We run single man Road Crews.  No need for an extra body taking up space that is not needed.

I found your layout several years ago and it has been an inspiration as I put my layout together.  I downloaded your track plan and pictures and refer to them often.

Your room is so neat.

I completely missed the "emu" in the layout name, but the funny thing was as soon as you panned around the room, I thought to myself this is a layout based on Australia or New Zealand, so well done on capturing the feel.

@AzBaja

We run single man Road Crews.  No need for an extra body taking up space that is not needed.

I get the point here, but I run what some would call a 'very small' layout, in a 11x10 foot room and On30. Generally, I run two people sessions total (one running a through train and the other the center 'choke point' area where a lot of the switching takes place) but the other day I had three people show up for an op session. I thought of breaking out a third locomotive and a passenger car and have the third guy just run a passenger hop through the session to give him something to do, but two of them decided to work together on the same train, one as a conductor and the other as the hogger (both these guys are real life Amtrak people, though) and it worked out really well.

I've run with other people on two-man crews before and if I get along with the other guy, it's good to have someone to talk to while you're running. I think you get more done as you can talk trains while you're working on the layout.

You can never have too much detail or too many trees on a layout.

Very enjoyable video.  It's fun to watch how an operating session on another railroad goes.  Your session was much quieter than one I'm used to!  Either the guys I run with are out of control, or your crew was on their best behavior!

My layout is about the same size as yours (14x25) and I hope to start operating soon.  I hope my sessions run as well as yours.

G'Day,

Single man crews do work the best for us also.

Cheers Ken

G'Day Michael,

I edited all the banter out so it appears quierter than it actually was.

cheers Ken

G'Day Lee,

I agree with what you say.

The advantage of being able to have two man crews from my point of view as layout owner is if all six regulars turn up they can all be accommodated by having two two man road crews and if only three turn up we can do without the controller (dispatcher) and I get a chance to actually run trains during the session.

I looked up your website.Nice layout. David in my video (staging operator) is building a nice On30  layout. I have posted a short video of it on You-Tube.

Cheers Ken

G'Day Dave,

Yes the K&EFR is freelance / prototype of South Australia in 1984. I am still working on scenery and structures.

I visited your website. I thought that the W&N branch is excellent.

Cheers Ken

G'Day Dave,

It is kind of nice to know that you have inspired someone. Thanks. I hope that you get as much enjoyment out of the HVTRR as I get out of the K&EFR.

Cheers 

Ken