supagav
USA standard gauge in the late 1960's, in 1:29th.
Incidentally we will be starting our first formal operating session in a months time on the 11th August, and this will hopefully be a regular feature during the summer months once we get things get off the ground.
We aim to operated a rotating cycle with people paired up in two man "crews." These will be based on US style train crews and would be condensed into an engineer who's role is to just control the loco (with a Massoth Navigator handset), alongside a conductor who would be in charge of the whole train. He would thus tell the engineer where and what to do based on their specific "job." Each crew would be dealt "jobs," for example a local freight turn which makes set-outs and pickups from nearby industries and towns, then returns back to the main yard (train shed). The conductor thus carries a clipboard with all the necesary paperwork for their specific train such as a switchlist of all the setouts and pickups at all the locations along their route, as well as map of the system and other details such as a brief list of rules to help guide crews. As a crew complete a job, their train returns back home and they step down, making room for another crew step up for the next available job. This way we could have 3 to 4 crews in total, rotating to ensure that two crews are out on the line at one time. This would also have the added benefit of allowing crews to have a well deserved tea/coffee and cake break, as well as allow them to plan out the moves for their next assignment. Other jobs would include a local passenger run making stops at local stations, as well as a through freight which would simulate a larger train passing through the system, thus having priority over all other local "jobs".
We also have room for two other roles: one is the yardmaster in the shed who makes up and breaks down all the incoming and outgoing trains, thus preparing the next job for the next crew. The other role we have is a designated switcher(shunter) role in the sawmill yard, which would simulate a company switcher moving cars around inside the plant. We already have a small GE 44 tonner that has been set aside for this role, with the original markings removed to simulate an older unit which has been bought and drafted into service without even a new paint job! (this is really common on American railroads where they often just paint out the numbers and markings yet keep the original paint scheme from the units previous owners).
I understand that Argyll on the west coast of Scotland is probably a little too far for most folk, but if anyone would be interested in getting involved in these sessions then please let me know as you would be more than welcome!
We aim to operated a rotating cycle with people paired up in two man "crews." These will be based on US style train crews and would be condensed into an engineer who's role is to just control the loco (with a Massoth Navigator handset), alongside a conductor who would be in charge of the whole train. He would thus tell the engineer where and what to do based on their specific "job." Each crew would be dealt "jobs," for example a local freight turn which makes set-outs and pickups from nearby industries and towns, then returns back to the main yard (train shed). The conductor thus carries a clipboard with all the necesary paperwork for their specific train such as a switchlist of all the setouts and pickups at all the locations along their route, as well as map of the system and other details such as a brief list of rules to help guide crews. As a crew complete a job, their train returns back home and they step down, making room for another crew step up for the next available job. This way we could have 3 to 4 crews in total, rotating to ensure that two crews are out on the line at one time. This would also have the added benefit of allowing crews to have a well deserved tea/coffee and cake break, as well as allow them to plan out the moves for their next assignment. Other jobs would include a local passenger run making stops at local stations, as well as a through freight which would simulate a larger train passing through the system, thus having priority over all other local "jobs".
We also have room for two other roles: one is the yardmaster in the shed who makes up and breaks down all the incoming and outgoing trains, thus preparing the next job for the next crew. The other role we have is a designated switcher(shunter) role in the sawmill yard, which would simulate a company switcher moving cars around inside the plant. We already have a small GE 44 tonner that has been set aside for this role, with the original markings removed to simulate an older unit which has been bought and drafted into service without even a new paint job! (this is really common on American railroads where they often just paint out the numbers and markings yet keep the original paint scheme from the units previous owners).
I understand that Argyll on the west coast of Scotland is probably a little too far for most folk, but if anyone would be interested in getting involved in these sessions then please let me know as you would be more than welcome!
