Ops and the South Jackson Yard

Many, many thanks to Terry Roberts (my ex-YM) for many insights into the efficient operation of South Jackson. And for taking the time to write many of them out as a guide to the next generation of South Jackson yardmasters.

South Jackson Yard History The yard at South Jackson was an afterthought. Mill Bend survived the trauma of being removed from my old garage, being stored for a year in a warehouse, and then being re-installed in my new basement. Presto, instant town! Operations started almost immediately. However, I needed a place for trains to come from and go to.

Tearing out the previous BCSJ left me with a pile of plywood and a box full of flex track and turnouts. South Jackson yard appeared, constructed almost entirely from scrap box components.

The first version was stub ended and short. Once the trackage to Oakhill was installed I started work on what will (some day) become the Roseberg and Coos Bay staging area. By pure dumb-luck (I can't truthfully claim I planned it this way) the height of the Coos Bay staging was close to the height of South Jackson. So in a moment of serendipity I extended South Jackson making it double ended and connecting it to the Roseberg / Coos Bay staging area (which had been expanded from the planned three tracks to five tracks). Staging was hastily dubbed "Pocatello".

Railroad Schematic Now there was enough railroad to have decent operations. Pocatello staging connects to South Jackson, which connects to Mill Bend, which connects to Deschutes Junction. The upper track out of DJ connects to Oakhill, which connects to the hastily assembled Salem staging area (more scrap box components).

The lower track out of DJ connects to Redland (and in the last couple of months) to Deschutes staging.

A schematic of the railroad follows:

BCSJ track schematic - 11/22/06

It's nowhere near what the layout will be when completed, and South Jackson yard is miniscule compared to what Bear Creek yard will be. But with 2 miles of mainline and a mile of branchline South Jackson is a busy (and sometimes even fun) place.

Yard Activity

What goes on in South Jackson during an op session? The answer is "a lot"!

All cars that are not on the train taking them to their destination are routed to South Jackson yard for classification. They are then added to the various trains passing through the yard as appropriate to send them on their way. This must be done in an expeditious and timely manner for the railroad to be profitable.

The following types of actions happen in South Jackson during an op session:

• Trains MBT, SJHW, and OHT are built and depart South Jackson.
• Trains MBT, SJHE, and OHT terminate and are broken down.
• Trains pass through the yard and perform a block swap. That is, a train gives cars to the yardmaster for destinations it is not serving, and gets cars from the yardmaster for locations on the way to its destination.
• As cars arrive at South Jackson, they are (hopefully efficiently) sorted (classified) onto the appropriate tracks.

Cars are classified onto the four body tracks of the yard as shown below.

Since the yard is small it is imperative to do things efficiently. There shall be NO Cherry-Picking. Cherry-Picking is when the yard master builds a train by searching through all the yard tracks for the cars going on that train. Cherry picking is extremely inefficient and will almost instantly log-jam the yard.

Efficient Block Swaps with Westbound Trains

When a westbound train pulls into South Jackson looking for a block swap, it is most efficient to have the engineer drop his setout block on the main.

By using the road crew to add the blocks the yard switcher saves the time needed to pull all of track #1 to get at the Salem cars and push them onto the through train. On the BC&SJ road crews labor agreement allows them to perform this move.

If Mill Bend was plugged up with trains on main and siding the dispatcher would refuse the request for a warrant into Mill Bend and then the yard switcher would need to do all the work.

This only works for the West end of the yard. An Eastbound train will need to have the switcher pull the setout block and shove the pickup block back onto the train. Be sure that the eastbound train leaves its block of long (through) cars far enough back so the switch engine can push the block of setouts onto it without needing the through train to backup to make room.

Don't Worry About Cars Not Yet Classified

If a train pulls into the yard while the yard switcher is busy classifying a long cut of cars don't sweat the fact that some of the cars in the cut being classified could go on that train. Pull that train's setout block and give them what's already been classified. Trying to cherry pick the class handle (the cars the switch engine is classifying) is the biggest time waster in the yard. Give those cars to the next train through town instead of scrambling like mad.

Don't be Afraid to Grab Loong Cuts of Cars

South Jackson has a generously sized switch lead. Most of the time there will be enough room on it for the cut being classified and the blocks being swapped with the train passing through town.

Classification is a Two Part Process

Classification in that little yard is a two part process. First run through is to get the cars into the track where they eventually will be without sorting for destination. Salem cars are normally at the far end with Pocatello cars on the near end of track #1.

Shove both the Salem and Poca cars onto the classified Poca cars. Do the same with the other cars and their paired destinations (Redland, Prineville, Deschutes).

The next set of moves is to sort the Poca and Salem cars. Set the mixed cars aside and pull the Pocatello cars. Use them as a handle while sorting the mixed cars to complete the classification. Repeat for the other tracks.

If a train comes along, the head end can work the far end while the switcher still works. Most importantly, don't wait for cars, only take what's there-there's another train shortly, remember. On the near end, shove the cars on the switcher down the track being worked, Pull the cut off and add cars as required. Set the inbound cut aside (or add it to the handle at the switcher end) and finish classifiying the track being worked before the arrival of the distraction, er train. One can either sort the handle and then classify or finish the classification and then start with the inbound cars.

If you think about it, the Poca and Salem trains have cars for industries which are classified by town on two or three tracks. The local trains have two destinations, normally Salem and Poca. Use the other tracks, Mill Bend when sorting Poca and Salem cars as an example, as a temp storage while sorting the cars. It's normally then one or two moves to straighten out the yard.

Minimizing Classification Moves

If done right, the switcher should be spending most of it's time classifying cars with each care only requiring two moves to be fully classified, ready to be part of an outbound cut.

Outbound Trains

Building outbound trains should be similar to handling a cut although blocking order is important. In my mind, blocking can be done when there are no cars to classify. At least get the cars for a particular industry together first and if time allows then get the blocks in the correct order.

Note that there will be one of these trains next op session if one has already gone out this session. The yard runs "around the clock." Just because the train has left this session does not relieve the YM of the responsibility of preping for the next session.

Each outbound train has a departure time in the train line up. The YM should have that train ready to go, with engine and caboose attached at LEAST 1 fast hour (15 minutes) prior to its stated departure time. Do NOT give in to the temptation to add a just arrived Redland Car to the South Jackson Hauler West (heading to Redland and Deschutes). This is just another form of cherry picking and will use up time that could be spent doing classification or blocking.

Blocking order for trains originating at South Jackson

It greatly helps the crews of the trains built in South Jackson if their trains are intelligently blocked.

The crew of the MBT will be dismayed if they find a dog's breakfast in their train where the cars are in a random order. The amount of work required is greatly increased. This will keep them in Mill Bend longer, making life harder for the trains trying to get through Mill Bend (and the dispatcher).

They may be able to do their switching in half the time when the train is properly blocked. There are three states of blocking:

• Unblocked - cars are in random order
• Blocked by industry - cars for the same industry are grouped together
• Fully blocked - each of the industry blocks are ordered for switching ease

Where Should the Trains be Built?

• Build the Mill Bend Turn in place on Track #3 - where the Mill Bend cars are already classified
• Build the South Jackson Hauler East on Track #2 - where the Redland, Prineville, and Deschutes cars are already classified
• Build the Oakhill Turn on either track #4 (without engine but with caboose). Just before it is due to depart stick an engine on the siding then shove the OHT cars and caboose onto the engine). Don't let this train sit on the siding or you can create a roadblock.

If you don't have time to block these trains for each industry, don't sweat it. But blocking by major group is highly desirable (ie by facing/trailing point spurs).

What if the Redland Switcher Sends a Messy DSHE to South Jackson?

If the Redland switch crew blocks the Deschutes Hauler East (Deschutes to Pocatello) with through cars (Pocatellos) scattered through the train the YM needs to pause a moment (after finishing screaming) and check the train line up.

If there are lots of trains headed his way it may be best to just grab the cut containing all the setout cars mixed in with the Pocatellos. Then go ahead and classify the Pocatellos along with the Mill Bends, Salems, and Oakhill cars when you get the chance. Don't try to sort out the PO cars when there are other trains breathing down your neck. The Management will have words with the Redland crew for you.

This is especially true if a 1st class train is coming!

However, if other trains are still a ways out and you are on top of the classification process then use the siding to separate the Pocatello cars from the Salem, South Jackson, and Oakhill cars. Then let the road crew back onto the separated Pocatello cars before leaving town (not forgetting to fill out tonnage from what ever Poco cars were already in South Jackson.

Which Track Should Trains Terminate on?

Again it depends on what is headed toward the yard and how on top of the classification process you are. If the yard is humming along smoothly then having the trains terminate on the siding makes sense.

However, it may make sense for the Mill Bend Turn to terminate on track #3 (where it started from) especially if things are busy. You can release its engine and classify it when things quiet down a bit.

A large South Jackson Hauler East may need to terminte on the siding as there may not be space for it anywhere else.

When a train terminates on the siding it is important to get the engine uncoupled and over to the engine service tracks asap. Couple on to the block and pull it all. Leave the caboose on the siding east of the crossovers while you classify the block. Plan ahead! If there is a west bound train coming when you are expecting a terminating train that needs to tie-up on the siding, hold the west bound out of the yard until the engines of the terminating train are cut-off and sent to the engine service tracks.

What About Meets in South Jackson?

Sometimes the dispatcher may find it necessary to have trains meet in South Jackson. If this happens try to have the east bound on the siding and the westbound on the main.

You will probably need to handle the westbond first as it will foul the crossover from the switch lead to the siding and mainline while block swapping.

However, if one of the trains meeting is a first class then it should be serviced first (if possible).

Ultra Hot Trains

The Reefer Madness (symbol RXE) is hotter than hot. It does not stop in South Jackson. Note when it is due through your yard and have the mainline cleared for it. Do NOT obstruct this train. You don't want to be the one explaining to Del Monico's in New York City why their lettuce was wilted!

Yard State at Session End

At the end of the session, the yard should be ready for the next session with very few, if any, cars not classified and most of the cars blocked for the locals. Otherwise, the Superintendent has work to do between sessions.

This means the next Mill Bend turn should be built and ready to go (it's the first train out in the next session).