Large Scale Central

How Often ... For How Long .. And With Whom?

General Discussion
#1

I am curious and have not seen these questions addressed yet (although i may have missed them):

First, on average, during the course of one year, how often do you run your outdoor layout? I am not expecting precise logs, just a rough idea, perhaps expressed in terms such as once a day, once a week, once a month, weekly during summers only, less than 3 times a year, or whatever seems the best way of explaining your situation.

Second, not expecting precise logs or time tables, could you give me a rough idea of how long you run your trains during the average session? One hour, four hours, until the visitors go home, until i get some good photos, until the beer gives out?

My third and last question, again not expecting precise logs, and allowing for a great deal of variation, is to ask you about how many people it takes to run trains on your layout and, if more than one person is required, with whom you run it? Alone, with my spouse, with children or grandchildren, with the neighbor kids, i run it all by myself for the entertainment of anyone who wants to see it, my butler operates the machinery while i sip brandy on the deck, one train per operator and me and my buddies run as many trains as possible when my buddies come over, it takes a village?

I expect quite a bit of variation in the responses.

Please feel free to answer in your own words, not selecting from the sample responses i listed as a starter-set. Fell free also to make more than one answer to any of the questions.

Any and all replies will be gratefully received for my education.

#2

I try to do an “open house” at least once a year for our club, and another one for neighbors. The past couple years I’ve also done them for special events such as the National Narrow Gauge Convention, etc.

These types of sessions usually run from noon or 1 p.m. until 4 or so.

Occasionally I’ll do something for special visitors, such as a church group. These are usually 45 minutes to 2 hours or so.

For my own enjoyment I run whenever the mood strikes. Sometimes I go weeks without running anything, especially if I’m busy scratch-building something, or if I’m doing any extended work on the layout. Other times I may run it almost everyday, anywhere from a couple laps, on up to an hour or so. When I’m doing yard work or something on the patio, I often like to run it just so I can listen to it.

So far I’ve never been bitten by the “operation” bug, so running pretty much consists of just letting it go “round and round”. I love watching a train running through the scenery. Obviously this only requires one operator. Since switching to battery power recently, I now have the capability to run two trains, or a train and railbus. I can do this alone, or with someone else. It’s especially handy when the grandkids are here.

#3

Good seasons, twice a month, scheduled. Full-on ops sessions.
I’ll run some stuff now and then, generally work train related.
Always when the granddaughter shows up…she points outside and says “woo-woo!”.
As far as open houses and shows, ended that several years ago.
No more.

winter months we run once a month…except for snow plow extras, which run when required.

#4

During the summer, I try to get out and run something at least once a week or so, if not more. I’ve got lights along the back fence so I can run at night. Sometimes “running” consists of setting a locomotive on the rails and letting it run around while I do yardwork, sometimes it’s a more “formal” operation session.

Usually I have time to run for around two hours or so before I either have to head into work (on the days I work evenings), head to bed, or have to get going with other activities. That works out well, since one “cycle” on my operations usually takes just about that much time.

My railroad is set up for a single operator. While I do have passing sidings, they’re more doube-ended storage sidings and not designed to actually pass two trains. They do serve in that capacity if my kids are out running trains with me, but generally when they’re running with me, operating sessions are considerably less structured.

Later,

K

#5

catherine yronwode said:

I am curious and have not seen these questions addressed yet (although i may have missed them):

First, on average, during the course of one year, how often do you run your outdoor layout? I am not expecting precise logs, just a rough idea, perhaps expressed in terms such as once a day, once a week, once a month, weekly during summers only, less than 3 times a year, or whatever seems the best way of explaining your situation.

Second, not expecting precise logs or time tables, could you give me a rough idea of how long you run your trains during the average session? One hour, four hours, until the visitors go home, until i get some good photos, until the beer gives out?

My third and last question, again not expecting precise logs, and allowing for a great deal of variation, is to ask you about how many people it takes to run trains on your layout and, if more than one person is required, with whom you run it? Alone, with my spouse, with children or grandchildren, with the neighbor kids, i run it all by myself for the entertainment of anyone who wants to see it, my butler operates the machinery while i sip brandy on the deck, one train per operator and me and my buddies run as many trains as possible when my buddies come over, it takes a village?

I expect quite a bit of variation in the responses.

Please feel free to answer in your own words, not selecting from the sample responses i listed as a starter-set. Fell free also to make more than one answer to any of the questions.

Any and all replies will be gratefully received for my education.

I usually run once or twice a week, on the average, more often if I’m out working in the yard or garden, or on the RR itself. It depends on my mood. Once the snow gets deeper than the plow, operations are secured for the winter, though.

I run for however long pleases me. It may only be a few minutes, or it might be until the battery (or I) run down. I think that the longest that I’ve run was about 5 hours at a time.

I can run my layout with just one (me). I think that if there were more than five locomotives operating on it at a time, things might get a bit congested. It might be fun to try, though. My butler, Jeeves, is a klutz with the throttle, and has been banned from operating sessions, and the ranch foreman just has no interest, preferring flesh and blood horses to the iron kind.

#6

Since I’m having an Open House today, I was running them most of the morning yesterday, to get all the bugs out.

I try to run them a few times a month, when the weather’s nice. It’s very rare that I’ll just set them up and let them run. Most of the time I’ll print up a “Manifest”, set the cars out that it calls for and then have an operating session all by myself for about 2-3 hours.

There are times when I’ll run something and have a “photo session” just to log what’s new or different about the RR. That could start out as an ops session or just a plain old run.

Bruce Chandler and I try to get together at least once or twice a year to operate on each other’s layouts. That’s always fun. They last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. Unfortunately the driving time getting to and from takes a bit longer.

I also try to have an open house either before of after the East Coast Large Scale Train Show for folks that are interested and depending on the weather. They’re welcome to bring their own locos to run (if they use batteries)

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/19785/operations-on-the-j-amp-b

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/19595/operations-on-the-rgs

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/17145/july-2012-operations

And as I mentioned before there are a bunch of us that get together for a weekend of “Operations” at different layouts.

But I spend time on it about twice a week, just putzing around. There’s always something out there that needs fixin…:wink:

#7

Normally I run my trains at least 5 times/week. Except right now I have some serious back problems, so it has been curtailed somewhat. Typically I’ll run the trains for 1-2 hours, and I generally run them by myself. I am fortunate in that I can run my trains regularly year round. My railroad has evolved into a hypothetical shortline, the K&E. When I run the trains I will usually run operations: I have a coal train that runs between the mine and power plant, I have a small tank farm where I fill some tanker cars, a grain elevator and a sawmill that all need servicing.

Usually twice a year a good friend from PA comes to FL bringing some his trains along and we’ll get together and run the trains together for 3-5 hours.

#8

I have one major ops session, TrainOps, once a year, and it runs two and a half days. TrainOps puts the RR at max capacity: Two trains each direction, and two yard crews. With the new config at Burke, this year we used two yard crews there. Figure max 11 or 12 people.

I have two other mini-ops sessions during the summer, for three or four hours on a Saturday.

Maybe two or three one or two train sessions for myself when the mood strikes. And I run a loco and a few cars often when we’re out in the garden, with it set on very-slow, and they layout configured for continuous running. Keeps us company.

#9

Welp I;m just getting to the point where I CAN run trains…I think I ran stuff more this past summer than I have in the past 17 odd years …Its simply roundy round fer now, with a little switching to get a pre staged train out of the building and onto the loop.

Usually it is just me, but the next door neighbors grandson likes to come over when I’m out there, but his friends aren’t so interested…poor kid really gets torn…

There is a plan for operations in the future, as soon as I get the sidings and industries built…but for now I’m just a railfan

#10

My shortline is situated a a small English back garden. This is a very temperate climate here: palm trees grow here for instance, summer never is too hot (exceptionally in the mid 80’sF) and winters are not severe, rarely below freezing point (exceptionally down to 26F). Tracks are at ground level: we did not want an elevated affair as it would totally ruin our gardens appearance. Most mornings are taken up with other priorities but afternoons are always train orientated, providing it is not raining of course. Usually, in the longer days of daylight, I operate trains for 30 -45 minutes, then come indoors, for computer or other tasks, this rotation will last for up to four hours usually. Shorter daylight times and cooler weather limits the time to two hours with a couple of short indoor breaks.

Operations vary: this depends on what else I need to do. If I have wood to saw, grass to mow, maintenance on locos or stock or other tasks then I just have a roundy roundy train running which I try to observe closely - within the parameters of safety. I soon realized that trains, like babies, need to be kept under close observation. Murphy lurks behind many a bush! The type of train varies on whim. As my trackwork moves in and around plants, bushes and trees the actual size of the railroad is not apparent. This makes it more interesting to view of course - in my opinion, that is. Over the eight years the railroad has been in existence modifications to trackwork have been made. I have, in recent times, altered my industrial spurs, freight depot line and passing loop. This allows for switching and wayfreight operation to be done when ones full attention can be given to the railroad. Track power and battery power is available but battery is my preferred method now as I find it far simpler and controllable for switching.

My wife takes no part in train operations but is most supportive when it comes to the horticultural side of things.

So it is generally only in January, when Siberian winds blow from the east, that my railroading is curtailed to any degree. I do, however, have a wooden chalet (which can be heated) which allows roundy roundy ops viewed from its windows. All in all I gain great pleasure and enjoyment with my trains and I would sadly miss them. I seldom get visitors, except for a friend or two of my wifes, but they like to see the trains. As most of my locos and rolling stock have been chosen with readily identifiable American names it is interesting to hear any comments made. Similarly structures are North American in style.

#11

Interesting thread.

Personally I make a clear distinction between Running and Operating as do most others who have posted on this thread. I usually operate but occasionally run my trains.

I enjoy running and operating on other layouts as well as my own. I’ve operated on Fed’s IPP&W in Ottawa Canada a few times with the American Invasion bunch. I’ve also operated Bob’s TrainOps sessions in Massachusetts (I think there have been 3), I’ve run in Pennsylvania on Dave R. (Rooster’s), Dave M. (Hollywood’s) and Ken’s layouts. I’ve also been over to New Jersey a few times to run on Shawn’s layout. It’s always great fun to get together with friends and run or operate trains.

At home I operate the layout when I can. That’s usually about once a week or several times a week on long summer evenings. I am set up for single person ops and rarely have an audience. It takes about an hour and a half to run a set-out train from my indoor storage to where the cars were last, run a manifest train, then run a sweep train to put everything away. Some days I’ll run two or three trains between the set out and sweep taking breaks to do other things. My layout does not accommodate unattended continuous running. It is a point-to-point railroad with a turning wye on one end and and a balloon track on the other.

Some days I just don’t feel like doing the set-outs so I will make up a train indoors (sometimes freight and sometimes a passenger extra) and run it around the wye a few times while I sit and enjoy a beer or two. I have my wye set up on spring switches so if I run the pre-set direction I do not need to throw the switches.

Ray mentions the “operating bug”. When I first started I never considered “operations” and was happy watching trains chase their caboose on small loops with no switches. My second indoor Christmas layout featured a three track stub yard. I found it more enjoyable to interact with the RR by changing cars around then just watch the train go around the tree. Then I met Ric Golding and attended one of his ECLSTS seminars on simple operations using dice. I tried it and fell in love. My first trip to Canada introduced me to more sophisticated operations with multiple trains and complicated switch lists. Now you have to THINK and INTERACT with the RR - What a concept! When Bob introduced the TrainOps software I gave it a try and set up my own railroad for freight operations. I’ve never looked back.

Operations is not for everyone though. It can be quite demanding both physically and mentally. Notice that most of the respondents that operate also say they enjoy just letting the train run around at times. In my opinion, the best layouts accommodate both worlds.

#12

Jon, I enjoyed your post. Good comments about “operating”. My feelings exactly. Your comments about running on other layouts struck a cord for me too. We travel in a motorhome frequently and I always take a locomotive along with me. Since my engines are battery powered, I am able to run on any type of layout. I’ve run my trusty engine in Arizona, New Hampshire, New Jersey, as well as in Skagway and Copper Center, Alaska. This has brought a new dimension to my enjoyment of large scale trains.

Ed

#13

Good thread. I try to run a few times a week. I don’t do any operations mainly because I never got into it. I like to just sit or work on the layout and watch the trains go roundy round :slight_smile: Maybe as I get older I might get into operations but with a busy work schedule, its nice to just sit and relax for now. I tend to run year round except when the trees start to loose their leaves, in the fall. I really njoy running in the snow. I will run in 2 ft of snow or in degree temps lol. Time varies from an hour to a few hours. Most of my running is done alone, with my 4 year old or ill have some friends over to run. I usually have one open house with my club once a year.

I also enjoy taking video of my trains especially the live steam.

Here is proof that im nuts
http://youtu.be/FyR9iojv3tQ

#14

Two or three times a year with friends.

Once or twice a month alone.

All roundy-round.

If I had a way to move my trains from the shop to the layout, I’d prolly

run more often. I’m working on that problem for next spring.

#15

I’ve operated on Fed’s IPP&W in Ottawa Canada a few times with the American Invasion bunch. I’ve also operated Bob’s TrainOps sessions in Massachusetts (I think there have been 3), I’ve run in Pennsylvania on Dave R. (Rooster’s), Dave M. (Hollywood’s) and Ken’s layouts. I’ve also been over to New Jersey a few times to run on Shawn’s layout. It’s always great fun to get together with friends and run or operate trains

Some folks get all the luck. You have run on some great railroads it seems John.

#16

In the nice weather I will run 3-5 times per week usually in the evening. When the cold sets in like it is now I would say once a week. When it gets really cold in Winter and we don’t have any snow to push around I turn to the Christmas tree loop and play with that.

In season running trains I usually go for 2-3 hours and I am usually doing something else on the RR while the trains turn laps such as pulling weeds, planning new easements and better operations. Sometimes I just chill and relax switching around a few cars. It takes 5 minutes to get the RR ready to go and 20 mintues if I need to get the leaf blower out so that cuts into time.

99% of the time I am by myself. I use a Aristo TE that controls the entire layout so even if I have 3 trains running when I hit STOP they all stop. This past year I did put in a switching yard that can be isolated from the main so another operator can swap around cars with their own transformer.

Any time spent with the trains is time well spent in my opinion.

#17

I should mention that I have a few sidings and passing tracks, so there is at least the potential to do a bit of operations someday. However, before that becomes practical, I’ll have to do a lot of work on the switches to make them reliable enough. (They’re the notorious AC “wide radius” switches - the best I could get in the limited space available.)

As it is, I have one direction of travel that is reliable enough to run for any length of time without frequent derailments. This past summer I did a little work on some of the problem areas and got it to where I can run in the opposite direction once in a while but it’s still nowhere near reliable yet.

#18

Some old farts from our club just started to get together. We been running a couple of hours,

then break for lunch, then run couple more hours. Nothing fancy just BS-ing and having a good time.

Don

#19

For ten years we held two Operating Sessions a year. These would be a weekend and we would run about 18 trains a day to a schedule.

For the last 2 years we have moved the Operations to Andy and Jane Clarke’s. I still operate parts of my railroad moving equipment to get it ready for the Clarke’s or to take part of our railroad to train shows.

Most Friday nights of each month, I operate with 3 or 4 other guys on Mark Gowdin’s HO layout depicting the Illinois Terminal Railroad in 1955. We operate to a schedule and calendar. And have been been Operating there for over 5 years. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 sessions to just complete a 24 hour day’s operating schedule. This last Friday night we just completed January 25, 1955. It was another cold day on the Illinois prairie.

#20

Be nice to have an outdoor layout again . . .