March 22 to 24, 2024
Mark Wallace Contact Operations Committee
These are some hosts who have graciously expressed interest in hosting operating sessions. Realize that between now and March 2024, things may change.
Bob Zeolla
Earl Paine Greg Shindledecker
For layout photos, see Layout Tour page.
All ops sessions are full!
All who have signed up, Have a great session!
Friday Sessions
Bob Zeolla
Representing a portion of Conrail's operation in Western Pennsylvania diverging from Conrail's Pittsburgh Line at ConPit Junction near Johnstown, and rejoining Conrail's Ft. Wayne Line in Pittsburgh, the modeled portion is from Avonmore to Pittsburgh. Staging extends this area eastward to Johnstown and westward to Conway Yard. The modeled time period is 1978. The hub of operations during this period on the Conemaugh is Kiski Yard. Secondary yards along the line are at Etna and West Tarentum. Operations include through and local freights, unit mineral trains, and branch line and steel mill switching. The layout features fully functioning virtual signals and CTC dispatcher control using JMRI PanelPro.
Train Dispatching system: Sequence operation with dispatching,
FRS radios with headset required.
Car Forwarding method: Car Cards/Waybills.
Layout control system: Digitrax DCC. Please bring Digitrax throttles if you have them
(Duplex & Simplex Radio) plus WiThrottle, Engine Driver or any
WiFi throttles or phones.
Earl Paine
Representing the Reading Railroad's mainline along the Schuylkill River between Philadelphia and Reading in the early 1970's leading up to the Conrail merger. The modeled portion extends from Falls Yard through to Abrams Yard west through Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown, Stowe Yard, Monocacy, Birdsboro where the line diverges to the Belt line/Turkey Path and the Main line thru to Reading Yard. Operations involve heavy freight trains performing industrial switching with some commuter passenger trains. The section modeled was yard limits over half modeled distance in its day, that allows for interesting operating situations for general freight, coal, cement, steel and industrial switching.
Train Dispatching system: Sequential operation with verbal dispatching.
Bring FRS radios with headset.
Car Forwarding method: Car Cards.
Layout control system: Digitrax DCC. Please bring Digitrax throttles if you have them.
Duplex & Simplex Radio, WiFi throttles or phones.
Greg & Angel Shindledecker's Western Maryland, Thomas Subdivision in the mid-‘70s.
Based on the WM’s Thomas Subdivision extending along the upper Potomac Valley into West Virginia during the years after the merger into the Chessie system, the segment modeled is from just west of 21st Bridge (east of McCool, MD) to Elkins, WV. Two large staging yards represent points east - Cumberland/Knobmount, MD and beyond; the other being coal branches radiating from Elkins to Durbin, Webster Springs, Dailey and Belington. In between lies the Blackwater Canyon, in which the famed Black Fork Grade required multiple helpers on almost all trains moving coal eastbound. Combinations of power using WM, B&O and the early Chessie schemes are seen. Online industries include coal load outs and mines, pulpwood and wood chip loading, the Westvaco paper mill at Luke, MD, coal-powered electric generation at Mt. Storm, a tannery, a Kingsford Charcoal plant and car shops for maintenance and repair at Elkins. Railroad is dark but dispatched using manual block signaling unique to the prototype.
Train Dispatching system: Dispatcher authorized utilizing WM style manual signaling.
Bring FRS radio with headset.
Car Forwarding method: Car cards.
Layout control system: NCE DCC. NCE throttles are available, but feel free to bring a NCE
throttle if you have one. Wifi throttles and phones with appropriate app
can join.
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