id the Dispatcher Doodee on Doc’s sprawling WAZU. Had a great lunch (gumbo, since the Doc is a swamp-boy) and then settled myself in the back-room chair to run the railroad at peak efficiency.

So let’s review something about timetables and efficiency. The thing is, the WAZU is simply a mother-may-I operation, nothing more. I’m not saying that’s good or bad – I’ve run MMI on my home layouts and at the club in the early days. We tried warrants on the WAZU but we simply could not get them out fast enough. So while we might sound like we’re kinda sorta giving a warrant, it’s MMI. “Go there”. Nothing much else.

Now, since it is MMI, it implies that this is a DTC (Direct Traffic Control) or CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) operation. Trains move at their track speeds, focused on destination, not current time/location. Got that?

Okay, imagine all sorts of jokes about “wood” and “logs” here. Shared a laff with Dan (Photo: “Woody” Lott)

And here’s the thing. Every casual operation host out there wants to have a timetable to show off. But the thing is, timetables were a thing of Timetable & Train Order operations. Once railroads developed effective communications and advanced signalling, they dropped timetables from use. Oh, passenger timetables still exist, of course – your riders need to know what your service timeframes will be. Takeaway: DTC and CTC (and MMI) equals no timetables.

You can hold trains for start times (to reflect crews coming on duty). You can also set it up so yards don’t get full. You can even keep an eye on yard and staging arrival tracks in order to hold a train short of a yard until rails are available. But trains under DTC/CTC and Warrants and MMI generally don’t “stop” because of their pocket-watches.

The host eclipses some tall dude (Zach B)

In my experience, nothing annoys a crew more than sitting and waiting for nothing. The track ahead is clear. Why wait?

I will add that before the session the yardmasters inquired if I could edge trains out early. It makes sense since it allows they more time to work and not force them to wait for a train to clear.

If the host sees this otherwise, please advise me and I will run everyone directly off the timetable. That means shorter hops and more holds. I’ll do it either way.

As for what happened at “Small’s Jct”, that was on Doc. He’d added another engine to the oil consist that I didn’t know about. I’m not sure if I heard this right, but I understand that the train might have been “fouling on both ends”? If that’s true, then the train had exceeded its authority. “To” a location means stop before you foul the opposing siding turnout. As for the radio work to try to clear it, don’t call the DS and then be as difficult as possible in solving it. If you are asking me for a solution, give me a clear situation report. If you are going to work it out on the ground, then request any moves not cleared for (i.e. backing, breaking, or time-and-track). The irony was that the proponents of “proper radio procedures” where the ones editorializing on the air and generally making it difficult to understand.

Which leads me to the snark I was picking up while untangling issues and keeping trains running. Yes, you were like the person unwrapping candy during my concerto. Fine. I noted who you are. And, like a professional, I continued my performance until the successful conclusion. And that was in spite of your behavior.

It seems the rumors of expended war stocks are true – the army train rolls by with open doors and nothing inside (Zach B)

Track inspection from the video feed view (John C)

There were a lot of good moments too. Dan with the ‘Jack and I exchanged ribald innuendos. Doc was like a waitress, stopping by ever fifteen minutes, “Can I get you anything?”. And I really had to laugh when my wife brought the grain train into its destination and said something like, “Jane’s Train of Grain has arrived at Spokane”. Oh, and thanks to John C for helping her in the rough patches.

Everyone tossed switches well (for the most part). Watched two eastbound trains (late in the session) go into Pasco because crews weren’t realigning their turnouts. But enough people did, so things ran well.

Had a great time, Doc. Thanks again for hosting!

>>>BOOKS, AS ALWAYS, FOR SALE TO A LARGELY ILLITERATE POPULATION<<<

From Zach: “Unbeknownst to the DS, he cleared fresh uranium waste straight into the railx facility. Now the place is in quarantine. Last known information was a bunch of people in radiation suits were walking around with giger(sic) counters”. To Zach: “Did you submit the proper information for such a dangerous load? Please see THIS for further information on correct identification and notification.

Father time. Must be getting near the end of the year. Goodbye, 2026! (Zach B)

The Lumberjack run arrives in Attalia, swapping out cars before heading out on another leg of its journey (Dan L)