Running Rosenberg Meet with Friends: PRICELESS

As I was preparing the bill of materials and budget for my layout, I recall this famous Mastercard Priceless ads. So, I just going to remind myself:

Atlas Flextrack: US$2.89
Kato BNSF C44-9W: US$73.50
Running Rosenberg Meet with Friends: PRICELESS



Jimmy Low

Deciphering Train Symbols - More Than Just Symbols

Last week, I got connected with 2 important people that spurred my interest to model Tower 17 in Rosenberg, Texas. Yes, Stephen Foyt and Wes Carr are now in my Facebook. I also found out that both are with UPRR and BNSF respectively as train dispatcher. Wow, what a discovery!

Train dispatchers are the air traffic controllers of the railroads. They control the movement of trains over large track territories.

Train dispatchers assign train symbols to indicate the train type, origin and destination of train and other information. Different railroads uses different train symbols. Knowing each railroad's train symbols help to make the model railroad operations more prototypical. I reread Stephen's 24 hours at Tower 17, Rosenberg report and trying to decipher all the 77 train symbols, both BNSF's and UPRR's.

By looking at each train symbols, I can now tell the origin and destination of each train type. It also give me an idea where each train originates and what it carries with it, and where it is going - loaded trains normally to ports in Texas or other States such as those in Long Beach or Los Angeles, California or New Orleans, Louisiana for handover to /from CSX.


Coals come from Wyoming for Smither's Lake Power Plant traveling over BNSF Galveston to Thompsons.

The train symbols also tell the type of commodity or product that BNSF and UPRR carry in this region. Grains and coals are BNSF main commodities while UP bends towards rocks (?) and intermodal between New Orleans and Los Angeles.

So, you will see actual* BNSF and UPRR train symbols used on Rosenberg Meet.



Jimmy

* I was told the BNSF train symbols have changed but since I am modelling 2004 period, train symbols in Stephen's report remained correct.

It's Now Official - Rosenberg Meet in N-scale

It's now official. My layout is called Rosenberg Meet in N-scale or Rosenberg Meet in short. You can also call it "Rosie".

The Official Logo of the Rosenberg Meet Layout

The Final Upper Deck Layout Plan

Rosenberg Meet white polo shirt

As for the polo shirt, I will definitely make one for myself. If there are fans out there who are interested to get one, please email me.

Jimmy Low

* The UP Shield and BNSF Circle and Cross Logos are trademark of Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway respectively. Non-commercial use.

We Are Ready ..... Next Step, Lumber Sourcing

Bharani aka Mr Carpenter and Jason, his sidekick dropped in this afternoon. I showed them my layout and we examined every inch of my train room to get a feel of the place and where each module will be.

Bharani taking notes while Jason looked on. In the middle,
my layout plan on ironing board and facing the right direction.

Jason measuring the wall next to Algoa

We later discussed each note from my Ideas Book and finalised the benchwork details. Okay, my to-do list is almost completed. Bharani will study my layout and determine the best way do make the benchwork, type of lumber to use as well as costing.

In the meantime, I am working on the bill of materials and calculating the helices we need to build. I built a stacked helix calculator to assist me and Bharani build the two helices.

My Model Railroad Helix Calculator.

Punch in parameters in beige boxes and results displayed in white boxes. A handy Excel tool to speed up the calculations. It computes the rise and run of each level, total length of tracks needed, height of the stack to build, etc. Click here to download a copy.

I am going to take a day off next month to source for the lumber in Ikea and nearby hardware stores. Bharani told me they have pine lumber which are sturdier and stronger than local ones. Plus they do not warp easily. Well, got to check them out.

Jimmy Low

If You Think Google Map is Good, This is Even Better

I stumbled upon Live Search Maps and guess what I found.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=nxt2d270g17r&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=26974092&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

An amazing crystal clear view of Tower 17 junction viewed from 45 degrees. Just like how you will view it from a layout.

Beat that, Google!



Jimmy Low

Headspinning Helix (Updated)

One challenge (in fact, 2 actually) I added to my layout is helix construction. I need one at each end of my layout to get to lower deck which is 14 inches from the upper deck. Now, firstly, this is my first layout and secondly, adding 2 helices (!), I got to be nuts.

Anyway, I got to. Else, I would need to run 100 inches of straight track just to get between levels. I don't have the space to do the distance run and it does not make sense.

So, I learnt from other forumers how to calculate helix. Here's my calculation for Algoa single track helix.

Algoa Helix Calculation (from my Ideas Book)

I am waiting for forumers to comment on the above calculations. But, in essence, I am considering 16 inches effective radius to helix edge (to support 15 inches radius to track center) and a 2.5% max grade (Updates: Calculation okayed. Need to mock the helix and test the traction power of loco(s) and no. of cars it(they) can pull.

Jimmy Low

P/S: The Ideas Book is a great idea. I have jotted many notes there and handy to carry around. Do you have yours today?

A Good Idea to Have an Ideas Book

I do so much thinking these days about Rosenberg Meet that I decided to have an Ideas Book. A place to do brainstorming and brain dump. And, it will be a good reference book as the layout progresses. What works and what does not.





I just took about 20 pieces of blank A4 sheets (we use A4 paper instead of Legal) and comb-binded them together. I included my track plan in A4 size as well as A3 size (twice of A4) at the back. The A4 sized plan is placed on right side so that I can use the blank space on left to scribble.




The A3 sized plan can be unfolded which will reveal clearer details.



Besides model railroading, I like writing. I hope to publish a book on Rosenberg Meet one day.




Jimmy Low

What's On Lower Deck? Galveston Terminal

I have not started work on this yet but here's the preview of what I had in mind.

After exiting the Algoa helix, the train will travel a stretch and reach Virginia point, which is directly below the intersection of the UP Glidden and BSNF Galvesto tracks at upper deck. The Galveston causeway stretches from that point west to where the word "Alvin" is.
The peninsular will host an industry and the Galveston Bay. The space between Alvin up to Rosenberg on lower deck will be Galveston terminal which will have UP and BNSF yards, intermodal terminal and petrochemical industry.

While waiting for Phase 2 Galveston island, I will install a 4 track staging yard beneath Rosenberg. This allows continouous running between Algoa helix and Temple/San Antonio helix (lower wall helix) at lower deck. I will have the mainline installed but not branchlines or yards that Galveston will have.

Lower deck track plan is still in my head but I am seeing a clearer vision now :)



Jimmy Low

A Little Research Adds Realism

A little research goes a long way in adding realism to a layout. Not that I am a rivet counter. Think about it. Everything has a story to tell. The way tracks are laid, the trees branch out, the location of a structure or even some dirt on the track (yes, I noticed something).

I bought this book on BNSF by Brian Solomon. It is an interesting coffee table book that talks about the pre-BNSF days and how each mighty railroad started and merged to become the King of Grain BNSF today.

After all, I am modelling BNSF. It helps to sell them if you know them. Don't you think so?

Jimmy

Amtrak Sunset Limited Train No. 2 Is Now Departing for New Orleans via Houston

Good news!

Amtrak Sunset Limited train #2 will pass Tower 17 every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on my layout to Houston and New Orleans and return as train #1 every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

I have 3 P42s and 8 Superliner coaches. Amtrak Sunset Limited runs on this configuration: 2 locos (P42, P40 or P32) + Baggage + Transition Sleeper + Sleeper + Diner + Sightseer Lounge + Coach + Coach.

Now, I need to find a Budd baggage car and a transition sleeper in N-scale to complete the configuration.

So, when you see Amtrak Sunset Limited running on UP Glidden in certain direction, you know what day it is.


Jimmy