Oct 26 Operating Session

The WRS was operating again after a short shutdown. Barry started working the White River Paper Company's Paper Mill and Pierre began by checking the paperwork for first of his many mainline trains. After Barry picked up the outbound cars for 101 N, Pierre dropped off the Mill cars from the 101 N and picked up the outbound cars. After departing the Mill, Pierre headed for Dogwood, where David was busy working the Dogwood Switcher. After exchanging cars at Dogwood, Pierre departed for the Yard and David started delivering the new arrivals and picking up the cars for the next train. Glen working the Bartown/Riverside Local had to allow Pierre and 101 N to clear on his way to the Yard. After arriving in the Yard, Pierre parked the 101 N and then departed the Yard with 202S for Roseton after clearing Glen in Bartown. After 202S cleared, Glen when to Riverside to finish his work and then into the Yard.

202S dropped cars at Roseton on the siding and departed to Dogwood. At Dogwood, Pierre set out cars for David to deliver. Then Pierre departed for Greenfield to switch Metal Works. Barry was still busy at the Mill delivering and picking up cars. After exchanging cars at Greenfield, Pierre ran around is train and 202S became 203N. Heading back to Dogwood, Pierre picked up the cars that David had put out for him. After departing Dogwood and heading for Rosetown, the call came in that the Crew for the Roseton Switcher had not arrived yet. So Pierre had to parking 203N at Roseton and take a car back to Yard. Glen how now had finished his job on the Bartown/Riverside Local, headed to Roseton to work the local switcher.

With Pierre now back in the Yard, he headed back for Dogwood with 102S. After exchanging cars in Dogwood, then it was off to the Mill and exchanging cars with Barry.

That this point, 102S is to leave the Mill for points South, but since this connection is not completed yet, 102 S became a "fast" freight back to the Yard and then 103N is another "fast" freight back to the Mill from the Yard.

Now with 103N on Track 1 at the Mill things return back to normal. David has finished at Dogwood and now is helping Glen with the Roseton Switcher. 203N switching has now been completed and I take 203N the rest of the trip from Roseton to the Yard. Yes, I was busy again in the Yard arranging inbound and outbound trains.

With the cars exchanged at the Mill, now Pierre is ready to depart with 103N. The only other stop on route is in Roseton to exchange cars and then on to the Yard. At the Yard the Power from the 103N is transferred to the 104S and Pierre returns to Roseton with their last delivery for the day. After departing Roseton, it is on to the Mill for its last exchange. Once this complete, 104S becomes another "fast" freight to the Yard.

And other day on the WRS is complete.



David at Dogwood checking his paperwork and Pierre heading for Dogwood with the Mainline Freight



Barry at Paper Mill and Glen at Riverside

Glen now at Roseton and David still at Dogwood

Now with another session complete, I have made a list of items to address before the next session. A few are car maintenance, some are a few issues with paper work, different eyes, see different things. Because of the issues again with 203N, there are going to be changes to this train. And other Crews have requested that a lower speed limit be installed on the "fast" freights.

It was another great night of operating.

later

Doug

Oct 13 Update

The WRS Track and Electrical Crews were again busy working on the Fall River & Eastern. Their work is 95% complete. The Railroad has been converted from Block Control to DCC, but there were a few minor issues to be addressed, which could be just the Railroad has been down for a while.

The Loco Shop has started assisting the Fall River & Eastern Loco Shop in the upgrading of loco's control systems.

The Loco Shop finally finished the repairs on the RS3, which now is on lease to Fall River & Eastern, along with a few other locos.

The Engineering Dept has been busy making adjustments to the revised layout this week. Will update when a few more issues have been addressed.

later

Doug

Oct 5 Update

With the last operating session a few items that needed to be addressed.

The Car Shop has been busy replacing couplers with Kadees and adjusting them to all the same height. They have also re-numbered a few pieces of rolling stock.

The Track Crew has been busy leveling a few areas of track work to reduce uncoupling.

The Freight Agent has been busy updating and checking a few items in the paperwork, which the Crews pointed out during the operating session.

The Electrical Department has been busy over at Fall River & Eastern. The Fall River & Eastern has been converting the Railroad from Block Control to DCC. About half the Railroad is converted over at present. The Loco Shop will soon be helping with the upgrades to their locos.

And that is this week's Update.

Doug

Sept 28 Operating Session

The Crews of the WRS were busy again last night.



Wayne, in front, working the Mainline Trains, Glen and Pierre in the background working Dogwood and Roseton.




Dave, in tie, and Wayne are working 203 N at Dogwood, as Glen, Dogwood Operator watches.

Under the new operating session, the Mainline is very busy with six trains. Last night, Wayne ran these trains with the assistance of Dave, later in the session. Because the South Connection has not be completed, it required a few extra movements getting the train from the Yard to South Connection or from South Connection to Yard.

The Mill is serviced by four of these trains plus the In Mill moves, which kept Pierre busy. But he did have time to do a little work in Roseton as well.

Dogwood is service by four of the Mainline Trains, and Rosewood are also serviced by four of the Mainline Trains. Most of the work in these two towns was done by Glen.

I was busy in the Yard staging trains and being Freight Agent.

We had a great time again.

later

Doug

Sept 14 Ops Session

Yes, after a few months off, the Crews of the WRS began moving freight on the revised WRS. It was a light night for Crew members, with only three. Barry selected to the job at the Mill, which was very busy since it had to deal with four trains, plus the in plant moves. Glen started at Dogwood and finished at Roseton. Pierre was in charge of the five mainline trains.

Glen waiting for Pierre to clear Dogwood with 101N

Sorry no pictures of Barry working, he was just too busy at the Mill to get any pictures that were in focus.

Outside a few issues with the paperwork, the Freight Agent will be hearing about them, everything when very well for the first time on the revised layout and with only the second time with the new paperwork. Another issue was that a few of the industries have relocated and not all the paperwork had been changed.

later

Doug

Hillfest Update

The UMG has developed a new website to allow pictures to be posted.

So to see more including pictures from Hillfest go to:

http://theumg.ca/posts/

later

Doug

WRS on the Road Again

Once a year or every second year, the UMG gets together to setup and operate the UMG modular layout. This year's Hillfest was held at the High School in Hillsbrough, NB. On Friday the layout was assembled. When finished, late Friday night, the mainline was roughly one hundred and fifty feet long with a branch of another twenty five feet. Saturday morning the cars were set out at the Industries, there were roughly one hundred spots at the industries, plus the two yards and car float.

Then it was time to operate, the Crews had a choice of six locals, two mainline trains and RDC service. Plus a Dispatcher and Freight Agent. I was the Freight Agent and Junior Dispatcher for the show. Because of the layout size, a Junior Dispatcher was added. As Freight Agent, I helped the Crews with the new operating system and reset the "Industry" Cards between sessions.

After the first session, it was time for pizza. Then it was back to operations. Two more sessions were ran in the afternoon. For supper a few brave souls when out in the rain and barbecued. After supper, it slide show time.

Sunday I woke to a power failure at the motel, but luckily it was only a local outage. Did not want to take down the layout in the dark. After breakfast, we got one more operating session in. Then after cleaning up the leftover pizza from the day before, the layout was taken down and vehicles were packed. After goodbyes were said, it was time to head home. Monday was unloading the car and taking things to the basement.

It was a great time. To see more info on Hillfest visit http://theumg.wordpress.com/posts/

Now that Hillfest is done, it is time to get back to working on WRS. The first operating session will be Sept 14.

later

Doug