Operating Session on the Main North.

I have accumulated more than enough locos and rolling stock over the years, with the latest acquisitions almost finalizing particular passenger train compositions. 

I have made up 20 trains, in most cases including a loco, and they're stored at Stations, Loops, Sidings etc, ready to run. 

Each of the trains has a double sided "Operating Card" with the appropriate instructions to run the train, that's clipped to the top of the Throttle as shown. 

Many of the above trains end up back where it started from. A “return” Card has been done, if the train needs to be returned to it's original location, marked with asterisks below.

While I occasionally run a train, I'll have some mates over for an Operating Session. Let me know if you'd like to run some trains on the Main North. 

 

 

For an Operating Session, I’ve sorted the Operating Cards into a "sequence" and placed them into the "Trains to Run" (Lower) Pocket, above my Work Bench. When finished, hopefully the Operator returns the Card to the “Finished Trains” (Upper) Pocket, instead of his pocket.

Whenever an Operator needs to run a train, they should take the next Card in the “Trains to Run” Pocket.

I have operated and had lots of fun with a Timetable Operating Session on a friend’s layout. I have all the appropriate Working Timetables but have never got around to finalizing a Timetable. This would replicate operations more accurately but this “sequence” method will do for the time being. 

Note: My DCC Ammeter is on the layout fascia.

Staged trains & their location are listed below. Highlighted ones have a Youtube video of the train made some years ago.  

                                Newstan 1200 Ton Coal Train                 Newstan Mine.

                                Empty W44                                                Sulphide Works

                                Brisbane via Wallangarra Express             Gosford Station Platform 2

                                Northern Tablelands Express DEB Set  Armidale & Northwest Staging

                                Newcastle Flyer                                         Newcastle to Sydney to Newcastle.

                                Glen Innes Mail                                         Armidale & Tamworth.

                                North Coast Perishable Goods                  North Coast Staging.

                                North West Mail                                      North West Staging.

                                Newstan Empty Coal Train                       Port Waratah

                                Interurban 8 Car Set                                  Gosford

                                Brisbane Limited                                       North Coast Staging

                                Gosford Race Day Train                           Gosford Racecourse

                                Full BWH Wheat Train                            Werris Creek

                                Superphosphate Train                               Sulphide Works

                                Coke Train                                                Sydney Staging

                                Full W44          ***                                   Sydney Staging

                                North Coast Daylight Express                  North Coast Staging

                                Toronto Passenger                                     Fassifern Station.

                                Glen Innes Mail     ***                            Sydney Staging        

                                620/720 Railmotor                                    Newcastle.

                                Empty BWH Wheat Train       ***           Port Waratah

                                Coil Steel Train                                        Sydney Staging

                                North West Mail           ***                      Sydney Staging

                                RU Wheat Train                                       Tamworth

                                Sheep Train                                              Tamworth 

The "bottleneck" during Operations, is at Broadmeadow due to trains needing to run into Port Waratah which is at the rear of the Yard. Trains to/from Newstan Mine and other south locations, can require 3 roads/loops for run arounds etc, to get in/out of Port Waratah/Broadmeadow. No trains or locos can be left unattended in Broadmeadow’s 5 Loops or both mainlines. The track into Port Waratah is located between the Yard and the Station. See Track Plan below. 

Another busy location is Gosford where trains to Sydney needed the engine to be changed over to a 46 Class Electrics. Trains from Sydney required the 46s to be replaced by steam locos at Gosford. I model this loco change over. Possibly a Yardmaster is necessary here, possibly me.