Web-Tastically Web-Full Wednesday

 

Yes, the name for my new Wednesday "feature" sucks, but it got your attention, didn't it?

More than that, I think that both you who are reading this right now, and I who am typing this, are amazed that I remembered to follow thru with my "threat" of an every Wednesday post!
 

 

OK, you're not here to see my witty  and sometimes badly chosen memes (or are you?), so let's get on with this Wednesday's featured websites, shall we?

 

First up, Tony Thompson's "Modeling The SP" at - http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/

 

Now, I'm not an SP fan, and I am certainly not a fastidious prototype modeler, but Tony has a way of explaining how, why, and what makes a particular model "prototype specific" for a particular date, via paint schemes, details, etc. Now you might recognize Tony's name due to his articles on prototypical waybills in RMC, which is of course, why I like reading his blog. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's recently featured some stuff from my paperwork collection on his blog. But I digress......

 

The second, but not any less important blog is Eric Hansmann's "Notes On Designing, Building and Operating Model Railroads" at - http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/

Like Tony, Eric (whom I know personally from operating groups here in the east before he moved West), is also another well spoken modeler, and not only is his layout a switching one much like mine is (the B&O's Wheeling Terminal), he really focuses on the details of cars and the history behind them (like when said parts were put on cars, and when they were taken off!). I really admire his attention to detail, especially since I don't have that kind of patience! He features some great work not only from his own workbench, but from other like-minded modelers as well.

 

Now, these two blogs are by far, the ones I feel that you should be reading often, if not daily, ESPECIALLY if you are into accurately modeling the prototype in HO scale. Too much good info to pass on, and it's not difficult to ready and digest, or come off sounding "highbrow" like some others can and do.

 

Now to answer your question (because I can already see it coming), yes, I do already feature this week's featured blogs on my blog roll, and the intended purpose of this feature is to showcase webpages and blogs that I do NOT regularly carry on my roll, but I make the rules around here, dammit! OK, now that I made that clear, seriously, this is good stuff, and since I'd like to always have a "theme" to my "Web Wednesdays", this week's theme I guess you can say is "You've Seen The Name Before, Now Look Closer!".

 

I mean, sometimes just we don't click on stuff because the name or title just doesn't attract us at first glance (judging the book by it's cover?), and I am definitely guilty of that, and that can be our loss sometimes. Don't ever let the titles scare you away, especially in regards to Eric's rather long blog name, LOL! In fact, next Wednesday's post will focus on just that, "The Click Less Taken".

So go on, check them out, and I hope you come away having learned something and continue to visit them in the future. I think you'll end up approving of my suggestions!
 

 

I'll see you back here next week with something completely outside of my comfort zone to share with you! And oh yeah, feel free to suggest a better name for this feature, please?

 

Ralph

All hands on deck, this is the Commodore speaking.......

You know what really frosts my carfloat deck? I mean, besides reading people's endless Facebook posts on how "evil" guns are, that is......

Well, no sense in holding out on y'all........It's the endless proliferation of "Wordless Wednesday" posts.

 

 

I don't know WHY it bugs me, but it does, I guess because it's the "cool" blogging thing to do, and everybody does it. It reminds me of what our moms used to say to us growing up when you tried to justify doing something that all your friends were doing, too - "And if your friends all decided to jump off a cliff, would you follow them?"

 

"Of course ya do it. Everybody does it. I just did it, and I'm ready to do it again" -

Mel Brooks as King Louis in History Of The World, Pt. 1

 

 

Granted, it's not like people are clamoring to read THIS blog (regularly or otherwise), but I've taken blogs off my roll because I was sick and tired of the constant "WW" posts every week. (don't worry Chris, you're safe! LOL!). If you're gonna post a neat picture (prototype or otherwise, but ESPECIALLY of the prototype), I want to know more about it! I mean, I can't know EVERYTHING there is to know about the South Park, Baton Rouge and Pittsburgh Navigation Railway, now can I? And I will fully admit that the idea behind it isn't all bad, but the trend and the proliferation is, and I'm here to bitch about it, dammit!

 

But, you aren't here just to listen to me bitch. (Surely you must be joking. I'm not joking, and don't call me Shirley). So you might be saying right about now, "OK Einstein, what do you propose to do to fix things, then?" Well, I'm no trend setter, but what I'd like to propose instead, is to start "Weblog (or webpage for those who don't "blog") Wednesdays". This is where I do the work for you by finding  interesting layouts or discussions or "proto stuff" to share with you that may be otherwise off your radar (or, that I just think is cool and worth sharing, weather you think so or not!). Plus, it helps keep this blog regular (Yes, Ted DiIorio, a bowl of raisin bran will do that, too), which is a good thing. Now, I inadvertently started doing this a few weeks ago by blowing out a few weeks of Wednesday content by sharing five neat layouts and their blogs with you, but I did miss one that I REALLY want to share with all of you.......

 

Rick De Candido's Filmore Avenue Roundhouse at -

https://fillmoreavenueroundhouse.wordpress.com/about/

 

Instead of trying to describe Rick's layout to you, I'll let him do it in his own words -

 

"Welcome to Fillmore Avenue Roundhouse, a blog about my HO Scale New York Central System model railroad.  Freelanced, but set in Buffalo, NY (June of 1942), Fillmore is two layouts in one.  The first, and primary one, is a full steam-era engine terminal.  The second one is a passenger car and express car switching operation as part of NYC Central Terminal."

Rick De Candido
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

I mean, this layout is incredible! You may have seen it first in the pages of the 2015 issue of Model Railroad Planning, but Rick's attention to prototype detail and creating prototypical "operational jobs" is amazing and great food for thought. I'm not going to sell it anymore than that, so read his blog (even if you aren't a slobbering NYC freak!), and you won't be disappointed.

 

OK, so that's it. I hope you grow to enjoy "Webblog Wednesdays". Or, Webpage Wednesdays". Or, "(Inter)Web Wednesdays". I dunno what to call it, but it's here to stay, at least until I forget to update it.....

Ralph

 

 

 

 

Check it out!

While I'm not sure if Dr. Steve Brule likes model railroading or not, but today I'd like to make reference to some great new blogs I've added to the blog roll last week, since there's been nothing doing on the layout front lately (gee, shocker there!)

I've always had a interest in the New Haven RR (is it because the NH was such an important interchange partner for the LV in New York Harbor? I dunno....), but please take the time to check out these great NH-themed layout blogs ( + two other non-New Haven ones!).....

Randy Hammill's New Britain Station blog at - http://blog.newbritainstation.com/

Randy is modeling New Britain, CT on the New Haven's Highland Line in the Transition Era, and is focusing on pretty much one town for the entire layout, which is a cool concept, one that I myself had thought about doing years ago when I was new to the hobby.

Chris Adams' Valley Local blog at - http://blog.thevalleylocal.net/

Chris is modeling the New Haven's Connecticut Valley Line in 1947, and along with Randy, is doing some DAMN fine modeling! Watching the build/shakedown/troubleshoot process that Chris shares is good stuff!

Joe Smith's Signal Station 199 at - http://signalstation199.blogspot.com/

Joe has chosen to model the Berkshire Line of the New Haven, and in his latest blog post, he shows us how he kitbashed (or scratchbuilt, depending on how you look at it), the NH's interesting and rare GE DEY-2 switcher! (Do I REALLY need to say, "Check it out"?)

So, I mentioned there were two non-New Haven-themed layout blogs, didn't I?............

First up is Matthieu Lachance of Quebec who is doing a model of the Erie's 149th St Bronx terminal at -
http://harlem-station.blogspot.com/

It's worth following, if for no other reason that because it proves you can have a lot of action in a small space, even if the prototype track design is boring. (C'mon, you have to admit it is, but it's still cool!)....Looking back, I actually wish I had realized that "simple (or small) can be cool" when I started my layout.....

And finally (save the best for last?), while it's not NH-themed, I just HAVE to make mention my good friend Dave Abeles' 1994 era Conrail Onondaga Cutoff layout at - http://onondagacutoff.blogspot.com/

Dave is an all-around a good guy, a good musician, and he puts up with this old guy at his ops sessions, so his blog is worth the time to visit, LOL! His layout is proto-freelanced, meaning that while the line he chose to model never really existed (an ex-NYC bypass line around Syracuse, NY), but all the trains and equipment are spot on for Conrail on the Chicago Line in 1994. My prediction is you'll be seeing this  layout in the mainstream hobby press in a year or two.....

So that's all for now, but keep on checking in, you never know what might happen!

Ralph

Submitted, resubmitted, and then re-resubmitted for your approval........

Huh?!? What does that even mean?!?

Well, first off, hello! Yes, I'm still here.....

Due to circumstances (many within my control, some not), I have not worked on the layout since my last post dated April 9th of LAST year. In the interim, as I had alluded to in that post, I have considered scrapping it all and rebuilding it as another Lehigh Valley-themed layout, but set in landlocked Allentown, PA...See this post - http://lvnyharbor.blogspot.com/2015/03/model-railroading-is-fun.html and this post - http://lvnyharbor.blogspot.com/2015/03/spring-awakening.html for more on that. Huh-huh, I said moron........

Seeing as that I still have a warm spot for the Lehigh Valley's waterfront operations (or is that a damp spot? No, no, that's just not right....), three things I did just this last week made me think about the old layout (and yes, I had all BUT made the decision to scrap it and start over, just in case you were wondering).....

(a quick snapshot of how I've felt about the layout for the last year or two.....

Never you mind that it looks like that's Richard Dreyfuss from "Close Encounters"!)

The first thing was that I happened to be reading one of my favorite blogs (Tony Thompson's Modeling The SP Blog at - http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/), and he had a post about a subject on routing cards, (which I just so had planned to use for routing cars on my layout, too) at - http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2016/05/route-cards-10-southern-pacific.html.
I wanted to help Tony by providing more prototype examples, so I posted a comment telling him that I had some route cards to share, hidden SOMEWHERE in the deep, dark recesses of my basement, and that brings me to point number two......

So after I read Tony's blog post that afternoon, I started to go back and read all my old blog posts to see if I had something about route tags that I could share with him (I knew I did, I just had to find it!), and in the process, took a nice stroll down "Blog Memory Lane"....Ah, the dreams of a young (33 yr old?) layout builder! Al sorts of prose full of hopes for a nice layout some day, discovering data that inspired the layout building process, yadda, yadda, yadda.....Seriously, it was fun to read, and while it helped to reinforce the thought that yes, I really DID bite off more than I could chew (especially for a first real layout), it also proved to me, hey, this really WAS fun (once), and that a LOT of work went into it to get it to this point and to run smoothly (though that's a relative term), and most importantly, that maybe, just maybe, it COULD do so again, or damn close to it.

I know you're dying to know, just what could be the third (and biggest) thing? Well, I made the mistake (?) of going into the basement that same night when I got home from band rehearsal (one of those "things" that has kept me from playing with trains, btw), and took a look around to see what could be done to save this behemoth.....And what's really scary, (well, besides my friend "Scary" Ted DiIorio and his associated blog at - http://maparr1943.blogspot.com/) is that I now have some (possibly) good ideas of how to "rekindle the love affair" between myself and the layout, or at least we can work out some of our issues, and "remain friends" even if we still end up going our separate ways down the road.......

Now before I talk about that in any detail, if you are a close "associate" of mine and already know too well the trials and tribulations of myself and the great "Allentown/Jersey City Debate of 2016", you might be saying, "Why are you flip-flopping on your decision, AGAIN?" Well, I have ALWAYS clearly said that one of (OK, maybe two) biggest "guilty trips" is that there is a lot of work by myself, my father and my friends that we put into what I already have built here (and thus, the associated good memories), and I can't seem to break myself away from that feeling of impending "guilt" should I decide to "shake the Etch-A-Sketch" and start over. The other point being that I STILL think that I did not give this design its due (and I REALLY want to institute using the route cards to move traffic, btw!), so I THINK, that I while I may still very well "pick up and move on", I really want to put in (by taking out!) the track changes I came up with as described partially in the April '15 blog, and a few more too boot.

HOWEVER, seeing as that I have a penchant for going on.....and on.....and on with my blog posts, I am going to break this (already very wordy) post up into some follow up posts and not blow all my steam out of my stack at once, if I may be so blunt!
I'll follow this post up as soon as I can with a refresher of what I have already eyeballed back in 2015 that I'd like to change out, and then follow that with a detailed look at the massive infrastructure changes that I have planned for trying to "save" the LVHTRY, if only for the short term.

"So, having re-re-disposed of the monster..."

 

Thanks for hanging on this long and reading everyone, and I hope to talk to you all again very soon!

 

Ralph

aka "The Commodore"

Conjunction Junction, Why All The Destruction??!?

     I just couldn't resist poking fun at my favorite Schoolhouse Rock song! (my appologies to those of the young'ins out there who don't get the reference, your loss!) 

     So, by nature of the above photo that looks like I dropped a handfull of flex track on the layout and then walked away (and most of the time, you'd be right, I did!), lest it be thought that I actually went  downstairs to WORK on the layout his weekend (gasp!), while I was on a non-layout related "mission" to the dark, dank recesses of the basement for water leakage (my hot water heater has reached the end of it's service life by doing a slow leak across the floor, and no Ted DiIoio, I'm NOT into trying to recreate NY Harbor in scale down there!), I came to the back end of the layout wherethe layout starts or ends (depending on how you look at it), and started thinking (and that's NEVER a good thing).......

 

Layout to the left of me, Staging to the right......(further appologies to AC/DC) 

!!!Photo needs to be reloaded!!!

 

 

The art of stuffing 5 lbs. of trains (from Staging) into a 1 lb. bag (the Main Line)

     As seen in the above photos, the lower tracks (and the ones we're focusing on in this blog entry)represent the LVRR Main Line between Oak Island Yard and the float yard at Washington St., while the elevated tracks represent the National Docks Branch. Now, it's not terribly obvious in these photos, but this is the pinch point to the flow of traffic which  prevents trains from simulatenously leaving and entering the layout, as four Main Line tracks go from two to one, and then four as they enter staging, all in the span of four feet. This prevents Yardmasters at each end from simultaneously moving trains back and forth as expeditiously as possible. That has yet to case a problem in any of the ops sessions we've had, but it always bugged me (so thus, why did I build it like that to begin with? We may never know....). Since the layout is, for now, dispatched sequentially, this means a train that went eastbound has to return westbound again before another eastbound can depart, the biggest reason being to avoid any "cornfield meets" on the single track section. I've thought about trying to fix this "issue" over the last year or two while the layout has been embargoed, so I FINALLY decided to do something about it! -

 

Umm, I'm pretty sure this'll work, but I think something is missing!

     I'm PRETTY sure I have just enough room to re-align the tracks at the staging yard throat and to swing the CNJ single track Henderson St. Branch across a newly double-tracked LVRR Main Line WITHOUT having to move the elevated NDB or widen the benchwork (since I started writing this, this is 95 percent assured). Once complete, this will allow me to operate a more fluid traffic pattern on and off the layout, and hopefully measurably improve the ops scheme, allowing the yard to operate more fluidly in the process. Now, one "eastbound" main will serve two staging tacks, and the "westbound" main will serve two. The only positive attribute to the old staging yard throat being served by one track was that all four tracks were equqally acessible, but splitting the yard two by two is OK, as the planned train fequency will not overwhelm the East and West staging and their ability to move traffic. Train lengths are fixed at 15 cars with caboose and two switchers, and the staging tracks are long enough to fit without fouling the parallel track, and even if they do, having the two dedicated mains now allows them to act as temporary yard leads while the cars are fiddled off the layout without fouling the other mainline track, should they need to that is.

!!!Photo needs to be reloaded!!!

     As you can probably tell above, the original crossing (bottom) is a code 83 Shinohara 30 degree crossing, so I dove into my "track bits" box and unfortuantely, nothing fit, using the 'ol Mk.1 Eyeball test. But what I DID have was an otherwise far from fine scale Atlas Code 83 18 degree crossing, and it looks like it is the perfect angle to fit. I haven't gone to the Walthers catologue yet to see if they make a similar degree crossing, but I may just stick with the Atlas one (yes, I'm, cheap, damnit!), because I know it'll fit (well, I'm PRETTY SURE it will!).

     Now as we move onto the layout and get closer to the float yard at Washington St., we run into the point where the runner track (which is also one leg of the Jersey Ave. Wye AND provides access to Grand St. Yard), we run into the backdrop that spearates these two switching areas, preventing crews from seeing (and following) their train.......

 

Although this view from the other side of the backdrop than the area we're discussing, the "hole on the wall" separates East from West on the layout, and will be "softened" by the NJ Turnpike Bridges that crossed the RR at this spot, two lanes on each side.

 

A vintage property map, with the routes involved highlighted in Red (CNJ) and Blue and Yellow (LV), and the approximate backdrop location (Black)

     The plan here is for Eastbound trains to be "announced" to the Washington St. Yardmaster as being "on their bell" by the Communipaw Block Operator's position  (not ever a real place on the railroad, but a neccessary evil, for now at least, to control traffic thru the backdrop), and will be staffed by the Grand St. Yard Yardmaster, since he stands in that corner as it is, and everything goes past him. Likewise, Westbounds will be handed over to him here to head into staging. He's in eyesight of the Oak Island/East Claremont staging Yardmaster, and (by way of handheld radio) in touch with the Washington St. Yardmaster, so verbal authority will be used to clear trains through the block limits. Movements in and out of Grand St. Yard also will be controlled by this block station.

     Eventually, I'd like to install track detection (and maybe annuciator bells?), and while I'd love, Love, LOVE to have semaphores (unprotoypical,  there were never signals here - to the best of my knowledge, that is - as it was all operated under yard limits), I'll settle instead for a much more visible and understandable - and visible - kind of solution. I'm envisioning is a sort of  "cab signal" mounted at viewing height in the valance for each track, showing track occupancy, one for each track on each side of the backdrop and hooked up to said IR or photocell occupancy detectors to trip the cab signal lights, though that kind of "electronic wizzardry" is beyond me. Luckily for me, I know people who know how to install this kind of s**t!

     So that's that, for now at least......Let's see if I can put it back together as fast as I tore it appart (luckily for me, I had never gotten around to soldering in the feeder wires to the track here!), and I'll eventually report back here with the finished product....Just don't hold your breath or anything!

Ralph

Spring Awakening

     So, fresh on the heels of last weeks post, I did receive some nice and well thought out responses not only from a friend, but better yet, two readers of this blog that until now, I have not had the pleasure of making their acquaintance. That's a big win, as a fresh, unbiased view of my layout and my "situation" is always helpful, AND, it's nice to know that my mile-long post wasn't completely ignored!

     So, instead of responding to them in the comments section and risking being "lost in the pile" with everything else, I thought I'd dedicate this post first and foremost to thanking them for taking the time to share their thoughts with me, but obviously also to take a moment to respond to their comments. Let's begin, shall we?

First up, we have Rhett, and he commented -

     "Personally, I'd be building toward the new theme. Simplification without having to give up the essentials is a huge WIN. Why bite off more if it's just more and not tangibly better?"

     Rhett, you are 100% right, and that there lies the problem. There's no reason NOT to make the change, but there is the nagging thought of "Have I really given the layout a chance to prove (or disprove) itself?" And not just for my own fulfillment mind you, but also to my crews (both regulars and guests), as well.

     As I mentioned, I have not had a problem attracting return operators (yet), and the biggest win was the honor of hosting a ProRail session in 2013 for many esteemed out-of-town model railroaders who traveled MANY miles and were to be guaranteed a good time, OR ELSE! I wasn't told that I failed to "entertain", so I guess that's a good thing, yes? Especially considering that some of my guests were those who themselves own terminal-themed layouts (and well known ones at that, but I won't drop names, thank you very much), that I personally hold in high esteem, and they gave all appearances that they enjoyed their time operating the layout. In other words, I had my layout on the line, and all signs point that it "passed the audition".

     So I guess that is the long way of saying I'm not sure I want to call it quits on the waterfront just yet. Let's give it one more go.....MAYBE!

     Oh, and please take a moment to visit Rhett's blog "R.C. and a MoonPie Railroad" at - http://rcandamoonpie.blogspot.com/, and see what he's been up to....I know I'll be spending some time visiting!

Next up, a friend of mine Joe Zyla responded, and had this thought to share with me -

     "I have to agree, simpler is better, especially when there are other forces pulling your time and resources. The satisfaction of building a layout towards completion is gratifying. The draw of complex operations and busier railroads? You have that through the operating sessions you participate in with the other layouts you visit."

     And once again, Joe is spot on. I am very lucky to live in a region of the US (and New Jersey specifically) where there are approximately eight layouts that I can operate on regularly if I so choose, all prototype-themed, and run the gamut from sleepy single track steam operations to large, heavy main line TT/TO ops (both steam and diesel), to terminal operations. So why have a layout at all, LOL!?!? For many years I didn't, and it begs the question, 'what will I be achieving that will be different from what everybody else is doing?"

     Well, for starters, the theme for the LV's West End Branch is semi-urban in theme - Not a large yard operation with a high car turnover rate like the NY Harbor Terminal currently in "operation", but still busy, and still with lots of switching. So other than a lot of track all over the place (and some actual scenery, and by that I mean grass and trees), it's not so far removed from a short line or branch operation-themed layout like my friend Ted DiIorio's Ma&Pa layout - http://maparr1943.blogspot.com/. Is it a bad thing that it would be a lot in concept like Ted's layout? Absolutely not, and I don't mean to make it sound like I have to change the layout be so radically different and unique so as to stand out from the herd. In fact, the only other layout in the immediate area (that I know of at least) that is a terminal switching operation with a NY Harbor theme is my pal Dave Ramos' NY Harbor RR - http://www.nyhrr.com/ - so it's not like I am floating in a sea of these kinds of layouts. But neither do I want to "trade up" for no good reason other than to do it, and then regret doing so. And with that, see my reply to Rhett's comment....

     With all this talk, I really need to post my PowerPoint presentation I gave a year ago this month about the pros and cons of modeling one piece of the LV for the other, so you guys can see all the supporting data I keep referring to. Next blog post, I promise!

And finally, we have David Keith sharing his take on the situation with me -

     "When I'm not working on a significant project, my mind wonders. The wondering keeps me from working on a real project. It seems like you've let your fire go out. There is only one way to get the fire going again, stoke it! That is to work at it repeatedly. So if you want to be "Lehigh Valley Harbor Terminal Railway", then start repeatedly doing something towards it. If you’re "DONE", then pick what's next and start stoking. The in-between place is not good...I can tell you. The people I know with great layouts repeatedly work at keeping the fire."

     So, am I getting boring by saying I agree with David, too, at least to a certain point, that is? More specifically, I get what you are saying, David.

    I only have to look at two of my friends in particular, even though they are separated by WHY they are driven to work on their layouts. Again, without naming names, the outcome is the same - they stay "involved" for lack of a better term, with their layouts and it shows. It doesn't matter WHAT drives them, it's that they stay driven. The important part of that is two fold - First, your operators (and guests, especially if they visit semi-regularly) want to see what you've been up to! It's just human nature, and the thing that draws most of us to the hobby in the first place. That, and your operators will (or at least SHOULD) care that you've been "workin' on the railroad"! If things need fixing, you SHOULD be fixing them! And that leads to the other part, OPERATION. You can't operate reliably if the layout needs fixing, and that is the #1 fastest way to anger your crew, and then you WILL have the problem of attracting crews. In my book, you shouldn't just work on the layout because you want to be noticed - there should ALWAYS be a goal, no matter how big or small. I have always believed that if you WANT to make the time for something, you WILL make the time (within reason, of course). My problem is that I have always been a procrastinator (it'll still be there later!), and sometimes, what happens is it's ISN'T still there when you decide that enough is enough. I can't change my stripes, but you ARE right David, if I really want to stoke the fire, I damn well should do it!

     My problem is that I enjoy planning (and collecting) data on things, sometimes on multiple things (currently doing so for both layout projects), and while that can cause "paralysis by analysis", I don't think that applies here. In fact, it's the opposite, or at least I think so. I am gathering some much data for a REALLY GOOD version (or so I think so!) for the West End Branch (data that I have never been able to collect for the layout I currently have), so much so that it makes me constantly think about wanting to do the "big switch" more often than not. Is that bordom speaking, regret, or a shift in modeling priorities? And then we go back to my response to Joe.......Oh, the humanity!

     And as with Rhett, David shared his blog with us at  - http://sn2modeler.com/ - I'm looking forward to seeing some more S Scale modeling!

     So, I guess that's about it for now, and hopefully not only have I addressed everyone's comments, but also generated some good counter discussion in the process. Time will tell if I'll receive some more responses, and I'll follow up much like I did with these in a future blog post. In the meantime, there have been some similar responses on my new Facebook group page at - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LVRR1951/ - Which I need to attend to as well, so if you're a Facebook'er, please join in the discussion!

Green signals ahead,

Ralph

    

Model Railroading Is Fun?

Well, that's what they keep telling me, at least. It's been almost two years since I have had an op session, and sometimes,  I wonder if the layout will ever run again in its current incarnation. No, this is not a pitty party, but rather an honest assessment of my personal interest in the piece of the LVRR that I have chosen to model, my financial situation (both current and expected), and my modeling priorities. Now before we go ANY further, I feel obligated to put forth a word of warning..... Due to not having blogged in a while, this is gonna be a long one, but I think it'll be worth sticking around to read, IMNSHO........

So let's get started......Now I want it be so noted that I have PLENTY of friends willing to pitch in and help work (and operate) the layout, so it's not like I am left all alone to tackle the whole thing on my own, and besides, they CONSTANTLY ask when the next work session is, and/or what I'm planning on getting done so that they CAN come over and operate. So, lack of interest by my "crew" is NOT the issue, but rather where my priorities at home (or more importantly, in the basement) are. I've been to plenty of op sessions, I've been to RPM meets, and I've also been playing out a LOT with my band, which honestly, takes up a good deal of my time, effort, and finances. There's that damn "F" word again......

I love model railroading, and always will - And it's not like I don't go down to the basement and turn it on every once in a while to roll some cars around and also plan operational "stuff" in my spare time (ie: at work) and check out eBay for the latest LVRR items (models, but mostly prototype stuff for future reference). I am also firmly commited to modeling the LVRR, and to modeling it in HO scale in the timeframe of 1950 to 1960 (but as close to 1951 as possible), and a layout designed/themed to be industrial/semi industrial in nature, with lots of switching (no mainline running). The change in any of those "given and druthers" would be a cost I'm not willing and/or able to finance, and besides, it's what I like most about model railroading, so none of that is a reason for my "modeling malaise". Let me explain a little further if I may......

What I am stuggling with is, is what Lance Mindheim has spoken about on why layouts can/might fail, on his blog at http://lancemindheim.com/ in a post about the "Three-Headed Monster" on his blog........Now, as Lance describes the "monster", what I am really doing battle with is only one of those three heads he describes, that being the "too complex of a design" head. Now, it's not that the layout plan doesn't work, or so my guys have told me. I DO have a very, for lack of a better term, involved ops plan AND involved track plan, due to the fact that this is a terminal switching layout with carfloats, yards, sub yards, multiple freight houses, a wye, multiple diamond crossings, etc, etc. If you aren't familiar with the "lay of the land" (and I don't blame you if you aren't), you can see a crude "line diagram" of a track plan I drew up in this image link - https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10203935336368696&set=gm.661810710608539&type=1&theater (Blogspot was giving me problems posting this within the blog directly, so hopefully this link works)

It's enough layout (20x11 ft, give or take) to keep at least ten guys busy, and as I said above, finding them is, or at least so far, has not been an issue. The issue I keep running into is that this layout, to me at least, that it became too much to easily set up, and to enjoy by operating by myself WITHOUT a full crew to run it. Notice I did not say not too much to maintain, but rather to set up for an op session. I consider myself a rather seasoned model railroader, so I've encountered many solutions to setting up operations, and I also like to read A LOT, so I have all those good operations magazines and books (Model Railroader's MRP annual, OpSIG The Dispatchers Office, LDSIG LDJ, etc)  to draw upon for ideas. With that being said however, part of me hankers for something a little simpler (though no less realistic and involved operationally), much like what Trevor Marshall talks about over on his Port Rowan blog at - http://themodelrailwayshow.com/cn1950s. Trevor's simple, smart and very realistic layout has given me a lot to think about, and if I was just starting out, I'd go that route. Ah, that old hindsight being 20/20 conundrum......

Now, my friend Dave Ramos (http://www.nyhrr.com/) who has a very similar layout (both in size and theme) has encountered similar ops setup problems, in that the nature of our layouts (industrial switching fed by active staging) sucks up a LOT of cars, and the paperwork that goes along with them. Now, while Dave has been successfully operating for at least five years now, he still has these issues, regardless of how finely tuned his ops plan is, and continues to be tweaked where needed, simply because of the intensity of the operation. It's not a huge layout (it fills the perimeter and center of a roughly 20x22 basement, taking in consideration for bathroom and utility room walls), and the goal, much like mine, is to simulate a busy operation, which it does very well. I feel that Dave's ops plan that he has researched and put into place works great, and I aim to emulate what he's learned works (and what doesn't!), so when I DO get back up and running, I'll have a solid base to work from. Now, Dave's (and mine) layout designs are not for everyone mind you (you don't watch trains run thru "pretty scenery" and all you pretty much do is switch cars. A LOT!), though most people who have guest operated Dave's layout walk away having had a LOT of fun (and even want to come back for seconds, too!), and he also has no problem attracting a regular crew of about fifteen guys jsut about every month. So that being said, I have his help AND experience to draw upon, but..........

The other issue I have, and this is one that is mine and mine alone, is how to explain to my crews (both regular, but more importantly, the guests), on how I want the layout to be operated. Initially, my instructions were TOO much and TOO wordy, so I "de-information overloaded" all those instructions, and while it helped, it still isn't quite the way I envisioned it to be, because in my mind, if I didn't provide all those detailed instructions, the guys wouldn't, and thus didn't know what was required of them to operate the layout the way I envisioned it being operated. Now, I understand that the way the prototype did things is NOT always easily scaled down, and that the "model railroad way" is sometimes the better, or at least easier, solution to acomplishing a job. And I also realize that my guys are smart enough (OK, MOST of them are, LOL) to figure out what needs doing. As long as car #1 goes from Point A to Point B before it goes to Point C, we're on the right track, so to speak.
So now that I've talked about the "why's", what is my solution? Well, that's where things get interesting....

Long story short, I encountered a internet forum thread on an other part of the LVRR, full of pictures and experiences (from both local railfans and former railroaders perspectives) that provided me a full-on database of reference material to draw from for modeling the  LVRR's West End Branch in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On top of that, a well writeen and researched capule history written by David Latshaw in the Lehigh County Historical Society's yearly proceedings, I now had everything I needed to know about this part of the LVRR. It's "design" has EVERYTHING I want in a layout - industrial switching, a simple track plan, urban and (at least in 1951) rural settings, and best of all, I could run it by myself without a crew, or operate it with up to at least five other people. I could reuse almost everything I have now - layout table footprint, engines and rollingstock, track, and in the end, less of all of those things that I need now! I mean, in just my main float yard alone, which measures approximately 12 feet long by 2 feet wide, there are approximately over 56 turnouts, and that's not even taking into consideration the rest of the layout! A finished (albeit still selectively compressed) West End Branch layout would contain roughly only the same amound of turnouts for the entire layout, and that to me is a VERY attractive proposition, considering I can reuse many of them, while at the same time eliminating three way and double slip turnouts currently being used in places. I can also get some nice scenery in (I have to admit, it is something I miss about modeling downtown Jersey City), and still have every kind of train operation that I have now (sans carfloating, obviously), so what am I really losing in the end? And I even did a full "compare and contrast" analysis of it for the last Valley Forge Pennsylvania RPM meet, which I will work on getting posted here ASAP, following this blog entry, for your viewing pleasure. So in the end, to redo, or NOT to redo, THAT is the question......

What has always kept me from making the change was time, money, and as I have told my friends who have helped me build the layout thus far, is that I feel I would be dismissing all their hard work that they selflessly put in to get me here. Now, they tell me to do what will make me happy, and that they don't, or won't, feel "slighted" in the least, so I guess I have to decide that on my own. Oh, that and that I myself sometimes feel that I haven't given the layout it's "due", so to speak. Am I wrong? I dunno, but I think it does speak volumes that I can't make up my mind what I want to do! The "fear" of starting over is not an issue, though I AM concerned that my lack of "work ethic" will put operating behind that much more......So, why NOT stick with what I have and just refine it? Oh, the possibilities.....

So that's where I stand with things. I know I can read magazine articles on layout designs and personal blogs for ideas until the cows come home, but in the end, it's my decision alone to make, and all the suggestions in the world don't mean diddly. So why can't I make one?

I hope to hear everyone's thoughts, weather you're just kidding around (you know who you are!) or 100% serious.

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you're still awake,

Ralph, aka "The Commodore"

**UPDATE - Since I began writing this almost a week ago, I recently found that the hot water heater in the basement is on it's way out, NOT to mention, the water meter needs replacing (as per the water company), so room must be made (and that means stuff piled ON and AROUND the layout) to allow things to be manhandled around the basement, so even if I wanted to, nothing will be happeneing until that "project" is completed, most likely at the end of March. I have however talked to Dave about working on setting up the layouts car forwarding database, so at least that work will get done (assuming I stick with the current "theme"), and at least we'll be ahead of things in that regard.