July Update

Just like that we are a little over a week from July being over. In my opinion the month of an ops session always seems to go really quick, especially when there is work to do in preparation for the session. Lets take a look at work done on the layout this month along with a quick recap from my Friday operating session. 

UPPER HURON BACKDROPS
In my last post I briefly discussed the work planned to install the backdrop for the Upper Huron Scene which would allow me to begin full foreground scenic work. As tempting as it was, its important to always work from back to front in a scene... trust me I learned the hard way on others. 

Planning
Working with Dave at Backdrop Junction I selected his GEN-033H scene which was required for around 16' of wall. In short order it arrived promptly and I wasted no time unrolling and planning work to be done. 

The backdrops are offered in three different materials, I chose the adhesive vinyl which is pretty awesome sticks really well to my Eucaboard backdrop that is painted with latex paint. 

Pre-Install Prep

First thing once out of the box was roll out and take a look at the amazing print. The price in my opinion is well reasonable for the good quality pictures, material, and support from Dave to help deliver what I was looking for. The scene came in two rolls which had overlapping scenes on the end to allow for seamless blending. I prefer no sky, so with sharp scissors I cut it out.

Once the sky was cutout, I then used a sharp hobby knife and hold punch to cut out the leftover sky that is close to the trees and buildings. When I used my knife it is important to have a piece of glass behind to keep a hard surface when making the cuts. I did not do any of this on my couch as the photo shows above... Instead I would unroll about 2' of scene at a time and keep the rest rolled up. 

Install
The backdrop board is actually made up for 3 section of which the middle is removable to access my "East Staging" if necessary. In doing so I was able to install the first 8' of backdrop starting from the sugar beet plant working west at my workbench. Following the online video - align, peel the backing, and apply. I had to make a few slight adjustments but it applied really easy and as I worked right to left removed the air bubbles.... This is a great backdrop product!!  

Off-Layout Transition

From this photo you can see the backdrop is installed all the way past where the legs of the wye go "off-layout". Part of why I chose this backdrop was having the trees where the track left the scene. This allows me to use scenic trees and materials to help blend with a "tree canopy" type transition. 

Town Transition
Since I had leftover material I actually ended up removing some of the Sceniking crop scene I had to the right of the road and replaced with more of the field/tree backdrop from Backdrop Junction. Using Sceniking buildings I had cutout, foam board, and a foam hill I will have a nice blend from woods to the town of Upper Huron. 

The end product turned out great, I am looking forward to my next backdrop project which is a secret, but will no doubt help convey a better sense of location. Stay tuned to Fall posts to see whats in store. 
** Note the opinion of this product is my own as I purchased it and did not receive discount or compensation for this blog entry **

NEW MOTORS

Intermountain - GE ET44
While north of Denver for work I had a few extra hours, so working with my contacts facilitated a meet and greet at Intermountain Railway in Longmont, CO. Needless to say after meeting the great people there, seeing great work, and getting a tour I could not resist buying one of their new GE ET44s decorated for CN. What a great product, and it looks and runs great my Intermountain CN ES44. There are probably plenty of online reviews, but the detail is really well done on this motor along with the lighting. Currently it does not have sound but will be getting a 21 pin Tsunami2 later this fall. 

Folks as why not LokSound.... here is my response: with over 95% of my fleet Sountraxx equipped I am happy with their product offering. The product is plenty for me and I know the nuances of programming with JMRI to get the performance, reliability, sound, and consisting I expect. Competition creates innovation so I welcome and look forward to what Soundtraxx, ESU, and others continue to develop. 

Broadway Limited - DCC Trackmobile
For fathers days - the wife and kids picked me up a DCC equipped trackmobile by Broadway Limited. This is a cool little machine and as a friend of mine who has one noted "Folks either love it or hate it." Yep I concur with that statement. This unit has a home at Michigan Sugar's Upper Huron plant and will become more apart of operating sessions in the future. 

Great modern products offered in the marketplace that are superb. Well done to both manufacturers.

**Note opinion on Intermountain product during visit is my own. No compensation was provided for either product** 

JULY OPS SESSION

Wow I finally had my first ops session for 2018.... Only seven months in. None the less it was a great session with five operators and fourteen scheduled trains. This session was the first time folks got to see the work done on my Cass River and Upper Huron scenes. As a layout owner I enjoy having new things for my operators to experience so its not just the same ole M-BAPH train. One cool comfort item I added was the fold-down cup holders from Blue Point. Added five on the layout in key locations, and it was nice to see them used to make a session a little more relaxed. 

The whole crew - minus me troubleshooting a minor JMRI Ops issue.. Yes we had 6 guys in a room that is 13x12 essentially. 

Planning.... Planning.....BSing........

R-GEGL-21 switching up cars left by the M-BAPH-20 from day earlier. We didnt have a chance to run this one during the session, so I marked up and worked the customers at Grays Lake and Gerhard today. 

Michigan Sugar Plant at Upper Huron is now in full operation. Took me three years but finally got a good trackplan that gives the essence of big time operations in a selective space. Plant is serviced daily by L-BAUH out of Bay Yard which then spots / pulls in the storage yard. Trackmobile then switches cars into their respective locations for molasses loading, sugar loading, pellet loading, coke unload. We will look at this facility in more depth on another post, but due to space requirements sugar beet loads just stay on the storage track and are unloaded "off-layout" between sessions. 

Needing a refresh - updated my consist cards after seeing different folks and their formats. Consists are divided by YARD, LOCAL, or ROAD power pools. Single motors use full four digit address while two or more use a two digit advanced consist.

Since implementing JMRI Ops earlier this year, this was the first live session where it was used for train movement and switching. I had to say we were about 80% accurate on moves, reporting, and losing cars. Based on folks who use it, they told me - print out the entire online guide, read it once, read it again, and then read it a third time. No doubt complex, but achievable and customizable for your operation no matter how big or small. Between now and my next session will be making tweaks, but I wanted to show some of the paperwork involved.

Yard inventory - I printed this after the session was over and all trains terminated to reconcile cars. As you can see there were a few messed up or missing. 

Linehaul Train Manifest - an example of how I print my linehaul train manifests. Still some customizing and verbiage to change, but it gets the job done on a live paper manifest. 

Local Train Manifest - not wanting to deviate on the formating based on others best practices I have seen, the manifest notes what work is to be done for the R-GEGL.

So busy month, hope you enjoyed the update. Alot of great stuff in the works and will continue to share monthly on the happenings around the MCIS St. Clair Sub. Thanks to my operators and friends in other geographic locations who continually help make my model railroading experience one worth sharing with you. 

Stay cool - its 100+ here in Texas 

GM 

Early October Update

First off, I truly appreciate everyone who reads my blog. Your viewership and support is why this blog is here and continues to grow. Lately we have discussed a lot about sensor / signal installation. This project has been a lot of fun and has really built my confidence in this type of work, by the end of the month we will wrap it up. It is important while working on the signal project to continue showcasing other work happening on the layout, trust me there has been plenty of other St. Clair Sub on-goings so lets take a look. 

FLEET ADDITIONS / RE-MARK

This past week I picked up two American Limited Models Trinity 3281 covered hoppers. These models are fantastic, and even better when you get them 50% off!

These cars will be re-marked for NRLX under lease to Graystone Cement. We will dive into the backstory and other proto-freelance railroad connections in a future post. 

Beautiful paint job - unfortunately the logo and marks gotta go

Logo gone - gotta clean up the smudge, didnt expect this... oops

Using the polymer eraser the smudge cleared up quite nicely

Car complete - ready for Graystone Cement logo and NRLX marks

This was my first time using this method, so not exactly perfect. To clean up the smudge I used a Polymer eraser which made quick work and cleaned the car of quite well.

Assembly line accomplished 

Tools for this how-to (Microsol, Cotton Swabs, Polymer eraser, and time 5-6 minutes). After dabbing the Microsol onto the bath tissue with the swab on the lettering you want to remove it just takes time. After 5-6 minutes using the swab you can remove the lettering. Clean up with the eraser (gently). 

Practice makes perfect - 45 minutes later 5 cars were ready for new marks

Thanks to Shannon Crabtree for the tips on doing this successfully.

BRIDGE REHAB

While the signal gangs are working from Upper Huron to Grays Lake, the engineering department took the opportunity to rehab the Quincassee Creek Bridge. 

            What bridge?

I built this Walthers Single Track Through Truss Bridge kit back in the fall of 2007. After a few moves and being on its third MCIS layout it was in need of work.

After around an hour all of the loose parts had been resecured and it once again looked like a solid bridge. But to takes things one step further, I decided to add a walkway and handrail the length of the bridge track. 

Tichy makes a great kit for adding walkway or handrails to a bridge pretty easy. It took three kits or six walkway panels to complete one side. Once they were glued to the outside of the bridge track I let it dry 24 hours. The next day I used a fine 3M sanding block to smooth the side of walkway for the handrail install. After sanding complete the handrails were install just as easy as the walkway went on. For the bridge structure rehab i used Tenax 7R, while the handrail install was best suited with Loctite Super Glue and a toothpick for application. 

Finished bridge - side view

Finished bridge - back on layout

As you can see from the pictures a simple $2.50 detail kit added a lot to this well done structure. Overall a $8.00 add.

SIGNAL BRIDGE MODIFICATION

Moving at full speed on Part 5 (Phase 4) of my signal install series, I have been getting all of the signals tested and pre-wired. 

On the east end of Grays Siding the track layout dictated I mount the signal for the passing siding to mainline overhead. There is a prototype for everything they say and a double track modern single head signal is no exception.

Photo of prototype at New Iberia, LA. on BNSF Railway. (Courtesy & Copyright: Donovan Reed)

This signal modern bridge for the siding is fairly new. This territory is ABS with the siding having a spring switch from siding to main. Both signals on the bridge display the same aspect, remembering that ABS signals only show block occupancy not authority.

My basis for the project was the right handed or left handed BLMA overhead signal bridge. 

- First thing to do is unravel the ends of the four wire sets and test to see which are associated with which signal head before making any modifications.
- Test signals and mark wire sets (I use the Logic Rail Tech signal test - very helpful)

- Once wires are marked proceed to cut the magnet wire that is for the upper signals which will be discarded.
- Cut off the upper signals along with handail.
- Smooth with a file the cut locations and with that you have a overhead signal bridge for signal territory. 

Finished product turned out exactly as expected - will look great protecting at East Grays.

LAYOUT DIAGRAMS 

My layout has hosted no less than 8 operating sessions in the past two years. Always looking to improve I took at hard look at the station diagrams and wondered how I could improve. Simplification was the answer.

Diagram for Grays Lake Industries above and mainline / siding below

For each station I have begun making the diagrams smaller with one focusing on the mainline through the station and another diagram for industries either located adjacent to the main or on a spur.

Old meet new - same information but easier to read and less "intense"

The goal is a road crew operating through Grays Lake is focused on the main so the mainline diagram focuses on items they need to see, while the local would use the mainline diagram but then focus attention to the industry spur diagram. In addition to these new diagrams a small card is provided on the fascia for each industry outlining the work, commodities, and special instructions. 

Industry cards for Cooperative Elevator and 3M at Grays Lake, Michigan

SUGAR BEET PLANT PLANNING

One key layout design element is selectively modeling the modern Michigan sugar beet industry in the form of a Sugar Beet Processing Plant at Upper Huron. This industry with its numerous inbound and outbound commodities has been intimidating to capture, and quite frankly over the last year has stalled any trackwork that could used in an ops session. Working with Dean Ferris over the last week we regrouped and outlined the industry focus, givens / druthers, and adapted a plan that captures the feel in the space and allows for a great deal of operating potential on the L-BAPB (Port Belle Turn) during a session. Here is a photo of the industry layout as of this evening. 

Michigan Sugar @ Upper Huron will keep an operator busy for a good 1/2 the session

Nothing like 2 pounds of Fenugreek seed to help inspire as well. I see a future how-to hopper load post in this fall.

I hope these few photos provide inspiration in case you are having a hard time with an industry setup. My suggestion; engage a friend and let them give a fresh perspective, it is amazing what you can accomplish with a little teamwork. 

October has just begun and the past few days have seen alot of activity. Be sure to check back soon for my next signal install post.

Have a safe October,

GM 

St. Clair Sub Diagrams

A lot of you guys have been asking for a trackplan of the MCIS St. Clair Sub and unfortunately I do not have one. Needless to say it is on my list of things to do, but in the interim we can look at each of the diagrams for each station. These diagrams will give you an idea of the industries, tracks, and general setup.

  Current timetable for MCIS St. Clair Sub

Keeping consistent with the direction of travel document in my "Run Over the Clair" post you can compare the photos to diagrams at your leisure. As we move from diagram you can keep yourself orientated to our location based on the line map of stations at the bottom of each diagram. Wherever we are the station box will be green. These diagrams are mounted on the fascia for operator refernence.

EAST STAGING (KINCAID BEYOND)

East staging is the origin/end location for trains coming from Port Huron, Detroit, and Sarnia. Each track can hold two locomotives and 11-12 cars for ops sessions.

GERHARD

Heading west from staging we come on-layout at Gerhard. At Gerhard the east siding switch (ESS) allows a train to use the long passing sidig between Gerhard and Grays Lake. From a customer perspective Huron Malting is the sole business with two tracks holding around six to seven covered hoppers serviced by the R-GEGL "Grays Lake Local". Additionally the upper continuous loop which also is the "long lead" begins here and connects Gerhard to Upper Huron to allow continuous train run. 

GRAYS LAKE

At the western terminus of the passing siding that begin at Gerhard is the town of Grays Lake. The R-GEGL is based here serving local customers 3M and Cooperative Elevator. Switching here can be a challenge at times with a trailing and facing point switch customers. Cars that are to be setout or picked up from the R-GEGL are left on the "local track".

UPPER HURON

Leaving Grays Lake we cross the Quincassee Creek bridge and enter the station of Upper Huron. Michigan Sugar , the largest customer on the west end of the "Clair" is located here. This station is unique in that it has a large wye where the Port Belle Sub branch leaves the St. Clair Sub mainline. The Port Belle Sub main that heads into staging is the same track that connects at Gerhard to form the upper level continuous loop. The L-BAPB local out of Bay Yard services Michigan Sugar and Saginaw Valley Power Cooperative on its east/north bound transit to Port Belle. Eventually the plant will have a trackmobile to move cars around internally. From Upper Huron the line heads slight down grade towards Bay City.

EDSEL - WEISS 

Both towns of Edsel and Weiss are unmodeled on the helix to provide distance. Eventual the second turn of the helix will be sceniced beyond the MDF board. At Edsel will be a defect / dragging equipment detector.

BAY CITY (EAST ZONE)

As we enter Bay City we see that there are four different diagrams for the trackage / customers. This is done to help simplify and break up the customers into zones for the local Y-BA04 "Bay Local" to handle. Some days only certain zones get switched since there are five customers not including interchange to the Lake State Railway or Huron Eastern. The east zone has one customer which handles inbound building materials adjacent to the east yard lead for Bay Yard.

BAY CITY (BAY YARD)

Continuing into Bay City we encounter Bay Yard which is a hive of activity on the "Clair". This yard has three locals based here along with work events for theough trains and as the terminus / origin point for two manifest train pairs. The DSF here handles basic running repairs, fuel, sand, and scheduled inspections. Any heavy work is done at the Mount Pleasant or contract shops.

BAY CITY (CENTRAL ZONE)

Located behind Bay Yard and the mainline is the Central Zone. This zone hosts Michigan Agricultural Commodities large terminal elevator that handles singles, blocks, and unit trains for agricultural products. Normally the east and central zones are paired together when switched.

BAY CITY (EAST ZONE)

Sandwiched beyond the Bay Yard west lead and foot of the Saginaw River swing bridge is the East Zone. Switching all three customers here will keep the Y-BA04 busy most of a normal session. A couple months ago the tracks were realigned to provide a decent run around for serving trailing and facing point customers at the same time. GEM Bakeries receives flour, sugar, and sweeteners while Fort Mackinac Corrugated receives paper for making corrugated boxes. The newest customers to locate at Bay City is Interstate Asphalt which receives liquid asphalt-bitumen products.

EAST STAGING (SQUACONNING BEYOND)

Passing over the Saginaw River Swing Bridge, the mainline heads off-layout towards west staging which represents Mackinac City, Grand Rapids, Mount Pleasant, and HESR interchange. Prior to descending to the staging yard a hidden switch connects to the LSRC interchange track found on the Bay Yard diagram allowing for lower level continuous run. West staging with its four track and descending lead allows for five trains to be sequenced for operation sessions.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the St. Clair Sub from a different perspective and when paired with the photos from the recent post you will have a greater understanding on how the railroad is setup. Please feel free to ask questions about of the diagrams.

Coming Up Next Month

With just a few days left in the month of July I will not be posting a late month update. However my Product Review - Install series is in the works for a first week of August publishing date. Check back next week as I start a multipart series showcasing the St. Clair Sub Signalling Project. During this series we will go into the planning, install, operation and product review of components used. The goal after reading this series is the confidence and ability for you the reader to add the same sort of system to your pike.

Have a safe week.

GM

A Train and Its Freight (M-BAPC-15)

While in the layout room working on content for my Mid April post (coming soon), I decide to change things for you the reader. In this post we are going to take a look at a train and explore in detail about each locomotive and carload of freight. Railroads exist to haul goods, so let's explore that more shall we.

M-BAPC-15

Manifest Bay City (Bay Yard to Port Huron CN Canada that originated on April 15th, 2016.)

- This is a unique manifest that runs twice weekly with traffic destined purely for CN interchange to Canada and New England. This is due to the interchange connection timing on the CN. The rest of the week all CN traffic rides the M-BAPH or Q-GRPH.

2 locomotives (6,000hp)

 11 Railcars ( 10 Loads / 1 Empty)

    MCIS 4052 (EMD SD40-2 3,000hp)

  MCIS 4059 (EMD SD40M-2 3,000hp)

RBOX43689 - loaded corrugated board

Origin: Mackinac City, Michigan

Destination: Brunswick, Maine

BNSF727059 - loaded aluminum ingots

Origin: Spokane, Washington

Destination: Oshawa, Ontario

GACX47801 - loaded sugar

Origin: Upper Huron, Michigan

Destination: Aurburn, Maine

WCOX7440 - loaded corn

Origin: Bay City, Michigan

Destination: Buffalo, New York

CN406569 - loaded paper rolls

Origin: Charlevoix, Michigan

Destination: Drummondville, Quebec

CGEX1147 - loaded soybeans

Origin: Grays Lake, Michigan

Destination: Burlington, Vermont

MCIS9320 - loaded malt barley

Origin: Gerhard, Michigan

Destination: Hailfax, Nova Scotia

MCIS7940 - loaded paper rolls

Origin: Charlevoix, Michigan

Destination: Toronto, Ontario

MCIS7943 - loaded paper rolls

Origin: Charlevoix, Michigan

Destination: Toronto, Ontario

MCIS5344 - loaded corrugated board

Origin: Mackinac City, Michigan

Destination: Woodsville, Maine

NS469806 - empty reverse route

Origin: Mackinac City, Michigan

Destination: Ayer, Masachusetts 

As you can see by each car the primary commodities on this train happen to be paper products and agricultural. Locals out of Bay City along with trains from Mackinac City help feed this eastbound flow. Depending on the connection and day of week, the train may be more tankcars and covered hoppers then the very present boxcar we see. This is prototypical practice as days of week, season, and industry demand all drive what you see on railroads. As modelers we can all represent this on our own layouts whether big or small. The key is establishing the purpose of your railroad and building the story around it. Hope you have enjoyed this type of post. Feel free to let me know your thoughts, and I can look to plan to them throughout the year. 

Have a great weekend!

GM