Good Times

Growing is hard.  And more difficult than the growth is knowing where to draw the line between comfort and growing.  Usually, comfort does not breed real growth!

Like a plant sprouting against the weight of soil, or a bird taking flight, and just as an athlete trains for a marathon, progress and growth normally requires fighting against the good enough, resisting the urge to stagnate.  Comfort will not encourage growth in itself.  

Take operations.  At the most recent operating session on Tony Koester's NKP, there was a dearth of qualified operators.  I was 'voluntold' - volunteered by others - for the role.  Thankfully, Jim Schweitzer is a good friend and a great mentor, and took me under his wing to show me the ropes.  Suddenly here I was copying train orders and 'on-sheeting' trains past my locations for the dispatcher.  

At such an important layout, with some amazing and long-qualified operators, it is a stressful situation being cast into a role that is a leadership role like this.  It is uncomfortable and creates anxiety.  Why would we do this as part of a hobby?

I will argue that we do it as a service to the layout owner, who is looking to create memories.  And we do it as a service to all the other operating modelers that have driven far to come to a good session.  We are stepping up, as they say:  trying to help by doing what others won't or can't do, for the good of those others.  It is not always fun, but it does always feel good to get some of it right.

Doug Watts, a great friend in the hobby and a brother on the road of life, was there - and his quick smile and easy demeanor always helps.  Here we are side Tony's model of Frankfort, IN and the big yard there.  The smiles say it all!

Good times are good, sometimes as much for the effort we apply as for the experience itself.  

Scenes from an Railroad that Operates - ''Round the Clock'

Night operations are a longtime part of the experience on the Onondaga Cutoff, and the August 2023 session was one that modeled September 30, 1994 from 6p overnight to 6a.  The railroad ran nicely and crews acted the roles really well, so I had time to make some images that came out good enough to share.  

Midnight at Onondaga Engine Terminal.  The light power from TV 550, the NYS&W interchange stack train, is tied down on the fuel rack behind a few sets of local power and the Mohawk Dispatcher has also pulled a route up on the mainline for a westbound on Track 2.

C39-8 6001 has a new crew onboard and the engineer is getting set up as the power idles at Island Yard around 0100 hours.  Auxiliary lighting and weathering are the only two things that can be done to visually improve a ScaleTrains engine!

Its work at Onondaga Yard complete, train SEEL (Selkirk, NY to Elkhart, IN manifest) builds his air at CP 280.  Lead locomotive SD40-2 6462 is on the point at 0230, the dead of night, and the crew is eager to get moving for their next crew change out in Buffalo, NY - by which time the new day will have dawned.  Once they're ready to pull they will call the Mohawk Dispatcher for permission west, and the train will get a signal to proceed. 

Speaking of the Mohawk Dispatcher, here he is!  Jack watches the display and listens to the radio as needed while Rich, who is sitting in the Trainmaster position, checks crew status ahead of upcoming departures.  

No matter how you cut it, though, it's the people that make a railroad work.  The best part of operations is the camaraderie of a group of people that make it run.  It takes a team, and that is exactly what we had.  This session included a cookout and picnic for the crew and friends, spouses, and families and we remembered to get a full group shot on the freshly finished patio area.  It was a great day. Awesome!

  

A Return to November Interchange

Among the most disappointing losses of organized activities in the COVID era was to learn that the DC-NJ 'November Interchange' in 2020 had been postponed indefinitely.  That weekend, which has been around for more than 7 years now, became a focus of every fall for me and for the 'wisdom keepers' on the Onondaga Cutoff.  

After that hiatus, it is exciting to report that Interchange returned in 2021, arriving in New Jersey to make up for the lost year.  About 22 'boomers' made the trip to operate on any three of 7 available layouts of which the Onondaga Cutoff was one.  The OC hosted 11 guests, who were shown the ropes by 6 of the regulars. 

Here we have noted model railroad author and operator Steve King, one of the founders of the 'ProRail' organization in the 1980's, on a visit to the Onondaga Cutoff once again.  He's the hogger on today's NYS&W interchange move SY-1, a Syracuse-based job that will take freight from Conrail interchnage down to Binghamton, NY.

Meanwhile, one of the most enthusiastic and consistent supporters of the 'OC' is Wayland Moore, a kindred soul from Virginia who has made fast friends with all of us on the OC.  Rich Wisneski as always is a great mentor and guide for the guys as they get their feet on the ground, and wheels rolling.

One of the great parts of Interchange is that a group of guys that haven't seen the railroad much get to work it, and there is a learning curve. But. with operators of this caliber, they come on quickly - and by the halfway point the session is rolling.  Here's Bob Rodriguez of The Nickel City Line hamming it up while Jack and Don work with Jerry Dziedzic to move trains across the main line.  

Another thing about Interchange is the support of all the families to allow it to happen, especially a lot to ask in a COVID recovery year.  Kristen and the kids all dressed the part and were wonderful hosts and helpers, and the session really went off without a major hitch.  

Thanksgiving is here, and I am especially grateful for you as a reader of the blog and for the hobby, for my family and career and good fortune.  I wish you and your family a healthy and happy thanksgiving!

Developing Interest

Operations just isn't as much fun when you are by yourself.  While construction has a time for collaboration, it is a balance between working with others or working by yourself.  Operations, though, is just more prototypical and more fun when others are involved.  Lately, due to a variety of local layouts hosting sessions, and due to 3-4 guys from the regular pool of operators moving out of state, owners have been struggling to fill slots for their sessions.  In fact, several sessions have been cancelled account lack of crews.

Some locals have said "We're getting to a point where there are too many layouts!"   Well, I couldn't disagree more.  Having more quality layouts in the area is a great thing.  The issue isn't too many layouts, it is that we need to cultivate more operators.

To me, it is clear that the operations aspect of model railroading is a rather unique niche and offers a different take than do other hobbies.  The camaraderie aspect is important, although I'd argue that the 'action' aspect is a driving force.  From an outside view, many people make models.  Some actually fly, sail, or roll.  But few hobbies involve groups of working, moving models coordinating their movement together to accomplish a goal.  Model railroad operations is all of this.

And so, I consider it a duty to share the layout through friends and operating sessions, reaching out to railfan photographers or train-watchers, and thorough occasional open houses.  Of course, we can start right at home, too.

I like to focus on younger folks, with children of family and friends, and with my own kids.  Their interest can be encouraged as a catalyst for future involvement.  In the shot above, Teddy is thrilled by the passage of a recent purchase - a NYC 4-8-2 Mohawk steam engine, one that certainly would have worked the Onondaga Cutoff in the 1930's and 1940's.

A STEAM engine?  Regular readers will know that these are not my standard fare; by 1994 they were long gone and especially from any sort of regular revenue freight service.  But, my sons have fallen in love with steam engines through their toys and shows, as well as YouTube videos of big steam on the move.  When I came across a deal on ebay on this engine, I sprang on it, and the kids have been thrilled!  It lives on the layout between operating sessions at this point and the kids ask about it daily.  And, I'll admit a soft spot for this one myself!  For Teddy's interest it matters little that the cars behind it are 'too modern' - for him, excitement outweighs any questions.

Regular operating sessions too have a place in exposing younger or newer people to the hobby.  Seeing the railroad come alive is fun for me, of course, and the kids have enjoyed watching too, being too young yet to join in to the role playing effort.  A recent project was to add a phone line from the Mohawk DS to the Onondaga Yardmaster, allowing them to coordinate moves over the phone.  The kids noticed and after the past session, wanted to try the phone.

Here we have 2-1/2 year old Pete, and 4-1/2 year old Teddy, talking on the phone and having a ball.

None of this guarantees anything, besides some quality time between my sons and I.  That alone is worth it.  But it provides an opportunity for the seed of interest to grow, which to me is a responsibility of every layout owner. 

More operators help everyone and help the hobby grow.  We can all work a little harder to get some new people involved.

~RGDave