Ops Session March 25

Yes, we had another ops session on the WRS and it only took five weeks to happen this time.  After the usual amount of talking about what has happened since the last session, we head down to the basement to get the trains rolling.

Barry overlooking his paperwork as he is busy building out bound trains from the North Yard.

WRS 134 Switcher made an appearance working the Roseton Job.  The loco has not been used in the past because of control issues.  Last week the decoder from another S-4 was installed into the loco replacing the one that was in.  WRS 134 is now working, the same can not be said about the other loco.  Looks like a bad decoder.

 Pierre was busy in Roseton with WRS 134

Glen was switching  Dogwood  again this session.  The paper work for this job was changed since the last session.  The main issue was the paperwork did not use the same format has the other jobs on the Railroad.  Now it does, and when from one page to two full pages for the same work. 
Wayne did his usual job of operating the mainline trains, but this session he was at the controls of a pair of MEC GP38-2 leased from him.

The Mill Job was operated by Dave, as seen here as he checks the cars that Wayne just dropped off to him.

Later in the session Gary arrived and when to work with Pierre in Roseton.

The session when well, so well, that we were finished 30 minutes earlier then normal.  I think it was because the Crews were not so "Rusty".  The new locos and paperwork worked out great.

I am hoping to have another session in late April / early May.

Doug

Busy Day on the WRS

Friday, Riely and Connor,  two members of the Board of Directors, came to operate the WRS.  During the four hours of operating, most of the rolling stock on the railroad moved. For more then an hour all that moved on the railroad were flat cars moving heavy construction equipment between the different business along the railroad.  Think that was because of their trucking background.

The WRS Management will spend a day or two relocating the rolling stock back to their correct location before the next regular ops session with the regular WRS Crew.  Also a few minor issues came to light that will have to be addressed in the future.

I think at the next Board of Directors meeting, there will be a request for more flat cars.

Doug

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