Model Railroading Operations 101: Part 5 Road Switching Problems

1
Model RailroadingOperations 101Part 5 Road
Switching Problems

• Fred Bock, MMR,
• Chief Dispatcher, MSw
• Tom Crosthwait
• President, Mogollon Southwestern RR

2
The Dispatcher
Rule 990

• 1 Keep trains on the main line from crashing
  into each other!
• 2 Keep trains from creating a traffic jam that
  ties up the railroad.
• 3 Keep traffic flowing smoothly
• 4 Give each train crew the time and track it
  needs to get its job done.
• On the MSw, its usual practice to have a
  dispatcher when there are 3 or more trains in
  mainline operation at the same time.

3
Train Crew Roles
Model Railroading

• Engineer
• Operates the locomotive.
• STAYS AHEAD OF HIS MOVING LOCOMOTIVE AT ALL
  TIMES!
• Communicates only with conductor.
• Keeps a keen eye on his loco and train.
• Watches / listens for derailed cars or locos.

• Conductor-Brakeman
• Boss of the train.
• Directs the engineer on running the train.
• Communicates with dispatcher, yardmaster, and
  other conductors.
• Directs switching moves.
• Throws turnouts.
• Uncouples cars as needed.
• Does roll-by inspections of other trains. Rule
  712, Rule 713
• Watches / listens for derailed cars or
  locomotives.

Rule 920, Rule 800, 801, Rule 712
4
Whistle Bell Signals
MODEL RAILROAD
Rule 30

• All aboaaaard!
• Train is leaving
• Grade Crossing warning
• Approaching Station
• Approaching Station (last 200)
• Leaving Station (first 200)
• While Switching (sometimes)

• TooooooooooooooooT
• Toot-Toot (two short)
• Toooot-Toooot-Tut-Tooooooot
• (last toot is extended until the loco passes
  over road crossing)
• ToooooooooooooooooooT
• (ends after loco is past the station or comes to
  a stop).
• Bell should start ringing to warn people on the
  ground near the train before the train stops or
  before the train begins to move again.

5
Turnouts Ground Throws
Main route usually straight
Diverging route usually curved
Rule 104 Train crews are responsible for the
position of turnouts used by them and members of
their crew, except when control is remote.
Turnouts must be properly lined after having been
used.
6
Hand Signals for Switching

• With modern DCC sound systems, the noise in an
  operating session is high.
• Some operators have hearing problems.
• Implication its better to use hand signals
  between conductor-brakeman and engineer than to
  try to talk above the noise of locomotives and
  other operators.
• Rule 7 hand signals must be given sufficiently
  in advance to permit compliance. . .

7
Common Hand Signals
MODEL RAILROAD
RULE 8

• Back-up (reverse)
• Slowly (inching)
• Controlled stop
• Stop
• You are coupled up
• Go forward
• OK
• Highball (leave town)

• - beckon toward self with circular motion.
• - fingers come together
• - hands come together
• - hold closed hand up.
• - make closed fist, shake once.
• - move open palm, fingers closed, up and down
  away from you.
• - thumbs-up /or/ circle
• - pull imaginary steam whistle twice (Toot
  Toot)

8
Basic Problems

• The first few switching problems are basic moves
  involving a single car
• Trailing Point pick-up
• Trailing Point set-out
• Facing Point pick-up (with run-around)
• Facing Point set-out (with run-around)
• Note the arriving train should take the siding
  before beginning any local switching. (This
  keeps the main track clear as much as possible
  for meets and passes).

9
MSw Local Switching MiamiTrailing Point Pickup
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
10
MSw Local Switching MiamiFacing Point Pickup
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
GN
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
11
MSw Local Switching MiamiTrailing Point
Set-Out
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
12
MSw Local Switching MiamiMultiple Trailing
Point Set-Out
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
13
MSw Local Switching MiamiFacing Point Set-Out
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
101
BREX
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
14
RailOp Switching Manifest Miami(a typical
combination of moves)

• TRAIN 121 Happy Jack Turn
• Miami
• ltltPick-upgtgt
• BREX 2334 Reefer San Carlos Packing
• CBQ 2134 Cov.Hop. Bock Perlite
• ltltSet-Outgtgt
• SP 32861 Box Team Track
• PFE 12345 Reefer San Carlos Packing
• SFRD 8923 Reefer San Carlos Packing
• Arizona Southern Junction
• ltltPick-Upgtgt
• NdeM 4423 Flat AZS Interchange
• FCP 23876 Box AZS Interchange
• ltltSet-Outgtgt
• MSw 798 Flat AZS Interchange

Train 121 is to pick these cars up in Miami.
Cars that left Globe on Train 121 your job is
to set them out at the industries listed for
Miami.
Train 121 sets this car out on the AZS
Interchange Track.
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MSw Local Switching Miami(typical combination
of moves)
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
102
102
AZS Interchange
104
101
107
201
203
202
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
16
Interchange Movements

• The next several problems involve interchange
  movements from the Ferrocarril del Pacifico /
  Arizona Southern.
• The easiest problem is a swap of cars for the
  MSw from the FCP with cars going to the FCP from
  the MSw.
• Local trains in Mexico are often mixed trains
  mixtos.
• In addition to a caboose, a coach is carried for
  local passenger service. (In the USA, a coach
  or combine often serves as both caboose and
  passenger service).
• In either case, the passenger car must be
  set-out adjacent to the depot while local
  switching is going on to accommodate safe
  discharge and boarding of passengers and their
  luggage.
• The passenger car is tacked onto the end of the
  train when it departs for the next town.

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FCP Interchange AZS Junction
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
BREX
101
101
101
AZS Interchange
102
102
104
201
202
101
107
203
105
FCP
NdeM
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
18
FCP Mixed Train AZS Jct / Miami
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
NdeM
BREX
101
101
101
AZS Interchange
102
102
104
201
202
101
107
203
105
FCP
FCP-coach
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
19
FCP Mixed Train AZS Jct / Miami
Cutter Flour Mill
San Carlos Packing Co.
Gila Lumber Co.
(to Payson)
103
NdeM
BREX
101
101
101
AZS Interchange
102
102
104
201
202
101
107
203
105
FCP
FCP-coach
108
106
205
204
Team Track
Freight House
bagging house
Ore House (Crusher)
Bock Perlite
loading
Zingerle Bridge
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Switching ProblemsPayson Meander Mine

• Payson is midway between Globe and Ayers
  Junction, at the foot of the steep grade north to
  the top of the Mogollon Rim.
• Passenger trains usually make station stops at
  Payson. Occasionally they will set out or pick
  up an RPO or express car.
• Most freight service to Payson is by MSw way
  freights.
• The Copper Queen mines turn stops in Payson to
  set-out empty ore cars and pick up loads at
  nearby Meander Mine.

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The town of - Payson, AZ
Tunnel No. 1
Helix
Miami
Meander Mine
Strawberry Happy Jack
303
302
301
Tunnel No. 3
Tunnel No. 2
401
401
Kohl Feed Grain
Team Track
Express Track
403
404
401
Kohl Cattle Co.
405
402
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Switching Moves Payson, AZ
RPO
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Switching Moves Copper Queen Meander Mine
(Payson), AZ
Tunnel No. 1
Helix
303
302
301
Miami
Strawberry Happy Jack
Meander Mine
Tunnel No. 3
Kohl Feed Grain
Tunnel No. 2
401
401
Team Track
Express Track
403
404
RPO
401
405
402
Kohl Cattle Co.
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THE ENDof Model RailroadingOperations
101 Part 5 Road Switching Problems
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