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Operations Articles

"Bash" This Fast Clock with Hands

The author shows how he built an analog fast clock using an Arduino.

A Commodity-based Card Operation System

Jim describes the car card system that is similar to the prototype; i.e. delivering empties to a requester and picking up loaded cars based on the content of the car. This applies to one car, multiple cars, or a complete train.

ABCs of Switching Cars

This introductory article discusses what switching is, how to uncouple cars, and how to deal with trailing point and facing point turnouts

Adjusted Ops for My New Layout

Operations and updates on the owner's layout.

American Flyer Steam-Up

A "Steam Up" is a two-day, weekend, event, where American Flyer fanatics convene to frantically set up a fairly complex temporary layout, operate it,
and then tear it down. Includes a couple of photos of this year's event.

Automated Interchange

Using hidden staging to automatically move a train forward delivering new cars once a set number of cars have been removed from the interchange track. It magically appears like the real foreign railroad delivered new cars.

Balanced Locomotive Roster for Operations on the Panhandle

The author describes how he decides which engine is to be assigned to a particular train. He models the PRR Panhandle in 1939, so all of his engines are steam. The article is accompanied by a large number of photos of his layout.

Barge Operation on the Conrail & Eastern

The operating barge system from Frank Titman's Spiral Hill Railroad layout was saved and then reinstalled on Bert Mahr's Conrail & Eastern Railroad. Includes many photos of the barge in action, and fully describes the move and integration of the layout section.

Building and Operating the St Agnes Railway

The author describes how he operates his small layout in a prototypical manner. Includes a photo and track diagrams.

Car Identification Idea

Using paint markers to mark the axles of cars using the resistors' marking bands scheme to help identify the owner of the car. Useful in large group settings and during operating settings.

Controlling Train Movements Part 1

Covers various methods of operations modelers use, with prototype photos and scan of real documents.

Custom Car Card Boxes

The author shows how he built his own car-card storage bins that are mounted to the fascia of the layout.

DCC for operations

The author covers what it takes to get ready for holding an operating session. It includes a large sidebar article on setting up decoders in engines used for operating sessions.

Deadlines

Gluing a brakeman to a cardboard handle allows the figure to simulate brakemen movements during an operating sessions.

Engineering Department

The author describes the things he has to do to get ready for his monthly operating sessions.

Evolution of an Operational Railroad

The author describes how his 9' x 26' N-scale layout is operated, the changes he had to make to improve for operations, and the lessons he had to learn.

Fine Scale Operations: Jersey Western Style

Describes how to mimic the real world operations of a switcher crew, such as the diesel's control stand, applying brakes, and performing maintenance tasks simulated with a Digitrax throttle and Digitrax equipped engines.

First S Scale Interstate Opering Session?

A number of Minnesota S-scale modelers visited with Michigan S-scale modelers, operating on their home layouts. Includes a photo of all of the attendees.

Getting Real

The author describes how he does operations on his 1984-based layout. Includes many photos of his layout, and of the items he uses to facilitate operating sessions.

Going Beyond Simple Operations

This article covers what to do next once you have mastered simple operations on your layout. Includes information about his free software application for a fastclock. There is a chart for how to measure scale speed. Includes example paperwork.

Great Operation: Expert Advice

Techniques the Model Railroader staff employs to maintain great operations. Covers smooth roadbed, trackplanning, wiring, coupler standards, leveling benchwork, keeping freight car rolling smoothly, planning for access, ballasting turnouts, and tuning commercial turnouts.

Interstate All-'S' Operating Weekend

Brooks Stover, Gaylord Gill, and Dave Held each had their layouts open for an operating session at each layout over a Friday and Saturday in April 2008 to local S-scale modelers and a group from Minnesota. Includes several photos of the layouts and the group of operators.

It's More Than Horsepower

The author describes how he created a "tonnage chart" where a certain number of engines are needed to pull a certain number of cars. The quantity and type of engines used in the consists are based on scaled-down prototype engines' performance numbers. He then bases the information on what kind of terrain the engines would be battling. It is an interesting way of adding to the realism of model railroad operations.

Jeff's Junction

Even if your home layout is not yet finished, it can be successfully operated as long as the track work is ready.

Jeff's Junction

The hobby of model railroading is a game, the author proposes.

Layout Operation

Creating action orders for "slow" lumber, "roller" lumber and "diversion" lumber.

Lightweight Operations

Survey shows that 50% of those who operate their layout favor lightweight operations, which is explained in this article, and how to do it.

Locomotive Sounds Add Fin and Realism to Operation

Whistle and horn signals are described, so that the reader and program and operate his or her trains in a realistic fashion. It also describes when to use the bell, and how different sounds relate to whether the engine is a steam or diesel locomotive.

Lumber Movement Switch list

Modern switch lists for lumber movements.

M&StL Conductor Train Lists

Scans of some train lists.

Magnetic, Movable Maps

The author describes how he prints a town's track map, inserts it into a plastic picture frame and attaches it to the layout's fascia. He also describes an idea by Gerry Leone to glue a magnet to the picture frame, and a metal washer to the layout's fascia, so that the map is removable.

Making a Case for Operation

This article covers why you might want to hold operating sessions, what you need to have to do operations, and detailed planning to bring it all about.

Making the Ultimate Uncoupling Tool

The author describes how he created an uncoupling tool out of a micro brush and a wooden dowel.

Mixed Freight

The author shares his philosophy about operations on his layout.

Model Railroad Power Control Center

The article covers how the author built a magnetic tag display to visually show the distribution of motive power during an operating session.

Modeling Temporary Slow Orders

How to model temporary speed restrictions due to on-line work.

Moving Freight and Making Names

The article introduces the concept of operations and how to get started in it. It covers mapping your railroad, industrial analysis, starting with a switch list, car cards and waybills, and boxes and shelves in which to store these car cards and waybills.

Nickerson Switching Puzzle

A theoretical switching scheme based on the author's real-world experience.

Operation On The Yulan Valley Railroad Timetable & Republic Steel Schedule

The author shares his operations method for his layout.

Operation Rules on the HO Scale Salt Lake Southern

The author describes how he accomplishes operations on his layout. He has continuous staging so that trains can be re-used during a session, or have many sessions back-to-back.

Operation, Basic and Simple

Having operated on some of the most well-known layouts around the country that are known for their operating sessions, the author describes how he got into operations on his own layout. Includes a track plan of his 12'x37' layout, and cards he uses for his operating sessions.

Operations 202

This is the second installment on operations and deals with how to get the cars to the right places and move trains so they don't run into each other.

Operations in Allagash Country

The author shares his experience holding operating sessions on his layout. Includes many photos of his layout.

Operations on the Francisco & Colorado

The author describes how he got into operations. Includes photos of his layout, and a trackplan of the 12' by 12' HO-scale layout.

Ops for the Rest of Us Part 1

This article kicks off a series on how to implement operations on one's layout, covering the lightweight ops version first.

Ops for the Rest of Us Part 2

This installment the author covers two layouts that use the operations light method.

Ops for the Rest of Us Part 3

This installment covers how to convey a layout's or train's story to the operators.

Ops for the Rest of Us Part 4

This installment covers the movement of individual cars.

Ops for the Rest of Us Part 5

This installment covers how to "upgrade" the lightweight operations covered in the first four parts to more heavy-duty operations.

Portage Potpourri

An interesting switching puzzle, with the solution on the next page.

Prototype Paperwork for a Small Layout

Creating paperwork for a small L-shaped switching layout and a small oval layout with three spurs.

Prototypical Waybills for Car Card Operation

The author builds on articles that have described the car card system in detail. It describes an alternative waybill, which address some shortcomings in the other systems. Includes prototype and model waybills, as well as many photos of rolling stock movements on the author's layout.

Publisher's Musings

The author suggests that we should operate our trains at a "selectively compressed" speed as well, to make the layout seem bigger.

Rail Lines to the Shoreline

This article focuses on the ships used to transport goods that are carried by rail on land. It covers sea-going vessels, coastal vessels, harbor craft, car floats, and piers and cranes.

Railroading with a Purpose

The author describes how his layout is designed for realistic operations with 3-rail O scale. Includes many photos, and track plans. His Pennsylvania & Western layout is included in a segment of the OGR's "Great Layout Adventures, Volume 11" DVD.

Realistic Locomotive Assignments

The author followed prototype practices for operating his layout (featured in the August 1994 issue of Model Railroader). The article covers the research he did and has many photos of his layout.

Reverse Running

The author shares his eye-opening experiences operating on several different layouts.

S Operating Tips

The author shares some tips on how to make your equipment last longer.

S Tracks

Sam discusses what operations are, why people like operating session or don't like them, handling stress preparing for a session, car-card system, and how to start the first session.

S Tracks

How can we quickly communicate to guest operators of our layouts where the layout is located and what its purpose is? This article covers many ways to accomplish that.

S Tracks

The author shares what it was like preparing for, and holding, the first operating session on his layout.

Sequence Timetables Made Easy

Operate without watching the clock.

Setting Up Operations

This article provides a step-by-step guide in how to get your layout ready for holding operating sessions, and then how to actually do such a session.

Simple Prototype Operations On a Small Layout

Describes how the author "added" operations to a small 6' x 13' HO-scale layout. He established a list of industries that need to be serviced by the rails and determined the flow of traffic. Based on that he developed a train schedule. He describes the Freight Car Card Forwarding System by Micro Mark and the wooden boxes he made to hold those cards.

Small Layouts Can Be Fun

The author's small layout is used as an example of how one can have quite a bit of operation on such a layout. Includes many layout photos.

Smooth Operators

Exploring the idea of adding operations to a "loop-runner" layout for added interest in the hobby.

So Here's What I Do

The author describes his layout's way freight operations.

Still Snowing at Summit

The author presents a switching puzzle on his layout.

Teens Enjoying Trains

The author's grandkids came by and had a blast operating their grandpa's new, under-construction layout. This also was the layout's first "operating session".

The Art of Switching

The author is a retired locomotive engineer. He describes the different styles of switching, and how similar model railroad switching activities are to the prototype.

The Basics of Operation

Detailed article on how to do operations: framework for operations, car destinations, waybills, basic switching, traffic control, timetables and train orders, CTC, track warrants, profit and loss.

The BC&G at 50

The author shares his insights after having had 50 operating sessions on this home layout. Includes several photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

The Case for Continuous Restaging

Thoughts related to continuous restaging of complete trains.

The Roundhouse

The author likes to put on his operator's hat sometimes to run the many trains on his layout. This requires planning.

The Way It Was

How mail was transferred between cars and local stations, and how that can be simulated with an A.F. #718 or 918 operating mail car.

Three Cars for Upper Kennebecport

A small switching puzzle (solution is offered on page 180).

To Op or Not to Op

At the 2016 NASG Convention, there were official operating sessions held for the first time at one of the annual Conventions. The author was able to attend two such sessions, and describes his experiences.

Traffic and Freight Cars on the Cardinal System

In this article the author describes a number of industries and how they affect traffic flow on a layout. Industries covered are steel, scrap, brick, team track, and wood. Several prototype and model photos accompany the article.

Way Bills

Way bills for shipping lumber.

Wayfreight Operations At Moduc Junction

The author describes single-main operation at Moduc Junction on his layout. Includes several photos and a track plan.

Ways to Way Freight

The author describes how various way freights function. He discusses end-to-end locals, one-way locals, and local turns.

What About Layout Crew Seniority?

The author considers using a seniority rule for regular operators on his layout.

What's an Agent-operator and Do I Really Need One to Run My Layout?

Adding jobs for these types of operators to your operating session adds another level of authenticity to your session - imitating what was done in years past.

What's the Rush?

The article covers ideas the author has implemented on his layout to make operating sessions last longer and be more fun, even though the layout may be small. He discusses two-person crews, having operators create their switch lists, developing traffic and schedules, implementing switch locks, manual uncoupling, slowing down the fast clock, enforcing top speeds via DCC decoders, and adding sound.

Youth in Model Railroading

This article describes how the La Mesa model railroad club holds youth-only operating sessions.