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| Op session, June 11, 1986 (Nov 2006) | ||
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| joef |
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   Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | As the time nears to call the Seagull and two Turn crews, Jordan adds cabooses (Click image to view larger version) The Dole Turn is going to get called soon, followed by the Seagull East and the Oakland Turn, and all three of those trains each need a caboose (the SP Siskiyou Line still ran trains with cabooses in the 1980s -- yet another reason to model this line  ). So Jordan pulls the caboose track and sets about adding cabooses to those three trains.If you look closely behind the yard engine, it looks like he's also added power (two SD9's) to the Dole Turn on track 3. [ Edited Thu Nov 16 2006, 12:25AM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting!  In video ... | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | The Dole Turn gets its caboose and a "crew" (Click image to view larger version) It looks like Matt Robbins (with the clipboard, car card pack, and throttle), who's fresh off the Siskiyou Line West (now tied up in Medford staging) is going to try his hand at the Dole Turn as both Engineer and Conductor. Jordan has Matt's Dole Turn ready to go with both a caboose and power, so Matt gets his track warrant from dispatch and he rolls out of town to the west toward Dillard. [ Edited Thu Nov 16 2006, 12:33AM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Jordan tacks a caboose onto the end of the Seagull East (Click to view larger version) Now that the only train left in west Roseburg yard is the Seagull East on track 1, Jordan can easily add a caboose onto the end of the Seagull. Jordan's using one of our home made coupler picks. It's made out of the pointy end of a bamboo shiskabob skewer, with some number 2 pencil graphite rubbed onto the pointy end so it will slip down between the coupler faces easily. Usually just a quick twist will cause the two coupler jaws to open, which makes it easy to uncouple any where you like, just as the prototype does it. While uncoupling magnets under the tracks or between the rails are maybe more cool (in that they're a totally hands off "gadget"), the uncoupling picks allow you to switch more prototypically, so we prefer that in our op sessions. Once you get used to using the coupler picks, you never miss the magnets -- and it's one less thing you have to install onto the layout. [ Edited Thu Nov 16 2006, 12:48AM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Yard Panorama - a much emptier Roseburg Yard! (Click image to get larger view) This panorama I assembled in Photoshop from several shots shows a much emptier Roseburg Yard. Jordan has finished tacking a caboose onto the end of the Seagull East (the long train that fills this panoramic shot), as you can see on the far right. You can see the shorter-than-usual Oakland Turn still sitting on the far left (track 3). The Seagull East crew has been called and they're preparing to take this train out of town ... but they can't move until more water cars arrive! Dispatch says the Seagull West is coming their way with helpers and water cars. Meanwhile, Jordan's getting set up to run down track 3 and tack a caboose onto the end of the Oakland Turn. More op session photos on the next page! [ Edited Wed Dec 13 2006, 03:17PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| fognozz |
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 Registered Member #544 Joined: Fri Nov 03 2006, 02:53PMPosts: 37 | Although it's hard to tell from the photo, it looks like all of the "cabeese" were moved to the Seagull Train, and then a caboose was detached. If I read prototype practice correctly , they frowned on moving the cabooses unless absolutely necessary, since it risked tipping over the stove etc. Could you comment? Thanks! Arthur | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Arthur: I couldn't say for sure ... anyone else know the answer to this? Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| fognozz |
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| Registered Member #544 Joined: Fri Nov 03 2006, 02:53PMPosts: 37 | I'll amend my question after re-reading the operations description - it looks like Jordon had to place a caboose on 3 trains at the same time, so pulling all 3 cabooses at one time was more efficient - but would the prototype have only pulled one caboose at a time and placed it? Thanks! Arthur | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Why would the prototype do something that was less efficient? I'm expecting the crews would board their cabooses and the switcher would take them to their trains all in a string. I'm not sure I understand what's driving your question. There's rules and there's what's more efficient and they don't always line up. For example, while railfanning I've seen the prototype do flying switch operations on facing point turnouts because its more efficient, even though it's risky and frowned upon. Unfortunately, on the model we don't have enough mass in our equipment to make a flying switch work, so we have to do it the right way even though it's less efficient. [ Edited Thu Nov 16 2006, 01:34PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| fognozz |
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| Registered Member #544 Joined: Fri Nov 03 2006, 02:53PMPosts: 37 | Joe- This is probably one of those areas where book theory and actual practice are different. The impression I've gathered from reading the modeling press and books on freight yard modeling is that "real" cabooses had to be handled like eggshells, no extra switching, leave it in place instead of pulling or pushing it with the rest of the train, take it directly to and from the caboose track, etc. I'm not saying it's the way things REALLY worked, or SHOULD work, but it's the impression I have from what I've read. And reading is the only access I have to find out about this stuff, as I have no real railroaders in my acquaintance. This is why I'm finding your detailed account of actual operating sessions to be quite educational and thought provoking. Thanks! Arthur | ||
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| fognozz |
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| Registered Member #544 Joined: Fri Nov 03 2006, 02:53PMPosts: 37 | P.S. Interesting comment about the flying switching- My impression (once again, from reading) was that it wasn't done anymore.... Maybe if I loaded up a G gauge car with lead and really got it moving...... Of course if I screw up  is there a form for crewman accident reports?Thanks! Arthur | ||
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