The troublesome “why”

It sounds like somebody sure had a lot of questions! I’ve found questions starting with “why” tend to come off as condescending. “Why” questions can be used to either gain an understanding or challenge a person’s reasoning. And it’s not always apparent which.

I like to think of model railroading as a form of art. We build that which suits our fancy— which may not be the thing that suits the fancy of someone else. I theorize that well executed layouts are built upon a concise, but strong, vision. If so, then just about every decision will be guided by that vision and the vision becomes the answer to most every question of “why”. Sure, someone may still ask why this was painted that color or why that building was left out of the scene. But if the viewer of your masterpiece knows your vision, these questions are certain to be curious in nature.

This, to me, is just a theory. I have nothing close to a well executed layout at the moment– but I’ll keep on trying!

Why

"How" questions are about process, "Why" questions are about concept.  Both are legitimate questions to operate and understand the background of a layout.  There are many "operating scenarios" that can be overlaid on the same track plan.  I've done that with real railroads and I've done it with model railroads.  I have seen huge shifts in the operations of real railroads change with the "flip of a switch".  Which operating plan is being used is not necessarily intuitively obvious, since there are many options. 

Asking how and why are necessary to understand and as long as they are being done politely, should be welcomed.  They mean the operators or visitors are engaged.  

Operating Scenarios

Dave,

Your comments about operating scenarios have me thinking about my own layout in progress. I’ve been building it with basically only two scenarios in mind- one for me and one for my kids. In my mind, having a set plan for operation during the build will ensure I can run it like I visualize it. But I do worry that my interest may not keep if it runs too smoothly.

I’m also thinking about the relationship between “how” and “why,” but I’ll spare this model railroading board from me mental rambling.

Why the why's?

Were the why's complaining about too much unnecessary conflict or asking for more? ....DaveB

confusing title

So the title is a bit confusing, it sounds more like the operators just don't understand the operation, versus the layout owner deliberately messing with things unless I missed something?

conflict

Maybe if you want more conflict among the operators just mention politics or religion?

I thought you were modeling the Santa Fe?

Santa Fe didn't do things like that.  Or at least nobody admitted to it.  Now the SP.....

Scott Chatfield

Did you post in the wrong spot?

 Confused who is this too?

Leap Frog or Ping Pong but it add perceived distance

Leap Frog or Ping Pong but it add perceived distance to the layout and by a significant amount.

OK What I'm saying is my layout is a true point to point or Linear Layout,  but how can I maximize the utilization and and distance and time to the runs including train meets.

This is a very basic layout of my layout from end to end

Stage PHX - Yard North - Town North - Passing Sidings 1 -5 - Town South -Yard South - Stage TUC.

When people come to the layout and operate.  They think that a train Should Come out of Stage PHX and go direct to Yard North.  That seems logical Just like a Train leaving Stage TUC would arrive into Yard South.

My layout from end to end from running is around 180' or 5.5 N scale miles.  A large amount of that running is in the center of the layout with Passing Sidings 1-5.

The question is how can I maximize running time and distance and get more layout for my given run,  This will work with smaller or larger layouts too.

Lets look at the PHX train to YN if it is about a 15' run and the same for TUC to SY.  I have just used up 30' of the railroad and missed out of PS 1-5 or 105' or run on my layout.  

What I have done is added conflicting train movements to my liner run. 

The PHX train does not stop at YN but runs to YS adding another 105' to it run for a total run of around 120' or around 3.6 scale miles.  The TUC Train does the same thing and runs to YN for a total run of 120'.  I also have an opportunity for a meet with the center section of the layout in PS 1-5.  I have also added more utilization of the track on my layout added some extra operating interest.  This also makes the layout seem bigger I have just added and extra 210' of run to the layout for a total of perceived layout length of of 240' or 7.3 scale miles.

Now with that concept around half of the PHX cars dropped of in YS need to be retired to YN for classification,  This requires a Transfer run from YS to YN over PS 1-5 adding 2 new Transfer one for North the other for south and adding another 120' or 3.6 scale miles of run time for each transfer for and additional 220' or 7.2 scale miles.  

The Transfers besides adding 2 more trains also add more run time on the layout with more conflicting train movements ins PS 1-5 and more utilization of available track on the layout.

Now the last move is the 2 Turns/Locals 1 from YN to TS and the other From YS to TN.   if you are following along each train makes an out an back run of 210' x 2 Turns for 420'.  I have just added another another set of conflicting train movements with12.7 scale miles of running on the layout.

In the real world railroads would not do this leap frogging moves.  It is not cost efficient waste time, fuel, man hours, money, and clogs up the main etc.

But on a model railroad with limited and short runs you have stretched out the layout adding more feet and scale miles the operators can get out on the main and feel as if they are going some place.  

My goal is to keep each destination operating point a minimum of 33 feet from the origin point or 1 scale mile or around 2 minutes run time.

So logically people think the PHX train should come out of staging head 15' to YN.  Then have a Local that works TN out of YN and a Transfer to from YN to YS.   Doing that makes two trains that run over PS 1-5.  Opportunity for meets has dropped to almost zero.  and I have 105' of track with little utilization.

The layout seems smaller with a lot less traffic.

Scenery trains

Any thoughts on adding unit trains or passenger service? I call trains that just run from A to Z 'Scenery trains' since they do no work on the built portion of the layout. A unit train running east/west would make your dedicated trains take the siding, or wait on the mainline for the unit train to take the siding. 

Ops

You are correct that the prototype would not do that and that it isn't "logical".

You are also correct that your method generates more main track traffic.

The alternative is to bring a train out of N staging, run it to the N Yard.  Switch out the cars for the industries around the N Yard .  Fill the train with south cars, then run the South and through cars to the S Yard.  At the S yard switch out the cars for the S Yard Area and fill with cars for S Staging.  Run the train to S Staging.  Do the opposite for the train coming the other way.  Then run a local train out of each yard to the other yard.  Doesn't have to be a turn.  

You could bring two trains out of Staging to the yard.  Both trains are switched and a through train to the other staging is built and a yard train to the other yard is built.  At the other end the through train maybe fills and runs to the other staging and the yard originates a train out of the yard to staging.

Or you could just cross haul all the traffic to generate train moves.

I wouldn't criticize people for not understanding your operation because it's only "logical" if you explain the purpose of driving up train count.

Another thing is you do not

Another thing is you do not have 5' of a 20' long train still in staging.  The dreaded train hangover in the last location.   Engine in this location and caboose still has not left last town.   

If you look at the layout as a trifold pamphlet.  it looks small,  tell you unfold it.

That is the basic idea is I had my line diagram folded up one day.  looking at everything all next to each other.

If I put all my locations on a folded tri fold paper then unfold it.  you gain another 2/3rds of area and what was real close is now in most cases over 1/3 further away.

If I had the space I could run everything a tru distance,  but most people do not have that level of sapce.  Distance in the southwest are huge,  In most cases the next location over is not in eye site.