June 23rd Ops Session

The regular crew again was busy on the WRS.  This session was the completion of the second session planned for the PEI Vistors.  With a couple of regular engineers unable to attend, Barry worked the Mainline instead of the North Yard.  The day started with Pierre heading for the Mill to do the Mill Job.  Glen departed the North Yard with Train 101. Followed by Barry with Train 201.  Dave departed the South Yard with Train 202.  The Afternoon Shift started with me taking over Train 203 for Dave, who had to repart. Glen ran Train 102 and Barry departed with Train 204.  The Evening Shift, had Glen operating Train 103, Barry had Train 205 and I had Train 206. 

 



Pierre working the Mill Job

Glen switching Roseton

Dave busy in Dogwood

Barry switching at Whiskey Falls

It was interesting with people doing different jobs then they normally do.  WRS Management have a few items to address before the next session.

As usual it was another fun day on the railroad.

Doug

PEI Visitors

Saturday five operators from PEI made the trip to operate on the WRS.  They arrived around 10 am.  Three of the members who had not operated on the WRS were given a tour of the Railroad, while Scott set up their WI-Fi system so they could use their smart phones.  But it turned out that only Scott's was able to use his phone.  Mr Murphy likes causing problems on the WRS.

Scott head to the White River Board & Fibre to operate the Mill's switcher.  Steve did the Mainline runs (Train 101, Train 102 and Train 103).  Derwin did the switching duties at the North Yard.  Ken and WRS Regular Glen started with Train 202 heading North.  The final visiting operator Alistair departed the North Yard with Train 201.

The session continue with Alistair heading North with Train 204 as Ken and Glen Head South with Train 203.    For the finial shift of the day, Ken and Glen head North with Train 206 and Alistair headed south with Train 205.

The session lasted about an hour longer then planned.  Most of this was because of people not knowing the Railroad and also there where a few issues with the locos (electrical and couplers).

Ken (far left), Alistair (centre) and Glen (far right) meeting in Roseton

Scott (centre) working the Mill as Steve (left) is waiting to enter the Mill with his train.


Sorry Derwin, did not get a photo of you.

After the Session it was off to Lunch, where we were joined by WRS Regular Wayne.

After Lunch the PEI gang headed off to Pierre's and Maritime Hobbies before returning back to the WRS.   During this time Wayne and I returned to the WRS to set up for the second session and Glen had to leave us for another appointment.

The original plan was to have the second Ops Session on the WRS, but everything took longer then planned, so there was a short discussion session before heading over to the Fall River and Eastern Railroad to a visit.  After the FR&E visit, the crew headed home to PEI.

I would like to thank first the PEI Crew for making the trip, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.  And second Glen and Wayne for helping with the session.

For me it was interesting to see how another crew operated the WRS.  There are a few things I have to look into as my regular crew has learn how to work around them.

Doug

April 28th Ops Session

Yes, the regular crew after two months, once again operated the WRS.
Things started with Pierre and Glen backing up their S4 to pick up Train 202, that when they noticed the rear coupler was missing on the loco.  So it was back to the South Yard Engine Terminal to pick up another S4.  Since this unit had not been used in a while, issues began to raise its head.  It was going to be one of those days.
Dave was working the White River Board & Fibre Mill.  Barry was busy at the North Yard and Jamie picked up one of the new RS11 and headed South with Train 201.  Wayne was at the controls of pair of the new RS11 on Train 101.
Once Pierre and Glen arrived at the North Yard, they traded in the S4 for the last of the RS11.  As they when to connect to Train 203, the loco would not connect.  After a few more tries, they ground crew noticed the coupler was upside down.  Yes the day was continuing as it started.  Jamie dropped off Train 201 and when to pick up Train 204. After starting away the cars where not following. Has he was backing up, he noticed his coupler had pulled out.  The Maintenance Department will be having meetings.
Rest of the day when quietly, with Jamie doing Train 205, Glen and Pierre doing Train 206 and Wayne doing Train 103.

There are a few issues that will have to be addressed.  The new RS11 have NCE decoders which will have to be adjusted since the Digitrax setting did not work correctly.  Couplers will have to checked on all locos and a couple replaced.  The Electrical Department is going to have to check the track work since there seemed to be allot of dead sections.

Glen and Pierre busy at Roseton

Jamie working Dogwood

Barry Working the North Yard

Wayne setting out cars at White River Board & Fibre as Dave watches

So it was just a normal day on the WRS.  Everyone had fun.

thanks

Doug

March Update

This is a little update of what is happening on the WRS.
My plans was to have the regular crew do an Ops Session each  month, but there was not one in March.  Everything was ready for a mid March Session except to print out the paperwork and send the email. 
Mid March is also March Break for the local schools.  A phone call came and two of my great nephews were coming for a visit during March Break.
Tuesday morning arrived and my great nephews arrived for the Ops Session on the WRS.  My oldest great nephew Riely had shown an interest in the paperwork last time he was visiting, so I had him started the Shift at the White River Fibre and Board Co.  Connor the other great nephew go his loco and began running on the layout.  Then Colby, my three year old great nephew asked where was his loco.  So I got him one of the Blue S4 and a throttle and a couple cars.  Under the watchfully eye of his grandfather, he was off running his first train.  After his first trip, he was driving his train nice and slow, to slow for his older brother.  Riely completed the work at the White River Fibre and Board Co and also ran Train 102.  Connor and Colby ran trains from yard to yard with a few pick ups along the way.
I normally would have had an Ops Session the next weekend, but there was a second reason for my brother's visit.  We looked a couple jobs that needed to be done around the house.  One was chosen and I started working on getting ready for my brother to return the next week to work on the project.
The project is not complete yet, but hope to have an Ops Session for the Regular Crew before the end of April.




 











Here is a picture of couple additions to the WRS.  First, two of the four newly arrived RS11 painted in the WRS colours (thanks Ric) and second, Pedigree Cement plant.  The plant is from Pierre's layout, which he is dismantling.  Also picked up a few other small pieces from his layout, which I hope will find a new home on the WRS.

Until next time

Doug

Ops Session - Feb 24

The WRS had an Ops Session today.  Sorry no pictures, because of a Crew shortage, I was required to operate the 100 series trains and was not able to catch the Crew in action.

This was the second Ops Session with the revised Operating System.  Today's session had a few adjustments to the Schedule from the first session, namely the three way meet in Roseton is gone .  These adjustments improved the session, but there is an adjustment or two maybe still be needed.

Pierre operated the Switcher at the White River Board & Fibre Co.  Barry W was back operating the North Yard.  Dave with new brakeman Eric did one half of the Peddler Freights (202, 203 & 206) and Glen did the other half (201, 204 & 205).  As I said before I got to run the Mainline Trains (101, 102 & 103).

The Crew enjoyed the running of the new longer trains, and also that they are now travelling the complete length of the WRS.

until next time

Doug

Update

A little update of what has been happening on the WRS.

Just finished doing an Ops Session by myself.  First time that I have done this in a long time.  The reason for the session was to check the revised Switch Lists.  Since the last Ops Session there has been a few changes to WRS and I wanted to check to see if the new Switch Lists had all the correct adjustments,  and no they did not.

One of the biggest change happened in Roseton. A&D Plastics and Northstar Industries have changed locations.  The siding for Tank Services ( formerly Reg's) has been lenghten and now services the relocated A&D Plastics.  The old siding for Northstar Industries is now the siding for Tank Services, which will allow for a third tank car.  Northstar Industries is now known as Northstar Bakeries.  This change started about a month ago when I watch a series of videos that Chris Lyon had posted on his website  (http://www.lyonvalleynorthern.blogspot.ca/2013/01/tips-and-hints-for-mr-operations.html).  One of the videos talked about switching an industrial section of his layout.  One of the industries was a Cookie Factory that received two tank cars with liquid sugar (first seed).  A few days later I was on the Walther's site and up popped the Magic Pans Bakery, which I have the kit (second seed).  Northstar Bakeries will allow the use of a few cars (airslides and tank cars) that were not being used at present.

The other major change to the Switch List is because of the new Schedule.  With eight hours between the first shift and the third, I began to look at the industries, to see which industries could receive more shipments daily and could they unload or load a car in eight hour period.  So a few of the industries are receiving service in both the first and third shifts.  The industries include, Green Mountain Limestone (bulk limestone cars), Blue Circle Flour (grain car), and T&T Warehousing (box car).

Now it is time to began staging the railroad for the next Ops Session.

thanks

Doug

WRS Train Numbers

WRS Train Numbers

100 Series Trains are Mainline Trains which operates from yard to yard, with drop offs or pick ups at the siding at Roseton, Dogwood and White River Board & Fibre.

200 Series Trains are Peddler Freights which operates from yard to yard, switching industries on route, as per their Switch List.

MEC Transfer departs South Yard for the siding at White River Board and Fibre and returns to the South Yard once the cars have been exchanged.

Even number Trains depart the South Yard for the North Yard
Odd number Trains depart the North Yard for the South Yard