Last Session of 2006

Last night the boys descended into John's basement for what would be the last train ops session of 2006. His Canada Southern/New York Central layout is a joy to behold and a blast to operate. Eleven gentlemen were present and all were kept occupied throughout the course of the evening. John's layout now requires a half dozen operators simply to man specific posts on the layout. That's before train crews are called to take the crack passenger runs and mainline and local freights along the rails of the NYC/CASO and C&O lines as well as manning CPR passenger trains.

I'm honouring John's request to have just a few pics posted. In this first shot we see an NYC train that has arrived the Michigan Central Terminus bound for Chicago. A number of headend cars had to be switched out here in Detroit and it was my job to ensure all the proper cars were assembled for fellow operator, Harry's train. John's terminus building sure stands in as an imposing backdrop! The Canadian Pacific train arrived shortly before Harry's and it required some servicing as well!

John's layout is a double-decked gem with lots of activity taking place on both levels. The big yard at Buffalo is situated immediately below the yard at Detroit. This means that the Detroit yardmasted "doubles" as the Buffalo guy...and, yes...that's me. I guess I do have a "split personality, being able to be in two places at the same time! You've gotta be impressed with this line-up of NYC and C&O trains awaiting departure from Buffalo!

Let's briefly follow a train on its circuit around the layout. Here we have a hotshot New York Central freight train that departed Chicago earlier in the day.

It's spotted snaking through the yard in Detroit. I've aligned the switches to the main and the crew is proceeding slowly nearby the terminus.

This ABA set of F's in the different New York Central tones certainly look handsome on this fast freight!

I've routed the train successfully through the yard and aligned it through the Detroit River tunnel on the far tracks.

This is one of the "landmark" scenes on John's layout and one of the first completed. It's great having such creative modellers in the group who are unafraid to scratchbuild a scene that cannot be "purchased from the hobby shop shelves" and John and his team are such modellers!

The train has reached Buffalo and is ligned for Track 2 as it ducks under the road overpass. Our paperwork shows that the fast freight will continue on to New York although Buffalo is the "end of line" on the modelled portion of the layout.

Yes, John's layout is big and it still has much scenery to be completed, but one thing is certain...it is a joy to operate!

Thank you Harry for snapping this picture with one hand on the camera and another on the throttle. We try not to let the railfanning interfere with the train operations, sopo the single hand shutter shot is a wee tad shaky. This image shows how Detroit occupies the upper level with the large Buffalo yard below. That's little ol' me wearing my new red T-shirt sporting the "Support Our Troops" ribbon.

It's a great big "thank-you" to John for hosting the boys on his turn in the round robin! Have a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday everyone! Cheers, Mike