Paperwork

Today was the first day that I used my Madras Oregon Switching Layout for a training session of New Hire Conductors. The layout is far from finished, aren't all layouts? The track all works and I got the switch controllers operational. Other then a little dirty track, I forgot to clean and a switch that needed some adjustment, the layout ran really well.

For this operation session the purpose is to reinforce in a controlled environment switching safely and efficiently. Also, most of the people in these classes did not realize that Railroading was even a career until they got the job. So needless to say they are not experienced with railroading model or otherwise.

In order to add realism and make this a training tool, instead of a fancy toy, realism is a must. I started by pre spotting cars around the layout and creating a list in Excel similar to switch lists that the company uses. I also placed a train on the mainline with cars blocked to customers on the layout.

Here is the Pull List

Here is a the inbound Train List

This was the first time any of them had seen switch lists, so I spent a good amount of time going over what each column means, and showed the difference between the cars to be spotted and the cars to be pulled. In order to not make it completely confusing I did condense the lists a little by removing a few columns. Along with the switch lists I gave them a map of the track with each track numbered to match the customer.

 With all the paperwork in hand I allowed them to then see the layout and get a feel for what they were up against. I asked for volunteers and two individuals were chomping at the bit to give it try. I then instructed the "engineer" how my Digitrax Zephyr worked and allowed to move the train forward and backwards. Next I showed the conductor how to unhook cars using a sharpened #2 pencil. I also showed them how to throw the switches and check the points. After that I stepped back and watched...

Crew #1

I have two guys in class who went to a railroad vocational school, so they came with some experience. I of course made them go first. After looking over the paperwork for awhile they decided to start moving cars, not sure the Conductor had a plan, but he started moving cars anyway.

He decided to tackle the back track with Clower and Madras Produce. After finding out, the hard way, that only the motor and two cars would fit between end of track and the crossover they were able to get one car pulled.

I decided to keep them from totally frogging themselves in I swapped out Conductors. The conductor I had take over had been watching and had seen a few things that would have made things easier. After 20 minutes he had taken care of Jefferson Plywood and Nichols Warehouse. He then frogged himself in by pulling H.S. Michael and coming down the main...I guess you cannot win them all.

Crew #2

While crew #1 had been flopping around like fishes out of water, two of the guys went into the next room and started getting a thorough game plan. They came in and watched Crew #1 try to get themselves unstuck, and informed us that they had a planned they thought would work. I decided to reset the layout and let them have at it. They still made a few double moves and almost got themselves stuck once when they tried to grab to many cars but caught their error before it got to late. I allowed a few of the other team to take over and complete they plan the Crew #2 had developed.

After all the cars were spotted and the pulls were on the main with the power on the opposite end, we concluded with a debriefing.

Overall the group though it was a great exercise and I plan to use it again next week with the rest of the class. I also plan to add some derails, track stops, clearance markers and maybe even a Timetable.

This looks cool...

I'd love to see this in real life, or a video of it in action. 

So, are you starting with one car at Nichols, Jefferson, Clowers and Madras, and two cars at HS Michael? That looks like all the pulls, or do you have other cars spotted at the start that don't get pulled? Not sure I understand exactly what they're starting with. Does the train fit between the switches to the runaround on the main? A graphic of the layout showing the starting position of everything would be awesome. This would make a great article, an even better regular feature, with an answer key!  

Randy

Switching

The hardest part would be the short tail room on either end and the short runaround.  Other than that it looks pretty straight forward.  Line up your spots, one pull, one shove on the 800 track, run around the cars, one pull ,one shove on the 700 track (or the opposite if the train is going right to left).

I'd expect a real crew to

I'd expect a real crew to come in, take a look,pick up the in cars and set down the inbounds by hand then go to lunch? ....DaveB

I had to try it...

I made an XTrkCAD file so I could try it. 

Randy

My lunch...

During my half-hour lunch, this is what I've found. I'm coming in with my train from the left. I hope that any spots for Jefferson are on the back of my train. I stop on the main, run around the train, grab the cars for Jefferson, go in and grab the pulls from Jefferson and tack them on the back of the train, and then spot the cars for Jefferson. I then get back around my train, and pull all the cars on the upper track over toward the switch by Clowers. I can then spot them on the run around one at a time. I then use the run around and the main to sort through my spots putting HS on the upper track first, followed by Cascade, etc. I spot those cars at each industry, then back to my train sitting on the run around and take off.  Did I pass? What is the best way to do this? 

Randy

Here is the setup.

There is enough room for one loco and two cars on either end of the runarounds.

Good Luck!

Thanks for posting this.

Hi,

Great application.

I am guessing KD is kind (flatcar, boxcar, etc), L/E is loaded/empty but what is column H under Job?

Also, did any newbie attempt to uncouple a prototype freight car with a #2 pencil?

Rusty

Columns

You are correct on the columns. The H indicates a Haz-mat car and they have separate paperwork to explain the hazard. 

We did the prototype stuff first this time they did ask if the model cut levers worked.  

It would however be

It would however be unprototypical in any case.  In order to get there the train would have had to come from someplace so there is more track on one end or the other.  Having that track completely changes it from what a switch crew would really do to a model puzzle.

That was fun...

Don't know if I did it the most efficient way, but I did it.  Here's how: 

1. Move ahead, engine light

2. Back into lower track and pull Nichols and Jefferson

3. Drop those two pulls on the upper track via the crossover

4. Grab the car for Nichols at the front of the train and spot it on the upper track via the crossover

5. Pull train forward and drop the cars for Jefferson onto the run around track

6. Spot the Jefferson cars, grab the Nichols car from the upper track, spot it

7. Spot the second Nichols car 

8. Sort train for upper track spots onto the run around track 

9. Grab the pulls from the upper track, including the two spotted earlier, drag them to the switch at the right end, and move them to the main two at a time

10. Grab the cars on the run around track and spot them on the upper track

11. Run around the train, hook up, brake test, and leave

I think I got that all correct, its hard to take notes on what you're doing while thinking about what to do next.

What's my grade?   

Randy

Moves

Eng to 700

Eng - pull to 701

Eng - 2 pull to train.

Set car 8 to 700

set car 7 to run around

Set 6 to main

Set 4-5 to 700

Set 1-2-3 to main

Get car 7 from runaround

Get car 1 from main

Shove cars 4-5-8 to 701

Spot cars 7-1 to 700

That leaves

Eng - 2 pulls - 2-3-6-9 on the main.

This is the point where it becomes unprototypical.

Here's what I would do from a prototype perspective (or on a real model railroad).

Eng leaves cars on the main.

Eng pulls past crossover.

Eng shoves back to Madras

Comes off with respot

Eng- respot to main

Shove respot to runaround

Pull cars clear of runaround

Eng to 800 track

Eng to 900 track

2 pulls - Eng to 801

2 pulls - Eng -pull to 800

2 pulls- Eng- 2 pulls to main

Set respot to main

Set cars 6-9 to 800

Leave cars 2 pulls-2-3- 2 pulls -respot on main

Shove 6-9 -Eng - 2 pulls to track 900

Spot 6-9

Eng - 2 pulls to main

Eng -2 pulls to cars on main

Eng - 4 pulls, 2-3 - 2 pulls - respot to crossover

Respot to 801

2 pulls to main

2-3 to 801

Spot 3- respot at 800

Sot 2 at 801

Eng - 4 pulls to main

Eng - 4 pulls shoves back to cars on main

Eng - 6 pulls ready to depart (may have extra switch move to make cover)

Prototype...

When they asked me for more track here is what I told them.

They cannot go any further to the right as that goes out onto a CTC controlled Mainline that they cannot get a signal until they are ready to return to Bend.

The other end has a MOW project and Foreman Smith won't let them past the Red Board.

Since there is enough room to get the job done and the customers are waiting...

This module set is actually part of a larger setup that I will eventually build, it will include another track to connect ot the other end of Jefferson Plywood and onto the mainline at Madras. The prototype would run around on the siding at Madras and make shove movements into the industrial area to switch.

It does get them to think outside the box and still complete the task.

Randy and Dave

Randy: Pretty good randy, but it looks like you missed the re-spotting the car from Madras to Clowers. I also found using the runaround to put my pulls was my first move and I held onto the Nicholas car to save me a move later.

I did not specify it on the drawing but the H.S. Michael cars need to be flip flopped and so do the Nicholas cars.

Dave: I agree that I would use the Mainline and siding to get my moves completed, I also would shove the cars in, but I did not want to make it to easy. =)

Re-spot

Oops, I knew I'd forget to write something. I did move that re-spot car, but I put it at Cascade because it is yellow. When I pulled everything from that upper track, I pushed the re-spot through the crossover, and left it on the main to re-spot before pulling the 900 cars. I re-spotted it when I came back in with the other spots. Maybe I can get partial credit?   

Thanks for posting this, very interesting. 

Randy

Randy

Like I tell the guys, partly right is still wrong

I think this proves that this works well in that it looks pretty simple but can be a real challenge.

Excellent demonstration, Greg

Excellent demonstration, Greg and a great training tool.

Barry

Had to give it a try

• Nichols and Jefferson cars place on runaround
• place cars 4,5 on Nichols and Jefferson siding
• place cars 7,8 on Nichols and Jefferson siding 
• place car 1 on Nichols and Jefferson siding spot cars 8,4,5 at Jefferson Plywood
• spot cars 1,7 at Nichols Warehouse
• pull cars 2,3 place on Cascade siding using crossover
• pull cars 6,9 place car 6 then car 9 on Cascade siding using crossover
• proceed to facing switch at clovers connect all cars on siding
• place HS Michael hopper, tank on main using crossover
• spot cars 9,6 at H.S. Michael
• spot car 2 at Madras Produce
• spot cars 3, RESPOT at Clowers Seed
• Pull two cars on main, push to connect cars on runaround, push to connect cars on main at crossover.
• Train consists (MKT 9707, SHPX 17154, NP62025,CBQ9836, NP76325,GN 170100,loco)

Turn to page 97 for the solution.

Reminds me of those old switching puzzle thought exercises you could read in Model Railroader.  Great fun!

Galen

Used to live and run a shop in Madras

Speaking of the real thing we had a train running south through Madras to Bend, Oregon that had a problem with a hot box in Madras. Rather than drop it off in Madras, they decided they could make it to Bend. However the final damage took place in a  cut and it blocked the entire line so that trains had to be rerouted through the Willamette Valley.

That bit of railroad was the final battle between the Harriman forces of the Southern Pacific and Hill forces of the Great Norther. The Deschuttes Canyon was narrow to have two railroads racing through with each one doing explosions  in such a way to create hazards for the other railroad building gangs only to realize that once they got to then the new irrigated faring town of ed that there was hardly enough business for one railroad, so that they stopped the building at Bend until the 1920s and the building of the Western Pacific. Taking the best parts of each railroad grade they created the Grand Trunk . The steel arched bridge across the Cooked River Canyon was the highest arch bridge, 300 feet from the canyon floor and the workers climbed up and down a chain link ladder from the canyon floor to ad fro work each day building that bridge.

By the way the former county seat of Prineville bypassed by the railroad, oldest and the most important town of the larger county cut down by Bend and the railroad, was forced to build its own railroad  the City of Prineville Railroad to keep fro losing even more business to the upstart town of Bend.

Please explain

I love this little switching layout as well as you switching puzzles. I am planning a layout using you ideas right now. 

Could you explain the column headers Engine condition on your Pull list? L/E?,  KD? I get the H for Hazard.

Unanswered question ...