I too love to watch the trains run, but I also built my railroad to do operations. After all, the railroad does have to have something to do to maintain it's existence. However, Rob brought up a good question. At most train shows  all you see are trains going around and around. I have never seen a true " Operations " session at a train show around here. I wonder if one of the clubs would do at least a little switching if that would not peak the interest of another group of spectators? I know some of the modules have the capability of doing a loads in - loads out industry. Or am I wrong, most visitors are not interested in seeing pickup / drop offs ? I can understand the fascination of fast passenger trains whizzing by, and the oohs and aahs of the long coal drags, especially with their horns blaring and bells ringing. I do know that sound has brought many more visitors to stand and watch the trains, and the remarks made about the squealing wheels and steam loco pumps running. Thoughts ?

Michael

I like both. My layout is built, I hope, for 3 operators to keep busy while switching the industries and running a few through freights. I did build it with a loop connection so while I work on it I can hear the clickey clack of the wheels and the sounds of the engines. As said previously, we MRR's have a big tent to play in.

My layout is a small switching layout, what I call an 'Operational diorama'. I will take a work break to run a train - only a one engine operation on my layout (for now) so I will switch an industry or two or sort out the interchange yard just above and behind my work station here. 

I guess being such a small layout, I can invite some one over and we can run an operation prototypically.. pausing after every switch move, the conductor would have to walk to the end of the hall to simulate the walk to flip a switch…or go to the bathroom flipping the toilet seat up and down simulating a derail ;) Then we'll pause for a lunch break, nip out to the pub - no alcohol though ;) then resume the rest of the 'day'. 

So either or sounds fun for me. :)

Wen I running the layout as lone Wolfe I let a train run on the main line wen I switch the branch line or yard. Wen group op session the main line passenger train loops back to it start of its run.

He calls himself a "runner" that just likes to see the trains run through some nice scenery.  I've never done an Ops session. I am somewhat of a loner and could see myself just kicking back and running trains.

Here is part of 1 of 4.  And do check out Chris's other videos on the page.  He has done a great job showcasing a wide variety of layouts.

And I hope you also have a Happy Thanksgiving!

https://youtu.be/M9Nj-twhG78

Michael,

Much of what you see at a train show is trains going around and around for a couple of reasons.  One is that most of the attendees just want to see something moving, and if nothing is going around the loop, they get bored.  Another is that operation takes concentration on the part of the operator, while going around and around takes less and therefore allowing an opportunity to answer questions from the public without either tying up the mainline(s) with a stopped train or losing control (or sight) of your train.  After all, part of the reason for the show is to promote the hobby, right?!

That said, the key to a train show is the first comment above:  people like to see something moving.  The Amherst Railway Society's HO scale modular layout, the Amherst Belt Lines, typically runs an operating session at every show they go to.  All (well, most) of the cars on the layout have car cards and waybills.  Local freights are made up and dispatched to various modules to work.  Through freights are run as rolling staging yards to keep the main yard from being totally clogged and therefore workable.  There have been some occasions when the layout was run with a dispatcher, but more often then not it isn't - primarily due to the show environment.  Several of the modules have the ability to pull a train off the mainline so that the industries can be worked without bringing the layout to a halt.  Some work is planned so that it is a quick trailing point pick-up and drop to minimize the impact on the mainline.  All operators are encouraged to run at prototypical speeds - the layout is not a race track!  The key to this, again, is movement.

A mainline train moving to its destination captures the public's attention.  By the same token, a local working an industry or several industries off the mainline makes a lot of movement and will draw a crowd as well.  The yard is always a gathering place for show attendees because something is almost always moving.  Operations at a show on a modular layout are possible, as long as the layout and the modular group have decided that operations are the direction they want to pursue, as the Amherst folks have.

I think "patentwriter" has it right - a lot of my enjoyment of operation session hinges on the overall aesthetics of the layout environment and the group of people in a big way.  I enjoy operating sessions, both large and small, provided those basic criteria are met.  I will attend maybe only 6-10 sessions of varying size per year that are the scheduled-in-advance type of thing.  After that, I may sprinkle in the occasional laid back spontaneous session at a nearby friends house.  I'm a home-body by nature, and work and family commitments are numerous at this point in my life, so that probably dictates how often I partake in larger sessions. 

I'm in the process of building my own layout now, which will be point-to-point, but I will admit that I'm tempted to build in a provision for continuous running, for exactly the reason you state.  Even when I'll engage in a "session" on my layout, it isn't going to be complex in the slightest bit - we're talking dead-end agricultural branch line... not exactly TT&TO sort of territory.  This will be a primarily lone-wolf approach, with the ability to add a second job if I need to entertain a small group (3 or 4).  I've purposely planned this layout to accommodate anywhere from a 30min to 2hr session to fit the varying and spontaneous nature of my hobby time.  Sometimes I just like to watch them run, like you said.  Maybe it has something to do with how most of us started off - a loop of track, and our imaginations... who knows.  I think the most important thing is that it is available to you, in one way or another, to flex that part of your brain where you derive enjoyment from this (or any) hobby.

"but I will admit that I'm tempted to build in a provision for continuous running, for exactly the reason you state."

    I always try to work in a continuous run on  point to point layouts. They are handy for breaking in locos , watching trains when one feels like it, and for extending the run time during operations if the modeled locations are too close together to let a train run a satisfying distance. ....DaveB

Alan, thank you for your perspective as an operator at a train show. You are correct, people want to see trains running, and there are always a couple running on the double track modules, usually running in opposite directions. It is good to know that a crowd develops around the yard, and that people are at least drawn to watching some switching. I did visit the Amherst Belt Lines web site and it is refreshing to see younger people with throttles in their hands. Obviously you encourage youth into the hobby, and that is always a great thing to see, and I applaud you and your Club for promoting the hobby. Your website banners says it all, and I can see that you live that commitment.

Michael

And so it is. If you go to first principles, most people's interest in trains was . . .watching them run. Trains are big, loud, and impressive. Rare is the child that sees a train and thinks "I'm really interested in the fact that this boxcar has (some number) of ribs on the side." 

As i"ve gotten into the hobby, I like watching trains run, and operating the layout, but my primary interest has evolved into scratch building structures, especially engineered structures like bridges. The thing that separates model railroading from other hobbies is that our stuff can be made to move in a purposeful manner. Operation is the primary interest of the hobby, but ancilliary work that supports that interest is needed and welcomed.