Model Railroader – October 2019

34 http://www.ModelRailroader.com

I saw the same signals I had from ISS,

but Fran’s were lighted and operational.

I spent over an hour at his layout watch-

ing trains knock down the signals and

display different aspects. I was hooked.

I returned home that day and vowed

that I would light my signals and make

them operational.

Since I was already using Digitrax

Digital Command Control (DCC) on the

layout, I selected that firm’s detection

and signaling equipment. After a few

weeks of studying the instructions and

reading the Digitrax Yahoo forum,

I finally began to understand how to

set up the signals.

But I needed to tie the signals with

dispatching software. Bob Garner came

to the rescue and installed my Railroad

& Co. TrainController software.

In 2013 CSX began replacing the old

B&O signals with modern hooded sig-

nals. Over the next two years, the CSX

worked west to east replacing signals. To

keep up to date, I replaced the B&O sig-

nals with modern signals made by

BLMA (now Atlas Model Railroad Co.)

Running like the real thing

With a functioning signal system,

I began designing operating sessions

that followed the real CSX Philly Sub

schedule. This was a huge undertaking.

I learned quite a bit by railfanning and

talking with CSX employees that work

the line.

I operate all trains that run on the

CSX’s Philly Sub. I also run a CSX busi-

ness train at most sessions. My initial

plans were to operate every month. That

wasn’t realistic, as raising a family and

working at a busy career didn’t allow for

this. I now host operating sessions about

four times a year.

Since I want my operating sessions to

be prototypical, it takes about a month

to stage the layout. The first thing I look

for is any changes to the prototype road

trains. Do any trains need to be added or

deleted from my operating scheme?

Then I look at the cars in the trains to

make sure they reflect the types of cars

currently running. I also block the cars

following prototype practices. The road

trains work the same yards on my layout

as they do in real life. I follow the same

procedures for locals.

Not all road trains do work on the

Philly Sub. On my layout, these are just

overhead trains that traverse the layout.

With the layout staged, I next assem-

ble locomotive consists for the road

trains and locals. My typical road trains

are 40 to 50 cars long, so the locomotives

assigned to the train must be able to

handle the train plus any pickups or set-

outs en route.

It takes about 70 engines to run the

schedule in an operating session. Just

like the real railroad, we have failures

during sessions, and these engines must

be replaced. About 70 percent of

my engines have sound, and I make

sure that every lead engine is sound

equipped. Most consists have at least

two sound-equipped engines.

Smart-sized crews

Approximately 12 operators are

needed to run the layout. In the early

days, I would invite upwards of 20 peo-

ple, but that proved to be too many and

operators were looking for more work.

I prefer to have just the right amount of

operators so everyone remains busy.

I have a full-time dispatcher who

works in a separate office. Train crews

communicate with the dispatcher via

Family Radio Service radios. On the full-

size CSX, crews are required to call sig-

nals over the radio, and my crews do

likewise. Since the layout has full block

detection and signaling, crews run on

signal indication.

Most of my crew members are active

or retired railroaders, adding realism to

the sessions. It’s not uncommon for

❹ The East Penn RR interchanges with

CSX at Wilsmere Yard. Three of the

line’s road switchers are parked at the

railroad’s office in Kennett Square, Pa.