January Operating Session

Last saturday I held another op session. It started at 8PM with a "risotto alla milanese" that I cooked for my fellow operators. Then at 9:30PM the session started.

Besides a couple of problems at the very beginning, all went smooth. The first problem was related to the lack of scenery base around the Surf area. Marco, one of the operators, accidentally hit the fascia and the power of the Lompoc Local (an SD35 and a GP20) hit the ground from an height of about 4'.
I am happy to report that the SD35 is perfect just like before falling, while the GP20 suffered a little damage on the front pilot which I solved with some glue :-)

The second problem was a major derailment at the nord end of Surf, this time I got a couple of boxcar on the ground but no damage.

The remainder of the evening was pleasant and we all had fun. The news is I introduced written Track Warrants forms and we all liked it. Onto the pics!


Train are going to Guadalupe, coming from both railroad east and west. First picture, Marco is entering the yard with the Coast Merchandise East from San Francisco. In the second picture, Franco is switching Surf with the Golden Gate Manifest.

Alex played the Guadalupe yardmaster role



Franco switched a PFE reefer in Surf




Guadalupe yard action!













Enzo and Marco entered Surf with a LA bound train, then they took care of some PFE reefer.




Alex classified cars in Guadalupe quickly and neatly!




Franco, while heading to San Francisco, looked pleased to run his train :-)



Enzo was apparently busy with his paperwork at Surf



Then comes my turn. After dispatching for a while I ran the Guadalupe Local, a turn to Callender.







Marco and Enzo were still talking about cars to set out at Surf.



Then Alex took a train from LA, passed Surf and entered Guadalupe





Yes, there is more than Plywood Central...