Train BNSF Switcher

UPRR Rochelle Subdivision

N Scale Union Pacific in Northern Illinois

BNSF Rochelle Switcher

We now turn our attention to one of my favorite jobs on the layout, the BNSF Rochelle Switcher. The Rochelle Switcher’s main task is to take cars from the UP/BNSF interchange track and deliver them to Rochelle industries on the BNSF mainline and vice versa. Since this is one of my favorite tasks, this crew call will show how I operate when I am alone.

The throttle I use when I operate solo is a little unusual. I use a Dell Axim x50v PDA. I have it set up as follows. First I have an old PC that I picked up for nothing to run DecoderPro from JMRI (http://jmri.sourceforge.net). With DecoderPro and a MS100 PC/Loconet interface, I can set up throttles to run trains and a control panel to operate turnouts and signals. This PC does not have a monitor or keyboard attached to it but does allow remote access which I can accomplish with my other computers or with my Dell Axim via a wireless network and Terminal Services Client.

Here is a picture of the Dell set up to serve as a wireless throttle and control panel. The screen you see is actually the screen of the old PC with DecoderPro. I use one of the throttles for the BNSF switcher and the other for a mainline train which I usually run at the same time. The red and green dots on the left are the control panel which allows me to operate mainline and staging yard turnouts. The panel also has indicator lights to show which staging yard tracks are occupied. The biggest button by my thumb is for controlling speed and direction. Up is faster, down slower, right forward and left reverse. I use my uncoupling pick for touch screen operations.

Before I begin the job, here’s a look at the track plan for Rochelle. You may wish to refer to it as you follow along.

Here’s the switch list I am assigned to accomplish. I basically have four cars to take from the interchange track (dropped off by a UP train) and set at industries while also picking up cars from the industries and setting them on the interchange tracks for a UP train to pick up.

The BNSF Switcher uses an older GP38 to conduct its duties. I begin by pulling from the Total Logistics Control tracks onto the BNSF mainline.

Once on the BNSF main, I use the crossover to get onto the south track which has access to the UP/BNSF interchange track.

Here I have to stop while my brakeman throws the turnout to the interchange tracks. If you look on the ground just to the left of the loco, you can see the dwarf signal which controls access to the interchange track.

The green dwarf signal indicates that the brakeman has thrown the turnout and I am ready to couple up to the cars.

As per the switch list, I will first set the two covered hoppers at the Delmonte warehouse.

The two refers are destined for TLC (Total Logistics Control) so I must first pull them onto the BNSF mainline and get ready to perform a runaround.

To perform the runaround, I uncouple from my train, crossover to the north track, back through the UP/BNSF crossing, use the crossover on the other siding of the crossing to get back to the south track, and then come back over the UP/BNSF crossing to couple to the other side of the refers.

Looks like I’m not able to get across the crossing just yet.

Here’s the cause of my persistent red signal, a couple of UP AC4400s pulling a string of empies back to the Wyoming coal fields.

This could take awhile.

Finally the end of the train crosses the diamonds.

Now it’s my turn.

You can’t see my loco too well from this shot, but you can see the yellow signal which gives me clearance over the crossover turnouts and UP/BNSF crossing so that I can re-couple to the refers.

Now that I am on the other side of the refers, I can push them on down to TLC and pick up the 2 refers and 2 tank cars destined for the interchange tracks.