-).
The two storey building with the truck parked at it is Fred-Ex and behind that is Fixum Car Repair.
The disguised hole in the wall is the entrance to staging. Behind this hole is a 5 track, 6 foot long, staging yard. It's a little small, but we'll be able to make do.
The building flats at the far end of Stevenville hide the loop track as it rises up into the city. Clayton made these up as fillers for the city, but I think they may work out just fine here.
There have been so many things to do that I only do a little bit here are there. So there's not a huge amount of change in any one area. You can see that I have done a little scenery work around the tenement building.
Until next time!
Scott
Friday, March 02, 2007
2 Weeks since last pictures!
It has been two weeks since I took pictures of the BS&T. As you can see, there have been some minor changes and some major changes.
In the minor changes department, the Stevenville engine service track is starting to take shape. The little building was scratchbuilt in two evenings. I'm hoping to have enough space between tracks to put a fence and gates around this area to make it more secure. The second photo (right) shows the developments on the oil dealer's track with a loading/unloading platform.
In the moderate changes department is the harbour area in Chappellton. Chappell Seafood has been relocated to this area and will have part of the siding on a warf. The barge will have a small yard to facilitate loading and unloading freight cars. I'll likely build a small freight house for this area. The barge has not been built yet.
Derwin Coal & Oil has been relocated as well. It's right up front now so will require lots of detailing. The little bit of detail I have from the original Derwin Coal doesn't go far in the new version. One things operators may not like about switching this area is that to get a coal car off the ramp they will have to pull one or two other industries to clear a lead and then pull tank cars spotted at the oil tanks.
FredEx has a foundation so cars now fit under the awnings. It hasn't moved much from its original location.
I think I've come up with a name for the rural area between Chappellton and Kenville. I think Shiner's Road might be fitting. The one idea I will incorporate into the layout resulting from our trip to Saint John last week will require some changes to this area. The moonshine still will have to be moved to make way for tracks from staging
In the major changes department, Kenville is a mess! You can see the tunnel entrance in the upper right of the photo where trains will enter the layout from staging. You can also see the future location of the east bound main to staging under the paint cans. Ugh! More blue foam to cover up!
So, there you have it. This weeks summary of the continuing saga of the construction of the Bayside & Tidewater Railway. Hopefully I'll have more next week.
Scott
In the minor changes department, the Stevenville engine service track is starting to take shape. The little building was scratchbuilt in two evenings. I'm hoping to have enough space between tracks to put a fence and gates around this area to make it more secure. The second photo (right) shows the developments on the oil dealer's track with a loading/unloading platform.
In the moderate changes department is the harbour area in Chappellton. Chappell Seafood has been relocated to this area and will have part of the siding on a warf. The barge will have a small yard to facilitate loading and unloading freight cars. I'll likely build a small freight house for this area. The barge has not been built yet.
Derwin Coal & Oil has been relocated as well. It's right up front now so will require lots of detailing. The little bit of detail I have from the original Derwin Coal doesn't go far in the new version. One things operators may not like about switching this area is that to get a coal car off the ramp they will have to pull one or two other industries to clear a lead and then pull tank cars spotted at the oil tanks.
FredEx has a foundation so cars now fit under the awnings. It hasn't moved much from its original location.
I think I've come up with a name for the rural area between Chappellton and Kenville. I think Shiner's Road might be fitting. The one idea I will incorporate into the layout resulting from our trip to Saint John last week will require some changes to this area. The moonshine still will have to be moved to make way for tracks from staging
In the major changes department, Kenville is a mess! You can see the tunnel entrance in the upper right of the photo where trains will enter the layout from staging. You can also see the future location of the east bound main to staging under the paint cans. Ugh! More blue foam to cover up!
So, there you have it. This weeks summary of the continuing saga of the construction of the Bayside & Tidewater Railway. Hopefully I'll have more next week.
Scott
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Day Trip to Saint John
I wanted to post this entry earlier, but...
Anyway, here are some photos of our trip to Saint John last Saturday. We visited and operated the layouts of Lou McIntyre, Doug Devine, and Steve McMullin. It was a very full day, to say the least. It was also well worth the trip (leaving at 6:30am and getting home at almost midnight)!
Lou's St. Martin's Railroad is one of the best detailed layouts I have ever seen!
Here are some scenes from Lou's layout...
Doug's Island Central layout is one of the largest I have ever operated on.
Left: Derwin and Ryan wait "in the hole" - Hmmm... I think they were running 104!
Right: Dever Road and Saint John are busy places - Clayton, Brian, and Ken
Steve's Carleton Railway is definitely one of the most comfortable layouts for operating.
Left: Steve explains operations on his layout.
Right: Brian and Greg check their orders to make sure they aren't forgetting anything.
So, it was a great trip. I'm sure we will do it again some day. The drive home was just long enough to talk myself out of making major changes to the Bayside and Tidewater. I'll have to wait until the next version is constructed.
Scott
Anyway, here are some photos of our trip to Saint John last Saturday. We visited and operated the layouts of Lou McIntyre, Doug Devine, and Steve McMullin. It was a very full day, to say the least. It was also well worth the trip (leaving at 6:30am and getting home at almost midnight)!
Lou's St. Martin's Railroad is one of the best detailed layouts I have ever seen!
Here are some scenes from Lou's layout...
Doug's Island Central layout is one of the largest I have ever operated on.
Left: Derwin and Ryan wait "in the hole" - Hmmm... I think they were running 104!
Right: Dever Road and Saint John are busy places - Clayton, Brian, and Ken
Steve's Carleton Railway is definitely one of the most comfortable layouts for operating.
Left: Steve explains operations on his layout.
Right: Brian and Greg check their orders to make sure they aren't forgetting anything.
So, it was a great trip. I'm sure we will do it again some day. The drive home was just long enough to talk myself out of making major changes to the Bayside and Tidewater. I'll have to wait until the next version is constructed.
Scott
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