Looks like lots of fun. Jean and I should be there for the fall session.
…The Invasion comes soon…Great to see things went well, Ric…I enjoyed the pictures. Thanks.
I would like to thank Ric & Jan for there incredible hospitality, Cody and I had a fantastic time, the friendly atmosphere is wonderful, this was our first time there, and will not be our last. Cody talked about it the way home today, and had to tell his Mom all about his experience at ops session. All the people at the ops session were very friendly and understanding being this was our first time there, we had a few issues about what cars to swap out, and where to go, the dispatcher was very nice considering the rookies she was dealing with, the five finger help is not supposed to happen, but being our first time we had to resort to that a couple times, me and Cody were laughing so much at how were we going to get out of our predicaments.
Thanks again to Ric & Jan for hosting.
Tom h
Very cool!!!
It’s over! As always it ends with a nice meal out with those friends that are still around on Sunday evening. Today, we ran 18 trains, moved 105 cars and 10,656 tons of freight. I can’t thank our friends enough, that come over to allow me to run our railroad as an operational railroad. I owe every one of you so much. And then there is of course, my bride. Why she puts up with me, is the true mystery? Why I’m not as big as a house with her cooking, is also an unanswered question? Yes, I will be the first too admit it got a little intense in the Southern Division for a while this afternoon and most learned it was best to stay away and just let me work it out. Always good advice! A few more pictures - Some of the crews are lining up for train assignments.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/100503%20001.jpg)
Doug Matheson watching his assigned rail bus climb out of John Allen and checking the track ahead.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/100503%20002.jpg)
Robbie’s assigned EBT 10 wheeler negotiating the bowels of the switchback headed from Owl’s Bend.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/100503%20003.jpg)
Our trusty Dispatcher working the software of RailOPs, as the Consolidated Yard Master aka “Rubber Duck” aka Andy C. takes another “Union Break”. (I’ve really got to check out the negotiated contract.) It was great to have both of them back amongst us.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/100503%20004.jpg)
Dan watching Dave work a local freight through Pin Oak westbound.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/jgolding/100503%20005.jpg)
As you can see the weather cooperated, again, and we all had a great time. This was our 18 or 19th OPs Session in the last 8 years . Each one gets more refined and better. God willing, we’ll do it again the first weekend of November.
Ric thank you and your better half for having us/me over to play with the trains. I had a great time and learned alot in working the yard with Andy. The first think I learned is we get a 20 minute break every 10 mintues.
It was a great weekend thanks again.
Was a wonderful weekend… Great Hospitality, Fantastic food… Nice railroad, even if people come by and want to drop off, or pick up freight cars at Consolidated…
But, the best part of the weekend, was being around friends, both new & old… Without that, the whole experience would be missing that joy…
Thanks, Ric & Jan…
Jane & Andy
Noah (5) and I were able to attend late Saturday. I only live 1.5 hour south and it was rainging all morning but I decided to go anyways. Arrived about 3-4:00 and the sun was shining! BEAutiful afternoon with great food and friends! We only ran 2 trains but that was enough to encounter Rubby Ducky, Consolidated’s Yard Master once again! WARNING - proceed lightly and obey all instructions. lol I hated to leave early but I was able to take the boy to a concert that night and it was very cool! Due to not getting home until 1:00 AM, I reluctantly skipped out on Sundays event.
Thanks to everyone involved, we enjoy it very much!
Great pictures and glad to hear the weather held out for you guys. Some day I will have to make it a point to get out their.
Yes thanks for the pics and reports , certainly makes one want to attend a session for sure .
Had a great time, Ric. Will definitely be back in the fall.
Hopefully this will get my co-pilot inspired enough to say “Screw Work!” and make the trip out to the fall session this year. Gettin tired of making the trip by myself…