Ironwood Ideas

Ideal Ironwood Ideas

Bernie has put some thought into the notion of a passing siding in Ironwood to assist dispatch when multiple trains must meet in this busy location.

Rather than installing a new "outside" track along the length of Ironwood thus eliminating the station, why not bring the desired passing siding to the industrial side of the mainline through Ironwood?

Bernie has "mocked up" the scene here.  Note how the turnout has been brought to the eastern end of town thus elongating an already existing track.

I took these next two images while at the work session the next day....the Saturday.  The siding is long enough to hold seven freight cars, a caboose and a locomotive.

While some trains may be longer than seven cars, train car length can be adjusted in Rail Ops.  (The railroad is meant to serve train lengths of these shorter amounts anyway.)  Of course, the ore train is longer and can easily pass on the main should a meet with a passenger train be required at Ironwood.  The crew working the town at the moment would have their train tucked in on the new inner passing siding and would wait out the short duration of the three-way meet with the two other trains if necessary.  Thanks to Bernie for these images and story.

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada