Prepping for OPS - Commutes are coming!

 The layout really needs to get back into operation.  Really.  A lot of rolling stock is just sitting there, begging for a wheel to turn.  Sure, we run a few trains every so often, but nothing like a month op session does.

Before COVID hit, we operated a few times to get the bugs worked out.  All in all, it went well.  But there was a lack of work for the road crews to do.  So it ended up that a lot of work was put on the yard masters (YMs), with road crews doing short hops.  Not much industry is on line yet.... more on that later.  So what to do?

Commutes!  We had run them in the Phase 2 incarnation of the GNW.  We had not owing to (1) lack of experience with the layout and not wanting to overload the operators, and (2) no means of turning the locomotives at Warm Springs.  Recall Phase 2 had a wye at Mesa City.  But now... with the Mesa City wye back in place (see the last blog post), commutes could run again!  (yay!)  A couple of test trains were set up and some tweaks had to be made to get them to run reliably.  This principally was related to assuring couplers and car spacing was OK for the new layout.  The diaphragm striker plates sometimes would get hung up with each other.  All is well now.

We also needed a passenger platform at Armstrong (Pinion).  Last time I had used styrene and that worked well.  As an alternate approach, I decided to use unsanded grout.  I had used unsanded grout on the Phase 2 layout with very good success.  It is easy to mix, has a very long working time, before set, it is easy to cut in flangways and provide clearances around objects, and it is relatively cheap.  

I picked a color that somewhat matched older, weathered asphalt.  Keep in mind, this is available in dozens of colors, which is perfect for any number of uses including asphalt, concrete and dirt roads.  And because it does not have sand in it, it lays down with a very, very fine finish.  The one caution with it is it is caustic.  So when mixing, best to have some gloves on.  That said, because of the abrasive nature of it, it'll tear through latex gloves relatively quickly.  I just bite the bullet, and mix and apply by hand.  I just figure I'll slather on a bunch of hand cream after I clean up, and that works OK.

Armstrong Passenger Platform - West looking East

Armstrong Passenger Platform - East looking West

While I was at it, I put down a new road near the Mesa City wye.

Note the lines as a guide for the road.

Let it harden a bit, and then cut in flangeways.

After some smoothing and track cleaning, the testing of the commutes started in earnest!

The last step is to update the operations documentation.  A recent biz trip allowed me some time on the flight back to update the Positions Descriptions to include the commute ops.  They may be found HERE.

I will also need to update the train sequence, which is based on the timetable.  That is being worked on now.  Stay tuned!

And speaking of ops... now that the Mesa City wye is active and operational, we can start running the 20-mile coal trains up to the Wm Nixon Generating Station up at El Vado.  That was always a favorite job.  The new wye includes a spur track as well as the wye tail track, both of which are long enough to hold loads or empties while the plan is being switched.  Way too much fun!

The two tracks in the foreground are for handling coal cars while switching the power plant.

Till later....