Scenery & Backdrops 080416 03
This is left hand running territory just west of Curvo Tunnels 5 and 6. The overpass that takes the west bound track over the east bound track to switch the current of running here is at the right hand edge of the photo. The ranch setting on the bench at Evanston belongs down in the gap between the tracks.
The threaded rod and angle iron track supports were used as a space saving way to hold the lower level tracks above another stretch of hidden track. This hidden track leaves Echo around the next end cap beyond and out of the picture and is the Park City Branch. Park City is the t track and main yard and manual turntable shown. Our benches are a uniform height off the floor; elevations are made with wood block spacers (rods here), and at high elevations there is room for hidden track. The Park City Local is a turn from Ogden thru Echo and on to this yard where a new string of cars is exchanged for the ones from Ogden Echo.
Capture Date: Aug 4, 2016 09:54 AM•Views: 165
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Scenery & Backdrops 080416 01
Tunnel #7 (in Utah) just west of Curvo. Part of one rail of the track that does not go through this tunnel in the corner. This tunnel is about 201 feet long (interpolating the milepost markings on the UP Track Profile Charts I have). Our version is scaled down to about 12 inches. I scaled all the tunnels from their real lengths by the equation Lf = r(L + f(Lmax/L)) where Lf = the final model length. Lmax is the actual length of Altamont, L is the actual length of any particular tunnel and r and f are linear constants picked to make the tunnels together look about right as to how many cars each would hold. The 2 longest real ones hold mile long trains; the shortest 5 only 5 to 15 cars. I made up the equation to get a consistent but sliding range of model lengths, with a smoothly increasing proportion of cars in the real versus model tunnels as the tunnels got smaller. The result is the model tunnels will hold from 2 to 30 cars, ie., from a very few to about a whole train, ie 5/100 vs 2/30 in cars.
Capture Date: Aug 4, 2016 09:52 AM•Views: 170
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Signals Scenery 033117 13
Here at Wamsutter, Wyoming the local switcher is pushing a string of cars back onto the stub track at the upper right. The engineer/conductor has contacted the Dispatcher to so occupy the main to do this work. Both signal heads on the single mast protecting the right hand main beyond this signal are red. The upper red indicates that the main is occupied (by the switcher and 3 cars), and the lower red indicates that the center siding should not be used from this end, because the turnout leading to it is thrown for the main, and not to lead to the siding.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 10:53 AM•Views: 41
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Signals Scenery 033117 09 CROPPED
There are 2 three aspect signal heads on this mast. The upper head protects the right hand west bound main, and the lower head signals the center siding. On the other main a single head 3 aspect signal on its own mast faces the other way to protect the other main leaving the siding (down out of the photo ). There is a pair of masts at the other end of the siding in the distance to protect the tracks at that end.
Therefore, with the move being made by the local switcher both the upper red and the lower red are displayed to signal other trains both the west bound main (the right one) and the center siding are occupied.
The dispatcher was called to get his permission to make this move on the main.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 10:44 AM•Views: 44
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Signals Scenery 033117 10 CROPPED
Now that the loco and string of cars has cleared the main, the signal automatically turns back to green, but the lower signal is not illuminated, because the turnout on the right main is set for the main, and not the center siding.
The other main on the left has a signal that shows the occupancy of that main (down and out of the photo). A green will indicate that both the first and second blocks of track ahead are unoccupied; a yellow will indicate that only the second block ahead is occupied, and a red will indicate that the first block ahead is occupied.
There is another set of signals at the far end of the siding are similarly illuminated to protect both mains and the siding.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 10:45 AM•Views: 45
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Signals Scenery 033117 11 CROPPED
If the switcher needs to occupy the other main, say to reach the depot/freight house on the left, the engineer/conductor first calls the Dispatcher to get permission to work on that main for x minutes, then he can proceed to pull forward from this position and back the car to the station.
Here the right hand main shows a green aspect, meaning the track ahead is clear for the next two blocks beyond the signal. The single head signal facing away from the camera shows the occupancy of the next two blocks behind it, that is on the track running down out of the photo.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 10:50 AM•Views: 40
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Signals Scenery 033117 17
All the double track, that is all of the upper level and the lower level of the mushroom layout has been signaled with automatic block signals (ABS) with mostly three aspects (green, yellow, and red). This is the signal bridge over the 4 track crossovers at the west end of Cheyenne yard. On this side of the bridge the two tracks for entry (up) into the yard are signaled, each with a usually red aspect (barely to be seen in the photo over the 2nd and 3rd track from the left).
The signals controlling traffic into Cheyenne are manually controlled by the Cheyenne Yardmaster. A conductor who wishes to enter the yard must ask the YM for permission, and when the YM is ready (has a clear track for the train and has set the turnouts to reach that track0, he will push a button to turn the signal yellow (proceed at slow speed). After 30 seconds the signal automatically returns to red.
The shed is the beginning of the Cheyenne stock yard for resting cattle and other stock.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 11:03 AM•Views: 50
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Signals Scenery 033117 19 rotated
This is the side of the east Cheyenne signal bridge looking west. Only the first and third tracks from the right are used to leave Cheyenne for right hand running. These tracks are #1 and #3 (right to left), #3 being the Harriman Cutoff. The aspects from this side are controlled by the settings of the various turnouts. On the other side (last photo) the signal aspects are controlled by the Cheyenne Trainmaster who manages all trains into and out of Cheyenne under this bridge. Those signals are normally red, and are manually set to yellow by the Trainmaster to grant permission to enter the yard from the other side. They return to red automatically after about 30 seconds.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 11:04 AM•Views: 45
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Signals Scenery 033117 20 CROPPED
Here at Granger, Wyoming, where the Oregon Shortline (OSL) leaves the scenery part of the layout to hidden track through the “mouse” hole, are three mast mounted 3 aspect signals. The left one protects the near track, the right hand running east bound main track. The center signal does the same for the west bound main. The right hand signal is to notify an engineer leaving the mains onto the OSL about the occupancy of the next two tracks; green means both are unoccupied, yellow means the immediate one ahead is empty, but the second one is occupied, and red means the immediate one ahead is occupied. The signals and block detectors for the OSL have not been installed yet.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 11:11 AM•Views: 43
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Signals Scenery 033117 25
This is the Laramie signal bridge looking east. Here the green is determined by both of the next blocks on the other side of the bridge are unoccupied (as the former photo of the signal bridge leaving Cheyenne), and that green is over the left hand track because presumably the leaving train has entered that track to go up the Hill by setting the double crossover. To the left is the narrow gauge Tie Treating Plant sawmill and burner with newly cut ties stacked, and the offices over the fire house. In the previous photo was the engine house and 3 track retort building and treated (black) ties.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 11:26 AM•Views: 45
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Signals Scenery 033117 26
This is the signal bridge on the east end of Laramie as seen by a west bound train. Here the Laramie Yardmaster grants permission to enter his yard by manually switching the red aspect to yellow. After about 30 seconds, it returns automatically to red. Note that this “mother may I” signal is over the left hand track heading away from the camera into the yard, because there is left hand running down Sherman Hill from Dale into Laramie. The right hand running is restored at the double crossover just beyond the signal. At that point trains leaving Laramie have to cross over to the left hand track up the Hill.
Capture Date: Mar 31, 2017 11:26 AM•Views: 47
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