main@RealSTMFC.groups.io | Why not model actual train consists? (UNCLASSIFIED)

Gatwood, Elden J SAD

#100217

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Armand;

You may be past this point, but given my lack of actual consists, I had to
use photos, limited special reports done on car numbers by location, and
industry data, to develop my fleet.  I made sure to include enough cars for
each industry of service, to not have the same cars show up again and again,
unless they were specifically dedicated to that location.  Thus, for a
service like coal, I have a lot of hoppers I can create blocks from, and get
a different group every time, as I do for the many tank cars I need at the
coke by-products plants.  For Corning Glass, up river, however, they have a
small dedicated fleet of covered hoppers, for their glass sand, and you tend
to see members of that small group repeatedly, as you would in real life.

For my run-throughs, which appear at the back of my layout, and which do not
visit the front or even stop, I have a fleet of kits with molded on detail
(HORRORS), which while I would love to super-detail, I may not live long
enough.  Most of these are big strings of loaded hoppers going one way, and
MTYs the other.  I change out the motive power and cabins on either end, and
voila, a "new" train.

For my actual set-outs and stuff that gets switched in my face, I have my
super-detailed cars, only about 60 so far, which I enjoy seeing close-up in a
fully detailed scene.  The others are just going in and out of staging, so I
don't have much time to focus on them, anyway.

The last group are the "special" cars Tony mentioned, that I rotate out on a
very infrequent basis, because one would only occasionally see them in real
life.  They are the depressed center cars with a big transformer or other;
long structural loads, etc.  They are kept in a drawer and pulled according
to my "random chance" generator (2 x 10-sided dice and a table of chance
occurrences).  This method nicely addresses the randomness of need for a
rebuilt transformer at the power plant, and other chance events.

Elden Gatwood

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: STMFC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:STMFC@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Armand Premo
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1:14 PM
To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Re: Why not model actual train consists?



Not to belabor this issue,but I just checked a whole month of wheel reports
to see what the correlation was with the Twenty Largest railroads.The results
were not really earth shattering.However,while some roads were well
represented some were not in the top twenty for that moth.Other roads not in
the top twenty had many more cars during that month than those on the list..
-If one has a sufficient amount-of data as well as a large-enough roster
modeling actual train consist should no be boring.-- I try to remove most of
the cars used in an op session and replace them with other cars for the next
op session.In betwee I make up the train that will run on the during the next
session.Not seeing the same cars over and over will help to make the process
less boring.Your comments will be appreciated.Armand PremoOriginal Message
-----
From: Jim Betz
To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com <mailto:STMFC%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:02 PM
Subject: [STMFC] Re: Why not model actual train consists?

Hi,

The flurry of responses has started to wind down. They are
all well thought out and great. Thanks.

So here's an update to my suggestion:

The major 'flaw' in my suggestion is that if you model
specific consists you will end up with ops that are 'boring'
(over time) ... unless you have a fleet that is much larger
than the normal layout. I agree with this.

So what if your -fleet- is modeled based on actual train
consists ... but you don't use those consists for your ops -
or if you do use them duirng ops you only do so on a few
trains or only on "special occasions"?
- Jim

----------------------------------------------------------

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Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Armand Premo

#100220

Elden,While I have a large number of resin cars I do have a fair share of "Stand Ins".Some of these cars with be super detailed by adding new under frames,ladders,brake gear,grab irons and the like.Some will never make it and will be disposed of through trade meets or out right sale.My roster is constantly being upgraded and in somewhat a state of flux.The refining process is on going..I don't want to leave the impression that.I have the ideal.I hope I never reach that stage.As I learn more and new and better cars become available I will continue to add cars.Many of us,myself included,tend to buy cars for our favorite roads even when prototype information doesn't support it.Try as I might I still buy some cars impulsively.I am constantly working on that problem.Discipline.discipline.Armand Premo

Show quoted text

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gatwood, Elden SAW 
  To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 3:01 PM
  Subject: RE: [STMFC] Re: Why not model actual train consists? (UNCLASSIFIED)

  Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
  Caveats: NONE

  Armand;

  You may be past this point, but given my lack of actual consists, I had to
  use photos, limited special reports done on car numbers by location, and
  industry data, to develop my fleet. I made sure to include enough cars for
  each industry of service, to not have the same cars show up again and again,
  unless they were specifically dedicated to that location. Thus, for a
  service like coal, I have a lot of hoppers I can create blocks from, and get
  a different group every time, as I do for the many tank cars I need at the
  coke by-products plants. For Corning Glass, up river, however, they have a
  small dedicated fleet of covered hoppers, for their glass sand, and you tend
  to see members of that small group repeatedly, as you would in real life.

  For my run-throughs, which appear at the back of my layout, and which do not
  visit the front or even stop, I have a fleet of kits with molded on detail
  (HORRORS), which while I would love to super-detail, I may not live long
  enough. Most of these are big strings of loaded hoppers going one way, and
  MTYs the other. I change out the motive power and cabins on either end, and
  voila, a "new" train.

  For my actual set-outs and stuff that gets switched in my face, I have my
  super-detailed cars, only about 60 so far, which I enjoy seeing close-up in a
  fully detailed scene. The others are just going in and out of staging, so I
  don't have much time to focus on them, anyway.

  The last group are the "special" cars Tony mentioned, that I rotate out on a
  very infrequent basis, because one would only occasionally see them in real
  life. They are the depressed center cars with a big transformer or other;
  long structural loads, etc. They are kept in a drawer and pulled according
  to my "random chance" generator (2 x 10-sided dice and a table of chance
  occurrences). This method nicely addresses the randomness of need for a
  rebuilt transformer at the power plant, and other chance events.

  Elden Gatwood

  -----Original Message-----
  From: STMFC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:STMFC@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
  Armand Premo
  Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1:14 PM
  To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [STMFC] Re: Why not model actual train consists?

  Not to belabor this issue,but I just checked a whole month of wheel reports
  to see what the correlation was with the Twenty Largest railroads.The results
  were not really earth shattering.However,while some roads were well
  represented some were not in the top twenty for that moth.Other roads not in
  the top twenty had many more cars during that month than those on the list.. 
  -If one has a sufficient amount-of data as well as a large-enough roster
  modeling actual train consist should no be boring.-- I try to remove most of
  the cars used in an op session and replace them with other cars for the next
  op session.In betwee I make up the train that will run on the during the next
  session.Not seeing the same cars over and over will help to make the process
  less boring.Your comments will be appreciated.Armand PremoOriginal Message
  ----- 
  From: Jim Betz 
  To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com <mailto:STMFC%40yahoogroups.com> 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:02 PM
  Subject: [STMFC] Re: Why not model actual train consists?

  Hi,

  The flurry of responses has started to wind down. They are
  all well thought out and great. Thanks.

  So here's an update to my suggestion:

  The major 'flaw' in my suggestion is that if you model 
  specific consists you will end up with ops that are 'boring'
  (over time) ... unless you have a fleet that is much larger
  than the normal layout. I agree with this. 

  So what if your -fleet- is modeled based on actual train 
  consists ... but you don't use those consists for your ops - 
  or if you do use them duirng ops you only do so on a few 
  trains or only on "special occasions"?
  - Jim

  ----------------------------------------------------------

  Internal Virus Database is out of date.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
  Version: 9.0.891 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3235 - Release Date: 11/03/10
  04:36:00

  Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
  Caveats: NONE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Internal Virus Database is out of date.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
  Version: 9.0.891 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3235 - Release Date: 11/03/10 04:36:00