A focus on operations

[Rob Hupfield]

Hi Folks,

As many here know, I’ve been taking some extended time off from modelling to focus on some major home renovations. As a result, I’ve been pretty quiet hereabouts, but have still continued to plan more bits for Keg Harbour, and to think about how my little bit of On30 fits into the UC&A.

I think most modellers who build modules and join modular groups and clubs do it because they’re short on space for a large layout, and also enjoy the social aspects of getting together for setups. Generally, most are happy just to see trains run. Most modular groups try to set up modules in ovals, or with reverse loops at both ends, for continuous running.

But I think there’s another huge potential for modular groups: prototype operations. I really enjoy this aspect of the hobby, and few of us get the chance to try it out. With a little thought about designing and building modules that the overall group actually needs, we could add some terrific operating potential to our setups. Dispatched trains using train orders, schedules, and realistic car-card traffic generation could become a feature of group setups, adding another layer of fun to our hobby. Regular monthly setups for operating sessions become possible, instead of just setting up for display at shows.

Of course, one problem is that Keg Harbour doesn’t work well as a mainline terminus for the UC&A. It can’t handle the volume or length of trains any modular group would want to run. It’s fun to switch, but clogs up instantly.

Some background: When I designed Keg Harbour, I was very short of space but still wanted a module that was fun to operate as a self-contained layout. I took inspiration from the Brits, and developed it as a small switching terminus with a fiddle track next to it for staging. Keg Harbour became, by necessity, a very small terminus with sharp curves and small engines and a minimum of sorting and classification tracks. Conceptually it is serviced by small switchers, Porters and Shays and the like, with an imaginary yard not too far away as a source of cars.

The initial thought was that, when used in a group setup, the fiddle track would in essence be replaced with everyone else’s modules, giving inbound and outbound trains an actual place to go to and come from. This would be great, of course, if everyone was running Porters and three car trains... You see the problem.

So what to do?

I think there’s a solution in looking at module topology, or how we link our modules together. If having interesting operating sessions is going to be a goal, we need to think about creating an overall setup that includes staging at both ends, at least one middle “pod” with a siding for meets, and junction modules so we can tie in traffic-generating branches like Keg Harbour. Rather than think of a UC&A setup as just a linear snake of connected modules, perhaps we can start thinking of it as a point-to-point mainline with traffic-generating branches. Just think of the operating potential.

Lynn and I were exchanging thoughts on how Farquharson and Keg Harbour could work together in a setup. Attached is one of the sketches, which illustrates the idea of junction modules and the potential for operations. We just need to build a few core modules for setups, and then any other modules that turn up could be easily included.

What do you think?

Cheers,
Rob Hupfield
General Manager,
Keg Harbour Railway & Navigation Co.

[Ian Brown]

Why not do the ship idea and have a interchange with a standard gauge railway in the same area. Build a freight shed with a crane or a coal dock that goes from one gauge over top of the other gauge , less shoveling.

Both the standard gauge and the narrow gauge can use the boat and cross dock each others freight. Even if the standard gauge line is only a dummy short peice of track.

[Rob Hupfield]

Hi Ian,

I hope Spring is arriving in your neck of the woods too! Here in Toronto the redwing blackbirds and joggers have now arrived in droves... :-)

Your ideas for some kind of freight transfer facilities with the standard gauge are very interesting. Limited port facilities could certainly be in demand by more than one railway. And the idea of an interchange with the standard gauge could also be accomplished somewhere else on the line too. In fact, freight transfer with the standard gauge could be the subject for a whole new module... hmm!

Of course, this doesn’t help to provide a narrow gauge terminus for times when my Keg Harbour module is used in group setups, where everyone participating brings along their modules too. The problem still remains that everyone participating in UC&A operating sessions needs to think about how their present and future modules might contribute to overall operations during group setups. And what core modules the group needs to have enjoyable operating sessions in future.

My current thinking is that Keg Harbour just needs another link module or two, and a small junction module that connects to the mainline modules participating in a group setup. This way it can operate as an independent branch, with my Porters making regular runs up to the interchange yard at the junction. Meanwhile, mainline UC&A trains could then drop and pick up cars at the junction during group setups. At this stage I don't think I'll rebuild Keg Harbour to include standard gauge, but maybe it could find its way onto an additional link module...

Cheers,
Rob Hupfield
General Manager,
Keg Harbour Railway & Navigation Co.

[Barry Cott]

Rob,

Several year ago while I was actively building an On3 layout, I developed a primer on operating narrow gauge and shortline railroads that would be appropriate for the UC&A. You can download a copy here.

I agree with you that Keg Harbour would be best on its own branch off the mainline.

Barry

[Lynn Caron]

Hi Barry,
Wow, thanks for the link to your primer on NG operations !! I'm heading up to the cottage for a week soon and this will make some great reading out on the deck.
Rob has a real knack for drawing track plans. He's come up with one for me on a mining theme that could serve as a terminus like Keg, or also handle mainline trains as well. We are really looking forward to the next modelling season this fall and watch our plan take shape.

Cheers
Lynn

[Barry Cott]

Lynn,

Glad it's of interest to you. I'd be happy to share the computer files behind the system, or to make a similar set for the UC&A.

Where about is your cottage? My family has a place just outside Parry Sound hence my interest in researching the long-since abandoned Key Valley and Ottawa Arnprior & Parry Sound Railways.

Barry

[Lynn Caron]

Barry,
We own a fractional ownership at a cottage resort near Dwight Ont. on Lake Of Bays which is about 1/2 hour east of Huntsville and about as far from the west gate of Algonquin Park. Some of the day trails off of Hwy 60 in the park are along the old roadbed of the OA&PS. I've spent a fair amount of time on some of them and always come back inspired.
And hey, we would love to share and benefit from your hard work. Operation will hopefully be a regular thing once we get up to full speed. We want to be more than just a modular display group. I can see us getting together frequently whether there is a show or not to accomodate us.

Lynn

[Rob Hupfield]

Hi Barry,

Thanks for your good comments. And thanks for sharing all your terrific work on shortline operations. I was following all your efforts online and in the press a couple years ago, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance!

I enjoyed reading your most current version of the Primer. There’s a TON of good information in there, and it’s well worth reading by anyone interested in railway operations... shortline or otherwise. Thank you again!

Groups and clubs I think like to run enough trains to keep reasonably challenged and busy. We can slow things down a bit by introducing some (or more) of the everyday tasks that professional railroaders had to deal with daily... it’s interesting stuff! And that element adds another layer of interest and fun to operating sessions. I particularly like the authentic looking paperwork you were able to develop for the PM&TCo, which adds so much to the flavour (and fun) of operating our version of the prototype.

As you’ve no doubt figured out already, Keg Harbour received no small inspiration from the prototype Key Harbour, as well as from various other Georgian Bay locations including Pointe au Baril, Depot Harbour, etc. And yes, it definitely ain’t a big mainline terminus. I agree completely, from a group operating perspective it’s no doubt best located at the end of a branch. Keg Harbour, while quite interesting from a switching perspective, simply wasn’t designed to handle a lot of arrivals and departures. The UC&A needs other modules to do this.

Of course, the reality of balancing yard and mainline spaces on the model likely dictates that yards need to be relatively more capable, if only to compensate for the relatively more frequent arrivals and departures they have to sustain. This is probably one of the tradeoffs we face as modellers. At this point I'm pretty sure that any modular group interested in operations really NEEDS staging at both ends of the mainline, and additional capable yards that can actually handle the traffic that the group desires.

Your offer to help us apply your material to the UC&A is terrific!! I’m very interested in your thoughts on how to adapt your primer and operating concepts to a modular group setup. I think you “get” the appeal of a larger modular setup, especially for operations. A modular group brings something only a few modellers with really big basements can manage. But the overall size, arrangements, and destinations can of course change every time with a modular setup. Unless of course there is a core cluster of modules set up each time. And this variability can of course impact operations, for example switch lists. How best to accomodate the variability?

Looking forward to more discussion!

Cheers,
Rob Hupfield
General Manager,
Keg Harbour Railway & Navigation Co in On30

[Rob Hupfield]

Clearly there's a prototype for everything... the track arrangement I sketched in "overall.jpg" above is remarkably similar to that in Georgetown, Ontario, a legacy of where the original Grand Trunk Railway line from Toronto to Sarnia (circa 1859) met what I believe was the old Hamilton and Northwest Railway line up to Barrie (circa 1870's). See:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode...

Georgetown's station is a real classic too:

http://images.halinet.on.ca/details.asp?r=vs&ID=1918&number=18

I'm still very impressed with how this general track arrangement could serve as the core for a modular group interested in operations.

Cheers,
Rob Hupfield
General Manager,
Keg Harbour Railway & Navigation Co in On30