Intra-layout car movments preparing for virtual ops.

Hello all!

John's New York Central Train Layout and my Kings Port Division are preparing for another Penn Central  Car Movement (P.C.C.M.) series.   This will be the 37th time we've engaged in our "virtual ops" of representing sending cars to each other's layout by photographing identical cars on our own.    Over the last two years we've purchased or created over 40 matching cars we can use in the virtual ops.  Developing an operations scheme for them has led us to get more organized.  

Over successive P.C.C.M.s we learned that we'd like to increase the number of operations options for the cars instead of always sending a particular car back and forth between just two consignees.  We came up with what we call the Rail traffic Management Form which lists each of the cars we own in common and creates cycles of car movements for each  These range from two to six destinations per car.

Here is one page of the Rail Traffic Management form.

Take a look at NYC boxcar #80755 underlined on the sheet above.  It has five cycles of operations.   The first is loading barrels of ink at Drywell Inks on the New York Central Train Layout.   It was then sent to my layout where it was spotted at Canton Box Co. where the drums of ink were unloaded for printing on boxes.

The next cycle involves reloading the car with new boxes for Quality Fabrications, a machine shop that does subcontracted work. This involved a transfer to the Kings Port & Western and movement along its Mountain Branch.

After the boxes are unloaded, Quality Fabrications employees will load the car with parts for Reliable Machine on the New York Central Train Layout.   After that it will return to Drywell Inks for more barrels of ink....

This is just one example of how the Rail Traffic Management form works to help us plan operations.  In addition to providing greater variety, the car movement cycles also free us from the "what car should I send him and to where?" conversations in our heads.

Here are a two more examples of intra-layout moves on the Kings Port Division that are set ups for eventual car movements to the New York Central Train Layout

BAR car #5526 is being picked up from Cavendish foods and Spirits with a load to send now to the N.Y.C.T.L. for forwarding to Shaws Grocery Distributor in Wells Maine.  Covered hopper TDLX #7241 (Cargill), however, is being forwarded to Empire Grain, a Kings Port Division industry near West Mill Yard.

The car is spotted later at Empire Grain.  From here it will be sent to Cargill on the N.Y.C.T.L.

One more:  Illinois Central boxcar #30130 was unloaded at Reynolds Beverage Distributors

It was then forwarded empty to Cavendish foods and Spirits to be loaded with packaged meals for Pilgrim Stage Hospital which is accessed via the N.Y.C.T.L. to a connection with the Long Island Railroad.  

Most of the cars pictured above will not be forwarded to Terminal Yard on the N.Y.C.T.L. in the immediately upcoming P.C.C.M. series.  But, they will be featured in the next one I am responsible for initiating, after John's next P.C.C.M. series.  Cars for the upcoming P.C.C.M. #37 are already waiting at West Mill Yard to be assembled into a train, having arrived earlier at West Mill either as part of a Penn Central or Kings Port & Western locals.

Next up:  P.C.C.M. 37 gets underway with cars for Terminal Yard being picked up by Penn Central Train WV-2.

Thanks for taking a look!