I have a small layout but I have set up a somewhat complex process.
Cars are in my storage boxes off the layout.
they come on the layout up to 10 at a time on a car float/barge
The local picks up the cars delivers them and makes pick ups and returns the picked up cars to the car float/barge.
There are 10 industries shipping and receiving cars.
Car float is the transition back to storage.
here is how I set up operations and I don't think it is right because cars get "orphaned" at the car float.? they don't get routed to an industry. so they sit there and when the local returns they go back to storage on the car float they never left.
train 1 -? storage to barge -? ? my storage is set up as a 25000ft spur so it never runs out of room.? ?The barge is a C/I track.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?this train has no other destinations so my guess is it just picks 10 available cars and terminates that's why some get "stranded"
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?this is where I think I go wrong.? ?I want the system to "look ahead" and see what can be delivered and put those cars on the barge.
Train 2 - Local way freight - starts at the barge and then goes to all locations (3 towns) and spurs in those towns.? Picks up cars to go "off layout" and drops cars picked up from the barge.? Returns to the barge and terminates
Train 3 - Barge to Storage - everything brought in by the local now goes back to storage boxes.? ?
start over.....
thoughts?? I can send someone my three build reports if that would help...
thanks
John Crellin
Bradenton, FL
