Operating – Feb. 10, 2008
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on your perspective, we were short a couple operators last evening. I was pressed into service on the East Bound Wayfreight and did not have time to take any pictures.
Brian wanted to give the new wayfreight instructions a workout so he ran the opposing wayfreight. His start was delayed because of, who else, Derwin wanting to make up his transfer at the same time Brian was making up his train. When he finally got on the road, Brian wasn’t long making up for lost time.
Derwin decided to run something “simple” for a change and took the Wholeinthall Turn and Transfers. He quickly realized they weren’t as simple as he first thought. Once the Wholinthall Turn and transfer from Bayside arrive in Tidewater they must be sorted into a return train to Wholinthall and the return transfer to Bayside. There is quite a bit of yard work involved with these runs.
Greg chose the local job in Chappellton. It was a slow day in Chappellton so he ended up also switching in Kenville and Derwin’s Drop and provided helper service over The Ridge.
Tom, the newbie, flew solo in Stevenville. Unfortunately for him, Stevenville was extra busy. He had about 14 cars leaving town, 10 cars coming in, as well as a couple local moves. Being unfamiliar with a town is one thing, being new to operations adds to the complexity considerably. You did great Tom!
Running a full session solo during the past week helped to identify several trouble spots. I got most of them fixed as they occurred so there were fewer problems last evening. But there were a few things, both expected and unexpected, that popped up. I think that in the 3 weeks until the next session on the BS&T I will run another solo session to work a few more kinks out.
For all we did quite well. The shift was done about 10:00 after about 2.5 hours of operating.
Later!
Scott
Scott
Thanks for the report … even thou was no pictures.
I think I will have to do the same and operate my layout before the next session. My operators were saying there were issues.
Jobs can look simple, until you have to do them. Derwin will learn someday.
later
Doug
I think it’s good to run a session by yourself once in a while to get some bugs worked out – things that some operators will not mention, or you forget about. But, because you are only moving a portion of your rolling stock each session you may not get to see all of the problems that can happen.
One thing I have done is post a bunch of little stickies over each yard that are to be used to flag problem areas or cars. Operators write the problem on a sticky and stick it on the car or near where the problem is. This helps a lot too.
Derwin and learn are two words you don’t hear in the same sentence very often. ;^) Ha (Sorry Derwin!)
Scott
Hi Scott ,
Well written .
Thanks for the kind words . Really enjoy running solo last night . Was a good time .
Thanks to all of you for your help on my layout
No problem Tom! I’m glad you had a good time. I was afraid we were throwing too much at you all at once.
Scott
Great read, I am truly jelous and can not wait for good time like these down at the club.
Thanks Ron!
Scott