Clearwater gets a team track
After a few operating sessions it became plain that the team track arrangement was not working out very well. I decided to add the team track as a way of generating a more varied rolling stock mix on the layout and the siding to Adams Stave & Box Co. Seemed to be the logical location.
But as it turns out it turned into an operational nightmare. Let me explain, Clearwater is the major switching town on the railway that contains the most industries. All train movements are dictated by the time it takes to do the switching in Clearwater. Eastbound trains were always delayed in Mosquito Flats waiting for the westbound train to finish its work. In order to even out the switching I decided to add a team track spur at the station.
I had an operating session this past Friday and the results were encouraging. Relocating the team track resulted in fewer moves required to do the switching in Clearwater and made for a more efficient operating scheme. While the eastbound trains still had to wait in Mosquito Flats, the wait was considerably shorter.
Here are a couple of construction pictures of the team track being added at the station.