tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post1835510412817809519..comments2024-03-25T15:23:21.286-04:00Comments on Central Vermont Railway: Lessons LearnedCVSNEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-58591051892222978432017-06-13T15:34:46.029-04:002017-06-13T15:34:46.029-04:00The metric of op session divided by (cost, or time...The metric of op session divided by (cost, or time, or etc) is really only meaningful if your main focus was operating. In my case the metric is even worse as I have had zero op sessions on my Aquia Line in nearly ten years. But I still consider my layout a success, because for me the journey is the best part. I will eventually operate it, but I am in no real rush. The research, design, construction of my layout have been very enjoyable. I think you might be able to say the same. <br />Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-38620585826495393092017-06-13T09:27:41.361-04:002017-06-13T09:27:41.361-04:00I wouldn't get too hung up on the parameters f...I wouldn't get too hung up on the parameters for the formula I provided - and I wouldn't over think it (I certainly didn't!). I was trying to make a succinct point. As someone pointed out in a less-than-friendly email I failed to account for the joy of building, the pleasure of modeling, hours spent doing same, etc...in my effort to make a (his?) planned large layout seem like a waste of resources. Sadly, he completely miss the point of why I included it. <br />I believe there are other, equally valid reasons to build a model railroad that extend beyond the "op session." And one of the ongoing failings of the commercial and "design" press is that they constantly miss that fact. <br />Frankly, I could care less if I never host another large, "formal" op session on any layout I might or might not build. It simply didn't float my boat. Visits with friends during which we might or might not run some trains? Working over the line with some measure of prototypical accuracy to the operations? Sure. Spending hours getting a layout ready for a large crew to descend on the basement? No thanks, I'll pass. <br />MartyCVSNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-46835464432023950282017-06-11T09:39:47.418-04:002017-06-11T09:39:47.418-04:00Marty, The Ops Session Calculus is sobering, espe...Marty, The Ops Session Calculus is sobering, especially for someone who desires to operate TT&TO which requires a larger amount of real estate to make interesting than local switching on any scale. That said, your earned value is more properly the sum of the time value of activity Xn times the time spent performing Xn. You know the relative worth of building that Resin Freight Car and hosting the ops session. It gets complicated as the value of an activity can increase or decrease if you do too little or too much of it or your needs change from a low effort diversion from stress to increasing your focus. Activities like making trees, detailing fiddly brake rigging, or socializing during an ops session can have equal benefit depending on your needs at the time. I've had to do a first order sort on where to put my hobby (and housing) dollars just to find the right place for me to live. I have three expensive hobbies: Model Railroading, Horses, and Flying Sailplanes and don't have enough deniro to do all three simultaneously without limitation. I've chosen a home that will accommodate the first two on-site, abandoning my earlier dream of flying from my own place. That's OK, I and my needs have evolved and I accommodated the first two with a relatively easy, if somewhat long, commute. The tele-commute option and the MARC train two miles away take care of that nagging detail. Do your own calculus, but don't neglect the value you gain from the parts of the hobby that facilitate the ops session. Hard as it might seem, you can't include your sunk costs. They are gone and you got what you got from them. Things you've saved help you avoid future costs as you have to pay full price/spend time replacing them in a different era/scale so staying with HO has some significant cost avoidances, but that can be somewhat offset by the "Salvage Value" of any disposals. You'll come out with a vision that will work for YOU. And never forget Rule One: It IS your Railroad.<br /><br />John Barry<br />Starting Construction of the Alameda Belt on the North Bay Lines, Lovettsville, VANorth Bay Lineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13077253299150861251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-25473448831513699542017-06-02T12:57:12.379-04:002017-06-02T12:57:12.379-04:00Hi Mike,
Thanks for the comment.
I don't rea...Hi Mike, <br />Thanks for the comment. <br />I don't really expect anyone to come up with the "$ cost per op session" as some sort of measure of layout success. As you say, I didn't factor in the enjoyment we get from actually building the layout, or the individual models. Instead as you noted I was trying to make the point that sometimes we need to step back and ask if the resources we spend on the hobby (the money in the formula could easily be replaced with time, or square footage, or any other factor)paying off. <br />And yes, op sessions while fun, take a lot of preparation. <br />All of these are arguments for a simpler, more focused layout - and I have definite ideas for the 'next' railroad that I will be sharing here over the next few weeks/months. <br />I appreciate the interest people show in my "thinking out loud." <br />Take care, <br />MartyCVSNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-82178888915229462882017-06-02T12:51:02.151-04:002017-06-02T12:51:02.151-04:00Rick,
First of all, I enjoy reading your blog and...Rick, <br />First of all, I enjoy reading your blog and learning about your layout. <br />A layout completely focused on a yard isn't a bad idea (in fact it's a good idea)and you make a strong argument ... CVSNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-33952623653245619372017-06-02T11:39:49.079-04:002017-06-02T11:39:49.079-04:00Interesting discussion, thanks for sharing.
That&...Interesting discussion, thanks for sharing.<br /><br />That's a scary formula to me, given 14 years since starting the layout and having held 5 Op sessions. I'm not even going to estimate the cost to complete the formula. Definitely wouldn't share that with the wife either! This formula does set aside some of the personal enjoyment I've had simply working on the layout or running trains myself, as well as public open houses. But I get your point.<br /><br />I totally agree with your statement about "getting this basic stuff out of the way to get to what I really want to work on". I think this leads directly to me NOT having more of the layout complete after 14 years. Luckily my "squirrel" has not been in any significant layout design changes, but instead on other projects, like freight cars, locos, Free-mo, etc., some that apply directly to the layout, but most that do not.<br /><br />One thing I did learn in doing Op sessions was just how much there is to do and how long it takes. I was always worried my layout would not support enough "work" to keep 4 or 5 guys busy. But in reality, I have a session with 6-7 guys, and we have never gotten through the full plan of scheduled trains. Not because of issues (thankfully!), but because even seemingly small jobs take some time. And the guys enjoy it all.<br /><br />So I think this helps validate your thoughts along the lines of bigger is not always better, or necessary, to meet your ultimate goals.Mike McNamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12902543654492633693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235592861494546755.post-2206122505276491382017-06-01T14:40:49.753-04:002017-06-01T14:40:49.753-04:00Hello Marty,
How about the next layout as a yard s...Hello Marty,<br />How about the next layout as a yard so that you can focus on modeling what makes you most happy - the freight cars. This could be a smaller and more manageable layout, although large enough to be satisfying. Staging could be double-ended or be at only one end. Operators could be solo or more. Scenery could be minimalized to what you feel necessary. There would be lots of operation as it is a universal industry. Some specialized operations could be a car weighing station, RIP track, well you know better than me what goes on in a yard. This could be built relatively quickly, then time enjoyed adding the rolling stock.<br />Anyway, Best Wishes to you and Thanks for linking my Fillmore to your blog.<br />Rick<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com