I will moderate a panel of 4 or 5 local layout owners, SIG Tour hosts, and pose a series of topics about lessons learned about design, construction and operation. We usually record this so we can share the transcript in the LDJ.

I have been a member of the Dead Rail Society for several years, a group in San Diego area devoted to running trains by wireless DCC and battery power. The availability of lithium-polymer batteries and smaller radios has made this method of running trains, common for many years in larger scales, available in the smaller scales. I recently converted my Donner Summit HO/HOn3 layout completely to Dead Rail and removed all the track feeders so there is no power on the rails. In this clinic I will discuss the pros and cons of this move and how it has effected operations both positively and negatively. I will also discuss the design and construction of the layout which is based on an HO version of the Southern Pacific and an HOn3 representation of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad. Disclaimer: I am the owner of Tam Valley Depot which manufactures and sells the DRS1 radio system discussed in the clinic.

Tips for setting up a successful operating session for guests, using Time Table & Train Orders, that will keep them coming back for more. I have hosted over 100 sessions over the years taking what would be complicated and making it FUN.

Join Jim as he relates his adventures over the last 9 years working to recreate the 2 foot gauge Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes in his backyard in a combination of scale and gauge that has him scratchbuilding or kitbashing almost everything.

The materials and methods used to support MRR operations. Topics include Hybrid NCE/Digitrax DCC, multi-line phone system; Color Position Light signals; computer controlled interlocking towers; automated running and integrated operations paperwork.

A video of the Cumberland West railroad layout. It is structured as a 1953 style railroad promotional using the layout as if it were real.

Introduction and tour of the UCW. Views of recent changes to the layout including new dispatcher and agent office, moving and construction of a new active staging area (aka. The Mole) and changes to the layout. How the agent uses Flex-Bill to generate switch lists, wheel reports, and manage customer waybills. Staging trains using barcodes generated in Flex-Bill.

How the real railroads use visual communications past and present. Add these to your model operations to have more fun.

This clinic is a Two-Part presentation directed toward the hosts of operating sessions. While it is largely oriented around Timetable and Train Order operation, much in the clinic will be applicable to other systems as well. In Part 1 the clinic addresses towns, yards, stations, staging and connecting to the larger railroad world, industries and types of trains. In Part 2, it addresses car forwarding, the ops jobs (road crews, yardmasters and dispatching), balancing the schedule and what operators take for granted (but you shouldn't).

If you want to begin operating, this clinic is for you! It covers how to run a freight train, reading a Timetable, how to perform on-line switching moves (both facing and trailing point spurs), communication systems, clearances, OS-ing, yard operations (classifying cars), running passenger trains and guest etiquette.