Getting Real column - 9
aspects of its construction. Regardless, they are intimately
familiar with operations on it, the owner’s vision for its opera-
tion, and all of the jobs on the railroad.
I’ve never had a dedicated crew who operated my YV on a reg-
ular basis, although there are many modelers here in the San
Francisco Bay area who have operated on it a number of times.
I don’t personally operate trains during these sessions. Instead,
I am the dispatcher, as needed and trouble-shooter. Keep in
mind that operation is not my main interest (which is research
and model building). But I still enjoy sharing my layout with
those whose primary focus is operations. It is entertaining.
Accommodating visiting operators, especially those who have
never visited my layout, means incorporating easy-to-under-
stand controls and logical operating practices. As part of this
6. This clearance card uses the same format as the
prototype.
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goal, I use two non-prototype forms. The first is a very basic
but authentic-looking assignment card [7].
Once I either assign a specific train to each operator (or they
choose themselves, always an option), I give each opera-
tor one of these forms. The form simply lists which train (by
name and timetable number) each operator will be operating,
which locomotive and caboose is assigned to that train, the
yard where they will start their run, and the on-duty time for
that operator. The form makes it easy for an operator to know
when they are to “get on the clock” and know which locomo-
tive and train is theirs for the session.
7. This assignment card provides each operator with
information on the train number and name of the train
they will be running, the numbers of their locomotive
and caboose, and where and when they are to report
for duty.
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MRH-Nov 2014
