This is just to inspire you to consider in your next project a track triangle (Gleisdreieck) instead of a siding as shown in part 1. You will need just 3 switches for 3 trains and 4 locos, and you will have lots of operational effort (=fun, I hope). The prototype is the station Siersleben. Train 10 from Kupferkammerhütte is the first train and runs directly into the station on track A and stops at the H board.
In order to free up the track A for train 21 (which is imaptiently waiting at the Trapeztafel), Train 10 pulls forward up to the shunting limit sign (half-moon) and rolls back into track C.
In real scale it looks as follows: I stopped as Train 21 pretty close to the Trapeztafel since the rails were slippery, so it makes sense to have an adequate safety distance to the shunting limit. Train 10 pulls his coaches from track A.
Once Train 10 is safely behind the Fouling Point marker of track C, the driver gives the acoustic ZP11 Signal long - short - long, and after the acknowledge whistle train 21 rolls into the Station:
You have now 2 trains in the Station, Train 10 in the Background is already leaving the station to Thondorf from track C. Note my timetable (sorry for the Quality):
It says in column 4: "Train 21 has to stop at the Trapeztafel".
Meanwhile train 36 from Kupferkammerhütte stopped at the Trapeztafel:
The only chance to speed up is to send train 36 into track B an let Train 21 start to Kupferkammerhütte. Note the shunting diesel SD in the right corner.
Imagine train 10 did not left yet the station, and train 36 just arrived so that Train 21 cannot not leave the station, you have the following prototypical situation:
on the right Train 21 for Kupferkammerhütte on track A (The Fichtelbergbahn- loco was decorated as No.12 "Patriot")
on the left Train 35 from Kupferkammerhütte on track B
In the background train 10 to Thondorf on track C
Track C on the right, track A on the left
So now we have a problem: Train 36 on track B has to return to Kupferkammerhütte, but the chimney has to point in the same direction (steep grades).
The solution: The steam loco parks on track C, and the diesel shunter pulls the coaches down on the abandonned track:
The steam loco returns to track B, and the diesel shunter pushes the coaches to the steam loco:
The diesel is back on the abandonned track, the newly combined train is now called 37, and the former Train 21 returns as Train 22 from Kupferkammerhütte.
He has to wait at the Trapeztafel until train 37 gives the signal long-short-long.
You can easily complicate this Situation (as happened in real life...) :
Imagine Train 22 is pretty late, so the next Train 44 from Thondorf is already waiting at the Trapeztafel.
You as the dispatcher under time pressure could decide to
1) let train 22 first into the Station to not loose more time for the passenger exchange
2) send train 44 directly to track C
3) let train 22 out for Thondorf
4) let train 37 out for Kupferkammerhütte
5) train 44 pushes back from track C over the road back to track A
I would be happy if one of you would consider this idea on his layout!
I found a video that shows as of 04:40 the typical sequence with 2 trains only:
In order to free up the track A for train 21 (which is imaptiently waiting at the Trapeztafel), Train 10 pulls forward up to the shunting limit sign (half-moon) and rolls back into track C.
In real scale it looks as follows: I stopped as Train 21 pretty close to the Trapeztafel since the rails were slippery, so it makes sense to have an adequate safety distance to the shunting limit. Train 10 pulls his coaches from track A.
Once Train 10 is safely behind the Fouling Point marker of track C, the driver gives the acoustic ZP11 Signal long - short - long, and after the acknowledge whistle train 21 rolls into the Station:
You have now 2 trains in the Station, Train 10 in the Background is already leaving the station to Thondorf from track C. Note my timetable (sorry for the Quality):
It says in column 4: "Train 21 has to stop at the Trapeztafel".
Meanwhile train 36 from Kupferkammerhütte stopped at the Trapeztafel:
The only chance to speed up is to send train 36 into track B an let Train 21 start to Kupferkammerhütte. Note the shunting diesel SD in the right corner.
Imagine train 10 did not left yet the station, and train 36 just arrived so that Train 21 cannot not leave the station, you have the following prototypical situation:
on the right Train 21 for Kupferkammerhütte on track A (The Fichtelbergbahn- loco was decorated as No.12 "Patriot")
on the left Train 35 from Kupferkammerhütte on track B
In the background train 10 to Thondorf on track C
Track C on the right, track A on the left
So now we have a problem: Train 36 on track B has to return to Kupferkammerhütte, but the chimney has to point in the same direction (steep grades).
The solution: The steam loco parks on track C, and the diesel shunter pulls the coaches down on the abandonned track:
The steam loco returns to track B, and the diesel shunter pushes the coaches to the steam loco:
The diesel is back on the abandonned track, the newly combined train is now called 37, and the former Train 21 returns as Train 22 from Kupferkammerhütte.
He has to wait at the Trapeztafel until train 37 gives the signal long-short-long.
You can easily complicate this Situation (as happened in real life...) :
Imagine Train 22 is pretty late, so the next Train 44 from Thondorf is already waiting at the Trapeztafel.
You as the dispatcher under time pressure could decide to
1) let train 22 first into the Station to not loose more time for the passenger exchange
2) send train 44 directly to track C
3) let train 22 out for Thondorf
4) let train 37 out for Kupferkammerhütte
5) train 44 pushes back from track C over the road back to track A
I would be happy if one of you would consider this idea on his layout!
I found a video that shows as of 04:40 the typical sequence with 2 trains only:
