Yes, it’s that time of the year…our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend is on October 11th, 12th, and 13th. This is the usual end to our “Every Saturday” operating season on the IPP&W.
We still are open to run trains if the weather is favourable, but most of us are not much into freezing our extremities, or getting cold and wet in the usual Fall weather.
We are closed on the holiday weekend as most people are enjoying a family gathering, or are off visiting.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving can be a “Run-what-you-brung” day if anyone wants to join in, and the weather co-operates.
This past season has seen some very exceptional operations. We seem to have prevented most derailments, due to our very stable roadbed and close adjustments to all wheelsets for gauge. We have also been doing an on-going project of rebuilding all Aristo wide radius switches. The lack of derailments is in spite of the fact that we do extensive switching during our operations.
Again, I must stress the importance of a stable roadbed for the track, which prevents most operating and running problems. You just can’t go “Cheap” on roadbed, without a lot of frustration.
The Fall and Winter open the door to a very important part of any operation.
It’s the time to spend a lot of effort checking the rolling stock.
Rolling stock is a great part of any frustration during operations, if you don’t maintain it properly.
Have you checked the wheel gauge on all your cars ? Are you finally standardized on one make of coupler so that all cars and locos can fit ito the overal operation ? Have you checked the couplers for missing springs, height, and freedom of movement ?
Have all your locos and cars been lubricated properly ?
We usually spend the Winter replacing broken or missing parts on all rolling stock, and checking all these things. It’s also the time to check those cars that seem to keep rocking like an old maid in a rocking chair. It’s usually an easy fix, of making a better “Three point” adjustment to the body bolsters on most cars.
Winter is also a great time to finally get rid of truck mounted couplers and convert to body mounts. This is sure to improve those back-up moves you seem to try to avoid, until forced into the situation in a true operation.
Winter is also the time to sit in front of a warming fire with good holy water, and friends; to plan the new year’s operation and maintenence programme. The planning should include finding ideas for enhancing the trackage, or just plain fixing a switch or two that keeps giving problems. Maybe also adding that industry, and additional sidings. It’s a great time to build buildings too…
I hope this long note gives everyone motivation and ideas for a good healthy Fall, and Winter, and a great hope for a great new operating year.
