Model Railroad Operation Guides
complied by Cliff Robinson, Keith Gutierrez,
Richard Kamm, and David Barrow. David was a featured
clinician at the 1996 MCoR "Gateway Getaway"
Regional Convention.
Operation Directives: These
directives evolved over the past few years as our
informal touring group visited, operated, critiqued and
compared layouts. Based on these visits, the group
established a list of directives that insure an
enjoyable operating session.
#1 - Understand the Layout
Try to understand the layout setting, philosophy
and the owners rules of operation. Obey them even if
you don’t agree with them or can think of a better
way.
#2 - Ask Questions
Ask questions if you are unsure.
#3 - Understand Uncoupling Guidelines
Understand the uncoupling guidelines. Ask if it
is OK to handle cars or not?
#4 - Don’t Handle Locomotives
Don’t handle the locomotives. If it leaves the
track, ask the host what to do. If he wants you to
re-rail it, look before handling. Be careful of grab
irons and other detail parts!
#5 - Understand Owner’s Rules
Understand the owner’s rules for spotting or
removing faulty cars and locomotives. Above all,
tell someone if you are having trouble with a car or
other equipment.
#6 - Understand Radio or Telephone Rules
Understand radio or telephone rules. Listen
before speaking!
#7 - Check Your Switchlist
Check your switchlist before leaving the yard and
during the run to determine and anticipate car
forwarding and switching problems. Try to know what
you are going to do before you do it.
#8 - Run At Prototypical Speeds
Run the train at prototypical speeds. Don’t
run too fast! Try to match prototypical stops
and starts. Don’t reverse the locomotive while it
is moving.
#9 - Stay With Your Train
Stay with your train. Don’t stand at the end of
aisles and watch the train disappear in the
distance. The whole point of "walk around"
layout planning is to try to create the illusion of
really being in the cab.
#10 - Don’t Block the Aisles
Don’t stand in the narrow parts of aisles.
Also, don’t try to carry on a conversation or
distract yardmasters or operators when they (or you)
should be doing something else.
#11 - Know Clearance Points
Know clearance points. If a siding only takes
three cars, don’t try to put four into it! You
will save yourself considerable embarrassment if you
observe the fouling point for all turnouts and avoid
throwing the turnout under a car or locomotive.
#12 - Pull Before Put
In general, perform pickups before setouts. Check
the switchlist carefully and you might save yourself
some time down the road by pre-blocking a car or two
for the next town.
#13 - Obey Signals
Observe and obey signals. If a signal is not
working, assume it is displaying its most
restrictive aspect and be governed accordingly.
#14 - Report Problems
Report maintenance problems to the dispatcher.
Don’t shout it out! The host probably has a list
to keep track of problems. Report your difficulty as
tactfully as possible.
#15 - Locate Turnouts Before Throwing
Locate turnouts before throwing. If necessary,
get dispatcher permission to unlock and throw
mainline or passing siding turnouts.
#16 - Leave Turnouts Aligned Correctly
Before leaving a town, be sure turnouts are
aligned correctly and locked if appropriate.
#17 - Be Patient
Be patient with other, especially new, operators.
We all had to learn sometime.
#18 - Don’t Distract the Other Operators
Don’t engage in non-operating related
conversations in the layout room during timed
operations.
complied by Cliff Robinson, Keith Gutierrez,
Richard Kamm, and David Barrow. David was a featured
clinician at the 1996 MCoR "Gateway Getaway"
Regional Convention.
Layout Owner’s Directives: These
directives evolved over the past few years as our
informal touring group visited, operated, critiqued and
compared layouts. Based on these visits, the group
established a list of directives that insure an
enjoyable operating session. Use of the directives
during planning, construction and maintenance guarantees
we will like it!
#1 - Command Control is Required
Regardless of the trackplan, you must have a
command control system; brand is not important as
long as it works. One of the key causes of new
operator dissatisfaction is having to remember all
of the secret switches, methods, procedures and
policies governing the operation of their
locomotive. The most effective system is transparent
to the operator and requires no sermons on how to
use.
#2 - Motive Power Must Run Smoothly
Equip your operating fleet with the best running
locomotives and place all others on the rip track
for rebuilding. This must be done even if the
operating fleet may be prototypically incorrect. A
highly detailed, prototypically correct, but poorly
running locomotive frustrates the best operator. Do
not continue to use a locomotive in need of repair.
Advise operators how to determine locomotives in
need of repair or just wheel cleaning.
#3 - Less Than 2 Derailments Per 100 Cars
Moved
Excluding operator errors, the mechanical
condition of trackwork, rolling stock and
locomotives must result in less than two derailments
for every 100 cars moved.
#4 - Insure Operator’s Comfort
The most enjoyable sessions take place in a
climate controlled room which has adequate heating
and cooling. Climate control assists in meeting
directive #3 since layout expansion and contraction
is less. Floors should be carpeted and there should
be strategically placed stools for tired operators.
Layout height should be comfortable and of an
average height.
#5 - Aisles Must Accommodate Operators
Operators come in a wide range of sizes and
shapes. Aisles should be wide enough to allow
operators room to pass. Narrow aisles require
careful scheduling to prevent boxing-in an operator.
Back-to-back operating stations or positions must be
avoided and adjacent positions must allow adequate
elbow room.
#6 - Turnout Controls Easy to Understand
Fixed operating positions, such as yards, should
be equipped with standard control panels. Layouts
designed for walkaround control should use simple
turnout controls mounted on the fascia panel
directly below the turnout. Switches must be easy to
throw and provide positive indication of turnout
direction. A direction convention such as
"up=reversed" and "down=normal"
must be adopted and consistently applied.
#7 - Track Must Be Easy to Reach
Cars occasionally and quite mysteriously jump off
the track. Rerailing is much easier if the operator
can reach the track without ladders, stools or a sky
hook. Avoid hidden staging tracks since chances are
50-50 there will be a problem when entering or
leaving. And finally, the probability of having a
derailment is directly proportional to the degree of
"reach" difficulty.
#8 - A Communication System Must Be Provided
Telephones or radio must be used to insure proper
and timely transmittal of train orders without
distracting other operators. Guidelines for using
radios must be understood and followed to avoid
interference.
#9 - Switch Lists and Spots Must Be Readable
The simplest switch list is usually the easiest
to understand and use. Always specify pickups first
to make room for setouts. List towns in order of
arrival. List cars alphabetically. Intra-town car
moves should be uniquely marked to avoid accidental
removal. Identification of all industry spots must
be unambiguous and easy to see.
#10 - Limit Visitors and Trainees
Limit the number of first time operators
(Trainees) during normal operating sessions. Best
case is when a regular operator shadows a trainee
during an entire session, explaining things as
needed. Trainees should be allowed to make errors
without fear of embarrassment. Visitors should be
discouraged from coming during operating sessions.
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