Operating Sessions

I have finished my layout to the point of being able to host regular operating sessions. How many of you regularly host sessions, or go to other's? What are the things you like the best, and what are the things you hate? What do you do to make your's special? If you were going to somebody else's, what would you expect or like to see/do? I'm looking for any ideas, then I'll share mine with you...
MOPAC 1

 

Mopac1, you are not far from my home town, Wichita! Fellow Jay Hawker! I'll chime in. I used to have what you call operating sessions, though we just called and met at someone's house. I wasn't married when this started, and after, the ladies usually stayed up stairs and discussed their aches and pains, made sandwitches, coffee, gossiped; while we ran or repaired trains. Someone was always assembling a kit, or machining an engine frame or something. After awhile, we would get to running. Someone would run his new switcher and get cars into a 'train'. Someone else would go put a caboose on it. then we would put names in a can and draw to see who got to "drive the train". While he was on the road, the rest of us would set about making up another train. the night passed and the ladies would usually let us know when it was time to go home. As kids came along, things began to get broken, and when it got too expensive, things broke off. A club was formed, loosely at best, and a layout was started. We tried to form some sort of operational rules sort of prototypical, but we couldn't count on who would show up. In later years, a lot of the bugs have been worked out. We learned NOT to put our brand new BRASS out on the layout. Not to allow non-railroad visitors within two arm's reach of the layout. Only run engines you can afford to have damaged without killing the guy. And collect the run fee when they walk in the door. It has always been hard to find a guy to play dispatcher, so that you will have to solve. Everyone wants to run his train. Don't try to have an organized running session with visitors present, and never with kids there. Once the kids got to be about 13 or so,(mostly), their dads had trained them to be trusted with other guy's equipment. Cover your butt. Rule one was,"The guy who does damage pays for it, or repairs it, on the spot". Things went smoothly for several years. It can be quite entertaining with the right bunch of guys. With visitors, keep the expensive stuff out of sight and locked up good.

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Watash

 

I agree with Watash, no visitors, only model RR people. At the NEB&W, we run op sessions based on the prototype Rutland and D&H railroads from the 1950s. At times we can keep up to nine people busy! We always have a dispatcher and three Yardmasters (three yards). From there, everybody else runs trains. You kind of volunteer for the assignment. However, you need to have enough "points" to hold certain positions.

Also, we only run era and prototype-specific equipment on the layout, so we don't have to worry about people wanting to run "their" locomotive or train.

A complete overview of how we operate, including our layout rules, points system, and scheduled trains (we run a lot of extras if the operators are available) is available here: http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/images/operations/operations-TOC.html

As for what I would expect running elsewhere, I would think some random way of drawing an assignment, and then instructions on how to complete it and what the schedule is.

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Corey Lynch
Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society
NEB&W RR
http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site
http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W

 

Everyone has their own cup of tea, but I don't like the idea of "Don't bring in ANY outsiders, you might disrupt things." If we want this hobby to continue to grow, we sometimes have to put up with a Newbie or two. "Put up with" sounds a little harsh even, but it sometimes hits the nail on the head. Now let me say thins BEFORE you all think I'm a bit crazy, (I know what your thinking Charlie... ) should we invite just anyone? No, they should show a genuine intrest in what is going on. Kids should be welcome but with this stipulation, "It's YOUR child, YOU keep an eye on him. He breaks anything, it's the gallows!" My club is N-Trak. We hold an anual meet called "The Fun-Run" which is supposed to be a weekend just for us and other INVITED clubs. Every year we get more "Visitors" and we've finally put our foot down because it's got out of hand. Now this isn't always the case but some of these visitors have been there to enjoy free doughnuts and coffie, and to get some free running time without the hassel of helping to set up or take down. Others have brought their kids who need "something to do", let them run wild and think the Members will act as baby sitters. NOPE, not anymore. You brought them, you watch them! There's nothing wrong with "closed sessions", BUT, you have to be aware, if you close it up too much, you can shut out a possible Newbie that can help the garden grow. Invite, but supervise, it's the best way to go.

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BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!

 

What I was referring to were operating sessions. So let me clear up my interpretation of operating sessions.

At the NEB&W, we run Prototypical operating sessions based on the D&H and Rutland RRs. During these sessions we run schedules, timetables, extras, etc...

We also have open houses, which is where we invite the general public to watch. $5 is charged for admission. Here we just run trains semi-prototypically (train length and consist) but don't worry about schedules and timetables. This way the public gets what they want (to see trains run) without us having to worry about putting an XM at industry S21.



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Corey Lynch
Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society
NEB&W RR
http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site
http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W

 

I understood completely. I still think it is in the Hobbies best interest to have visitors during these sections too. But they must show a real interest in the hobby. No, I wouldn't want the general public running around while doing one of those "Rivet Counting Sections" either.

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

 

We have a pretty active group of ops in Kansas City, each with their own rules and regs. Many don't invite outsiders during a session, and I can understand their viewpoint. I usually try to have a session every so often that has a couple of regulars there along with invited newbies who want to get their feet wet. It is a much more relaxed session. It is kind of like a pro rail session, even tho experienced ops show up for pro rail, they haven't ever operated on mine usually, so that makes them newbies.
Another local op and I have had a couple of coed sessions which actually turned out pretty well, and the wives and girl friends actually learned about what it is we do in the basement or wherever.
Bob Miller

 

All very good ideas! Thanks guys! Some thoughts I had: I have a computer software program "Ship It!", from Albion Software, that will allow me to offer you as the operator a clipboard with switchlist. You will then go to the proper yard, gather your train, and head off on your route. There are clipboard holders and throttle holders at each plug-in station. I will also have drink holders. I got an idea from the game "Monopoly"; I will have a deck of "chance" cards...some will be serious (like you have a bad order car you must set out), some will be funny (your wife made balony sandiches for lunch, and you HATE balony), and you must draw one twice per shift. I will have a fast clock. I'm thinking of two-man crews (Conductor/brakeman to be in charge of train and throw manual turnouts, and engineer to handle throttle duties). The entire layout has facia, with each industry located with a placard telling the industry name, town, and products it ships/receives. Any other ideas you acn think of to make it more fun? MOPAC 1

 

Don't know your railroad so I am just supplying general info. Two man crews can get dicey if your aisle space is a little narrow. Two crews of two men each equal four bodies trying to get around in a space.
Also, if possible, do not have a yard op across the aisle from a major switching point, especially if on a main aisle. Again too many warm bodies. I use the Old Graphics waybill and car cards. Bought the Albion system, but never set it up because of the number of staging areas on my railroad. I modified the waybill portion to my peculiar needs. I have advoided drink cups which sounds good, but don't want on duty crews drinking on the job, since spillage can ruin equipment and scenery. I have a crew lounge (the garage) for off duty crew and that is where the eating and drinking happens. also eating things like cookies while operating can result in interesting ballast colors and textures.
I have the carcard pockets mounted on the facia at each switch point. At yards and busy switch points I also have a small shelf attached to facia to sort train consists. that avoids having someone spread carcards on the railroad which again can be hard on scenery.

These are some things I can think of, I am sure others will have more.
Bob Miller

 

Mopac 1, Both Harron, and Maxwell gave you good advise, (speeking from experience, I turned 70 yesterday). My original comments, presumed you were operating your personal layout as if it was a club layout for a session. I started out about how it was done in the 1930's on home layouts. Then I progressed on to the club layouts. I have been a charter member of new clubs, a club visitor, and a lone wolf, and a friend of a small group who occasionally 'ran trains together', It sounds like you wish to attempt to operate as prototypically as will be practical on your own layout, while trying to do that with visitors who may be some of the operators. As has been suggested, prepare for repairs! One excited kid (well, person), can short out your power source, just as the session starts. Jelly, peanut butter, chololate melted with dried milk makes drivers slip. I saw a kid get a broken arm when he put a 'ready-to-run' (toy) diesel loco on a track and let it run head-on into a Custom made brass engine that was being test run on the opposit side of the club layout. Just because the stupid kid's dad was a rich blustery know-it-all, he thought his brat could do not wrong, so he offered the member $20.00 to go buy himself another engine!! (That's what the kid's toy had cost.) We all wanted to break both their heads! I and two others left that club. We all offered to testify, but moneybags settled out of court. In those days, 1948, any non-kit , or ready to run was considered a toy, because they all had extra long flanges, and most were just pretty plastic. Not too different from today, in the price range, cheap-o's are toys. Try to keep the operation as simple as possible to please the greater number of people. You may really get a kick out of being 'up to your ears' in fast traffic, quick decisions, instant recognition of where you are, etc, but the guy beside you may not care to have a heart attact under your kind of pressure. You may wish to consider alternate kinds of operating sessions. Some for the highly strung (lets say skilled), some for a slow season where you have to call out the rotary snow plow to rescue the Passenger train buried up in the pass; maybe another where there is a lot of switching to do. Once you get to know each guy, it will be easier, but if you INVITE a visitor to operate on your layout, or your club's layout, (You are responsible). Remember, IF IT CAN HAPPEN, IT WILL EVENTUALLY!! I have seen an entire passenger train destroyed as the engine was backing up to couple on to make a run. Some lady carrying a kid, leaned over the layout to see around the person in front of her. Her kid got hold of the pretty parlour car, and when the momma straightened up and walked away, the kid dragged the whole 12 brand new hand made streamliner cars off onto the floor. In the yelling and confusion, every car got stepped on. The kid even dropped the car he had. Just use your head, and cover your butt, make sure you can re-cover on your homeowner's insurance too. Good Luck.

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Watash

 

Mopac 1, I didn't mean don't ever invite visitors, I meant, you may have a more pleasant 'Visitor' session, if you just have a train or so running around and let the visitors see your "Trains in action". For an operating session, just serious operators, no visitors, so everyone can pay attention to what he is doing. A "Make it special" session, need be no more that have a "Run what you Brung" night, so they can show off their new 'toy'.

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Watash

 

What I am refering to as an "Operating Session" is inviting only people I already know. People from my local train club, and others I have met in my travels that are withing reasonable driving distance. These will be prople that are interested in actual operations, as opposed to "watching the trains go around in a circle". They might be other layout owners, as well as folks who don't have the space/time/money for their own layout. I would like to set up a sort of "round-robin" where a small group of us who have working layouts meet at a different layout each month. Your thoughts?...

 

That's the spirit! The problem I have with NOT EVER inviting NEW persons to operating sessions is this. How are the Newbies to this hobby ever going to know what "operating sessions" are about if they never get to go to one? I had never been to one and got invited to go ta a great N-scale layout that has recently been rebuilt. It belongs to John Columbo from Urbana, IL. I look forward to seeing the new layout soon, but back to the old one. Like I said, I had never "Operated" before but had always wanted to. Being a Newbie, I figured I'b be asked to watch. WRONG! I got a local to engineer! With thru-freights and hot Passenger trains coming at me from both directions, I had to stay on my toes and get my work done efficantly and SAFELY! No rules bending allowed, and all moves had to be made with the "shack". I couldn't leave it parked ANYWHERE! If the train moved, so did the "shack"! To say the least, I had fun and look forward to doing it again. But I never would of had the opertunity If someone (Mr. Columbo in my case.) hadn't asked me.

Thanks for the "Local-Job" John!

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

 

OK Mopac 1, I now understand! Brent is right also! Brent may claim to be a 'newbie' buy he already knows more than what I thought you were referring to as the Visitors. We operated several years with no problems that way. If one of the guys wanted to bring a guest, then we only required that the guest operate his own engine the first time out. As Brent mentioned, it can get rather tense, and we did occasionally have a wreck, but that first hour of guest initiation, we were not running any expensive equipment, so no real harm done. We felt this was only fair to all. Only twice, I think, did a guest not pan out. One finally learned, the other was just not invited to come back, although he was at other layouts, and eventually learned too. We didn't ridicule or beat up on either one, but the guy who invited him was responsible for him, so was expected to train him if needed. We all had Mantua's couplers back then, so there was a lot of switching, and no train ever broke in two. Uncoupling a double header had to be done at a block break, that was fun! We were all given a run thropugh at each guy's layout, even if we had been there before. It was a hard and fast rule. I suspect it solved some problems we never knew about.

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Watash

 

I want to ad, I wasn't the only "Newbie" invited. My Brakeman was new to operations too. He did a great job. It was/is a N-Scale layout and uses Micro-Trains couplers. No problems coupling or derailing for us. But they did have a sizable derailment in the yard with VETS at the throttle. It made us feel pretty good, we started asking, "Where's the east-bounds?" They were piled in the yard! But the west-bounds kept coming!

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

 

Hush Brent! You aren't susposed to tell embarrassing things like that! Ha! That must have been a great time for you! That's what happens when you get too cocky!

Mopac 1, Kam industries has three (or more) dispatching software products, you may wish to review. Their site is: sales@kamind.com
Engine Commander, Layout Commander, and Computer Dispatcher Pro. It sounds like what you are discribing. These three are new.

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Watash

 

I have no problems with newbies, especially when they are young children (9 to 13 years of age).

On exhibitions or at home I always let children run a train and explain them what to do, how to do and why. You must see the eyes of those youngsters, it's only their parents that run in problems because the kids are "begging" for a train set.

I think that we modelers should be aware that these youngsters are the future in model railroading.

To many young children are now spoiling to much of their free time with all those stupid computer games, where no initiative is needed, no fantasy, nothing that comes from their selves but only things that have been chewed for them by other people.

I think that model railroading is something where you can learn a lot of skills, bring in a lot of your own fantasy which leads to personal satisfaction,..... thus bring in the kids or other persons and let them "play".

This is the best guarantee for a flourishing and thriving hobby!!!

Paul

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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway

[This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 03 October 2000).]

 

Precisely! That's what I've been trying to say all along and you said it best! The Young Newbies are what is ahead for this hobby and we should include as many Newbies in our activites as possible. Why shut them out? This will lead to them trying other hobbies, like Radio Control Cars and Airplanes! How would want to get into that? All kidding aside, I was trying to mentor a young man a few years ago. He was the son of my former boss at work. His father passed away in an "unfortunate accident" at home and this really took it's toll on him and his sister. He showed an interest in this hobby, so I passed on to him what was left of my HO equipment. I was going to come to his house and help him build his layout. His step-father was against this and didn't want him to get into the hobby. This young man is now a lost cause and has been in and out of trouble with the law. I expect to see him die in an "unfortunate accident" some day soon also. We lost this one, let's not lose another by being an "exclusive" hobby.
Thanks Rappie!

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF