Operating the C&DR

[tedp]

Introduction
Since the moderators agreed to extend the title of the signalling section to operation, I can now add a topic about operation on the C&DR.

Some of us are scenery and/or rolling stock builders rather than layout operators, but I hope this topic will show you that model railway operation is very interesting itself. Operating the C&DR to me is as relaxing as a game of patience, or watching a good film is to others. My fellow Dutch Group member Daan Biessels, another railway operation fan, calls this the Great Railway Operating Game, or something to that effect.

Any 009 layout, even a small one, can be operated to represent prototypical traffic flows. This even applies to an industrial or mining layout where some typical train formations and materials and workers movements can be represented next to carrying the main product. The C&DR as a general carrier also runs public goods and passenger services.

I will first give a schematic diagram of the layout so you will know what I'm talking about:



traffic pattern
Some modeller's licence is necessary to explain a fairly busy general carrier in a remote area of Scotland. To this end I have borrowed some properties from the railways in the southwest of Ireland, like the Tralee & Dingle and the West Clare. We have to assume the area through which the C&DR runs is rather more populated than it really is.

The traffic pattern on the C&DR was worked out by thinking of the traffic one would expect on a railway of this kind. The coal trains from Inverlochan to the harbour are limited to about two a day, with a possible third during the night shift. These are block trains of course, with little else to do but running them back and forth, positioning them for loading and discharging, and running round the engine at either end.



General goods and passenger traffic is much more interesting and varied. There are two goods services a day. A thrice daily passenger service and the boat train which only stops at the major stations will give you four passenger services between 7am and 10pm. One of them makes an extra return trip in the morning from Dunalistair to Rae Bridge, the busiest part of the line. The afternoon train is combined with a goods service and runs mixed, and there is an evening goods making a complete return trip over the line.



The Glenfinnan branch has a passenger service, a mixed train and another goods only. These continue from Rae Bridge to Dunalistair, adding a few extra services on the lower division of the line. In addition there is a rule that every goods train can be and usually is upgraded to a slow mixed service by adding a single carriage instead of the brake van. At present there is a shortage of brake third carriages for this service, but several more are planned.

I will continue this topic with more instalments describing timetable running, goods operation and operating rules.

[tedp]

In view of the overwhelming response to this topic I decided not to keep you waiting any longer.   ;D

The purpose of the Craigcorrie loops and the fiddle yards
Last time I forgot to clarify the purpose of the Craigcorrie loops. All stations except for Craigcorrie can be operated normally, but Craigcorrie is a hidden reversing loop where train make-up cannot be changed. An answer to that is to make a different train reappear for each one that went in. There is space for six trains on three parallel roads. This will always return a different train from the one that was sent to the loop, resulting in more variety and stabling more rolling stock out of sight, keeping the layout clear from overcrowding (usually, that is!).

There are two additional fiddle yards. The Glenfinnan branch ends in a four-track yard that can be accessed behind the layout. From the branch, a short stub yard sprouts under the hill on the left of Rae Bridge. This acts as the mountaintop tram terminus. All fiddle yards and the loops are controlled remotely by a simpe form of track detection, but this goes beyond the operation topic.


Timetable running
Running a railway without a timetable won

[Graeme Dunbar]

Fascinating Ted! I've worked a similar scheme on a friend's O gauge layout with block instruments controlling the flow. It was most enjoyable.

I look forward to the next instalment!

[Isle of Stoner]

Again, thanks. I've only ever run what I fancied on previous layouts but once the IoSR has 2 ends it will be possible to do something similar. I feel some head scratching and time wating coming on. Oh good. ;D

John W

[invercloy]

I agree, fascinating.

Having looked at the funny shape of Isle Ornsay and how difficult it will be to communicate between the station operator and the fiddle yard I think it might be easier to develop an operating sequence.

I like the idea of a flip book with a sequence of moves that can be carried out at leisure without trying to beat the clock.

[tedp]

Thanks, guys. I agree a flip-over book would be a good idea for both operators at Isle Ornsay. To give you an idea of a flip-over book page, here is an example:

Move  Time  Type           From          To
7        0640  Passenger   Craigcorrie  Dunalistair

-  all stations
-  at Rae Bridge combine with loco and carriage off train 6A and double-head to Dunalistair
-  make up return train after arrival at Dunalistair
-  put extra carriage in storage siding after arrival at DR, coal and water pilot loco
-  pilot loco continues to harbour sidings as day shunter
-  coal and water train loco

Train 6A was the early morning return train from Dunalistair (also referred to as DR). This had started out as train no. 5 from Rae Bridge to Dunalistair, at 0540, using a single bogie carriage. The combination departs from Rae Bridge at 0730. This can be verified from the diagram.

[invercloy]

That's the sort of thing I was thinking of, although I'll obviously only need it for one station (at the moment).

Thanks Ted :)

[Isaac W]

I've seen several exhibition layouts spoilt by using "Timetables and clocks", >:( especially those which followed a real(ish) timetable which had more inaction than action. :P Hursley is one that spring to mind, Tigger could name several more. :-\

Happisburgh (Sorry standard gauge, I know) was meant to run to a

[SWTH]

It depends on what you want. Looking at Ted's time/distance chart it would appear that for almost any given point between 0000 and 2359 there is action, and between 0600 and 2200 there is at least two workings at any given moment - I think given the size of the C&DR that is very reasonable without 'flooding' the line with movement. Besides, model layouts aren't just about the trains - take some time to search out the small scenic details that give such lines character.

[tedp]

Well obviously there is a difference between home and exhibition operation. I only play with Rae Bridge at an exhibition, just to keep some movement on and run a special depending on the public. Kids love an engine with a smoke unit, or a funny looking train.

The movement table of the C&DR home layout is quite busy for an ordinary narrow gauge line, but I like action on the line because I like running trains. However, even if two movements seem to be at the same time, I usually run them one by one. I can run two trains at the same time, but it takes more co-ordination and I like to concentrate on one at a time.

The next instalment will be about goods working using the John Allen approach.

[Isaac W]

SWTH... You've seemed to have missed one word from my first sentence :-[, "exhibition", home layouts can do what they want, it's up to each owner. 8) But exhibition layouts should keep this moving, scenery may be nice but the public are there to see layouts working.

[tedp]

Well, perhaps you'll find that a home layout isn't very different from an exhibition layout regarding keeping something moving. Having to wait for the timetable would become VERY boring! The main difference is that in a home layout you can stop operation at any given time and continue the next evening.

This is especially important when you devise a goods vehicle circulation system that represents the random movement of real goods vehicles. If you can leave things as they are without disrupting the system, or even park vehicles in the next available siding when you run trains for visitors, it makes life much easier. I will write something about this next time.

[SWTH]

SWTH... You've seemed to have missed one word from my first sentence :-[, "exhibition", home layouts can do what they want, it's up to each owner. 8) But exhibition layouts should keep this moving, scenery may be nice but the public are there to see layouts working.

Not at all - as I said, there is movement during the whole 'day' and for the vast majority of that there is two or more workings at the same time. The C&DR seems to 'keep it moving' all the time, whilst using a timetable for guidance. Joe Public may well want to see 'something' happening, but there is no need to have Clapham Junction levels of activity, so long as something moves and is seen to do 'something'.

[Isaac W]

SWTH I wasn

[tat2drod]

Having to wait for the timetable would become VERY boring!

Horses for courses. I came across someone once who ran his trains at the appropriate 24-hour clock time, including going out to his garden shed at 23:10 or so to run the appropriate train around the garden.