Model Railroad Blog

Solo Operating Sessions

Whenever I’m at an operating session I invariably ask the host how often they run their layout just by themselves.  The answer is an almost unanimous “never”.  There are number of reasons for this.  I suspect in many cases the layout owner derives most of their hobby enjoyment from building things and operating sessions are primarily an opportunity to socialize.   By not operating their layouts more frequently, and by themselves, I do think these folks are missing out an opportunity to get more enjoyment out of the hobby.  Model railroading is different from our sister modeling hobbies such as military, ship, and aircraft building in that it offers the opportunity, not just for motion, but for realistic motion.

Part of the resistance to having solo operating sessions is probably the all or nothing viewpoint that each session has to be several hours long or it’s not worth having.  Don’t underestimate the enjoyment that can be had from short “mini sessions” that last just twenty or thirty minutes.  Pull out an engine and just switch out that cement plant or factory.  In addition to being relaxing, frequent running will result in the motivation to do more punch list work on minor repair issues and encourage you to keep the track cleaner.  The end result will be a better running layout and more fun for you.   You owe it to yourself.  Set a goal of operating your layout, by yourself, at least twenty minutes every week.

Mission Mode Operating Sessions

 Topic: Model Railroad Operations

OpSessionMissionMode

Tick. Tick. Tick.  You’re running out of time.  Better speed up.

 How do you plan your operating sessions?  I’ll argue that most folks are mission driven.  They have a certain number of moves they want performed, industries they want switched, or trains to run and, by god, nothing short of completion will be accepted!    Running short of time?  Speed up darn it!  Can’t get everything done? We’ll run a longer session.  It’s all good training…… if you’re getting ready to be a UPS driver.  However, it’s not very realistic….or enjoyable for that matter.

Let’s  break it down.  We have:

  • The desired length of the operating session.
  • The length of time it takes to perform a sequence of moves.
  • The number of sequences to be performed, industries to be switched, or trains to be run.

Which are fixed and which are variable?  Sub-consciously most model operators view the number of sequences or trains to be run as the, set-in-concrete, fixed number that drives everything. No matter what, everything on “the list” MUST BE DONE!  That’s the wrong way of looking at it.  In the real world it’s the one true variable.  It’s the element that is last in the pecking order.  Conversely, model railroaders also sub-consciously, and erroneously, view the amount of time it takes to perform a move as a variable.  It’s not. It’s fixed.

Let’s take a look at an actual railroad.   The amount of time it takes to perform a switching operation is pretty much an inflexible element by virtue of speed, distance, physics, and safety rules.  No matter how loud management screams, it isn’t going to get a four hour job completed in two hours.

Overtime is expensive.  Come the holiday season, the switch crews may be warm to going over their time limit to the tune of time and half or double pay.  The bean counters are less enthused.  In the real world, when a yard or industrial shift is over, in most cases you are walking to the crew lounge.

Model railroaders have a tendency to try to squeeze more action and more switching moves into a session than time will realistically allow.  The result is un-necessary pressure and an op. session that isn’t real world.

Food For Thought:

  • Avoid speeding up your sequences to meet some arbitrary time deadline.  If you run out of time, you run out of time and the next shift will finish.  The amount of time it takes to perform a move shouldn’t change based on time limits and deadlines.
  • Review the number of moves you are designing into your sessions versus op. session length.  Strongly consider keeping the session length the same but reducing the number of industries to switch or trains to be run.

Consider setting a hard limit on the length of the op. session.  When the appointed hour arrives, kill the power switch.  If your crews know the power will be turned off at a specific time and they aren’t necessarily expected to get every task done, the quality of the session will improve

Virtuosity and Model Railroading

BLACK ICEs

“Black Ice” Virtuoso model and photo by Bob Springs

Virtuosity: Masterly skill or technique in the arts.

 

Many years ago I attended a talk at a sales convention given by motivational speaker Peter Vidmar, the highest scoring American gymnast in Olympic history.  The subject of the talk centered on what it took to be the absolute best in gymnastics and how the same principles applied to many endeavors.  Gymnastics is a highly competitive sport.  At the Olympic level many of the athletes have the ability to perform the events with technical perfection.  So, if every competitor performs perfectly from a technical standpoint, how do you separate a gold medal performance from the others?

The answer is virtuosity, that difficult to define, impossible to quantify, artistic element that separates the best from the technically great.  Virtuosity is what separates a CAD drawing from Da Vinci, it separates Fantasia Barrino’s rendition of ‘Summer Time’ from a very entertaining cruise ship performer.

Virtuosity applies to model railroading as well.  Every month we see models that are technically correct in every way and fully deserving of adorning the magazine covers they appear upon.  Attaining that admirable achievement however, doesn’t mean the modeler has hit that upper one half of one percent that brings it to the level of a virtuoso performance.

The litmus test is this; does the model create an emotional impact?  Does it rise above being merely interesting?  Does it instill a mood?  You can’t reach that level in model building through technical competence alone, you have to have an emotional connection to the subject and have the artistic ability to interpret, re-create, and present it in miniature.

Virtuosity is attainable.  It’s not about expensive tools or large basements.  It’s not about triple stack viaducts with red locomotives on each level.  It starts with a mindset and an ability to recognize and appreciate the beauty and grace in the most ordinary of subjects.  It’s about scene composition, color, texture, and execution.

I challenge many of the well known modelers out there that attained technical mastery decades ago and have reached a plateau.   Some have taken the hobby as far as they want to take it and that’s fine.  To others I offer the observation that they haven’t peaked and whether they realize it or not, there is another rung of the ladder above them and reaching for it will re-energize their passion for the hobby.

The more modelers that go beyond technical competence and reach for artistic mastery, the better off the hobby will be.   The more virtuoso modeling performances there are, the more people will be drawn to the hobby and the more energy and buzz there will be for those already in it.

 

 

The Operations Mindset, Symphony to Be Savored or Bitter Pill to be Swallowed?

Twilight

The exceptional YouTube video above epitomizes the symphony of sound and motion characteristic of railroad switching operations.  When you’re done watching ask yourself, do you want your model operating sessions to capture this flavor or that of a slot car race?

Model Railroading is unique in that it allows us to build very delicate, highly detailed models AND interact with them.  Unlike building a static model of an aircraft, our models move.  Not only that, they can be made to move in a manner and environment very similar to the real thing.

This allows to be infused into the miniature world we’ve tried so hard to create.  Not only are we transported to this world, we can be an active participant.  What could be a better break from the pressures of ordinary life?  For a period of time we can actually be the engineer or conductor, in total control and operating in an environment of our choosing?

It seems like an experience we would want to stretch out and savor, not something to be dispatched and dispensed with the same lack of  enthusiasm  we have on a trip to the dentist.  Model railroad operations shouldn’t be some bitter pill to be swallowed and washed down as quickly as possible.

And yet, that is exactly how most model railroads are operated.  It is a mission mindset.  Beat the clock. On your mark, get set, go.  Get to the finish line as soon as possible.  To watch a video of a typical model railroad switching move you’d think you were watching a FedEx driver.  You know the drill, the FedEx truck squeals around the corner, accelerates up the street,  and screeches to a halt at the door.  The driver hops out, trots up your drive, tosses the package on the porch and then blasts away.  That is EXACTLY the way most model railroad operating sessions look.  The locomotive approaches the spur at a scale 40mph, the throttle is ground to 0 in a 10 g stop move, simultaneously the turnout toggle is switched.  The locomotive slams into the car knocking it 10 feet back, accelerates like a top fuel dragster and goes onto the next move.

Why that mindset, why try to end the experience so quickly when a) it is utterly and absolutely unrealistic and b) does nothing but speed up the end to what is supposed to be a relaxing experience? There are two reasons.  First it’s just a bad habit.  Second is lack of knowledge as to how long the prototype takes and what steps they go through (study the video above for ideas).

How long should a move take?  Switching layouts start approaching the prototype when it comes to time and task.  Granted things are compressed but many tasks are not distance related.  Swapping a load for an empty on a model railroad approaches the same amount of time as on the prototype, about 15 minutes.  Switching layouts should not be dictated by a model railroad fast clock.  They should be done in 1:1 real time.

I ran a time study of the basic switching move of swapping a load for an empty on my layout. Without going overboard waiting for my imaginary conductor to walk several hundred feet, but just taking my time and incorporating operational practices it came to 15 minutes.  That’s right, working at a leisurely pace and incorporating many but not all prototype practices it was 15 minutes.   It certainly wasn’t two or three.  Why so long?  There are a lot of tasks involved in moving railcars, many of which can be modeled without being too gimmicky.

Here are just a few examples that will give you some ideas.  Current rules dictate that employees are not to jump from moving equipment.  As you operate be at least partially mindful of where your imaginary conductor is.  The locomotive needs to come to a full stop for the conductor to get off.  You don’t need to take it to an extreme but at least be aware.  Switching moves should be done at about 5 to 10 scale miles per hour.  Industrial drives and street crossings are often protected by fusees which we can model with tokens or LEDs.  Industries have locked gates which we can model.  Switches are locked which we can model.  Rail crews frequently walk over and talk to the customer rep. to confirm car spots or the task at hand.  If pick ups are placed in the train, a set and release air brake test should be performed (typically 5 minutes for a short prototype train) before the train goes down the line.  Every modeler needs to decide for themselves where the line is between operations that you want to copy and operations that are tedious.  For example, in the real world a crew may take 20 minutes to walk and inspect a spur that hasn’t been used in awhile.  Maybe that is too much to copy….or maybe you should park the locomotive put a fresh cup of coffee on and come back in a few minutes.

We’ve gone to a lot of effort to create this miniature world, why not milk it for all it’s worth and enjoy the ride.

My Layout’s Done, Now What?

Through the course of a week I get photos of modeler’s progress on their  layouts.  Many of them are switching layout based on the Palmetto Spur or plans in my books.  To a person, I’ve been very impressed with what I’m seeing.  Many are first efforts from those just entering or re-entering the hobby.   It gives me a lot of satisfaction to see folks coming off of the sidelines and joining the fold, Xacto blade in hand.  True model railroaders!

Unlike larger layouts which generally are never 100 per cent “done”, a small project will often get to the point where it is substantially complete.  What next?  This is a nice problem to have and the answer is an easy one.  One choice would be to start over on another layout, no harm in that.  Let me suggest another option though.

The first step is to take a moment to pat yourself on the back for an effort well done.  Just getting trains running is no small task and probably puts you in the minority.  Being able to even run equipment is no small thing.  The layouts I’m seeing are very neatly constructed and trimmed out.  Not lavish, just very clean looking and neatly executed.  This is something I’ve tried to emphasize as it builds morale and impacts how the owner feels about his layout.  I’m also getting some feedback about happy spouses, some which are even going so far as to help with videos.  The reasons the wives are happy are: a) the layout is complete so they can now see what the fuss was about.  Talk has been replaced by action.  b) you’ve done a neat trim job so it looks good in the house c) it’s not some massive, half finished, ratty dinosaur swallowing up the house.  O.K., everybody is happy, let’s get to the next step.

Since you have something visually complete that runs, let’s keep it that way.  My suggestion is to make another slow pass at the layout gradually replacing key portions with new efforts based on your current skill level.  It makes sense that what you can build today will be better than what you could do a year ago.    Pat yourself on the back and acknowledge that what you built was your best effort based on your skill set at the time.   The reality is you are a better modeler now.  Next year you will be even better.

Take a note pad and carefully examine the layout making notes of things that bug you or you think you can improve upon.  Pick small sections, say half a square foot or so, and re-build them pushing yourself to exceed your previous effort.   Get some high quality prototype photos of  the area you are modeling, print them out, carefully examine them, and compare the photo to what you see on your layout.  Take particular note of color, weathering, scenery patterns, and details.  See how closely you can match the feel of the photo with particular emphasis on subtle color patterns.   Compare the material cross sections (posts, poles, etc.) on your layout versus the photo.  Typically we model things too ‘thick’.  For example a prototype 4 x 4 post should be represented by something  .045” square.  Modelers commonly model that post as something much thicker which sort of stands out as being a bit “off”.  A scale HO “inch” is .011”, a key number to remember (in other words a 2” diameter steel post should be modeled with . 022” rod or wire).

Some ideas for a second pass across the layout are:

  • Pull up a short section of your Atlas track (maybe 18” to 24”) and replace it with Micro Engineering track.  Add super details to the rail such as joint bars, rods, etc.  Add dummy switch throws with dummy rods to your switches.
  • Replace one or more of your structures making a concerted effort to really get the color and weathering right. In terms of color and weathering focus on a light subtle touch.  Print out a photo of the existing structure model you are replacing.  Circle blemishes or key areas you want to improve on the replacement, second effort.  Go a step further with the details adding gutters, power meters, etc.  Exceed your previous effort in terms of clean seams and finish work.  Details alone don’t improve realism.  In fact if the details are oversize, crooked, or the wrong color they will hurt you rather than help.  They need to be cleanly applied.
  • Purchase a static grass applicator and put a LOT of time into detailing a grassy area.    Again start with a small section.  Anybody interested in this should email me and I can elaborate.
  • Add prototype line side details such as private crossing signs, mileposts, etc.  Watch the material cross sections of your details making sure they aren’t too thick.
  • Add a few super detailed, very high quality foreground trees.  Work from a photo of an actual tree.  Make an effort to avoid unrealistically sharp branch angles or overly thick and blunt branch ends.  Make sure the tree is vertical when you plant it.
  • Do a photo neatness check.  Take a photo of your layout and view it in large format on your screen.   Is all of the ballast cleaned off the rail sides, vertical items vertical, and structures seated squarely?  Print the photo out, circle the blemishes and then correct them on the layout.

These are just a few ideas.   You’ve already succeeded by virtue of getting this far so it’s nothing but upside from here.