Re: Overland Pacific Operating Session

[Bill Lohman <844bill@gmail.com>]

Hi Kimberly,

 

Thanks for asking. 

 

An Operating Session consists of running our model trains just like the real trains run.  Carry passengers and freight from point A to Point B on a schedule.

 

This is in contrast to the way we run trains on the Club layout where we mosty run trains around in circles on no schedule -- for the crowd's enjoyment and our own enjoyment.

 

I find both methods of operation to be great fun and very enjoyable.  

 

A fast clock is just that.  It runs at a speed several times faster than real time.  For example, a 4 to 1 fast clock runs four times faster than real time.  So the clock indicates one hour has elapsed every fifteen minutes.  In other words, for a real one hour the fast clock advances 4 hours.

 

Compressing time with a fast clock in an operating session helps simulate real operations on a model railroad where space is limited and trains are much smaller.   

 

Bill   

 

 

On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 5:08 PM, Kimberly Reavis <kreavis@austin.rr.com> wrote:

Could someone please let me know what this is all about?  I'm brand new to model trains, and I'm not sure yet of all the lingo.  What exactly does a realistic operating session look like, and what is the fast clock that was mentioned?  Thank you!

~Kimberly

-----Original Message-----
From: ttat-members-owner@aoot.com [mailto:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com] On Behalf Of Bill Lohman
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 2:24 PM
To: hemicuda24@aol.com; aadelman70@gmail.com; Adrian Elliott; David Gold; Edward Weltens; mgraziano@austin.rr.com; Ricky Dolifka; Steve Wise
Cc: ttat-board@aoot.com; ttat-members@aoot.com
Subject: Overland Pacific Operating Session

Hi Guys,

 

Several of us have been discussing having realistic railroad Operating Sessions for quite a while now.   We finally started the process by teaming up and "learning by doing."  We built several operating scenarios on my Overland Pacific Railway.  Yesterday, Sunday, Jun 6.

 

Thanks go  to Rick, Ricky, Mike, David and Dave.  We did a lot of hard work building operating scenarios -- and had a lot of fun, too.

 

We were hard at it from 1 pm to 8 pm!  I mean hard at it.   For example, operating on a Four to One Fast Clock the Valley Local took David and crew a full 8 hour shift (4 to 1 fast clock, 2 hours real-time) from start to finish.  He and his crew were busy every second of the time!

 

Looking ahead. 

 

We unanimously agreed that as soon as we feel ready (after a few more "learning by doing"  sessions)  we'll invite all Club members -- with an interest in realistic operations --  to join us.  

 

And we're hopeful that we can also have Operating Sessions on Steve Wise's layout when he's ready and available.  Maybe others' layouts, too?

 

Once we go public we envision averaging at least one operating session a month.  Maybe more.  We agreed to schedule them so they don't conflict with the Club's "official" events.  Maybe the sessions will make it on to the club calendar.  That'll be up to the members and the Board after we get going.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Bill