Your train is going around and around. It runs great. The scenery looks terrific. But after about the third time around, you begin to ask yourself: “Is this it? Is this running a railroad?” The answer is no; this is playing trains.
So, get yourself four switches and four to eight pieces of extra track. Divide your layout into four sections. Open the first section and install a switch with one or two pieces of track. Go quarter of the way around and install the second switch. At the half mark goes the third switch; and at the ¾ mark goes the last switch with a few extra pieces of track.
You now have four freight stops. Place one to two cars at each stop. Mix the cars up – maybe just box cars at the first stop; a gondola and a flat car at the second stop. Put two tank cars at the third stop and the fourth gets two passenger cars. Now instead of having a few rail cars in a box or stuck on a shelf, they are on display on your layout and ready for use.
Be smart. Box cars carry a wide variety of products, so can be used at any industry. Tankers carry oil and fuel so can be included almost anywhere – but if you build a refinery, that will be their primary home. Flat cars can go next to the auto plant to carry new cars to dealers.
Now as you operate your railroad, your loco pulls up to an industry. It uncouples and pulls forward past the switch. Throw the switch, the loco backs up coupled with the two empty cars and pulls forward.
The switch is thrown again – now the train reverses. Re-couple with the main train and then drive forward past the switch and then back the last two cars in the open track. Uncouple and make first delivery.
On to stop two and three. Same procedure.
At the fourth stop, pick up passenger cars and leave the freight cars.
Now you are running a passenger service. There are two basic passenger trains – express and local. The express will only stop two or three times – once at the largest industry and the other two will be passenger service to a town or rural area.
The local passenger service stops at all stations and factories. To keep the train running, go around the whole layout once or twice between stops to simulate distance.
Then it is back to freight service. Do that once more.
Then for a little variety, take the switch at the top and bottom of the loop and turn them in the other direction.
Now when you run freight, the first train will only pick up and drop off at two stops. Once done, turn the loco around and go the other way to pick up the other two stops. Same applies with passenger service – run the train one direction. When you get to the final stop switch the engine to the other end and go in the opposite direction.
Time one loop of the train. Now you can make a timetable of what trains will stop at what times.
You are now operating a railroad instead of playing trains.
Until next time, hope to see you around the tracks.
