February 21, 1999

I create, and then run, my first trains on a Timesaver track layout for a switching yard. This has been a feature topic of discussion in the rec.models.railroad newsgroup for the last month or so.

I had no difficulty creating an actual layout using Atlas track. But operating on it is another story! WOW! Is this a challenge!. There is a fair amount of discussion about 5 and 8 car problems. However one of my rules of thumb when facing a new situation or problem is to think of a simpler problem. Let's try a 1-car problem.

1-Car Problem
Locomotive pulling 1 car on mainline heading east, car to be left on siding #1 and locomotive to continue on mainline.

Locomotive CN1720 (GP7 diesel, made by Atlas)
car is a 40' reefer, CN 210048 (made by Mantua)

Time to complete activity: 3 min, 8 sec.

Sequence of moves:
F: SW1 open -> SW2 open ->
R: SW2 closed -> SW3 closed ->
F: SW3 open -> SW4 closed -> SW5 open ->
UNCOUPLE
R: SW5 closed -> SW6 closed ->
F: SW6 closed -> SW5 closed ->
R: SW5 open -> SW4 open -> SW7 open ->
F: SW7 closed -> SW6 open -> DROP CAR
R: SW6 open ->
F: SW6 closed -> SW5 closed ->
R: SW5 open -> SW4 closed -> SW3 open ->
F: SW3 closed -> SW2 closed ->
R: SW2 open -> SW1 open ->
F: SW1 closed.
(12 changes in direction, 14 thrown switches)

I am a bit intimidated by this! The actual switching was a lot of fun. I was generally pleased with the overall smoothness of my operation. It will be interesting to see how much quicker I can do this particular problem. The intimidation comes from realizing how complex this very simple operation involving only one car took. The idea of 5 or 8 cars looks a bit daunting.

February 22, 1999

Pick-up car from #1 siding. (3 min, 17 sec)

2-car problem
I am now using a deck of playing cards to set the problem. The first card drawn indicates which siding is used for the car nearest the loco, and so on.
Drop cars on sidings 1 (car nearest loco) and 5 (rear car)  (7 min, 5 sec)

March 7, 1999

(1) Pick up 1, 5
DERAIL ! After using a five-finger crane to put the car back on the tracks, I then continue the necessary switching to place everything back where it was before I try again. This serves a dual purpose - it is both a time penalty before I can try again, and it is closer to fidelity with the real thing.

(2) Pick up 1, 5
Time is 6 min 20 sec

(3) Drop 1, 3
DERAIL again!!

(4) Drop 1, 3
Time is 17 min 10 sec. I clearly need more practice before CN hires me. This is an amazing challenge. The combination of logic (which is significant), combined with actual attention to switch settings and direction of motion requires full time attention. I love it. In one hour of operation I was able to accamplish only two task. Hopefully this will be my lowest baseline from which to improve.

March 10, 1999

(1) Pick up 1, 3
Time 3 min 55 sec

(2) Drop 4, 3
Time 5 min 11 sec

(3) Pick up 4, 3
Time 4 min 15 sec

(4) Drop 2, 4
DERAIL on switch

(5) Drop 2, 4
Time 2 min 26 sec

March 15, 1999

(1) Pick up 2, 4
Time 2 min 32 sec

(2) Drop 4, 2
Time 3 min 3 sec

(3) Pick up 4, 2
Time 2 min 47 sec

(4) Drop off 1, 3
DERAIL on switch

(5) Drop off 1, 3
Time 6 min 11 sec. The sequence of steps for this was neat.

August 2, 1999

Disaster!!! During the summer one of my locomotives fell off the table. This is the ultimate derailment. There will be some major machine shop work ahead. Lesson: keep all rolling stock in a safe place!!

August 29, 1999

The Timesaver layout was taken apart as I began to actually create the layout for the room. However I would like to set it up again on a small board so I can play with the switching problems independent of what I am doing with the room layout.

Page first created: February 21, 1999
Date last modified: August 29, 1999

Created by Dale Burnett
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