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The Silicon Valley dispatcher's desk and magnetic board with a linear schematic and, on the left, a track diagram of each level.

Notes on Operations – How Other Folks Do It

Thoughts on model railroad operations from the perspective of learning from others....
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On the road with the Webster Govers & Fenton Railroad.

Operations with a Computer Spreadsheet

Development of model railroad operations and automation assistance using Microsoft Excel....
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essential-ops-3

Essence of Model Railroad Operations

Basics of Operations, Car Cards and Waybills for your Model Railroad Layout....
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John Schindler's St. Louis Junction Railroad Rail Op 2010

Car Card Resources

There are a number of sources for the four-way waybill and car card system Bob discusses in his article, as well as resources and additional information on how to setup your operations....
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Freight Yards: What Are All Those Tracks?

Freight Yards: What Are All Those Tracks?

A major yard facility looks very confusing but there is a purpose behind each and every track within the yard limits and that purpose helps to determine location, access and size for each track....
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Prototype Yards: Adapting Prototype Operations to Model Railroading

Prototype Yards: Adapting Prototype Operations to Model Railroading

How prototype operations can influence what we do as model railroad operators by examining the operations of prototype yard crews in the time period from 1957 through 1961....
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Union Pacific Omaha Harriman Dispatch Center

Union Pacific Omaha Harriman Dispatch Center

The Harriman Dispatch Center is within an 1891 Union Pacific freight depot that was converted in the early 1990s to the dispatch center and administrative office housing around 800 employees. Union Pacific dispatchers work in a steel-reinforced concrete bunker within the building. The...
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Operations Department

Operation Department 3

One way to add operating pleasure to your railroad, and hopefully prevent these types of mistakes, is to copy the actions of the prototype. Real railroads have documents known as a train procedures directory, click book and yard book. These different books were used by the train crews...
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Midland Road and N&W units lead the way on a run-through train with trackage rights on the Virginian & Ohio mainline. This train traveled between hidden staging at one end of the layout, to hidden staging past the Midland Road junction.

Operation Department 2

One of the underused resources in the operator's bag of tricks is the use of staging. With this tool, a modeler can simulate bridge traffic, run throughs, junctions, and interchanges. Each of these can add interest and operational possibilities. Successfully done, hidden staging can g...
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Timetable and Train Order Operation, A Primer

Timetable and Train Order Operation, A Primer

Timetable and Train Order Operation Basics, a primer from the Gateway Division NMRA....
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Designing Model Railroad Operations

Designing Model Railroad Operations

Modelers enjoy visiting and running on model railroads that are realistic in appearance and operated in a realistic manner. This only happens when the model echoes the mission of a real railroad — cars move to transport freight and passengers....
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Operations Department

Operation Department 1

Pacing devices, like junctions, seem to be used and thought of more in the planning stages of railroads. They allow operators more prototypical time to complete switching chores as well as provide for longer runs for mainline engineers....
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