Engineering rotation

As the BGLR locomotive fleet gets bigger (though the layout doesn't) we've had to adjust our rotation policy to give more locos a go. We've decided to rotate the position of engineering train motive power, the Motorbahnwagen will share the duties with one of the shunter fleet every six months. Ruby thus has taken over this duty and is likely to continue until the Spring, then the Motorbahnwagen will return until the Autumn when it is likely Tango will take over.

Old and new

Black Beauty has continued it's proving testing and will be handed over to the Operations Dept. by the Integration & Testing Dept this weekend. It is running well, of course the technology is pretty well proven. After all it is the same loco type as Falcon and Growler - the former being the oldest loco on the layout with over five years service now!

The Infrastructure Dept. meanwhile has completed the underlay for the tramline, something more permanent can be laid now.

A running session

All of the active fleet got a run out today before the engineering department took charge of the line, well its a Bank Holiday after all!

Ruby with a light freight

Percy hauls the new van 

Falcon is still on push-pull duties

Growler with the express

Playtime over!

Percy running

Not much running on the BGLR lately, just some extended runs for Percy. After Maria's problems we are a bit paranoid about our other two Liliput shunters though Percy seems to be running fine.

Single coach

The BGLR usually runs single coach trains due to the small size of the station, plus if the rostered loco is Ruby one coach is all it can pull!

Rotation policy

The railway has been a bit quiet at the start of 2018 though there has been some extended running for Ruby which is settling in pretty well though does have the pulling power of a light breeze. Falcon is running well after its six months rest. We thought it would be a good idea to explain our rotation policy.

The railway is only really big enough to host four locos "on rail" at any one time. There are enough sidings for six though it would make operation ridiculously complicated - a bit too much like sokoban. Therefore we have four locos in operation, the engineering trolly is kept on isolated rails in the back scene apart from when its running and one loco is kept in reserve. Falcon was the first to be put in reserve and currently Jam is having a rest. In 6 months Jam will return and one of the other locos (probably Growler) will take its leave.

Now as we get more locos it may be that the rotation policy will have to be amended with it happening more frequently, more locos being put into storage and rest periods being shorter but we will address that when needed.

Isolation

We use a catchpoint as a cheap and easy way of isolating the end of a siding. Currently only the station storage siding has this, Grower is shown below after arriving with a train. We do have another catchpoint which will likely be added to one of the goods sidings when they are relaid later in the year.

Van train

Falcon with a van train.

Ruby in action

Ruby with a freight service.

Engineering train

The Yellow Peril keeping the line in top shape.

Final Jam

0199 Jam's final duty before going into reserve was this freight train.

Operational update

The working fleet all had a run out today. W5 Maria is still out of action which means the fleet is a bit short though Falcon will not be bought back into service early. The BGLR have revealed that a new locomotive will be arriving at the railway at Christmas!

The following photos were taken of today's operations. Percy took one of the freight trains, Jam the push-pull service, Growler ran light engine to allow a change around and the Trolley did some line checks.