Do you work your layouts to a timetable, or schedule of some kind, or do you just watch the trains go round?.

There's no right answer to this. Some like to run their trains in such a way that they get to see different trains go by. Others make up complicated timetables which they adhere to, with programmed passenger services stopping at stations and freights fitted in between, as a real railway would work.

In my restricted space, I wanted to have the ability to let the trains do lap after lap and "stretch their legs". I also wanted to see local trains meeting expresses at a station, and goods trains arriving in a yard to be shunted and sorted.

I also wanted to have the ability to do engine changes for both passenger and goods trains, mainly so I could represent the working at a border station. At the moment I can't do this very well as I have yet to build my planned extension with engine shed facilities.

Currently my preferred way of operating is to run a simple sequence:

Local passenger train runs and stops at station.
Express passenger train runs and stops at station.
Freight loco makes up a train in the yard and then pulls out onto main line
Freight train arrives back in yard and shunts different wagons into sidings.
Local passenger train runs and stops at station
Light freight loco takes short freight train to station, drops/collects 1/2 wagons off at goods shed.
Express passenger train leaves station.


This sequence is not cast in stone, but it represents a typical running session which takes about half an hour to complete. How many laps the trains do between starting and stopping determines how much sitting and watching I do!

Nope.

Nope!

With over 60 loks and trainsets, there is almost an unlimited number of consists that I can build to run on my layout when it is set up. Normally, I might have two express trains (Intercity) or two international trains running. Other times, it may be a regional or local push-pull consist or two. Same with freights, it can either be an international unit train, or a domestic assorted freight train. I don't do much shunting because the layout is not set up for that. May favorites probably still are the Roco IC2000 and EWIV Intercities pulled by my collection of Hag, Roco and Maerklin Re 460s. I may have one or two sidings so that I can change the train consists, ie replace the IC2000 by the CNL or EN for night operation.

Regards

Mike C

I have no layout, but still cannot understand why people want to "work" on their hobby/toys. running timetables and waybill cards takes the enjoyment out of the hobby _ I am referring to these "hardcore" model railroaders - so often written about in the pages of magazines like the US magazine Model Railroader. these are the kinds that go so far as to have one person act as a dispatcher and use phones or 2-way radios, calling out train orders. what do these people do when a train operator buddy misses a deadline in a group operating session (or misses them many times)? do they fire their friend? If one of the operators derails his train badly or collides with another train, are there any groups that kick him out because he (or his MRR avatar) is now considered dead?
why not add train engineers that are high on pot? amtrak has their share. or texting while train driving - there are more than a few of those going on too. how about labor unrest like strikes, picketing, and grievances for real or perceived wrongs on the part of the layout owner? maybe some nails thrown out in the homeowner's (read that management/supervision) parking lot by a disgruntled rail crew?
I suppose my point is that the people who really want to bring realism to their toy train layout by following "strict" operating rules don't even come close to real life (I'm not certain of this, but I think they really want to emmulate real life with their toy trains). I don't have a problem with loose rules or timetables.

Hi Ray,

I voted for Random running.

With the stage the layout is at,I'm happy just to see
a couple of trains and some wagons/coaches running.

Ian.

Jon, I totally agree with you. When your hobby comes so close to looking like a real job, is it still fun?

That is one of the things I like about this forum you guys are not wrapped up in the operations stuff. Honestly if there was a forum section for it I would probably ignore it. I like the idea of maybe running a freight train around the layout picking up and dropping off cars at different industries. Maybe play around with shunting in a yard. My layout will not be modeled after a certain railway during a specific time period. My layout will be a showcase for whatever model I decide to purchase.

I tried to join the local model train club last year (2 rail DCC) and I was invited to a members house to see his layout. He had 2 levels sprawled across half his basement. Lots of track but about 1 square foot had scenery. He had it all set up for operations and gave me a locomotive and a build card. I set out to gather my train. It was kind of neat at first since he had the cars set up so at each station you had to do shunting to get your car out of a bunch of others. It got tedious and I was eager to just get finished. It was a lot of work. You need to have a very large layout to do the operations stuff and the more operators the bigger the layout needs to be. I decided that was not what I wanted out of my hobby.

Cheers...
Darren

Hello,

I am only now working on my first permanent layout in over thirty five years. However the yearly Christmas floor bahns, as well as couple of table bahns which lasted a year or two, have provided some important themes that are now part of my layout plan:

1) I am still mesmerized by dual oval mainline train watching. The addition of multiple sidings, which can create an automated sequence of trains on each mainline simply adds to the pleasure.

2) I like crossings and other danger points that require human intervention with the signals and switches. This has become an important aspect of my branch lines. However, I always set up the branch line so that all but one train can be put on a siding, thus allowing a third line to run in auto pilot when I'm in the mood just to watch.

3) I can understand why some folks like to play with train composition and model the operations of a real RR. Unfortunately, it's not my thing. I "Play" with my trains, I don't run them.

4) I like to change track layouts. I get bored quickly with the same layout and always want to make changes. Hence why I loved M-Track as a kid and now am a devoted convert to C-Track. My permanent layout's plan is based upon a three level modular concept. The top level is a traditional MRR layout with scenery. The two lower levels are simple easy access shelves, which hopefully will provide a lifetime of layout changes.

Sorry, I know I went a little off topic!

Bye,

I don't have a timetable. But I have a train list and, everytime I play with trains, I choose a country and an era.. and compose trains following this list.
This is because I love to compose trains using my rolling stock.

For example:
2301 is a direct train and must be composed by a locomotive, a 1/2 class coach, and two 2nd class coaches.
And, when it is Germany era IV I use a 110 with three UIC-X, in French Era V I use BB22200 and USI cars, and so on.

Pietro

I suppose I run mine in a specific order,based priimarily on the fact that I currently have a double track mainline with a visible and a shadow station.

On each track there is always a train running and two waiting (one in each station) so in total (and when everything is working) there should be two running and four waiting.

When I've finished this level I'll use the same principal with the upper level, which will also be double track. As it will be more open to view I hope to use blocks and signals and two stations (and maybe a hidden one, too!)

Pete

I voted random. However I'm considering Windigipet within the next year, when I expand my layout. And I would like see the posibilities it will give.

Ray,

shunting train moves are included in the procesplan. However the computer program cannot control a train that moves into an occupied track, because it does not know where to halt.
Hence such train moves are halted at the signal that cover the occupied track.
From there onwards the train must be moved by a human engineer.
My program can handle scheduled and unscheduled moves.

Interesting question. It depends on what you mean by timetable, I guess. When I operate, I run the trains in a sequence that resembles a prototype schedule in that I have a mix of local passenger trains, D trains, freights, etc., in what I think is a plausible order, but I don't use a clock. I'll just run through as much of the schedule as I care to and then stop. Next time, I start at that point.

T.

I am random running as I work on layout development. I have also tried setting up a timetable using Excel but haven't been able to figure a way to do it that will allow me to chart the train movements. I have printed out a days worth of SBB passenger trains running between Arth Goldau and Luzerne so that I have the data but no scheduling tool. Someday I would like to run with computer scheduling and control but not at the time being.

Does anyone know of a simple scheduling tool?

Thanks,
Roger

Would MS Project work? It's all about scheduling of elements.

I guess there may be a need for a definition of working trains to a timetable. There are members that have very nice automated layout control and run trains to a timetable set up within.

This is different to running with train operations where it is manual control of each locomotive by a user who builds the train as per a card system and instructions from a dispather. These operating sessions are meant to simulate real railraod traffic and can include a half dozen or more users all operating at the same time according to a timetable and instruction set out by the dispatcher.

There are different ways you can run a train to a timetable/schedule both with very different focus.

Cheers...
Darren

It might Gary. Unfortunately I don't have it. I could buy Rairoad & Co. Traincontroller for the same price!

Regards,
Roger

Running 'em REAL random (based on a real-time clock in a PLC).
The timetable thing however is a good idea, and brings in lots of possiblities to play more with the trains. Especially in groups and clubs. It´s a nice possible addition to our hobby!

Willem,

can you tell us what software you are using?


Regards,


Thomas