Operations

"Model railroad layouts are designed to be operated, just as automobiles are designed to be driven. The goal of the designer is to create a model railroad with an interesting and enjoyable operating scheme, providing an opportunity for people to get together and enjoy trains and each other, and for the layout builder to show off his or her handiwork and artistry."

"The formal operating session is the most demanding type of operation on a model railroad. The railroad is usually operated to simulate prototype railroad operations, with trains going places and doing work. Often there are several people working (playing, actually) together, filling such roles as engineer, yardmaster, dispatcher and others. Some sort of paperwork is used to simulate the prototype's masses of paperwork and to direct the action. A model railroad requires sophisticated track planning to allow all the train movements necessary during a busy operating session."

"We all love the hobby of model railroading, and seek to improve it and increase its benefits to the model railroaders who devote so much of their leisure time pursuing their dream. While a finished model railroad is a wonderful thing to look at, and photograph, it really comes alive and gives us sublime enjoyment when it operates just as the prototype."

A line-up of train movements during a "normal" operations session:

Mesquite Belt Trains

Called @ Houston Eureka Yard

Called @ Smithville Yard

Called @ Ft. Worth North Yard

Called @ Ft. Worth Cargill Elevator

Called @ Port of Houston

Called @ Granger: