Ops...

I planned a total of 3 trains for the day. CN 533, the Grand Forks Turn, and CN 532 if there was time.

Normally 532 will come south from Winnipeg and meet the Grand Forks Turn at Noyes. 532 becomes 533 for the trip back north.  But it's 2014 and things have been busy on the Letellier sub. The trains are a bit out of sync.

Yesterday's Grand Forks Turn was running very late, so 532 tied up in Emerson. It was this crew's Friday, so the crew taxied back to Winnipeg, a new crew would be out tomorrow to clean up. GFT arrived sometime overnight and left it's cars in the Noyes Interchange yard. They pulled the southbound cars from Emerson and went home.

Staff is in short supply for the Letellier sub. An early start would have kept things flowing better, but it's Sunday afternoon now. The new crew is finally enroute from Winnipeg to take 533 north. Meanwhile, the GFT is back and holding south of Noyes waiting for 533 to empty the yard. Today's 532 has already been called in Winnipeg and if they can find a crew, it will possibly meet 533 in Morris.

The stage is set for an "out of sync" day on the Letellier, and Yup! it's crowded.

After an initial layout tour and crew meeting, it was decided that Ian would take 533 going north from Emerson. Once 533 is clear of Noyes, Rico would board the "great pumpkin" and carry on with the work of the GFT.

Above: Ian heads for Noyes on 533

Above: With 533 back in Canada, Ian sorts his train and switches the Transload Track in Emerson

Below: Rico begins work in the pumpkin patch...

Above: 533 Still sorting...

Above: The GFT is done in Noyes and is heading south. Rico joins the crew of 533 and they prepare to depart.

Ian and Rico were both new to RailPro but they were instantly comfortable with it.  They both declared their intentions of purchasing the system after the hands on experience. RP has that effect. I was also very pleased with how they took to my paperwork system. They both picked it up with very little explanation. It was a good test for the layout as I prepare for larger op sessions in the new year.

Here is a bit of video from the action in Letellier...

With Rico on the throttle, the train eased into Morris and I just smiled as Ian's first move set them up instantly to be royally stuck. A few moves later, Ian and Rico were backtracking and gracefully recovered. An hour later the work in Morris was complete and the train was headed off to Winnipeg! (aka: staging)

Time for cake!

After cake, Rico decided there was enough time to bring 532 down and get started on it, but by the time we finished kibitzing around the table, time had run out. The long trek home would have to be next.

It's just as well because 532 is easily a 4 hour job

Overall, I think the railroad performed well. A few issues were solved with graphite, but a lingering electrical issue was discovered in Letellier. It won't take much to clean that one up. That tight gauge turnout in Noyes will need a bit more work too. One bad order car was set out, and the only derailment of the day was due to tampering. The paperwork worked, the cake was eaten and I think everyone had fun!

Until next time, Cheers!

Slow paced switching

The slow paced switching is very realistic. I've timed a real life single car set off at 9 mins. I've heard of people running OP sessions to a clock, for scheduling of course but also the timing of switching movements... the time it takes for the conductor to walk down the tracks, switch a switch, attach/detach brake hoses and so forth.  

Very nice Bill!

Brad

Nice

Good video, thanks for posting the action. Thanks for using a stable platform for the camera too!  

Randy

Nice layout and photos...

...I am sure the can get back on track nice and quick though. Two days in a row on a single track main in the same place there was a train delayed blocking crossings for multiple hours when I was in Osh, Kosh. First due to a broken down swing bridge and second due to someone trying to race a motorcycle.

Looks like fun!

Looks like it was a good time.  Good video as well, though I wouldn't mind seeing more!

-Kevin

seeing more...

Thanks everyone!

I'm starting to get the hang of the video editor, so I will be less hesitant to make videos now.

I'm hoping to record an entire session from start to finish before Christmas. We'll see.

Congrats

Hey Bill, congratulations on your first ops session. It appears the maintenance crews were working lots of OT to get the GP-38-2W's ready for the haul. I sure hope they got paid well and got some cake, to boot! Well done and thanks for sharing.

Regards

Scott

That cake is fantastic...

That Allagash cake is a wonder.
I have heard operators say, If there's not cake, I'm not coming!   In jest of course.

Here is the recipe based on Mike Confalone's description:  Lemon Supreme Pound Cake.

A new MRH column theme?

(Totally off the rails here, Bill. I'd probably deserve the stockade for this.)

In zest -- er, I mean jest, of course -- I suggest NOSH, No Operator Stays Hungry, a monthly compendium of operating session culinary delights. Pre-packaged stuff doesn't count!

So we have a recipe for Allagash Cake.

I could probably talk my wife into making Slate Fork Shortbread.

Who's next?

Sure why not.

I got a good laugh from your post Paul. Lol!!

Double Facepalm...

Oh.....I skewered myself! 

Oh.....I skewered myself!  Now that was something you just need to catch on film!

You certainly found out who was paying attention at the meeting with all of those dropping the wrong car products moves. That looks like a lot of fun was had at the session.

Let's not be hard on Rico....

At least he noticed that it was more complicated than it looked before he declared it was done!

This place is tough to switch.

I think I heard Admiral Ackbar in my head a few times this session.

Not intended to be hard on

Not intended to be hard on him just enjoying the laughter with the group from a long ways off and via the web. I think everyone was surprised at one time or another by how much more difficult something was than first thought or it first appeared.

Good Stuff Here

Really like the dialog between the two operators!  Looks like a lot of fun was had by all!  Video work was good too!  Keep 'em coming!

What are all the glowsticks in the video for?

?

Lots of fun operation

Bill, you've shown that operation on a layout featuring only a few trains can be fun. I still think most people pack in extra operations, such as more trains, industries, cars, just for the sake of adding in more stuff. Then find out it does not add enjoyment. I like the idea of working fewer industries, but working them well. 

You pointed out that your visitors put themselves in a tight spot with one decision. That's a great point to remember when operating. Think and discuss your moves before grabbing the throttle and moving the engine,car or train. We always do job briefings about our moves and often have to debrief when a situation arrives that was not counted on  in the yard office. 

Thank you for reporting about your session and for hosting a session during the building of your layout. Looking forward to more reports. 

Thomas Gasior

NEW layout lighting

TM247: the glowsticks are my next generation of layout lighting!

oh. not actually.  Let's examine that spot a bit...

...a few years ago, these glowsticks came packed in really long black plastic tubes, now they mostly come in cardboard tubes. The plastic tubes are more than long enough for this:

You can probably see where this is going.

Suffice to say, I am popular with the kids at family events - I always have a supply of glowsticks on hand

replies

@Rob, when I said, "Let's not be hard on Rico", I was really reminding my self to not say too many words.  He fell into my little trap, it was almost inevitable. I didn't mean to imply that your comments were harsh in any way.

Rico has worked on the Letellier Sub in real life, so it was a treat to get his insight on my layout. He is also a PRO at planning his moves, which he demonstrated in Noyes, given that he was actually done there in very short order. Ian is also clearly an experienced operator and I had a great time watching them work my layout.

@Tom, thank you for your thoughtful observations! Good thoughts.

@Andy, I appreciate your encouragement.

Bill, I just was wanting to

Bill, I just was wanting to be sure my comments weren't being taken in a way I had not intended, which sometimes happens in a type written conversation. No worries.

Makes sense,

RAINBOW LIGHTING! Look for it in the photo fun thread (now I have to try this)

ACK.. Caught on video!  Had a

ACK.. Caught on video! 

Had a blast Bill, and the layout  provided both a challenge and and a fun time! I ran my layout the next day, that is tried to MU three diesels to pull that coal train I was telling you about. (six six-packs of BN  Bethgons) an hour later I was on Ring Engineering's website making my Christmas wish list. Maybe next session I'll bring them down and really throw a wrench into the works!

Thanx again for your hospitality, and for not laughing too loud at our endeavours!

@Rico

Yeah! Bring them down when you come to pick up your RailPro system! We'll run them from Winnipeg south and get in everyones way

I'm quite sure we were all laughing together. It was a pleasure to have you here.

Coal trains are cool. Three

Coal trains are cool. Three units should easily pull 36 cars.

Glow Sticks

For a moment, I thought you were going to incorporate the aurora borealis into a night operations session!