Background info:

• We have a large layout which is open to members during the week
• The HO layout has about 400 cars
• A Car Card/Waybill system would be very difficult to set up and maintain accurately when the club is open for so many hours a week
• The computerized switchlist system is simple to use and is based off an Excel spreadsheet

When do we run Operations?:

• We are finalizing our schedule as to how often we will run operations per month - let us know what works for you
• However, using our custom operations system, you can run operations whenever you wish - even if others are just 'running trains'
• There are up to 7 main operation positions - can be teams of two per area

The key differences:

• The system is "auto-correcting"
• In other words, specific cars are not tracked to a specific location (we all wear glasses and can't read the car numbers!)
• Think of it like a car pool scenario like TTX - a box car is needed, or a flat car - not specifically box car #12345
• We use two main yards where cars go on and off the layout - the bigger yard has 14 tracks.
  

General Procedure:

• The Yard Masters for the two main yards prepare outgoing trains based on the Blocking List
  
• Once the train is ready, a main line locomotive delivers the cars to the "inbound" track at the local yard (as per the Blocking List)
• The local yard train follows the switchlist for their yard - pulling the old cars, and delivering the new cars
• The switchlist will say to remove all cars from the customer, or leave 1 type of car
• Outbound cars are placed on the "outbound" track in the local yard
• The main line locomotive will then take any outbound cars back either East or West
  
• For an extra challenge, the switchlist shows exactly the order of how the cars are to be spotted!

The "Auto-Correcting" part:

• By specifying "take all cars" or "leave 1 box car" at a specific customer, it then doesn't matter if someone has used the layout since the last operating session.  Just take whatever is at the customer, no worrying about a specific car number.
• Rather than specifying on the blocking list that Customer A needs Box Car #12345, it will simply say that he needs a "Red box car".  Think of that as the prototype equivalent of "Customer needs a Plate F 50 foot box car with a 100 ton capacity".  Much easier to think of it as 'just grab a red box car'.
• It is up to the Yard Masters to choose the "red box car" (or whatever is required) and send it out on the outbound track
  
• Humboldt has 14 tracks, and the photo below will show that this "pool method" is challenging
• We want to replicate a prototype sense of realism in switching, delivering cars, organizing the yard, and running deliveries to and from the yards.  However, ultimately we also want to have fun, and not take everything too seriously.

Sample Blocking List that would be used to build trains from the main Humboldt yard

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Sample customer spotting list - shows the order in which cars are to be placed at the customer's location + what to take

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For more information, please visit these links:

• Draft Kitchener Model Train Club Operating Rules
  
• Draft Kitchener Model Train Club Operating Procedures
  
• Sample Operations Spotting List - Session 1
  
• Sample Operations Blocking List for Yard Master - Session 1

Photo of part of Humboldt Yard with 14 tracks

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