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The group meets once a week for three hours
in the evening. There are currently thirteen operators in
the group and a session could have anywhere from four to
nine operators in attendance on any given night depending on
which layout is involved, and of course, other human
factors. Recently the ROG (Retired Operations Group), a
sub-division of the CSOG made up of the retired operators,
was formed. This group meets once a week in the morning for
three hours. The layouts are all HO scale wireless DCC and
sessions are conducted as close to prototypical operation as
possible. The Dispatcher and Yard Master control most of the
activity. The Dispatcher oversees the train movements around
the layout from his dispatcher board. Radios are used and
the form of control probably most closely resembles
prototypical DTC (Direct Traffic Control). The Yard Master
operates the main freight yard making all the necessary
switching assignments to break down incoming trains and
construct outgoing trains. An Assistant Yard Master is
employed occasionally when heavy volume dictates. The car
routing system for a train includes car cards, waybills and
a write-up which describes the overall train assignment.
These items are provided by the layout Superintendent and
are used by the conductors in the conduct of business
operations. The engineers operate the locomotives as
directed by the conductor. On some runs the conductor and
engineer are one. Five to six different trains could be in
operation at the same time and approximately twelve trains
could be run during a session. Some trains, a local freight,
a turn or a transfer for example, might take the entire
session to complete its assignment because of main line
traffic. |
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