Initial Operations -- Possible Infrastructure Solution

 

New role for the rolling cart

In one recent post I mentioned finding that I used the railroad surface itself as part of the operations work. Tools such as switchlists and pencils ended up on the scenery. Car cards were leaned up against cars on the railroad as part of the sorting procedure. In addition to impinging on the scenery, my initial operations scheme was not working with the agent desk scenario that I had originally set up. So much walking across the messy basement, only to forget exactly what car was where. I am not giving up on the agent desk, but with solo operations it wasn't really filling the role it was designed for.  

In my last post I discussed organizing and prepping the first phase of the railroad and the train room for visitors in April. I have started tackling the organizing, but I am finding it a bit daunting. While accomplishing some of the tasks, often one step forward leads to two steps back. However, over the last few days I did accomplish a bit of organizing that possibly solved a couple of issues. The orangish pink rolling work cart seen in that last post now serves a vital role in the initial operations on the 4th Subdivision.

This rolling work cart has a long history with me. Decades ago I built it as a chop saw stand while restoring our house in Seattle. Later I added the wheels and painted it to use in an art studio. In Meadville, I added another shelf and it became a work station in my model railroad attic. Now, after painting with my fascia color, it has become the "operations bench" with bill boxes, a desk top, and storage for paperwork, off-layout rolling stock, and kits to be built to complete the planned initial roster. When I am filling the role of engineer and conductor, it rolls under the East Branch staging. When I am taking on the role of industry clerk/agent the rolling cart can swing out and provide a place and tools to work. 

As part of the organization associated with repurposing the "operations bench" I updated my roster chart, adding a column locating the rolling stock on the railroad, in a storage box (now located on the cart), or on a shelf (now the lower shelf of the bench). I also added the reefer cars mentioned in the post discussing the produce packing plant. While the thirty-six cars are more than can be used at one time, having a variety of appropriate pieces of rolling stock provides variety within a role as Byron Henderson suggests in his discussion of Fun Ops on a small layout. This online article of his is one major influence for my approach to the operations here on the initial phase. By using the "operations bench" the conundrum appears at least temporarily solved of how to sort car cards and fill out paperwork without sprawling over the model railroad surface and cluttering up the fascia frame. A few details remain to be worked out, such as labels for the bill boxes, how to hold the small tools, and making the various rolling stock kits and holders secure. How I will operate the first phase of the railroad seems more settled and a few steps are underway for organizing the train room as well as presenting it to visitors.