Large Scale Central

Prepping for an "Ops Session"

Operations
#1

One of the most enjoyable parts of our semi-annual “Ops Session”, is the inventory and positioning of the rolling stock. Since we only hold two of these weekends a year, rolling stock gets moved, removed or added between sessions. By doing a “Car Location” inventory with RailOps, I get a report of where the rolling stock is suppose to be located at the beginning of a session. Cars that are suppose to be in the garage (Fiddle) are in the basement and vicea/versea. Cars that are suppose to be at a location in the front yard or backyard have to be stored at a protected location. By Friday afternoon, everything will need to be at the proper prestaging location. Obviously, the easy way would be to hand carry the cars and sort with the sky crane. Instead, we take about 4 evenings of moving equipment by rail and sorting or blocking strings of cars on the inside ready tracks prepping them to be ready to go. All inside locations can obviously be set up and prestaged as to the exact location, but that can’t be the way for the front yard sidings and even some of the backyard locations get put away until the last couple of days.

There are two tracks right inside the basement window (Southern Jct). Main track is Southern Branch and the siding is Southern Branch Interchange. Since physically, Southern Branch is north of the other track, it gets prestaged with all rolling stock headed to the front yard or north and is handled by the “KV Setup North”. The south track is Southern Branch Interchange and it gets rolling stock handled by the “KV Setup South”. These will be the first moves of the days of the operations. There are also transfer runs of cars headed to Fiddle (the garage) or out to KV Water (hose locker in the front yard). Each day or the weekend ends by running “KV Sweeper South” and “KV Sweeper North”, going back to those same tracks right inside the basement window.

As we charge batteries and test equipment these are the functions that are being carried out. It allows us to test turnouts, trackage and get in the true mood of running the railroad. Its been going on since Sunday evening and really adds to the excitement of the up coming event.

Its all for fun, but it drives my wife nuts.

#2
Quote:
Its all for fun, but it drives my wife nuts.
I thought that was the point :D
#3

The Canadian Contingent arrived yesterday evening and are off to St. Louis and surrounding areas today. Things start in earnest this evening as they test their equipment.

Jan is freaking out because she thought things got moved up to Friday from Saturday and now the guys are here on Wednesday and plan to run on Thursday evening.

She sometimes doesn’t get it that the guys are not worried about how well the closets of an unused bedroom are cleaned, they just want to run trains.

Weather is turning great and it should be a fine weekend.

#4

If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. :smiley:

#5

Tell the Canadian contingent that they better be home for Wednesday morning…

The loads of retaining wall stone are coming on Wednesday morning and we need “All Hands” for unloading.

The project is underway and the old roadbed is almost removed. Construction of the retaining wall is started.

The Three 36 replacement switches are arriving on Monday.

#6

I’m glad to hear of the good weather you should be getting. I did a “Special Nude Sun Dance” last evening (After dark), just to try to promote great weather for you…Have a great party.

#7

Oh, good lordy…!! Another blizzard is on the way…! :lol:

#8
Warren Mumpower said:
Oh, good lordy..!! Another blizzard is on the way..! :lol:
Nah, but it is raining here.
#9

Where’s all this retaining wall work happening, Fred?

#10

Bob; the retaining wall project is part of the redesign of Ironwood. The stone retaing wall replaces rotting wood that is gradually giving away. The main reason for the project is to make the track structure at Ironwood better for operation. The small stub sidings were always a pain to switch. We are replacing the switches at both ends of the passing track with #6s’, and at the same time the switch to the “Ramp” (The track that allows continuous running). The station will be replaced too. At this point we haven’t built one, but you never know if one will show up overnight…!!! It will be relocated when we finally replace it.

#11

Friday, has come and gone. The Clarke’s showed up along with Doug and Ralph from Canada. Doug and Jane worked on RailOps, Ralph, Andy and I worked on getting cars out to proper locations, minor track adjustments and other trivial stuff. Equipment was tested with most working without flaw. The Accucraft cars were pulled from the roster, because of “Andy Clarke frustration”. I had gotten the Kadee couplers to replace the Accucrafts, but the 5 minutes per car is exagerated. This will take a little longer and I believe Bachmann wheels will replace the Accucraft’s, also. Future projects. Todd showed up with some squashed grapes, that he insisted we try. Some of it was shared as the day ended. The day slowed with a sacrificial burning of meat and sharing of friendship. It is now Saturday morning and our “two hour Sunday after noon op session” is continuing to be prepped with lots of fun and about 10 people expected to show up this afternoon. The “Dispatcher” has stated all is ready for test runs and fun, but she wants the Tylenol bottle kept near the confuser. I don’t know what that is about. :wink:

I know pictures. Its hard, I’ve assigned a camera crew and even tried to spend some time with it myself. It just doesn’t ever seem to be the priority. We will work to improve that, today. 50 degrees at 0630 and a forecast in the 70’s without a cloud in the sky. Andy and Jane still carry their umbrellas in the car. And, of course, I have rain gear hanging in the back hall.

#12

The operating session has come and gone. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful. We had a little trouble with misplaced cars. I was responsible for 3 of them on Sunday and it took Mack and I about an hour to fix that screwup. I didn’t take a lot of pictures since I spent more time playing.

Hehe… I made a grammar mistake. It should say, “Mack and me.” There’s a funny word for a grammar mistake made when people often think the correct grammar is incorrect.

#13

BTW: The bunny lies. Buy Duracell, not Energizer :wink:

#14

One of these days Ric I’m going to make it. Later RJD

#15

Looks like much fun. Ric, did Doug get his stuff?

#16

Stuff was brought and stuff left. I know nothing. I plead the 5th. I wasn’t working that day. Nobody ever told me. That’s not my yob. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a part of that conspiracy. Of course, I guess that means there is a conspiracy, but then I’m sure I’m not part of it.

RJ, you are always welcome.

#17

That’s a good way to identify the young kids… Make them all wear baseball caps. :smiley:

Looks like everybody had fun.

#18

Looks like it was a great time . Was Rick and the person in the green /yellow IT hat talking traction maybe ?

#19

That person in the IT is Mark Godwin. He knows an awful lot about traction and Illinois Traction, specifically. We have become friends as we explore common interests. Dennis, he’s the one I was with last week up in Peoria. Has lived in Lebanon, Illinois all his life and has pursued traction lines through southwestern Illinois all his life. We discuss lots of things.