How I operate

[Lester Perry]

I have operated on layouts with the standard car cards and didn't like carrying all of the cards around and constantly shuffling through them trying to figure out my next move. I desired to have trains with a purpose. After several years of modifications this is the system I have settled in with. Each car on my layout has a card with photo and destinations on it. I have one main yard on my layout( Clifton Forge Va. ). All operations start and end there.



This car would be starting out on track 10 or 11 in Clifton Forge ( CF ). These tracks are for Baltimore bound trains. Also a check mark would be put next to Balt and the card placed in the appropriate slot on my order board.



When dispatch calls for that train to depart, the stack of cards are moved to bottom of rack to which ever track it is going to in Baltimore. It then goes to hidden yard off layout until it is called back to layout at which time it returns to CF and is put on track 7 to be sent out in a local freight to Gern. It always returns to CF between each location on the card.

The only papers handled by operator is either a switch list or train order sheet.

[Brakie]

Les,Excellent idea..In my 9 1/2 years of braking my work was guided by a switch list not waybills and in that light I been thinking of finding a better solution then a handful of CC/WBs.

[Lester Perry]

If you are interested I can go into more detail. It takes some time to put into operation but once there it is very simple to use.

[Ralph]

Sure Les, flesh it out a little more.

[ngauger]

Having actually visited you & the layout - I'd like to know more too!

[Lester Perry]

I will start with what is in this thread now. C&O 22821

The train with that car in it arrives at Clifton Forge. A switch list is made up for that train and given to yard crew. It would have all of the cars in that train listed and which track to put it on. In this case it is going to Baltimore that will be track 10



The car card is then marked for next stop and placed in the slot for track 10





When dispatch calls for next train to Baltimore, track 10 is prepared for east bound run with loco 1226



This is on a dry erase board so it can be checked then erased for next round. When train is prepared a crew is called up and they receive their orders



It is going to track 1 at Baltimore hidden yard. Which is also Newport News (double duty yard)

Okay I will bring it back in next installment.