On page 16 (landscape pdf) there is no picture in the frame labeled "2. A Chesapeake & Ohio wreck, on Feb. 28, 1976 at Pearch,VA, gives a good look at the weathered interiors of coal hoppers. Stan Short photo"

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On page 16 (landscape pdf) there is no picture in the frame labeled "2. A Chesapeake & Ohio wreck, on Feb. 28, 1976 at Pearch,VA, gives a good look at the weathered interiors of coal hoppers. Stan Short photo"

I was gonna say that! 

John

On pg. 21, I'm credited with suggesting airbrush medium to thin paint, but I've never even heard of the stuff.  I may have contributed to that thread somewhere, but I think I'm getting credit for somebody else's (another Ken, perhaps?) helpful suggestion.

That part of the response was an amalgamation of several people's advice. The primary original thread is at http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/17221 and the question comes up frequently. The reply will be fixed.

Really, Mr. Booth ?  While demanding and promoting "realism" elsewhere in the hobby - presumably to include
"operations" - you urge the "Yardmaster" (yard switch crew?) to "pick up the pace" - disregarding realism - to favor the "Real Work" of getting your "fun" over the Road. Perhaps your interests don't really coincide with "operations" as much as "running trains".
Having spent 33 years on 1:1 scale rails (PC, CR, NS), I find your term "stunt switching" demeaning and indicative of a lack of understanding of the importance and complexity, the "real work" done off the main track. Many model operators have an understanding of the work and how it's done, and attempt, within "fun" limits, to replicate (not duplicate) those actions in miniature.

Guess we could always go back to that "0-5-0 shifter" to make the mainline run to your satisfaction - but that wouldn't be realistic - or much "fun" for the yard boys, eh ?

Another hit, the very first tip in dealing with a data base of industries was fantastic. I have been wondering about destinations for waybills and was going to have to look up and make up destinations and loads. Looks like a real find right there.

I have an On30 layout over here in England (based on the D&RGW around Durango in 1905) with a supervisory manual from which I quote:

Speed:

The layout scale (1/4 inch to the foot) makes it straighforward for Engineers (Drivers) to run engines at realistic speeds without incurring unnecessary risks of derailment.  In practical terms one centimetre per second approximates to one mile per hour.  This results in an easily memorised table for ready reference:

 5 centimetres    (2 inches) per second equals  5 miles per hour

10 centimetres   (4 inches)per second equals  10 miles per hour

15 centimetres   (6 inches) per second equals 15 miles per hour

20 centimetres   (8 inches) per second equals 20 miles per hour

25 centimetres  (10 inches) per second equals 25 miles per hour

30 centimetres  (12 inches) per second equals 30 miles per hour

The maximum speed for switching, propelling stock (not snow plows) or taking the curve on facing turnouts is 15 centimetres (6 inches) per second (15 miles per hour).

The overall maximum speed on this layout is 30 centimetres (12 inches) per second (30 miles per hour). The real Railway (D&RGW) ran at higher speeds in places but this is not practical given the size of the layout and the relative sharpness of the curves used.

I hope that the above quote from my manual will be of some help to those running 'O' and 'On30' scale model railroads.

With compliments,  John Feltham

Mon, 2015-01-05 18:04 — Chooch.42

Really, Mr. Booth ?  While demanding and promoting "realism" elsewhere in the hobby - presumably to include
"operations" - you urge the "Yardmaster" (yard switch crew?) to "pick up the pace" - disregarding realism - to favor the "Real Work" of getting your "fun" over the Road. Perhaps your interests don't really coincide with "operations" as much as "running trains".
Having spent 33 years on 1:1 scale rails (PC, CR, NS), I find your term "stunt switching" demeaning and indicative of a lack of understanding of the importance and complexity, the "real work" done off the main track. Many model operators have an understanding of the work and how it's done, and attempt, within "fun" limits, to replicate (not duplicate) those actions in miniature.

Guess we could always go back to that "0-5-0 shifter" to make the mainline run to your satisfaction - but that wouldn't be realistic - or much "fun" for the yard boys, eh ?

Gee, Mr. Chooch, I really don’t know what to say.  I’m sorry you were demeaned.  I think I coined the term “Stunt switching” a long time ago when one of my operators was proud that his engine could crawl along at one tie per second.  I offered that it was a very smooth mechanism but it was only useful for stunt switching.  He agreed and was not demeaned.  That is the only context in which I use the term stunt switching.  If you read more into it, then I’m sorry.

My problem with “slow switching speed” is that it is sometimes not appropriate in the model operating environment.   I have operating sessions that run for three to four hours.  I have a small crew with four operating positions (one or two man crews) .  I have a number of trains to run to perform the “work” I would like to see done.  If the yard operator runs so slowly that he cannot make up trains fast enough, then everyone else has to sit around and wait for the trains.  People don’t travel miles to sit around; they come to “run trains”.

There is plenty of time to run engines (yard, mainline or local switchers) at appropriate speeds.  What is appropriate?  No one needs to race around at 60 MPH.  A speed of 25 MPH is fine for mainline runs.  Somewhat less for switching.  Guest operators have been seen to run trains at 5 MPH.  I need to ask them to "pick up the pace" and helpfully put a speedometer car in their consist to help them (they are often surprised at the slow speed they thought was “prototypical”).   If they really enjoy seeing a train run that slowly, they are welcome to run on someone else’s layout.

My prototype, being a down-in-the-bucks shortline, is forced to run at 10 MPH max to avoid derailments and dangerous situations.  My model trackwork, while not Fulgate quality, is certainly capable of keeping trains on the track at ridiculously high speeds.  So prototype reasons for very slow speeds are non-existent.  

I want to make sure my operators and myself are having fun.  I think the speeds I suggest for my layout help meet that goal.  You are exactly correct in observing my interests do not really coincide with “prototype operations” and they do coincide with “having fun running trains”.