The first, of what looks like is going to be an annual event, TrainOps 2010 ended successfully today. 14 trains (7 sessions of 2 trains each) were run over two days. A few track glitches were found and fixed, and some coupler issues with AMS gondolas were discovered, to be rectified soon. More photos soon, but here’s one of several empty hoppers awaiting delivery to the colliery at Majestic.
…winking…
Whazzat funny looking yellow thing with the orange clip in the “empty” hopper just behind the engine?
That’s Bob’s rubber ducky! :lol:
Nothing like having an extra battery, or maybe that was the only one? HEHE
Steve Featherkile said:Not Bob's. Nobody recognizes it?
That's Bob's rubber ducky! :lol:
A great session…and great to meet friends again. Thanks to Bob and Martha for a really fun weekend. And thanks to Ken for the Joe and Donuts, and Jon for the plastic! We started off with two teams of two…an engineer and a conductor. We kept the same train for each day…so we could better evaluate the tuning that went with each run. Jean and I started with the Westbound train out of Burke…while Ken and Jon took the Eastbound. Bob acted as photographer and trouble shooter. Here, our train meets theirs down at Majestic Mine.
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8663.JPG)
Later tuning made switching at Majestic the sole job of the Eastbound train. Here’s our train switching Pearce. Originally it looked like a very easy job, as it’s a trailing point switch for the Westbound train. But, there are three industries on the siding…and naturally, we had to get the car at the very end - at Goodson’s Batteries. So, we ended up pulling quite a few cars out.
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8664.JPG)
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8671.JPG)
While it appeared that folks were attentive, it wasn’t always true…and the results were not pretty…
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8670.JPG)
(Yes, that’s the EOT brick laying on the ground…yes…it used to be at the end of the track.) Jean and Bob also teamed up and took out the Eastbound train. Here they are switching Williamsport. Another deceptively easy switching assignment…
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8686.JPG)
Majestic has the coliery, but a siding houses the company store as well as Mine #2. There’s no deception here; it’s as diabolical as switching Jackson on the J&B. 
It’s a great looking coliery. Locomotives are not allowed underneath it and an idler must be used if you can’t reach the car.
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8695.JPG)
Bob and I spend about an hour switching this on Sunday. In the meantime, that’s Ken and Jon switching Pearce in the background.
(http://jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2010/IMG_8699.JPG)
I think each team ran 6 trains total for the weekend, plus a bit of free running. We had some operations discussions between the sets of trains, changing routes or adding rules as we went along. A quick rule change forbade any caboose from using the siding at Majestic to go to the company store. (No caboose smoke stacks were permanently harmed before the rule change.) Bob also added 5 drop bottom gondolas between days. However, this will eventually cause Bob to adjust track spacing - these are VERY wide cars. All in all, just a great weekend. .
Great pics Bruce. Looks like a good weekend and worth the trip up north. But I think Jean knows all the next moves, but she is just waiting for the ‘boys’ to catch up.
Looks like everyone had a wonderful weekend of train running…
It was a great weekend of trains and friends. I managed to take a few pictures on Saturday, but forgot the camera on Sunday. Here are some of the better shots… As we were prepping for the first trains of the day, Ken’s Connie #42 blew a tube and had to be towed back to the yard… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_001-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_001-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] J&B #4 approaches Majestic [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_003-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_003-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Bob attempts to explain the secrets of switching Majestic to Bruce and Jean [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_002-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_002-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Jean & Bruce switch Burke while our dog Snowflake enjoys the large fenced yard and Greta’s company [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_004-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_004-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Here Ken reports some issues out on the line… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_005-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_005-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Look - Over there… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_006-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_006-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Whatever it was, neither of them look happy about it. [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_007-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_007-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Jackson & Burke’s Private Car Camellia made an appearance. Unfortunately one of the loops was just a bit too sharp for this long car, so it the occupants were required to watch the action from the yard. [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_008-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_008-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Bruce takes yet another call from his horde of fans. There was no Donkey signing this trip 
[url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_009-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_009-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The girls had it figured out: Enjoy the beautiful fall weather with a beer. Marilyn & Jean discuss the finer points of operations (NOT). [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_010-1200.jpg]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/Train-Ops_2010_010-800.jpg)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color]
Great pics Jon, and story too!
That rules guys!!! The pics are priceless!!!
Bruce is now retired so what phone call could be so important as too interrupt an op’s session?
looks like a (45)ton of fun!
I always giggle when a photo of Bob is posted, the least seen of all the regulars on the site and he looks nothing like his Avatar, at least in real life?
cale
Looks like a great weekend of moving freight! Wish my line was large enough for multiple trains; I’d try to orchestrate a similar event out here. As it is, there’s barely enough room for one train on heavy traffic days.
Later,
K
I’ll have to ditto both Bruce and Jon’s remarks on a great weekend. It was both a fun and informative 2 days. The TrainOps program Bob has put together should benefit immensely from this past weekend as it gave Bob a hands on opportunity to tweak it with all our input. It also helped to give me a little insight on just what it was set up to do exactly so that I can get my operations running better.
It was also great to see what all Bob has gotten accomplished since our spring session helping put this layout together.
I took a few pictures, but I doubt that they would add much to what’s already been posted.
I’ll add my thanks to Bob and Martha for putting up with us for a whole weekend…
C. Nelson said:
I always giggle when a photo of Bob is posted, the least seen of all the regulars on the site and he looks nothing like his Avatar, at least in real life?cale
Glad everyone had a good time, sorry about the chocolate pie Sunday night. Was a bit, er, tasteless?
I only managed to take pictures Saturday, since Sunday I was actually running trains on my layout. Who knew? Saturday brought out a host of problems, none of them unfixable, but more annoying than anything else? Stock couplers on the AMS gondolas I have sag heavily under load. They are mounted the correct height, but droop with a 4-5 car load on them. Not fun. A few other cars got bad-ordered for a fix or two, but generally things with the cars went ok. Considering most of my rolling stock is scratchbuilt, I was very surprised. That the AMS cars were a problem and not my quick-and-dirty boxcars were gave me a chuckle.
A couple of track issues to take care of, as Bruce said, those drop-bottoms are wider than anything else I run, including my loading gauge. Need to space a couple of tracks.
The switching areas gave lots of unexpected fun. Bruce and I spent over an hour one time switching Majestic. Lots of pull/push/etc. Then the next train took us about 40 minutes total time, but over the same route. Love random trains!
Again, thanks to everyone for showing up. Cant wait till next time!
I enjoyed looking at these pics. It seems that a great day was had by all.
Over 50% of my locos (8) and rolling stock(over 50) is 1:29 scale from New Jersey. However, when I started four years ago it was with the 1:22.5 Big Hauler range but have slowly reduced this range - selling thee J&S cars and two freight cars. I have five open gonds, three of which I proposed to sell but seeing them in 'photos tempts me greatly to retain them. I have also used one boxcar as a depot store.
But whilst I like the 1:29 1950-1970 period cars (no Dash 9’s or modern freight cars) I am always encouraged by the older locos and cars seen in the pics on this Forum. I do find that the two ranges sit reasonably well together and reference to magazines such as Classic Trains show that boxcars and other freight cars were not uniform in height and style in the steam/diesel change over days. I find it a great magazine for seeing how yesteryears American railroads looked.
Luckily I never bought any 1:20.3 items although I was tempted, due to low price, of the 44T diesel. My dealer told me it was BIG and would look out of place here on my RR.
Ken said:We still want to see them!
I took a few pictures, but I doubt that they would add much to what's already been posted.
David Russell said:I never turn down a call from Dave Goodson. It's always interesting...and even more so lately.
That rules guys!!! The pics are priceless!!! :) Bruce is now retired so what phone call could be so important as too interrupt an op's session?
Besides, it was BETWEEN trains.
