Today, Jean & I went over to visit Jim & Jo Ann Kottkamp for their first operations session!
Unfortunately we couldn’t stay as long as I would like as Jean was experiencing a lot of pain.
So…the layout looks just wonderful! Jo has added a lot more ballast and Jim put up some nice signs that Jo Ann had lettered.
Oh, my! Jim listened to my recommendations (WHO does THAT??? 
) and installed track bumpers at the end of each spur.
Some folks barely have to duck at all to avoid hitting their head…others are frequently reminded when they fail to heed the sign.
I ended up running several trains.
First I ran the passenger train around the layout. Cool.
I met Jim’s stockcar train at the passing siding on the fence.
After dealing with the passengers, I was ready for another train, but first had to turn my engine on the turntable.
It’s manual, but smooth!
Now I was in position to take 3 tank cars and a few gondolas and boxcars out.
Another innovation is movable brakes for the trains - the grade is typically 2% and cars roll easily…
Here, I’m using one to keep the caboose from running downhill…while I drop off the cars at Ophir.
Once all the cars are dropped (forgot to take pictures of dropping the tank cars!), I’m down to just the caboose and the locomotive.
Everything operates just great! I love THIS switch in an otherwise hard to reach location - Jim has added the brass bar to make it easy to reach!
As usual, I just did not take enough pictures!
I DID have fun, though! Many thanks to Jim and Jo Ann for hosting a great session!
