It is the old saw, rules are made to be broken.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
gdelmoroMark, LOVE #12
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I agree, Graham Line, information overlaod is one of my concerns.
We have had good luck with simple laminated job cards that spell out the function of each train -- limiting the information increases the chance that a crew will read and remember. This can be as simple as "Train 46 runs from A to D. Stop at B and C to set out and pick up car blocks."
This assumes some basic train handling knowledge that can be given separately. There's nothing worse than showing up at an op session and getting a 40-minute briefing on "The Railroad, What it Is and What it Does" that covers every single detail of every job. Have had that happen more than once. Didn't go back the third time.
RAILROAD of LION:
Operations Manual
Train Registry / 242nd Street Interlocking Tower
Roaring
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Thanks Brunton,
Definitely give us some ideas for our club.
We're working on a timetable, naming trains, and defining our operations.
Tobes
Mark, LOVE #12
Gary
You are correct, Brunton, it is start. But for a small layout, with a maximum of 3 operators, I dont want to get all caught up with overkill on the rules of the road. I want to be able to hand out a sheet of paper with the basics and let an operating session flow from there. As you noted, this is supposed to be fun.
A club situation or a bigger layout is a different story.
Looks like a good start, bearman.They'll evolve over time, I'm sure.
1. These Operating Guidelines may be superseded per instructions on a switch list
2. All ground throws black at the start of an operating session
3. The switchman who flips a ground throw is responsible for ensuring that it is re-flipped immediately after a train runs through the turnout.
4. Operating locomotives are to have their headlight on
5. Locomotives are to ring their bell when they start to move, regardless of location
6. Eastbound trains have precedence over westbound trains
7. A loaded car becomes immediately empty when it is dropped off
8. An empty car becomes immediately loaded when it is dropped of
9. Reefers are delivered to the icehouse before they are delivered to the Pappas & Son loading dock
10. Empty stock cars are delivered to Yard Track 2
11. Empty tank cars are delivered to the Interchange
12. Loaded reefers and loaded hide cars that are delivered to the interchange supersede any other rolling stock for location on the Interchange
13. Loaded box cars are delivered to the Interchange
My club does have a Rule Book:
EAST COAST LINES RAILWAY
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
EFFECTIVE 12:01 A.M.
1 / OCTOBER / 1982
**REVISED**
6 / DECEMBER / 2012
>GENERAL NOTICE<Safety is the first importance in the discharge of duty. Obeying the rules is essential to safety.
>GENERAL RULES<A) Employees whose duties are prescribed by these rules will be provided with a copy.B) Employees must understand and obey the rules and special instructions. If in doubt as to their meaning, they must apply to the proper authority for an explanation.C) Employees must pass the required throttle examination to operate on the railroad.D) Employees must report promptly to the proper official any violation of the rules and instructions.
>DEFINITIONS<REGULAR TRAIN – A train authorized by timetable schedule.EXTRA TRAIN – A train not authorized by timetable schedule.SCHEDULE – That part of a timetable, which prescribes class, direction, number and movement for a regular train.
TRAIN CLASS NUMBERING1st Class – From 1 to 9992nd Class – HB-2, BH-3, etc.3rd Class – BM-1, LM-2, HM-4, etc.4th Class – MX-3, JX-4, HX-7, etc.Extras – Discretion of Dispatcher
TIMETABLE – The authority for the movement of trains subject to the rules. It may contain classified schedules with special instructions and other essential information relating to the movement of trains and equipment.MAIN TRACK – A track extending through yards and between stations upon which trains are operated by timetable or train order.RESTRICTED SPEED – Twenty miles per hour for anything that may require the speed of the train to be reduced.STATION – A place designated in the timetable by name.TRAIN – An engine or motorcar or more than one engine or motor car, coupled with or without cars displaying markers.YARD LIMIT – The territory between signs placed adjacent to the main tracks to designate the points between which engines may operate on main track without timetable authority.
>TRAIN DIRECTION<Eastbound – Cedar Hill & Great Lakes to Boston.Westbound – Boston to Cedar Hill & Great Lakes.Eastbound – Even numbers.Westbound – Odd Numbers
>RULES FOR OPERATING<1) The Dispatcher has full authority over Operation.2) The Yardmaster has full authority within yard limits and is responsible for all trains entering or leaving the yard up to one train length beyond yard limits.3) Yardmasters must see that:a) Proper switches are aligned to admit trains into the yard without delay.b) All inbound engines are serviced with a minimum of delay.c) All engines display numbers.d) All outbound trains are assembled with the correct consist (blocked when required for switching enroute) in a timely manner so as not to delay departure times.e) All assembled trains have proper motive power.f) The proper switches are aligned to move departing trains out of the yard and then cleared.g) Engine facilities and local industries are switched and serviced.h) Yard work is conducted in a safe and slow speed (15mph) at all times.i) The Dispatcher is kept informed of yard status at all times.4) Train crews must:a) Operate in a safe and realistic manner at all timesb) Keep dispatcher informed (O.S.) of train location as shown on train order.c) Get permission from yardmaster to enter or leave yard limit.d) See that turnouts are properly aligned before and after use.e) Not run contrary to Train Orders unless authorized by dispatcher.f) Notify dispatcher of faulty equipment and track work.g) Observe all signals.5) Employees whose duties connect them with the movement of trains must not absent themselves or exchange duties without proper authority. Trainmen must not delay trains to partake of refreshments. 6) Cars must not be left on mainline sidings without permission of dispatcher, except in an emergency, in which case the operator must promptly inform the dispatcher. Crews are not relieved of compliance with rules even though they may not have been notified that there are cars on their siding.7) Cars must be kept clear of any street or public crossing and at least one hundred feet from the crossing when practical.8) All tail end cars must show detection on the CTC panels.
>SUPERIORITY OF TRAINS< A train is superior to another train by right, class or direction.9) Trains of the 1st Class are superior to those of the 2nd Class, and trains of the 2nd Class are superior to those of the 3rd Class, and so on.10) Eastbound trains are superior to westbound trains of the same class.11) All passenger trains are superior to all Freight trains.1st Class – Premier passenger, Commuter and Mail & Express trains.2nd Class – Manifest & Priority freights3rd Class – General Merchandise freights4th Class – Way Freights12) Way Freights must clear the mainline for all superior trains.13) All conversation not pertaining to the operation is prohibited.14) Brakemen will use hand signals when working all trains, or if the situation permits, by radio.15) Train orders or Form 19 orders will accompany all engineers.16) Extra train movements will receive Form 19 orders before departing.18) Extra trains are inferior to regular trains, unless otherwise indicated by the Dispatcher.
>COMMUNICATIONS<19) Before transmitting, operators shall listen a sufficient time to be sure the channel is not already being used.20) Train operators shall give a train number when transmitting.Example: “Dispatch, train BH-3.”21) Keep calls short and precise.22) Distress calls have priority over all.Example: “Dispatch, Emergency!”23) When calling for switches, specify:Example: “E-42 red” or “E-42 green”24) Entering an occupied block is prohibited.25) Yardmasters must list name and number of trains originating in their yard.
The last page is a graphic showing the proper hand signals for brakemen.
Mark: Good set of common sense guidelines. Thanks for sharing them.
My operation rules is based on common sense railroading with safety rules.
I stop before coupling onto a car to ensure there is at least one knuckle "open" and after making the joint I allow the switchman to release the hand brakes. Time is allowed for unlocking and lining a switch and the derailer.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I have a set, based upon the BNSF northern California "Division emplyees timetable sicne this is the railroad nad area that I model.
Fantastic, thanks Brunton. Still a little more complicated than I think I need since at most there will be three operators and the dispatcher, moi, would be standing there. However, I have downloaded the document and intend to freely plagerize.
And you will get no argument from me about the humor.
I wrote up a simple set for our local club a few years ago. I'll try to find the file and post it.
Got it!
CAMRC-HO-Operating-Rules.docx
This was written as a two-sided trifold so that it fits easily in a pocket. Read it in this order for it make sense: Sheet 2 far right (title page), Sheet 1 panels left to right, Sheet 2 left then middle panels.
Pretty basic, but it does define direction, speed limits and such. There is also a bit of humor interspersed - this is supposed to be fun!
Does anyone have written operating guidelines (I hate to call them rules) for operating your layout? If you do, how detailed are they? I have just started writing some down mostly to guide operations when my club or a friend or two come over to run trains and I am not sure that overly detailed rules will do anything but make a session overly complicated and not so much fun.
I did some quick research on the internet and some layouts have rather detailed rules although I suspect that the larger ones need more detail than the smaller ones.