Model Railroading Operations 101 Part 5 Road

Model Railroading Operations 101: Part 5 – Road Switching Problems Fred Bock, MMR, Chief Dispatcher, M&Sw & Tom Crosthwait President, Mogollon & Southwestern RR

The Dispatcher [Rule 990] • #1: Keep trains on the main line from crashing into each other! • #2: Keep trains from creating a traffic jam that ties up the railroad. • #3: Keep traffic flowing smoothly • #4: Give each train crew the “time and track” it needs to get it’s job done. • On the M&Sw, it’s usual practice to have a dispatcher when there are 3 or more trains in mainline operation at the same time.

g el Mod in lroad Rai • Engineer: Train Crew Roles • Conductor-Brakeman – Operates the locomotive. – STAYS AHEAD OF HIS MOVING LOCOMOTIVE AT ALL TIMES! – Communicates only with conductor. – Keeps a keen eye on his loco and train. – Watches / listens for derailed cars or locos. [Rule 920, Rule 800, 801, Rule 712] – “Boss” of the train. – Directs the engineer on running the train. – Communicates with dispatcher, yardmaster, and other conductors. – Directs switching moves. – Throws turnouts. – Uncouples cars as needed. – Does roll-by inspections of other trains. [Rule 712, Rule 713] – Watches / listens for derailed cars or locomotives.

D LROA L RAI MODE ^ Whistle & Bell Signals [Rule 30] • All aboaaaard! • Train is leaving • “Toooooooo. T” • Grade Crossing warning • • “Toot-Toot” (two short) “Toooot-Tut-Tooooooot” • (last “toot” is extended until the loco passes over road crossing) • Approaching Station • “Toooooooooo. T” • (ends after loco is past the station or comes to a stop). • Approaching Station (last 200’) • Leaving Station (first 200’) • While Switching (sometimes) • Bell should start ringing to warn people on the ground near the train before the train stops or before the train begins to move again.

Turnouts – Ground Throws Main route – usually straight Diverging route – usually curved Rule 104: Train crews are responsible for the position of turnouts used by them and members of their crew, except when control is remote. Turnouts must be properly lined after having been used.

Hand Signals for Switching • With modern DCC sound systems, the noise in an operating session is high. • Some operators have hearing problems. • Implication: it’s better to use hand signals between conductor-brakeman and engineer than to try to talk above the noise of locomotives and other operators. • Rule 7: hand signals must be given sufficiently in advance to permit compliance. . .

D LROA L RAI MODE ^ Common Hand Signals • Back-up (reverse) [RULE 8] • Slowly (inching) • Controlled stop • Stop - beckon toward self with circular motion. - fingers come together - hands come together - hold closed hand up. • You are coupled up - make closed fist, shake once. • Go forward - move open palm, fingers closed, up and down away from you. • OK - thumbs-up /or/ circle • Highball (leave town) - pull imaginary steam whistle twice (“Toot – Toot”)

Basic Problems • The first few switching problems are basic moves involving a single car: – – Trailing Point – pick-up Trailing Point – set-out Facing Point – pick-up (with run-around) Facing Point – set-out (with run-around) • Note: the arriving train should take the siding before beginning any local switching. (This keeps the main track clear as much as possible for meets and passes).

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami Trailing Point Pickup San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] [201] [202] FCP [205] Nde. M [203] [102] [104] [105] [101] [108] bagging house Bock Perlite SFRD loading PFE <> Reefer San Carlos Packing [106] CB&Q Miami: Freight House SP “Ore House” (Crusher) TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn BREX 2334 BREX [107] Team Track [204] Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] AZS Interchange Cutter Flour Mill M&Sw (to Globe) Zingerle Bridge

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami Facing Point Pickup San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] [201] [202] GN FCP [205] Nde. M [203] [102] [104] [105] [101] [108] bagging house Bock Perlite SFRD loading PFE <> Box AZS Jct - Crusher [106] CB&Q Miami: Freight House SP “Ore House” (Crusher) TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn GN 33454 BREX [107] Team Track [204] Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] AZS Interchange Cutter Flour Mill M&Sw (to Globe) Zingerle Bridge

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami Trailing Point Set-Out San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] [201] [202] FCP [205] Nde. M [203] [102] [104] [105] [101] [108] bagging house Bock Perlite SFRD loading PFE <> Box Gila Lumber Co. [106] CB&Q Miami: Freight House SP “Ore House” (Crusher) TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn SP 139045 BREX [107] Team Track [204] Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] AZS Interchange Cutter Flour Mill M&Sw (to Globe) Zingerle Bridge

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami Multiple Trailing Point Set-Out San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] [201] [202] FCP [205] Nde. M [203] [102] [104] [105] [101] [108] bagging house Bock Perlite SFRD loading PFE <> Box Gila Lumber Co. Reefer San Carlos Packing [106] CB&Q Miami: Freight House SP “Ore House” (Crusher) TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn SP 139045 PFE 78436 BREX [107] Team Track [204] Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] AZS Interchange Cutter Flour Mill M&Sw (to Globe) Zingerle Bridge

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami Facing Point Set-Out San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] M&Sw SFRD PFE SP [201] [202] FCP [205] [101] [102] AZS Interchange Nde. M [203] [102] [105] [101] [108] “Ore House” (Crusher) TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn <> Box Gila Lumber Co. Freight House [106] bagging house Bock Perlite CB&Q Miami: SP 139045 [104] [107] Team Track [204] Gila Lumber Co. BREX [101] Cutter Flour Mill loading (to Globe) Zingerle Bridge

Rail. Op Switching Manifest – Miami (a typical combination of moves) • TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn • Miami: » <> – BREX 2334 – CB&Q 2134 Reefer San Carlos Packing Cov. Hop. Bock Perlite Train 121 is to pick these cars up in Miami. » <> – SP 32861 – PFE 12345 – SFRD 8923 Box Team Track Reefer San Carlos Packing • Arizona Southern Junction: Cars that left Globe on Train 121; your job is to set them out at the industries listed for Miami. » <> – Nde. M 4423 – FCP 23876 Flat Box AZS Interchange » <> – M&Sw 798 Flat AZS Interchange Train 121 picks these two cars up off the AZS Interchange Track. Train 121 sets this car out on the AZS Interchange Track.

M&Sw Local Switching – Miami (typical combination of moves) San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] [201] [202] FCP [205] Nde. M [204] [203] BREX [102] [104] [107] [105] Team Track Freight House Bock Perlite M&Sw Zingerle Bridge (to Globe) <> Flat AZS Interchange Box AZS Interchange <> Flat AZS Interchange SFRD loading Team Track San Carlos Packing PFE M&Sw 798 San Carlos Packing Bock Perlite bagging house SP Nde. M 4423 FCP 23876 Reefer Cov. Hop. <> Box Reefer [106] CB&Q SP 32861 PFE 12345 SFRD 8923 Arizona Southern Junction: [101] [108] “Ore House” TRAIN 121: Happy Jack Turn Miami: (Crusher) <> BREX 2334 CB&Q 2134 Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] AZS Interchange Cutter Flour Mill

Interchange Movements • The next several problems involve interchange movements from the Ferrocarril del Pacifico / Arizona Southern. • The easiest problem is a swap of cars for the M&Sw from the FCP with cars going to the FCP from the M&Sw. • “Local” trains in Mexico are often mixed trains – “mixtos”. – In addition to a caboose, a coach is carried for local passenger service. (In the USA, a coach or combine often serves as both caboose and passenger service). – In either case, the “passenger car” must be set-out adjacent to the depot while local switching is going on to accommodate safe discharge and boarding of passengers and their luggage. – The passenger car is tacked onto the end of the train when it departs for the next town.

FCP Interchange – AZS Junction San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] AZS Interchange [201] FCP Ch. P FCP PFE FCP [205] Nde. M [204] [203] [102] [104] [105] [101] [108] Team Track <> Flat AZS Interchange Box AZS Interchange <> Box AZS Interchange Reefer AZS Interchange Box AZS Interchange [106] bagging house Bock Perlite loading Zingerle Bridge (to Globe) Special Instructions: FCP X-1401 (South) returns to Nogales without turning locomotive. Locomotive FCP 1401 is an RS-11 and is equipped for bi-directional running. Freight House CB&Q Ch. P 12324 PFE 569034 FCP 38973 BREX [107] “Ore House” TRAIN -- FCP Extra 1401 North (FCP Exchange): (Crusher) Arizona Southern Junction: Nde. M 4423 FCP 23876 Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] [202] Cutter Flour Mill

FCP Mixed Train – AZS Jct / Miami San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] AZS Interchange P oach FC CP-c F Ch. P PFE FCP [205] FCP [203] [102] [104] [107] [105] [101] [108] Team Track [204] Freight House TRAIN -- FCP 1401 Mixto del Norte (FCP Mixed Train): <> Flat Gila Lumber Co. Box AZS Interchange <> Box AZS Interchange Reefer San Carlos Packing Box AZS Interchange bagging house Bock Perlite loading Zingerle Bridge (to Globe) Special Instructions: Leave FCP coach adjacent to Miami depot while switching. Train may use mainline trackage between Zingerle Bridge and Tunnel #1 subject to dispatcher approval. Coach return to Nogales with FCP 1401 Mixto del Sur (South). [106] CB&Q Ch. P 12324 PFE 569034 FCP 38973 Nde. M BREX “Ore House” (Crusher) Arizona Southern Junction / Miami: Nde. M 4423 FCP 23876 Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] [201] Cutter Flour Mill

FCP Mixed Train – AZS Jct / Miami San Carlos Packing Co. (to Payson) [103] [101] AZS Interchange P oach FC CP-c F Ch. P PFE FCP [205] FCP [203] [102] [104] [107] [105] [101] [108] Team Track [204] Freight House TRAIN -- FCP 1401 Mixto del Norte (FCP Mixed Train Extra): Bock Perlite SFRD loading PFE M&Sw Zingerle Bridge (to Globe) Special Instructions: Leave FCP coach adjacent to Miami depot while switching. Mixto 1401 may use M&Sw mainline trackage between Zingerle Bridge and Tunnel #1 subject to dispatcher orders. Mixto 1401 takes siding to meet M&Sw No. 121 in Miami. FCP coach returns to Nogales with FCP 1401 Mixto del Sur (South). bagging house SP <> Flat Gila Lumber Co. Box AZS Interchange <> Box AZS Interchange Reefer San Carlos Packing Box AZS Interchange [106] CB&Q Ch. P 12324 PFE 569034 FCP 38973 Nde. M BREX “Ore House” (Crusher) Arizona Southern Junction / Miami: Nde. M 4423 FCP 23876 Gila Lumber Co. [101] [102] [201] Cutter Flour Mill

Switching Problems: Payson & Meander Mine • Payson is midway between Globe and Ayers Junction, at the foot of the steep grade north to the top of the Mogollon Rim. • Passenger trains usually make station stops at Payson. Occasionally they will set out or pick up an RPO or express car. • Most freight service to Payson is by M&Sw way freights. • The “Copper Queen” mines turn stops in Payson to set-out empty ore cars and pick up loads at nearby Meander Mine.

The town of - Payson, AZ [301] [303] Meander Mine [302] Strawberry & Happy Jack Miami Tunnel No. 1 [Helix] Tunnel No. 3 Kohl Feed & Grain [401] Tunnel No. 2 ck [404] Tea Express Track [401] 5] [40 Kohl Cattle Co. [402] ra m. T 3] [40

Switching Moves – Payson, AZ [301] [302] PFE [303] MKT Strawberry & Happy Jack M&Sw Meander Mine Miami Tunnel No. 1 [Helix] SP TRAIN – M&Sw No 125 – Payson Turn Payson: <> D&RG 4423 Stock Kohl Cattle Co. Tunnel No. 3 Tunnel No. 2 [401] Kohl Feed & Grain [404] Express Track RPO [401] 5] RG [40 D& Kohl Cattle Co. [402] m Tea c Tra 3] [40 k <> MKT 2324 Stock Kohl Cattle Co. M&Sw 434 Cov Hopr Kohl Grain SP 38973 Box Team Track Special Instructions: After completing work in Payson Train No 125 returns via Miami to Globe as Train No 126.

[301] LD LD LD Tunnel No. 3 Tunnel No. 2 [401] Kohl Feed & Grain [404] Express Track ck Tea ra m. T TRAIN No 401 – Copper Queen (northbound) Payson: . <> (4) MT Ore Cars 5] R [40 G D& [402] Meander Mine Special Instructions: No 401 continues Northbound to Happy Jack with remaining MTs. No 401 returns to Payson Southbound as No 402 after completing work in Happy Jack. ============== TRAIN No 402 – Copper Queen (southbound) Payson: 3] [40 <> (5) LD Ore Cars Meander RPO [401] Kohl Cattle Co. [302] [303] Strawberry & Happy Jack Meander Mine Miami Tunnel No. 1 [Helix] MT MT Switching Moves – Copper Queen –Meander Mine (Payson), AZ Mine Special Instructions: No 402 returns to Crusher at AZS Jct with LD Ore Cars from Happy Jack and Meander Mine.

THE END of Model Railroading Operations 101: Part 5 – Road Switching Problems

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