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In the second stage of preparation for our operating session, David shows how to position cars and their paperwork at the industries and tracks on our HO scale Beer Line layout. Also in this video, David looks at the various jobs on the railroad and evaluates the sequence of movements required to get cars into the right places. These helpful insights, along with other tips and tricks, will get things rolling when the full operating session begins in the next installment…only on MR Video Plus!
This is a great series. I am building a urban switching layout and was wondering if it would be possible to get the completed Inventory Lists posted as pdfs similar to the Job Cards.
Now that the cars are ready time to place the first round.
Great video! As a former Milwaukee Road employee, my question concerns snafus, i.e., bad order cars, derailments, production problems at various industries, engine problems, etc. Do you ever build these things into your sessions?
Sorry gang, it’s been a while since I checked this video and didn’t realize I had a lot of questions, I’ll try to hit a few here:
Speed, timetable, etc: There were no timetables for the line that we could discover. The entire line is run as Yard Limits. With no first class trains or timetable to worry about, it makes things a lot easier.
Sequencing of jobs: The sequencing of the jobs follows something of a logical order, but more importantly, it follows what the railroad did to serve its customers and meet their manufacturing needs. We found a wealth of information on how the Milwaukee Road operated the Beer Line in the Milwaukee Road Historical Society’s publication “The Milwaukee Road’s Beer Line, Special Publication no. 5,” which is shown in part one of the series. (The booklet is out of print, and I was unable to come up with it on Amazon, but you may be able to score a copy on eBay or from an independent railroad book dealer.) And as we model just a fraction of the full line, we had to pare down the operation to fit the railroad. The prototype ran more trains than we do.
Job cards on PDF: We’ve now made the job cards available as a PDF – see the DOWNLOADS header under the video player. Just click on the link and you should be able to download them and print them for yourself. Sorry it took so long to get them there!
Plastic holders: They come from a company called EPD Everyday Plastics (everydayplastics.com). They are item e50-0420-PFOSL 2-2/3″ x 4-3/8″ vinyl sleeves – long side open.
Bottles to packaged goods ratio: Thank you Randall Vos for the answer! We knew there were more outbound loads than inbound empty bottles, but weren’t exactly sure how it was done.
Prep-time: About two weeks of layout working time to get all the paperwork up and running. And remember, you can run session 1 simply by filling out waybill no. 1 on all the cars, then come back and fill out session 2 spots as you have time – etc. Waybills took longer than any other project.
Coming soon: We’ve received some great feedback on this series, so watch for it to be released on DVD in January 2018!
David
David, your sequencing of the jobs is very interesting. I wonder if you could say a few words on how you determined what the sequence should be.
Thanks
One small issue with the off spot car. You have no easy way to put it there or get it back out if the snake track job operates with only one engine. One would have to run all the way back to the yard, run around it, then cone back out. It would be easier to just keep it in the yard until the next session.
I am Currently Contemplating building a variation on the Beer Line, Would it be possible to get downloads of the 9 train instruction cards for the sequence operation, This would be really helpful in setting up operations on my layout, once it is realized. Great Series
OMG! I had to ask! It looks as though 2017 will be a year of intense organization to bring the Pacific Crest to life! Thanks to all of you who have commented previously as your input will be very helpful to me as well. This one will take many reviews to digest! But, then, what else would I be doing? …a..getting the trains to actually run; replacing the track(s) that keep falling apart (a certain manufacturer); still learning how to hook it all up for DCC; painting the PC rolling stock and lettering; visits to my shrink….
Lawrence Beach, I can answer the glass question for you, as I used to work for a company that delivered glass bottles to the brewery, and hauled bottle beer out. Most glass was, and still is, shipped as bulk glass, without any packaging. A 53 foot trailer loaded nose to tail with bulk glass is around 41,000 lbs, give or take, and is somewhere in the neighborhood of 150,000 bottles, depending on the size of the bottles. Now, fill them with beer, cap them, and box them up (24 bottles per box), and they take up much more room, and are much heavier than bulk empty bottles. So heavy, in fact that to properly weigh out in a 53 foot trailer, you have to leave empty space in both ends of the trailer and stack less product on a pallet. A trailer of bulk glass could actually need four to five trailers to carry out finished product. I think the MR crew got their proportion about right of glass in to beer out. Also keep in mind that reefer cars had lower weight limits compared to boxcars from the same time period, I believe there was about a ten ton difference in load limits.
I really grasped an idea of how a prototype railroad is operated from the part 2 video. How soon till the operating session is recorded? I can’t wait to watch that video. I built a shortline switching layout. It is designed after the Clinchfield line.
Just remember that your grandfather, as conductor on the GN, only saw a switch list indicating which cars to pull and which cars to spot.
This is very impressive. A lot of organization and thought has gone into your car card system. I wish that with some future switching layout, or this one for contrast, your staff could demonstrate how this is done using JMRI. JMRI requires a lot of computer input for setup but is much easier to operate (IMHO).
Thanks for another great video.
This is a GREAT series on operations. I always thought that my small layout could generate a lot of fun.work for my operators, now I know that it can!! I really appreciate the PDF of the switch lis that you provided. Is it possible to do the same with the Sequence List and the job descriptions. that would really make my day!!! And I think others would appreciate it too!! I am very excited to see this line in operation!!! Thanks again for the series and for MRVP in general!!! It is so worth the price!!!
Impressed with the amount of work it takes to run a railroad. Well done, and this add so much more fun and run time to the hobby!
Steve Redding
David, I’ve watched this video several times. Its awesome. I cringe however each time I see you put cars in that wooden box. I can’t tell you how many couplers I’ve broken doing that. Line the box with foam. I spent more time fixing couplers than operating. Can’t wait to see the first operating session. MRVP keeps getting better!
Whew! Now I know what my grandfather (GN veteran conductor) experienced. Bring on the coffee and the throttles!
Great video David… you have a lot of questions to answer. Oh, and here’s another one. When a yard crew is making up a train, are they concerned about getting them in any particular order to make it easier for the crew delivering them to an industry. Likewise, is a crew that is picking up and delivering cars, are they concerned with doing them in a particular order… or just whichever is easiest for them. Great explanation and looking forward to the first ops session to see it all come together!
A very well done video. I too have a switching layout similar to the Beer Line. I use the sequencing method David referred to. Instead of a car card system I use a computer-genated switchlist system (Ship It) which I have used for years and am familiar with. As I am a solo operator is there any advantage of a manual system vs. a computerized system?
Well done, can’t wait to see the first session.
In my opinion, the only thing missing is an employee timetable that would answer questions like; What’s the speed limit on the beer line? Are there any restrictions? such as are engines allowed on the scale tracks. Are engines allowed in buildings? How long can a train block a highway crossing. Timetables also indicate compress directions. You’ve given the crews a lot of car handling paper work, but what is the direction from Humbolt yard to the interchange yard? How are trains authorized to use the main tracks and siding tracks of the Beer Line? 19 orders? Everything is yard limits? Everything is run as an extra? Timetables add another layer realism to an operation session.
An absolutely super job at visually explaining the operations process which really makes the railroad come to life. Logical and very prototypical. There is a lot to gain whether one uses a card system or computer driven program,( ex. JMRI), that makes model railroading a joy . Nice job. You guys are the best. BTW, I operate a switching railroad in G scale (1:29) and what was presented here hits the bull’s eye. Thank you.
Excellent series on setting up for operations. Amazing how much can be done in a relatively small layout. Could you provide copies or pdf of the Sequence List, and job descriptions for the various jobs.
Can’t wait to see it in operation.
Outstanding demonstration of preparation for operating a switching layout David. Can’t wait to see the train crews in action. Thank you and Happy New Year to the Staff of MRV Plus.
David, is it possible for you to provide us with PDF files of the paperwork that you’ve filled out for the Beer Line so that we can reference it while watching the videos and / or while using the blank forms to get our own layouts up and running? Thanks.
Absolutely the BEST explanation of how to set up for operations I have ever seen!