Seaboard Central - Gadsden Yard Ops Part 1

Seaboard Central HO scale Model Railroad Operations. How to make a prototype based track inventory switchlist using Google Docs.

[@davestrains6816]

Great ops session, very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@PrinceStreet]

That CSX tool for looking up car types is really cool. Second you mentioned it, I started looking up autoracks we see here in Dartmouth. Fun stuff. Thanks!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Glad it helps. For older cars that are no longer active or have been restenciled and renumbered you can still determine what the code is on the Railinc website. I’d refer back to my earlier video on where to look it up.

[@rickyhammond36]

Another great - informative video. Thanks Tim.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching!

[@David-yo5re]

Another great video Tim. Thanks for all you do to educate us on proper railroading techniques.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Glad you are getting something out of it.

[@ThisWorks4Me]

Great ideas for yard operation.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@lucgagnon5241]

Thanks for sharing. I really like that SC scheme on the MP15dc engine ! Sharp ! Would like to know more about it please. Great work.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! The MP15DC is actually a former GATX Leasing unit that was acquired by the SC in 2012 as part of a group. Since the paint job was still in great shape the SC simply patched it out and renumbered and relettered it.

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Thanks, Tim. Very informative and fun to watch, simply explained. Love that yard switcher!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching!

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU OTHER GREAT SUPER DETAIL VIDEO IN OPERATION

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@davidbrown4823]

Excellent ideas.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you!

[@johnathanlewis2049]

Hi Tim. Great video. Really enjoy your videos because you share a lot of great operations information. Have a great day

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

[@kcsthebetterway]

Gadsden, Alabama? Been there done that and have the pics of T&P 610 back in 77😊

[@SeaboardCentral]

I’ve never been myself. But it is the main yard for the ATN railroad and that line makes up the western portion of the SC.

[@timstonecipher2453]

Excellent video Tim! I especially enjoy watching your videos involving the paperwork you create. I've tried to recreate several of your forms from your videos with some pretty good success. I was wondering if you use "Templates" for all of your paperwork? A basic document with all of the Headers and things entered when you open it up. A "loose", if you will, type of document that's sort of a "fill in the blanks" kind of thing. It can be used over and over, making your paperwork consistent and less time consuming to create. I've used this video to create a Google Docs "Gadsden Yard Track Inventory Switchlist Template". It has the Main Header and Track Headers for each Track already in place when you open it. It also uses TABs to move to the correct Track Header Column Position to enter your car data, just by pressing the TAB key. Templates make your work easier. Thanks Again for a Great video... and.. I like how you Operate!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! The answer is yes! And I’ll address it on the next few videos. Once you create the template then it is just a matter of changing the car numbers and the date on the forms. On a side note, I only use the Track Inventory Switchlist for my main yard at Gadsden. All other areas just use the Switchlist Worksheet. On the other hand, I use the Industry Work Order for all of my Local Routes and that will be the subject of the next video. Stay tuned!

[@EL-nc1cs]

Thanks for the continuous layout updates Tim. Your video's are very informative and helpful. I got a curious question that I seemed to miss regarding the use of the black gator board sub base. Fill me in with why, purpose and material size that you use. Thx again -Alex "The EL Guy"

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Glad to help. The helix is a kit that is offered by Trackside Scenery. The offer them in various sizes depending on your situation. I use their backdrops and figured this would be a lot easier than building one out of wood.

[@bbrailroad6284]

Awesome as always. Very Realistic.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@anthonyborden2513]

Great 👍 video 📹 very instructive

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@kinnywolf2862]

Always great video

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@thomassalerno5203]

Outstanding video best I have seen on the topic of operations. Let just say it makes sense. You commented on AAR UMLER Where do I find AAR numbers? Curious. Have you ever did a history of your railroad?

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Yes, I have a video on both subjects on the channel. Glad you are enjoying the content.

[@25mfd]

another nice vid tim... thanks for showing that google doc stuff, i'll be using that for sure... also a few questions... first, the cars on track 3, what is their status as they first land in the yard... i was thinking maybe constructive placement but that's for when a car can't be spotted at a customer due to the customers actions, so that doesn't really fit... second, how much time can those newly arrived cars dwell in the yard before storage fees are assessed... i've read 96 hours on CP rails accessorial charges page... last, my old employer U.P. uses the terms "run through dwell" and "terminal dwell" to describe the two types of dwell for railcars... does NS also use those terms... and keep up the nice work, that was some decent switching... too bad we can't figure out a way to kick those HO scale cars... now that would be cool to see

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! On NS it is referred to as terminal dwell time and it really depends on what stage of the car’s trip plan it is in. For example, if the car hasn’t made it to its destination serving yard, but rather an intermediate yard, then it is waiting on a connection to depart on a different train. There’s no charge to a shipper for terminal delay due to a car not making its connection. That’s the RRs fault. And that can also play into not assessing charges at the terminal destination car if a car is delayed in route and doesn’t arrive according to the original trip plan given to the customer. Think of it as a credit. Railroads strive to classify inbound arriving cars within 12 hours of arrival. Although I will often work a switcher that can even classify an inbound cut of cars that just arrived before the thru freight has departed after making their pickup. I have also seen cars sit in a track for two days without getting touched due to the extreme volume of inbounds and lack of seasoned conductors that can efficiently switch cars.

[@25mfd]

@@SeaboardCentral *I have also seen cars sit in a track for two days without getting touched* now that's bad... that's a long time

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Great video.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you!

[@rogerthomas9017]

Realistic to the prototype, sure. But this session seemed to be 80% prep, then 20% operations. Can you save the doc format so you don't create from scratch each time? As a car-card guy, track inventory is the stack of cards in a slot, in track order. and the waybill tells me which yard track a car goes to. But accurate paperwork seems to be "meat & potatoes" to you and very satisfying. By the way, how long is the yard lead track now? Partway up the helix?

[@SeaboardCentral]

Yes, I’ll show how to update the document in upcoming video. The first one was about how to design it from scratch. Car cards and waybills are very popular for model railroaders but not prototypical. In reality back when the conductor would keep a stack of waybills on the caboose, he wouldn’t sort through them while he was on the ground switching cars. Instead he filled out a switchlist from the information that was on the waybills. He would then work off the switchlist to sort the cars. In the yard, the yard master or clerk would be the one handling the waybills. They would make out the switch lists for the conductors to use. It is very similar to the switch list I have that you could actually use in conjunction with your car cards and waybills. You can fill out the form prior to performing the work. It is a great way to see the entire track inventory listed in order versus spreading out a stack of waybills to determine how many cars are in a block versus single car moves. But to each his own. What works for me is not necessarily for everyone. I understand that completely. My yard lead extends into the inside loop of the helix. I plan on running a test train going up the helix on the July Update but I can tell you that the lead is very long and would easily handle 60 cars or more. Stay tuned!

[@benmoreau8404]

How deep is your yard? Your yard engine sounds awesome.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! The yard modules are 32” deep. I wouldn’t recommend going any bigger than that. It is maximum arm length for me.

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

What if a yard's tracks are laid out east west. How do you identify car 1 2 3...etc.

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

Also what does INIT stand for

[@SeaboardCentral]

Really depends on the location. Most of my dealings are yards that are north to south but I know of some that would be east to west so the eastern most car would be line one on the paperwork. I’m sure other railroaders would give different examples. INIT stands for initials and is the reporting mark on the car.

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

@@SeaboardCentral Thanks for the info, that makes total sense. 👍