Friends.
After seven long years we have what we like to call the "perfect " operation (I use that perfect word with tongue in cheek!) system mainly due to the Steel mill forcing us to think seriously about a operation plan that works. Steel mills have lots of cars and lots of action to get the most out of it you have to have a plan one of the "plans" are block trains all with their own locomotive. The photo shows Bay Ridge Yard with a number of "block" trains and also the local passenger service serving the mill also the branch line freight train so looking at the photo starting from the left you have.
1.Steel mill Workers train.
2.Empty Coke train.
3. local freight train.
4. Coil train.
5. Scrap train.
These trains are not staged this was the end of the last operating session. The action is quite intense as the EL Road locos are not to go into the mill site so the three mill trains go to interchange sidings and the locos are swapped over with the Republic Steel locos they then carry on to the various sites in the steel mill.
Notice that all the trains except the passenger train are Atlas SW's the passenger train (there are two of them) use Weaver RS1 locos we only use short trains so we don't need expensive heavy duty locomotives the Atlas locos fill the bill I have 18 of them twelve (12) are used per session eventually we will have seven painted and decalled for Republic Steel when I get the time, I have the decals now but I want flashing lights on the Steel Mill locos so that is taking time to work out a wiring system and modules which needs to be sorted out before painting.
There are many more trains that are run like Slag, Hot Metal, supply train, Crane Train, limestone, coal, plenty of Ore trains, the list goes on it's fun there is no pressure on anyone we stop for coffee or tea we have lunch and the session takes a full day with four operators. The operating sheet for the Steel Mill covers nine pages we print double sided to save on paper the Valley Forge passenger and freight branch line service covers two pages. we use eleven sheets of paper for each session we are working on how to save on paper. Roo.
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