Ops Session Feb 19

The first operating session of the year finally happened.  As a bonus we had one new Engineer operate on the WRS and had another one return after a long period of time.

The day start with assignment of the jobs on the WRS.  Barry head for his usual job at the North Yard .

Barry busy in the North Yard

With the usual Mainline Train Engineer Wayne unable to work today, Dave stepped up and operated the five Mainline Trains and was also seen operating a RDC to provide passenger service to the people along the WRS.

 Dave passing thru the Paper Mill with one of his Mainline Trains as Gary (with clipboard) looks on.

Pierre and returning engineer Gary was busy all day dealing with the switching duties at the Paper Mill.



Gary and Pierre working the Mill Switcher.

Glen was the Engineer on the Dogwood Switcher for the day.  And First time Engineer Ric, visiting from the Valley, was working the Roseton Switcher.

Ric in foreground and Glen busy in the background.

Because Ric would only stay for an hour, the second half of the Roseton Job was done by Dave and Barry.  This is the first time Roseton has been switched in three or four sessions, much to the joy of local industries.  The people in Bartown and Riverside are hoping that some day one of the trains that thunder by, will stop and switch their industries.

The session was great but  had it usual little issues.  The tracks need to cleaned more, think most of it was from the "dirt" on the rolling stock .... need to run trains more often.  The locos need so maintance, since they have been setting around ... again need to run more trains.  This session a few of the Crew changed their jobs, which has pointed out a few issues with the paper work that needs to updated or adjusted.  Management has long list of items to address before the next session, maybe next month.

The main thing we all had a great time.  It was nice to see Gary return and for Ric to finally be able to operate on the WRS.

Until next time

Doug

Year in Review

It was a quiet year for the WRS with only three operating session for the regular crew and another session for a visiting crew, but a few new engineers did get to work on the WRS this year.
With the work on the On30 modules, which requires setting the modules up in the middle of the WRS, and the schedule of shows last year, did not leave too many weekends free for operating sessions.
The Railroad did see a few changes this year.  The major one being the swapping of the function of the North and South (MEC) Yards, because of issues with the Classification Yard in the South Yard . The North Yard, which now is the "working" yard, had three new tracks added to complete a five track Classification Yard.  The South (MEC) Yard trackage was reworked to be a "Staging Yard", five double ended tracks, a run around track, caboose track and engine terminal.
The change in the Yards also required a few adjustments in the Schedule of the Trains.  There are a few more adjustments that maybe required as we have more operating sessions.

That is all for now
Doug

Something Strange Happened

Yes something strange happened yesterday on the WRS, there was an operating session.  Yes it has been almost five months since the last one.

The regular Crew was joined by a new member Gord, who worked with Pierre switching Dogwood and Greenfield. 

Pierre and Gord checking their orders at Dogwood

The Paper Mill Job was handled by Glen

Barry was busy at the North Yard Job

Wayne taken a break from running one of the five Main Line Trains, as he waits to enter the North Yard.

I ran my usual train, the MEC Transfer.

Roseton and Bartown were not switched due to a couple of the Crew not being able to attend.

Operations when smoothly, even with the long layoff.  There are a couple issues to be addressed before the next session from the long layoff, management forgot to deal with them due the layoff.

Hopefully the next session will not take five months to happen.

Doug



Update Sept 13th

Yes it has been a long time since my last posting, but there has not been anything to report on the WRS side.

Did rebuild part of the North Yard to deal with the issues from the last operating session.  This did help some of the issues, but there is still a few more to address.  Having trouble pushing two Genesis box cars thru the switches, added more weight to the cars, which help but there is still issues. One time it works and the next time it does not, need to test more cars in the yard.

I have not been spending time on the layout this summer, in the summer it is On30 construction time, which has been taking most of my model railroading time.  But this summer I did get a chance to ride the trains in Windsor on Trecothic Creek Railway. It was a birthday party for one of the WRS engineers.

With a number of things to complete on the On30 side before the Truro Show in October, will likely not getting back to the WRS until after the Truro Show.

thanks

Doug

Ops Session June 26

Yes after too long period of time, the WRS finally was on the move again.  Looking back in the records, this was the first operating session for the regular crew since mid January.  Yes there was a special session at the end of March for visiting operators.

The Crew had a chance to see the changes to the Railroad, before the locos came to live.  Barry headed to the North Yard and began preparing the south bound trains.  Wayne picked up the pair of leased BN C424 and headed with 101S for points south.  Pierre headed for the South Yard and picked up the Dogwood Turn, which now departs form the South Yard.  And Glen headed for the Mill to do its required switching.  Roseton crew did not report to duty today.  And I got to run the MEC Transfer.

Operations when well for being shut down this long.  The Maintenance Department does have a list of issues to address before the next session.  Too much rust in places.

 Glen looking over the Orders for White River Paper Co.

 Pierre working Dogwood and over seeing Wayne dropping cars from one of Main Line Trains

 Barry busy in the North Yard

Wayne getting ready to depart the South Yard with another run.

Management also will have to work on some new paperwork to deal with operations in the North and South Yards.  Also a few of the trains may have to be rebalanced.

But the main thing everyone had fun and enjoyed the session.  They hope the next one will not be in six months time.

later

Doug

June Update

May has came and gone and the WRS did not operate.  But did get a few projects completed.

Below are a few pictures of the new South / MEC Yard and the revised North Yard.
Note click on the pictures to enlarge.

This is a view from the center of the Yard looking North.  On the top left is the new engine service area , waiting for the leased MEC units to arrive and a couple WRS locos.

This the center of the Yard.  There are four Arrival / Departure tracks (left side) and two round around tracks and caboose storage in the middle of them (right side)

This is a view of  the south end of the Yard.  On the right bottom is the round around tracks.  On the top right is storage track for more cars if needed.

This is a view of  the revised North Yard. Three more tracks have been added to the Yard.  The Classification Yard will now be five tracks, an Arrival Track, Run Around Track and two Departure Tracks

This is view from the end of the Yard.  On the left is the Classification Yard, Arrival and Run Around Tracks in the middle and the Departure Tracks on the left.

The fascia still needs to be installed in the North Yard as seen in the above picture.

There is still more work to do.  With the changing of Yards, new paper work will be required and trains will have to be re-balanced.  And then the cleaning begins.

I am hoping to be operating on the WRS by the end of month if no major issues arises.

later

Doug

Update

It is time for a little update.

Operations on the WRS has been shut down, and no I have not destoried the railroad. Some of the reasons are as follows.

First, I am rebuilding the North Yard.  The Yard will have three tracks added to the Classification Yard to allow it to become the "Working" yard.  This work is almost completed, just a few adjustments and testing to complete.

Second, with the North Yard becoming the "Working" yard, the South Yard will become a "Staging" yard.  This will require some benchwork changes and relaying about half of the track work.  Work has not started here yet, except for the tracks being removed.

Third, local shows, have been to the shows at Shearwater, Moncton and next weekend is the Convention.

And Finally the On30 modules.  Wayne and I had  the modules at the Shearwater Show.  The modules were there for over a week, because of they were part of a local morning TV show before the show.   The On30 group also had a test setup a couple weeks before Shearwater.
Presently the modules are setup in the WRS space, as a few "little" improvements are completed before the Convention, which is a week away.

I am hoping to get back to the WRS construction in a couple of weeks and having the WRS operational again by the end of May.

thanks

Doug