Hi Tom and other members.
The Initial set out list is what it says. There are eleven (11) areas where cars are staged before we start running trains these cars are the only cars on the layout that are used initially any other cars not on the list are removed from the layout. When we start running trains each operator has a switch list for today's activities the set out sheet has done it's job and is discarded the operator then only uses the switch lists which starts off with the already staged cars.
To give you an example lets go to the Blast Furnace the first name on the list keeping in mind that the cars on the list are marked either full or empty.
The Blast furnace has four hot metal cars two 16 wheelers and two 12 wheelers plus four spacer cars.
The Slag cars are listed as six cars.
The furnace Ash hoppers are 2 cars and the furnace spill cars are 2 cars.
These cars these cars are staged on their tracks and will be moved around the layout according to the switch list like the hot metal cars go from the furnace to the BOF full of Iron and return empty this process will be repeated four times during the day in the meantime there are many other moves happening as well like 46 moves occur during a full session just in the Republic Steel district alone and there are three other districts which is why you need three dedicated operators!
It is easier to watch than write but you asked how the Set Out sheet is used and I have told you please don't ask me how the switch lists work that would take a lot of work to much for here ! Believe it or not we really enjoy this and wouldn't have it any other way. Roo.
Thanks BobbyD, Bill, Tom, and Mike and Bill thanks for the word on the DVD I might look it up I have two of Dean Freytags books on steel Mill modelling.
I will try and get some photos together of the trains we use and how we make them up into a consist where the originate and their destination soon busy at the moment but here is a photo of one Hot Metal train we use I just snapped it quickly it has an old hopper car at each end one next to the Engine and one at the end sometimes we put one in the centre to space the load out if they are going over bridges (they are heavy cars when full!) and of course to keep heat off the engine and caboose this train you see does not need all that as it's an in plant move from the Blast Furnace to the BOF so no caboose and no bridges to go over. I wish I had time to weather the cars better maybe one day....
