Probably my biggest pet peeve of layout videos on TH-cam (and when visiting somebody's layout) is when they have beautifully done scenery and well detailed and smooth-running trains, but they run the trains like slot cars. It's like, why go through making all of that realism when you aren't going to run them realistically?
Nice video, I have some ideas/ suggestions. For fast clocks one very important aspect you didn’t cover is what type of freight car routing system you use. If you use car cards and waybills what speed the fast clock is set to isn’t too important. If you use JMRI or some other computer-based switch list program, the fast clock speed is very important. The biggest failure I often see with JMRI is trains/cars do not make it to the location in time for what JMRI wants. Also, what speed the clock is set too is very important if you run passenger trains, especially if you run lots of passenger trains that follow a set schedule. Most passenger trains run a daily schedule. I agree 100% that your schedule will likely be based off of how many quality operators you can get for your Op Session. If you want to build a large layout, you will need a large number of quality operators. Most Op Sessions are 3 hours long, do they have the attention span or interest to operate for 3 hours. What I do to determine the schedule and staging/siding capacity is I print out the track plan on put it on one monitor and a sheet on another and I simply run a mock op session on a table. You can use your finger or pieces of paper to simulate trains running at specific times. Being able to see the towns works better for me than a line chart. The most important thing of all is it will likely take 3 Op Sessions for you to perfect your schedule. Don’t get frustrated and give up if it doesn’t go flawlessly after 1 Op Session. Finally, I’m really glad to see someone else model the 1990s. The 1990s seems to be the forgotten decade and manufacturers seem to think nobody models the 1990s.
Hi, and thank you for following up. Interesting perspectives and I can’t disagree at all. I do use car cards and waybills. I plan to do a video on exactly that, but it will have to wait after my next video. I agree with you on ironing out the bugs. Even at 10 sessions, operators were bringing recommendations forward that we still follow today. I do like the table top idea you did. I did something similar to ensure I always had receiving tracks at staging yards. Again, thanks for your insights.
Your lucky too have a bunch of friends that are happy to run trains with you, I have been trying to get Oops going on my layout, but they talked about doing it and so far all are no sĥow.
This is one of the best operations explainers I’ve come across. The concept of interference traffic really makes sense. Well done.
I appreciate hearing this! Thank you
Probably my biggest pet peeve of layout videos on TH-cam (and when visiting somebody's layout) is when they have beautifully done scenery and well detailed and smooth-running trains, but they run the trains like slot cars. It's like, why go through making all of that realism when you aren't going to run them realistically?
You’re right. I think that is the connection to pull-off the realism. Roll
It real!
Thank you for sharing your ideas on operations. It’s good to learn from someone who has experienced it already.
Thanks Derek, my pleasure. If there are any specific aras or topics of operations, I could gladly share my experiences.
Well scripted overview of operations planning on your layout. Thank you for sharing! Mike
Thank you vey much Mike!
AWESOME video!
Well done. I look forward to your videos. Operation of a model railroad is like putting the cherry on a sundae.
Thank you. If you would like future examples from my experiences, I'm happy to share.
excellent video with lots of value added. Looking forward to next video.
Thank you. And if you ever have any ideas or soemthing you are looking for, please let me know.
Great video, I am a big fan of the Santa Fe
Very nicely done and I will look forward to catching your future presentations. Thanks for the ideas.
Thank you. I’ll get back at it this winter for sure!
You definitely have the right shirt!
love the Shirt, great content for your channel.
Thank you and thanks to your channel. GBW!
I too LOVE operations
Yes, it really does bring things to life!
Nice video, I have some ideas/ suggestions. For fast clocks one very important aspect you didn’t cover is what type of freight car routing system you use. If you use car cards and waybills what speed the fast clock is set to isn’t too important. If you use JMRI or some other computer-based switch list program, the fast clock speed is very important. The biggest failure I often see with JMRI is trains/cars do not make it to the location in time for what JMRI wants. Also, what speed the clock is set too is very important if you run passenger trains, especially if you run lots of passenger trains that follow a set schedule. Most passenger trains run a daily schedule.
I agree 100% that your schedule will likely be based off of how many quality operators you can get for your Op Session. If you want to build a large layout, you will need a large number of quality operators. Most Op Sessions are 3 hours long, do they have the attention span or interest to operate for 3 hours.
What I do to determine the schedule and staging/siding capacity is I print out the track plan on put it on one monitor and a sheet on another and I simply run a mock op session on a table. You can use your finger or pieces of paper to simulate trains running at specific times. Being able to see the towns works better for me than a line chart.
The most important thing of all is it will likely take 3 Op Sessions for you to perfect your schedule. Don’t get frustrated and give up if it doesn’t go flawlessly after 1 Op Session.
Finally, I’m really glad to see someone else model the 1990s. The 1990s seems to be the forgotten decade and manufacturers seem to think nobody models the 1990s.
Hi, and thank you for following up. Interesting perspectives and I can’t disagree at all. I do use car cards and waybills. I plan to do a video on exactly that, but it will have to wait after my next video. I agree with you on ironing out the bugs. Even at 10 sessions, operators were bringing recommendations forward that we still follow today. I do like the table top idea you did. I did something similar to ensure I always had receiving tracks at staging yards. Again, thanks for your insights.
Cool video
Thank you and thanks for following!
this video got my wheels turnin :)
Haha, perfect. Stay tuned or make a request if you would like me to share other experiences with operation.
3:24 is this actually a 4wheeled freight car? I always that that the US relied on bogies only?
Hi there. Yes. These were call ‘front runners’. No longer in use today!
@@atsfslatonsub6257 Thanks for the replay! Another thing to look into!
You need to adjust VDO speed
Are you operating ever week or just once a month?
Hi, formally, usually just 3 or 4 times a year.
@@atsfslatonsub6257 sounds a good time!
This is great and all but you must have a huge model railroad to run a train for 10 minutes from start to end.
Thx. Not huge, but with double deck and slower, more prototypical speeds, you can stretch it out
Your lucky too have a bunch of friends that are happy to run trains with you, I have been trying to get Oops going on my layout, but they talked about doing it and so far all are no sĥow.
Very lucky, yes. But, it takes time to find a good crew.