Musings From the Dispatch Desk - Train Ops August 8, 2015

Fun Times as Dispatcher

Doug was gracious enough to allow me his seat in the dispatcher's booth for a second week in a row even though he had returned from vacation.  This week, narrow gauge operations were the theme of the day.  

In this shot taken partway through the session, I've got a great vantage point from the booth...that's Bell to the left, Glen Hammond straight ahead and Nelson Yard to the right.  If you are considering dispatching a layout, be it outdoors or indoors, I say "Go for it!" as the challenges involved can be very rewarding.
To see the photos full size, click on the photo.
To return to the default page, click outside the photo.

Narrow gauge operations meant that I would see many fine steam locomotives pass my way.

Here I am enjoying the shade the booth offers, although air conditioning has yet to be installed!

It's always a joy observing the Nelson Yard crew go about their work.  That's Gord to the left with Paul to the right.  Henk is working the RP&M (Rat Portage and Mattawa) in the distance.

Colin works the east end of the yard with this tiny, but strong, RP&M switcher.  The crew of Train 318 is in behind him about to drill the single track at Blockhouse.

The smaller yard at Glen Hammond is to the left while Paul works Nelson Yard.  The operators in the distance are conferring over trains at the layout's western terminus of Firgrove, also known as Ralph.

A look the other way at Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard.

No, I can't print "every" conversation the yard masters engage in, but suffice it to say, even when the tension rises, the humour is sure to alleviate things pretty quickly.

Such as the load that is be carried by Gord in the hopper car!

Let's head out onto the high iron and check on things.  Lela is the conductor on 318, an eastbound train out of Glen Hammond.  She's the one who was drilling the track at Blockhouse in the earlier image.  318 was the first train out on this day, destination Craig Leigh.  This crew will turn their engine at Craig Leigh and become Train 319 for their return journey back to Glen Hammond.

Lela's husband, Chris, is at the throttle on this day.  I'm proud to say that Chris is in command of my steam locomotive which he weathered so beautifully for me.  When you dispatch a layout, you may not get the chance to run your favourite engine, but you'll certainly have fun watching others do so.

Lela works the siding at Spruce.  For 318 the Spruce spur will be a facing siding while the Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Supply tracks will be trailing in their favour.

They work the industries at Ironwood.

Again, some spur tracks will be trailing and others facing.  The track at Windmill is facing so Lela has to run around her train in order to handle traffic there.

Train 15, the Pool Turn from Craig Leigh to Bell has arrived Ironwood with the experienced hands of Moe at the throttle.  Lela completes her move at Windmill in short order so Chris can return their locomotive to the train to pull their caboose in the clear for the pool train.

I managed to grab this shot of their return train, number 319, rounding the big curve into Glen Hammond.  I love how the weathering "pops' the details on this steamer!

Let's take a closer look at the Pool Train.  It starts its run as Train 15 to Bell Junction where it will head onto RP&M trackage.   It will then return to Bell Junction and become Train 16 now running in the opposite direction.  In the image above, the train is awaiting its crew in Craig Leigh on the further track with the yellow cars.  Moe will arrive the cab shortly.  That's Passenger 1 being assembled in the foreground.

I've lensed the Pool Train at Ironwood after it passed through Mount St. Helens earlier in its run.  Here it met Train 318 which was working the industries in this busy town - images we saw earlier.

Moe has rounded the big bend to the west of Ironwood.

He's pulled his train to a station stop at Spruce.  That's Bob across the aisle at Cedar Rock working the Ore Train.

A close-up of Moe's locomotive at Spruce.

He's about to depart Spruce for Glen Hammond.

Moe is a wise man...wearing that hat which protects his neck from the blistering sun.  Although the temps on this day were very reasonable, the sun does shine upon us.  He's brought his train into Glen Hammond just below my dispatcher's booth.

Train 15 was then given clearance out of Glen Hammond to the siding at Mercer. 

Moe has arrived Peter's Pond where he met the crew aboard Train 302, Steve and Chris. 

This was Chris's first visit to the garden railroad and he seemed to really enjoy himself seeing as his indoor home layout is in the "opposite" scale - yup, N-scale!  Great meeting you, Chris!

Moe later arrived Bell Junction to the left where he headed over to the RP&M trackage.  His train is now out of sight and we see the crews from the two railroads working out their moves at Bell Junction.  I also see Passenger 1 climbing the grade into Firgrove.

We see a yellow car spotted on the West House track at Bell left by the pool train. That's train 301 in the yard on Track Three.

The Pool Train is back on IPP&W track and has arrived Glen Hammond on its return trip in the opposing direction.

The train has departed Glenn Hammond en route to Spruce, Ironwood, Mount St. Helens and the terminus at Craig Leigh.  That's one gorgeous looking train under your helm, Moe!

Meanwhle, at the western end of the layout, Bob has brought out this real beauty.

It will offer helper service on the ore train.  Yes, it will push the train from behind...

While his other locomotive will be pulling the train.

Eastbound Train 748, the Ore Train, arrives Bell where it will pass Train 302 also heading east.

Out of Bell, Bob works the sidings at Cedar Rock, a branch line that heads off the IPP&W at Peter's Pond.  This section of track is the latest addition to the outdoor layout and it sure offers some interesting operational challenges for crews.  One siding in Cedar Rock is a trailing one while all others are facing.  This means that the crews must determine the juxtaposition of their cars in relation to their locomotive back in Peter's Pond before heading up the branch.  The ore train has no problems as the sidings for their traffic will always be facing ones.

Bob has reached the halfway point of his run at Nelson Yard.

Later, at Craig Leigh, he has terminated his run with stops at many other locations en route.

Bob has only completed half his work.  Later in the morning, we catch him in care of the return trip of ore cars westbound aboard Train 749, the Ore Empties train.  He's in the hole at Mercer Siding awaiting clearance into Peter's Pond.

With his helper engine trailing the train.

He's been cleared into Peter's Pond.

Where he meets Steve and Seanna's train.

Yessirree...the tracks are loaded at Peter's Pond, but with some deft problem solving, the trains pass and get on with their respective work assignments.

I didn't manage to snag many shots of 301 as the crew was working quietly in the eastern section of the territory.  Here they are downgrade from Spruce.

With Paul's glorious looking steam locomotive handling the chores on this day.

Heading upgrade at Blockhouse.

Into Nelson Yard below my window.

Arriving Bell on Track Three.

At Bell, 301 meets the RP&M crew.  It's always interesting to listen in on the conversation at the junction of the two railroads to the west of Bell.  "What are you doing here?" asks the RP&M crew.  "This is our area, so you'll have to wait!"  Does 301 listen...no...for they have equal rights!  Lots of laughter and playful kibitzing around, for sure.

Let's head over to Ralph at the western end of the line.  Steve has saddled up in the cab and is ready and waiting while Bill and Mark make up 302 in the yard.

Steve's steam locomotive will run from Ralph to Nelson Yard.  At Nelson Yard, they will exchange traffic and depart as Train 312 to Craig Leigh, effectively traversing the entire line.

Bill, in the red shirt, has things under control at Ralph.  He is discussing train assignments with Bob who will take Train 748, the Ore Train with a consist of loaded ore cars.

302 is on the roll out of Ralph.

Arriving Bell, Steve and Chris review their work to be done here.

Bob has his ore train rounding the bend in the distance, so 302 has been instructed to keep the main clear for its passage through Bell.

As mentioned earlier, Bell is a junction between two railroads and it tends to see a lot of interplay between crews.

302 uses the main to conduct its switching moves at Bell.

Another look at Steve's engine handling its chores beautifully.

Chris seems to be enjoying his role as engineer as he brings his train into Peter's Pond where they've protected their consist for a meet with the pool train.  This photo was shown earlier when discussing the movements of the pool train.

302 has reached Nelson Yard and now heads eastward to Craig Leigh as Train 312.

Working at Spruce.

At the end of the session, Steve ran his locomotive light across the layout to Ralph.  We spot him packing it safely away at Rat Portage on the RP&M in this spiffy looking carrying case!

Let's not forget our other passenger train, Passenger 1.  Pat will be at the controls of this train on the near track in this previously viewed image.  Yes, that's the pool train in back at Craig Leigh.

I managed to snag this shot from the door of my dispatch hut of Pat coming upgrade at Watkins.

Here's Pat...but...what's that being built in the background!

Passenger 1 enters Bell.

Later in the morning, Passenger 1's counterpart, Passenger 2 is eastbound out of Bell at the same location, again in care of Pat.

Heading downgrade into Watkins Siding.

Passing Blockhouse.

Entering Spruce.

Pat, keeping pace!

A nice shot of Passenger 2 at the depot in Spruce.

Steve and Seanna got a late start out of Glen Hammond aboard their train as they had to gain access to a locomotive and caboose at Firgrove first.  Also, a slight mixup with train numbers on the train sheets meant a minor sort out had to take place before they could safely run out on the line.
Not to worry, though...problems are opportunities for solutions...

As mentioned, Steve quickly gathered a locomotive..then a caboose.  He ran light from Firgrove all the way to Glen Hammond all the while keeping out of the way of other traffic en route.

When they finally boarded their train, they were late departing which meant that a few bottlenecks might occur at some towns along the route.  This husband and wife team handled the inconvenience like paratroopers, er - I mean, like a "pair of troopers"!

When their train eventually reached Bell, they met Train 20 which is a short carhop run out of Firgrove bringing a single car to Bell.

Here is where the two crews gave each other an "assist".  Bill, aboard Train 20 handled Steve and Seanna's facing car movements while Steve and Seanna handled Bill's single facing setout - brilliant I say!

Later on, Steve and Seanna's eastbound train met the ore train of empties at Peter's Pond.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the great work Bernie did as yardmaster in Craig Leigh.  I didn't get over there much in the morning, but, from all accounts, things ran swimmingly!

Things always run well for Henk on the RP&M...a valued employee, for sure! 

Colin showed me his watch with the special red hand.  He is able to keep time in two time zones simultaneously or he can rely on the watch when we must reset our respective time pieces at daylight savings!

Thanks to Paul for pointing out this fine looking logo for his railroad.

Between running Passenger Train 1 and 2, Pat found time to sit at the table and shoot the breeze with Fred.  You've gotta love the camaraderie that abounds at our sessions.

I was thrilled when Chris brought out my Canadian National RS3 which he weathered this past week.

It was great to see it in the natural light beside the engine house at Craig Leigh.

Super job on the weathering, Chris!

Thanks for checking in to read my musings from the dispatch booth.  I must say that it is a complete joy to oversee an operating session that has been magnificently planned out by Lawrence.  Bringing train operations to life with great friends to share the experience is what it's all about!
Have a safe day in the train yard everone.
Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada