RAILforum: Typical Freight Schedules

This is topic Typical Freight Schedules in forum Western US at RAILforum.

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Posted by Konstantin (Member # 18) on :

I am creating a schedule for my model railroad, and would like it to be somewhat realistic. I am creating a weekly schedule, instead of a daily schedule, so that some variety will occur each day.

Do most prototypical freight trains operate daily? How realistic is it to operate a couple (one each direction) of cross-country trains four times per week, rather than daily? Is it realistic for some local freight trains to operate Monday through Friday, and then not run on the weekends? Is it realistic to operate a certain local freight train only once, or twice per week?

These are all things that I am considering as part of my new schedule.

Thank you for your help.

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Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale)
www.geocities.com/evrr

Posted by cajon (Member # 40) on :

Are you modeling a prototype or freelance RR? Modern or historic? What types of industry? Without knowing this, it's hard to give you too many answers. If your freelancing then anything is possible operation-wise. Basically the time period & types of industry will dictate the frequency of trains to be operated. Earlier on trucks would not be as much competion as they are now to RRS as an example.

Posted by atsf3751 (Member # 1538) on :

Most prototypical railroads do operate daily (though some small shortlines don't). Class 1's operate constantly. Long distance trains operate on varying schedules - some daily, some every other day, some just once a week, but usually at predictable times.

Likewise, locals operate on a predictable basis too. While some lines are only served on an "as needed" basis, these are the exception to the rule. Most commonly, a busy local with lots of switching will see operation Mon-Fri (see the Santa Ana Branch thread for detailed info). Other local lines operate Mon-Wed-Fri or just once a week, but usually on a specific day.

Hope that helps.

Posted by Konstantin (Member # 18) on :

ATSF3751, I believe you have answered my questions.

Cajon, I have a freelance railroad in the swamps of Georgia. There is no particular time period. I tend to like 1930's-1960's era freight cars and locomotives, but I also run Amtrak Superliners. My favorite part of the hobby is operating with a timetable and following schedules. I do not want to just run a train on demand, I want to be forced to follow the schedules, but I do not want each day to be the same. That is why I am proposing a weekly schedule.

My schedule will be a regular schedule, and the trains will operate predictably as you have mentioned above ATSF3751, but each day of the week will have differences.

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Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale)
www.geocities.com/evrr

Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :

On a related note, does anybody know where I can get some freight schedules from (typical, can be a few years out of date)? It's for a route I'd like to simulate in Microsoft Train Simulator, the D&RGW between Denver and Grand Junction.

Thanks

Geoff M.