Signal Upgrades On The Railroad Continues - Inbound Approach To Rock Ridge Freight Yard

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog. 

For those who have followed my blog and know about my operating sessions, this blog post will go into some detail on how I'm enhancing the operations of these sessions. 

Signals are on the railroad and are controlled by the dispatcher/tower operator (one and the same person during an operating session). I’m upgrading the entire signal system with the ultimate goal of having trains run bi-directional on the entire railroad. The bi-directional running of trains starts on the lower level by Morris Plains and will end at Rock Ridge Freight Yard limits.

Rock Ridge Yard is the main focal point for freight in and around the railroad. Locals are dispatched from the yard. Trains from other yards are dropped off or sent to those yards. Traffic to and from Rock Ridge is controlled by the dispatcher/tower operator and handed off to the yardmaster. 

Trains are stopped at the yard limit signs. There’s one signal head west from Rock Ridge Yard that is controlled by the tower operator at Little Jamaica. However, there are no signals at the start of the yard tracks going into Rock Ridge. 

During an operating session, there can be multiple trains moving on the railroad with 1-2 trains heading to the yard. At first, I’ve only sent one at a time to the yard, with one usually behind it. Adding signals to the approach to Rock Ridge will add to the operations of the railroad. 

Here’s what I’m doing for the approach. I’ve ordered 4 three color dwarf signals. Two for the approach to the yard and two for the departure. The departure dwarfs will be added later on as they are part of the Little Jamaica Interlocking controls (which will be a blog post by itself). These will be 3 color dwarf signals made by Custom Signal Systems. 

They look good and work on 12V DC LED’s. These will be controlled by the Rock Ridge Yardmaster. Standard setting will always show Red. During the operating session, he can set the signals as he sees fit in order to have trains proceed into the yard. For departures, the yardmaster lets the dispatcher/ tower operator at Little Jamaica know what is leaving and destination(s), which will be controlled at Little Jamaica. 

In order to get these installed, I needed two rotary switches. These are 2 pole, 3 position switches, which are perfect for controlling the aspects. 

These signals use magnet wire which is very thin. Soldering thicker wire is a challenge, but doable with a steady hand and good vision. The LED lights on the fascia for the yardmaster are 3mm LED’s. 

I’ve added 26 gauge stranded wire to both signals and LED’s, extra wire to reach terminal strips under the layout. 

Here’s what the final installation looks like at the approach to Rock Ridge.

The rotary switches and LED's are now in place. The panel will show each aspect of the signal.

I've run a 9V DC Power Supply to the terminal strips, which will eventually power all of the LED signals on the railroad.

Here's a video showing the signals and panel working on the railroad..

These will work just fine and I’m looking forward to the time when I can host an operating session with more than 2 other guys, which is my current Thursday night operating sessions.  We take turns being the yardmaster. Yes, the engineers have to listen to the yardmaster, but there’s nothing to stop us from harassing him! 

More posts of the signal upgrades and bi-directional operations on the railroad to follow on future blog posts. 

Thanks for reading! Comments are always welcome. 

P.C.C.M. #77 Part 6 - Freight Out To The Consignees

Welcome back to our Penn Central Car Movements (P.C.C.M.) on the Atlantic Pacific Railroad. This is a 3 layout adventure featuring Sir John's New York Central Train Layout and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division & Kings Port & Western Railroads.

Today we're going to watch the crew get the freight delivered to the consignees in and around Rock Ridge. 

AP GP38-2 #303 will be taking freight to Ideal Auto Parts and C&P Restaurant Supply. Six 57' reefers from Terminal Warehouse will be on this train as well as 3 empty auto box cars from the Ford Plant, both on the N.Y.C.T.L. 1/87th scale engineer NJ John is at the throttle with 1/87th scale conductor Jim. Train designation for today is RC-2.

AP GP38-2 #302 will be heading out to Three Amigos Warehouse and to Shapeless Steel. A pair of empty PC gondolas from KP Steel. They'll go back out with coil loads on a future PCCM. Crates of furniture from Superior Furniture in Empire City will be taken to Three Amigos Warehouse for pick ups from local furniture stores in the metro NJ area. 1/87th scale engineer Norman (also the official APRR Photographer) is at the throttle with 1/87th scale conductor Stuart. Both conductors are with senior engineers and we're hoping they learn from the masters. Train designation these guys is train RT-4

AP MP15 #105 and AP SW1500 #100 will be handling the builds and moves today. AP #105 has 1/87th scale Matt at the throttle and in AP #100 is 1/87th scale Dan in the seat. 

The reefers are being added to the engine..

And the auto parts box cars are being pulled for its outbound adventure...

AP #303 is holding at CP South...

Back on the west ladder, AP 100 pulls some non-PCCM cars moved so ShopRite can get their loads delivered. AP #105 is on the end helping with this move...

ShopRite is scheduled to receive a trio of B&M RBL box cars from Habitant Soup in Manchester, NH and pair of APRR box cars from Van Winkle Canning, all with canned food. Also, from Peerless Appliance some refrigeration equipment. Since ShopRite has opened this facility, the deliveries have been fast and furious!

Let's see how the crew handles the 6 cars for ShopRite...

Well, as you have just seen, not everything runs as smooth as it should...

Okay, lets get back to seeing where the rest of the freight is heading...

AP #100 starts to pull cars for R.M.O. Electric and Shapeless Steel. I think we know which cars are going to which location. Let's hope the yard crew knows.....😐

Looks like the guys are getting the train for Shapeless Steel and Three Amigos ready for departure..

AP GP38-2 #302 hooks up to the cars with AP caboose #57. 

With both trains at CP South, tower operator 1/87th scale Rich gives both crews last minute instructions..

Both trains are at the yard limits..

Both trains are on the move!

AP #100 will run the coal cars from LC Coal over to the tracks at R.M.O. Electric. They'll hand it off the 1/87th scale engineer JP, the keeper of GE 44 Tonner AP #900 on the plant premises..

The delivery completed at the power plant, and AP #100 is back in the yard..

Meanwhile, over on the other side of town, AP #303 is making its run to C&P Restaurant Supply and Ideal Auto Parts...

First stop is Ideal Auto Parts...

Let's watch the move over at Ideal Auto Parts..

Now AP #303 heads around the other side of town to C&P Restaurant Supply with the six reefers from Terminal Warehouse with frozen produce...

A quick stop at West Harold Tower to have a conversation with 1/87th scale Bob about the move onto the West Harold secondary since they have to shove the cars into the building. 

The moves are made and AP #303 heads back to Rock Ridge Yard..

Another stop at Little Jamaica waiting for clearance to go back on the main and to the yard...And he waits..

Finally, he gets the radio call to head out.. and he's behind AP #302 heading back to the yard as well..

AP #302 is in first..

And AP #303 with the auto parts cars from Ideal are back in the yard...

Tropicana is getting an empty RBL box car from Ralph's Grocery along with 3 gondola cars from Gervais Pipe with the new pipes needed to enhance operations at Tropicana. It's a huge undertaking and Tropicana will need plenty of these pipes to complete the enhancement of the facility. Train designation is RR-1.

So what's left. The Hostess covered hopper from Hostess in Empire City will head over there on the next PCCM. Morton Salt covered hopper is on the yard track in Rock Ridge. Just a matter of time when it will get loaded...

That's all for the inbound portion and wraps up P.C.C.M. #77 on the APRR. 

Make sure you check out Sir John's New York Central Train Layout and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division & Kings Port & Western as these fantastic railroads know how to get the freight delivered!

Thanks for reading!