Hi all -- this is my first time posting here. I need some tips on designing a set of operating rules for a pet project of mine. Though it's a model, some prototypical input is greatly needed! Here's what I'm modeling (don't laugh) -- a narrow-gauge VERY short line, akin to a steam dummy, whose entire roster of equipment consists of two locomotives, and one each combination car, boxcar, flatcar, and bobber caboose (mostly just for kicks). Naturally there is only one crew, and the line operates four mixed trains daily except Sunday. There is a telephone line along the RR, but the only communicating stations are the two termini. Clearly an elaborate system of authority and protection is not required, and it's likely that any such railroad in real life would have only very basic operating rules, if any, with very little formality. But I would like to write up a rulebook that is as thorough as you can get, without being needlessly complex. The one time I can imagine flag protection and restricted speed might be required would be if the mixed broke down out on the road, and the engine crew (leaving the engine under the supervision of some competent trainman, I guess) would have to trek back "into town" to fire up the second one to retrieve the first. We'll consider this to be in the timetable-and-train-order era of operations. So here are my big questions:
1. In the scenario described above (breakdown, need to fetch second engine), would you provide flag protection for the train on the main? Federal law these days sez it's not required when a RR operates only one train at any given time, but then the old rules say, "an engine without cars in service on the road is considered a train..."
2. Would the above scenario be handled instead in special instructions?
3. Would restricted speed be required on the part of the engine going to assist? (Or in the parlance of the era I'm modeling, "proceed with caution at slow speed, prepared to stop short of train")
3. Just what exactly would the minimum crew requirements for such an operation? And if they did need to fetch this second engine, who would go back "into town" and who'd stay behind to watch the first?
4. What about such things as clearances and what-not? Even if not for the movement of trains, there would still have to be temporary slow orders and such from time to time, yes? (We'll assume that, like many cash-strapped interurban roads, there is one man at the terminal who perhaps serves as Superintendent, Dispatcher, Yardmaster, and Station Agent all in one, and he'd be the one ordering crews around, as need be.)
5. Regarding extra trains, on a road such as this, is there any POINT in differentiating between an "extra" and a "work extra"?
6. Is time-table operation really appropriate, or perhaps just some kind of absolute block register?
Whew. It all sounds totally nuts, I know, especially since it seems like a road like this would probably have pretty individualistic, highly informal operating practices. Nevertheless, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.