Phase Two Operations Planning

Schematic of Phase One and Two

The trackwork is all working, and my plan is to work on my initial operations planning while unpacking and checking rolling stock. As I mentioned in my last post, I want to make sure everything is working smoothly and aligning with a first phase operations approach before moving into track painting, ballasting, or other scenery. 

The advantage of including the Ferndale Jct. yard and the Great Northern interchange with the mainline in Ferndale is in providing both a connection to the rest of the world and for a diversity in roles for a solo operator. Byron Henderson explicitly recommends including a classification yard with switching operation for solo operators in a post on his Layout Vision website to highlight a variety of roles with resultant "fun". When or if I move into having others visit to operate, I may want to work towards the NMRA Dispatcher Achievement Program. Their minimum requirements include "at least two mainline trains plus yard switching in simultaneous operation." Even if I am not working towards the NMRA's operations AP certificate, I find their AP programs provide structure and guidance; why not plan to meet their minimum? 

My approach is to start simple and then build complexity. This approach aligns with the fact that I will be operating by myself. Again, why not align my simple start with the NMRA AP framework minimums of "some system of freight and passenger train and car movements." 

I intend to start my initial solo operations, at least formal solo operations using a "sequence of trains" traffic control system. In an earlier post, I described how I might use Daily Train Line-up forms in such a system. Now, in order to use a sequence of trains system, I will need to start by figuring out what trains I plan to sequence. This will be based on the story I am attempting to tell as well as the industries and rolling stock I plan to use. 

In the engineer/conductor role, I plan to use switch lists to provide the information needed for car forwarding. I provided an overview of switchlists in a post from a number of years ago. At least in solo operations, I plan to just use a switchlist to provide the information needed to accomplish the car pick ups and set outs that are planned for that train's job. As the 4th Subdivision grows beyond phase two or as the operating crew grows the paperwork may expand, but for now a switch list is it for the train crew. While I have a number of these switch lists on hand, I have two changes that I might make on the master before having more printed: a more era appropriate logo and the addition of AAR codes for ore and covered hopper cars.

Yesterday, I started unboxing some rolling stock, focusing on what I call the "Rock Train." Part of this train is made up of the transfer of limestone from a quarry near Sumas, Washington on the NP line to the Olympic Portland Cement Company in Bellingham, Washington. In real life this transfer was done on a Milwaukee Road line, but in my version the GN 4th Subdivision was in Whatcom county, not the Milwaukee Road. Also in the so-called Rock Train would be covered hoppers transporting silica sand from a (fictional) silica sand quarry near the end of the branch. 

I cleaned wheels, checked couplers and weight of the four or five cars ready for this train that I unboxed. I also checked that they had appropriate waybills in their existing car cards. While unboxing them, I also gathered some other cars that are on hand, but need work to be a part of the rock train. I ordered an NP gondola from ebay to also bolster the rolling stock for this major revenue and traffic source for the 4th subdivision. The car cards and waybills will be needed for classification in the yard, even though they will not be used by the switch crew. 

Although I will be a solo operator, I see that as the system develops I will need to (or get to) fill several roles: engineer, yard master, and traffic manager or freight agent.
 

Ferndale Jct. Yard Updates

When we returned from our visit to Maine, I first tackled the second coat of floor paint. Now the basement floor under the current benchwork is painted, although not all of the basement floor is painted. I will need to do quite a bit of organizing to get to that stage. My plan is to continue with one section at a time. The workbench and storage area will be quite a procedure to avoid painting around benches and cabinets.

Once the floor paint was dry, I worked on the runaround track. I have explored prepping Peco Electrofrog turnouts here before, My first step was just that, prepping the turnout. To avoid potential kinking, I soldered an extension to a full length of flex track. I also soldered feeders under the rails before fitting the runaround in place. To finalize the wiring of the runaround I also added a piece of track and powered it leading into the turnout.

At that point the next step was to add track to the so-called drop down section. The flextrack that I ordered had arrived right before our trip, so I was ready to proceed. I did have to dig out some ballast and ties at the end of the existing track to fit in joiners, but other than that fiddly work with a hobby knife it all went smoothly. I still will need to solder those joiners for fool proof electrical connection, but they are working for now.

Today I completed the controls for the two turnouts going into the yard from the mainline. I've had the switch machines wired to power appropriate DCC power to the frogs since I installed the tortoises, but I hadn't had the switch motors themselves powered. These two turnouts are controlled by a toggle switch so they both throw together, either both straight into the yard or both "diverging" with the mainline curving to the left and the drill track set out of the yard. Down the road, my intention is to set up interlocking signals for this pair of turnouts.

Now that all the track is in and wired, as I see it my next steps include running some trains and planning my initial operations scenario. I want to make sure that everything is working well before I move on with steps such as scenery.  

Can't Decide? Start Both

In a recent post, I left off undecided about whether to continue with work at the end of Ferndale Junction Yard or to return to infrastructure work. Instead of deciding, I started both. In this past week I became a little bit sidetracked (literally, as I have been putting together the new edition of my NMRA division's newsletter, the Susquehanna Sidetracks). My wife and I were just invited to her brother's last minute vacation in Maine, so both projects will be on hold. I am posting a status report and a punch list, so I'll be ready to resume on our return.

The main infrastructure project that I wanted to work on was to continue with floor painting. I took down the temporary workbench on folding sawhorses and moved the rolling cart and storage tubs from under the Nooksack/East Branch section of the railroad. I vacuumed and washed the floor before tackling the painting. Sadly, I don't think that I will get to the second coat before we leave, but  it's ready for that second coat and storage organization. 

Here at the drop-down section at the end of the yard, I haven't made much progress on the removable coved backdrop section beyond taking some measurements. I did however work on the roadbed, which is now glued in place. I hit a bit of a snag though with laying track; I didn't have enough to extend all the tracks. I ordered what I hope is enough, but it just arrived. On our return I can get back to completing the track work and wiring. 

In addition to the trackwork on the dropdown section, I still have some work to do to complete the new runaround track:

• Prep the turnout
• Solder an extension to the runaround
• Add feeders and fit the runaround
• Decide on technique for drop down track wiring and gaps
• Mind the gap at the power district junction

Wordless Wednesday #4: Susquehanna Division Visits the EBT

 

Phase Two Mainline Extension

 

Short clip of GN 229 backing out of staging on a trial run of the just completed mainline extension.

Since my last post, I have worked on several of the steps mentioned there. This past week, I narrowed my focus to adding a small extension to connect the mainline to my existing three-track staging module. A track plan sketch from this earlier post , just as I started the Phase Two work, provides an overview. 

With the Ferndale Junction and new modules in place, I needed to work out a finished design for the extension. As I intend the extension to be part of the permanent  railroad and join further TOMA expansion later and work for now as the access to staging, I had to keep both of those parameters in mind. To complicate both issues, a nearby basement support pole needed to be factored in.  

My first step consisted of clamping a cardboard box in place and creating a paper template. The template showed both the shape and size of the extension and allowed me to test out both the placement of my existing staging and whether a full turn-back curve would clear the metal support pole.

I designed and built a grid framework on the template on my workbench in the garage. Using my miter saw and brad nailer made for fast work laying out, cutting, and glueing up the frame. Based on the template, the frame is not quite square allowing the staging track to clear the support pole. It also allows for the curve planned for the end of the aisle here once the future TOMA peninsula expansion takes place.

This photo shows the module completed, primered underneath, and bolted into place. Knowing that different modules will be attached, I used a forstner bit to create a recess for the bolt heads at the end of the module. 

With the temporary staging C-clamped in place, I was able to finetune the curved track location and then mount the cork roadbed. I also double checked for a future 180 degree turn, and it appears that this extension will work with the planned future peninsula, when I ever get to that point.

Today I soldered two pieces of flex track together before bending it into the long curve. With the iron out, I soldered two feeders under the rails before finalizing the track into position. I extended the DCC bus into this new section and attached both the feeders and the wire to the staging. After then cleaning the track I had just installed and on the staging module, I went ahead and ran a locomotive. The short video at the beginning of this post shows the locomotive running smoothly over this new section. 

I have not yet decided whether to shift to the drop down section at the end of Ferndale Junction and the last bit of backboard there or to return to infrastructure and more floor painting next. Either way, I feel pretty good about connecting the staging and being in a place to unpack some rolling stock and run trains.

Phase Two Modules In Place

 

Many of the initial next steps for the new module mentioned in my last post are now in place. I leveled, shimmed, and bolted this module to the Nooksack module. I drove a couple of screws through the L-girder ledger into the grid frame and bolted the one leg into place as well. In this photo, one can see a length of track that I fit onto the end of the module before soldering the track joiners. As the phase two modules make up a second power district, I left a gap between the rails at the module joint and attached this end of the DCC bus to a second circuit breaker.

Again, I mentioned a number of steps to take while the Ferndale Junction module was up on the sawhorse workbench in my last post. In this photo you can see those steps completed: bus wires flagged with correct colors, piano hinge installed, frog juicer attached, and all existing DCC and frog feeders connected. 

While not as firmly in place, the Ferndale Junction module is level and bolted to the adjacent new module. I have started working out the location for the turnouts for the run-around track, so I can install the roadbed. I want to focus on the roadbed and track for the run-around as well as track between these two newly installed modules in order to finalize the wiring enough to run some trial trains. I will need to make sure the two  turnouts on the new module are set up properly as well as the ones on the run-around. 

My intention is to add a bit of an extension to the benchwork here at the connection between the modules. The mainline will be curving away here to the left, and for phase two, I hope to attach my three-track unsceniced staging mini module here. This will require some additional template making and track planning. At the far end, I still need to finalize the drop down segment of the yard. It is hinged to ease future access to the well plumbing and tank.

Here at the far end with the drop down section, I will need to design a removable extension of the backdrop incorporating a curved or coved approach. That should be an "interesting" project! I also need to figure out how to hang the light fixture for this end. This area of the ceiling is a little different, so I don't have convenient furring strips from which to hang the fixture. 

I hope to continue with the level of enthusiasm and focus I have had recently in order to actually get the railroad back on track, the theme for 2026. I don't think a train has run in a year!

Phase Two Modules update

Once I installed the backdrop, some real progress on the modules is possible, and dare I say it, underway. My wife helped me, and we moved the new module into place on the L-girder ledger and up against the Nooksack section. We got it leveled and clamped it and its leg into place. 

Initial Next Steps For New Module

• Shim at ledger corner with Nooksack module
• Bolts at south end
• Holes drilled for DCC bus to attach to circuit breaker
• Double check level and bolt leg
• A couple of screws to attach to L-girder
• Complete mainline track to Nooksack module (gap at joint--new power district)
• Adjust tortoise music wire at turnouts for proper operation
• Double check electrical plan and connect DCC bus

Start Work on Ferndale Junction Module

With the new module up in place, we moved the Ferndale Junction modules to the temporary sawhorse workbench and clamped it up on its side. I hadn't noticed this before, but by turning the module around (the back is now the front) the wire color code is incorrect. My standard is for black to be out towards the aisle and red to be in towards the back of the benchwork. In this section that is reversed. 

I don't want to redo the wiring, but I do need to avoid future confusion with the wire colors. I will mark the wires with the correct colored tape. On inspection, I have several other steps that I can complete more easily while the modules are here on the workbench. 

• Use red and black electrical tape to mark the existing bus and feeder wires
• Install the frog juicer and connect green feeder wires
• Add a piano hinge to the joint between the two modules
• Add a Euro terminal strip to connect existing feeders to DCC bus at removed programming track switches

The plan for Ferndale Junction includes a fair amount of new trackwork. I will finalize that once it is in place. As I am not sure yet whether that will be a permanent or temporary placement, I might as well do what I can now!