Operating Session May 11

Freight was rolling again on the WRS.

The day started with the Yard Crew firing up the leased C424s at the engine terminal. These units will be heading out on the Mill Run once the train was assembled. After picking the cars in the Yard and adding the caboose. The Yard Crew turned the C424s to Pierre for his run. After departing the Yard, Pierre arrived at Junction were Ridge Run S4 being operated by Barry removed the tail four cars in the train, which he will be delivering in Junction / Blue Ridge area. After the caboose was reinstalled on the train, Pierre got the train headed for the Mill. In the meantime, David has been busy at the Mill with the local S4 switching the warehouses before Pierre arrives. After picking up all the departing cars from the Mill, Pierre again fired up the C424s and headed back to Junction. David finished delivering the last few cars. Pierre stopped at Junction and picked up the cars that had been set out for him by Barry. Then it was back to the Yard.



Pierre and David at the Mill



Barry at Blue Ridge

Wayne fired up the MEC RS11 and picked up cars for the Dog Run. After picking up his caboose and Glen, they departed for Whiskey Falls. After switching Whiskey Falls, they depart for Roseton. At Roseton, they switched the trailing industries and sorted out the cars for Dogwood. Leaving the remaining cars on the siding, RS11 with Wayne at the controls depart for Dogwood. Once arriving at Dogwood, local switching started. When completed, the crew returned to Roseton to finish local switching. After all the cars have been delivered, Wayne and Glen reassembled their train and head home to the Yard.



Glen and Wayne at Dogwood

After finishing a few jobs in the Yard, I headed out with the S4 on the Bar Run. The first stop was in Riverside, and then off to Bartown. After running around and delivering the cars in Bartown, it was back to Riverside to complete the switching jobs. Then it was time to return home again and back to the Yard switching job, as the other two crews returned.

The second day started with Wayne doing the switching at the Mill, Barry doing the Mill Run. Glen found his way to Junction and did the Ridge Run. David and Pierre did the Dog Run. There was some interesting discussion on a missing car in the train. It was found later, when they were switching the return trip at Roseton. So they had to return to Dogwood to deliver above mention car. This caused a problem, since Barry had all ready arrived at Junction with the Mill Run. I again was busy doing the Bar Run and Yard Job.




David at Dogwood and Glen in the background busy at Blue Ridge.

It was another great day on the WRS.

later

Doug

April 27 Operating Session

Freight was moving again on the WRS after a longer then normal shut down. It also was the first Monday night session, since last Fall's move to Sunday afternoons.

The evening started with the checking of Pierre's SD18 unit, which had cause us a few problems at the Shearwater Show. The problem had been with the engineer, who had not operated this type of loco before, aka sound equipped, and did not understand the throttle had to be in the neutal position to restart the loco after it got shut down.

Barry and new crew member Bryan departed the Yard with the Mill Run. One of the newly leased BN C- 424 units began acting up and will have to be shopped again. After arriving at the Mill the crew parked the C424s and picked up the local S4 to do the Mill Job.



Barry on the left and new crew member Bryan on the right working the Mill Job.

Glen and Pierre headed out on the Dog Run with Pierre's SD18. There were some issues with the track work and the six axle loco. Maintenance Department has been advised.


Pierre and Glen at Dogwood


David headed for Junction to operate the Ridge Run. Sorry no picture of David since he was the one taking the pictures again tonight.

I fired up the RS11 and departed the Yard to do the Bar Run. After returning to the Yard, I also did the Yard Switching.


Me busy at Bartown.

After David finished with the pictures, he did the return trip of the Mill Run. This allow Bryan to continue working with Barry at the Mill.

The session ended with some general discussions and then everyone headed off to home.

later

Doug

WRS & Earth Day

WRS Maintenance as part of Earth Day planted a few trees on the layout.

These trees were "grown" for the modules that when to the Shearwater Show.

After planting the trees, the WRS Maintenance Crew have been busy getting the Railroad ready for another operating session. Tracks and switches were inspected and work was done were required. The Crew also took out a pair of BN C424s which have replaced the Conrail units.

The Freight Agent says all the paperwork will be correct this time, time will see if he can do it for once.

Time to get back to finishing those little things that need to be done before the Crews arrive.

later

Doug

Another Road Trip

Another weekend and another road trip. This time it was to Moncton for their annual show with WRS operators Bruce and Glen. Below are a few pictures from the UMG layout at the show.



WRS operator David, with Scott in the background, got to operate on a much larger UMG layout then the one last weekend.



Brian operating the Spring Valley Sub.



Town section (left) and Center section(right) of 5th Street with Ryan




View from the other end of 5th Street. Allan and the Appleton Sub

Besides visiting the Show, the crew stop off at the local hobby shop to pick up a few supplies. The WRS management came home empty handed.
It was a nice road trip.

later

Doug

WRS on the Road again

The WRS started when I setup a few of my modules to create a layout. The modules have been added to over time with periment sections into the layout we know today.

A few of my modules were not included in the present layout, and they saw the light of day again this weekend. Two of my corner modules and part of the old yard, when to the two day All Hobby Show at Shearwater Aviation Museum to be part of a UMG layout with modules of two of the WRS regulars Wayne and David. It has been almost three years since I have shown modules with this group.




This is the complete layout which was roughly 25 feet end to end. The show was interesting that everything had to work around the items in the Museum. We had to work with a Snowbirds jet.




David and Pierre busy at the layout




Pierre in a VIA work jacket with the Snowbirds jet in the background.




Shot down the main line.

This is shot in the other direction.

It was two long days, but it was interesting.

To see more http://theumg.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/shearwater-spring-hobby-show-09/

later

Doug

Update March 27

Have not been working on the layout, because next weekend I am taking modules to a local hobby show. The WRS started when I setup some of my modules to create the layout. The modules I am taking, have not been unboxed for three years. After the last operating session, it was time to take a look at them to see what work is needed for them to shown again. Time was not kind to them.

One of the major issues was the way which I installed ground foam. Instead of using paint, I used carpenter's glue. It bound the ground foam to the modules, but it did not bond well to the plaster. So I end up a thin hard shell of ground foam & glue, which in time cracked . So I had to redo many areas.

Also, since there was a gap between the two modules while they were being stored under the layout, a few things fell into the gap damaging the plaster work on the modules.

So hopefully in the next week, I will have the work complete. Then I have to start looking for all the items I need to pack to do a show.

What did I do with that List, I once had.

later

Doug

March 15 Operating Session

The WRS finally got freight moving again, Mother Nature has been causing problems of late. But with sunshine and no snow in the air, there was a larger then normal turnout with a crew of seven.

The first day shift started with Pierre departing the Yard with the Mill Run. Bruce head for WRP to operate the Mill Switcher. Dave headed for Junction to meet with Pierre and to operate the Ridge Run. Barry and Glen departed with the Dog Run for Whiskey Falls. Leaving Wayne and I to do the Bar Run.

Once Dave was finished in Junction, he took toady's pictures.


Pierre at Greenfield with Wayne in the background at Bartown



Glen and Barry at Roseton




Yes, that is me at Bartown and Wayne again in the background.


Bruce at work at the Mill and me in the background

With the large crew, we operated the second day, which we have not done in awhile.

Bruce stayed at the Mill. Pierre and Dave switched jobs with Dave doing the Mill Run and Pierre doing the the Ridge Run. Wayne and I did the Dog Run and Barry and Glen got Bar Run.

This will be the last Sunday Operating Session, as we are moving back to Monday nights.

Since, I was busy working on a Crew, not to many stories. But there was a report of the Mill Switcher being spotted in Dogwood.

One thing that came out of the session, if there is a narrow spot on the layout, every one will be there at the same time. Need more passing sidings for people on the next layout.

That is this operating session report.

Doug