This page features information on Operating Groups open to our Division
members.
Information
on each group is available by clicking on the name below.
The preferred method of contact with each group is by the e-mail
address provided, however a phone number is provided if e-mail proves
unsatisfactory. Please respect any restrictions the contacts may
apply to calling times.
Operating Session Etiquette
Operate Gently - Prototype railroad employees understand that
if shipped merchandise is damaged, the shipper will find some other
way of shipping it. As model operators we should behave like our
prototype brethren. For example, when coupling cars, use the
amount of force you would use to kiss a loved one, not the amount you
would use to drive in a nail. Your hosts will appreciate not
having to replace couplers and draft gear you would knock off
their cars.
Be Responsible - The Digitrax throttle uses a 9-volt
battery. While you can insert that battery in any of four
different positions, only one makes the throttle work. (Match
the plus sign on the battery with the plus sign inside the
case.) Some throttle owners flip the battery side-for-side (so
that the plus terminal of the battery contacts the minus terminal of
throttle) for storage without discharging the battery. Note,
however, that if you flip the battery end-for-end, its terminals come
in contact with the solid metal spring, and the battery starts
discharging.
One guest operator did this and had no idea he had until it destroyed
the rechargeable battery inside the throttle of the host.
Puzzling, as said battery became about as hot as the surface of the
sun. Anyhow, the guest had destroyed a rechargeable 9-volt
battery, list price around $10, and never offered to pay for it.
Even more puzzling.
Check Your Pockets - When leaving an operation session be
sure to check you pockets. Your host greatly appreciates it if you
leave their throttles, car cards, and other items provided at the
layout and not take them home with you.
Handling Two-Part Car Cards - Some railroads run with two-part
car cards. The car card itself is really a pocket, with car
information, and a waybill fits into the pocket. If you are
operating on a railroad which has these, generally you are not to
remove the waybill from the car card. (Sometimes, certain
positions may have exceptions to this.) If you are not sure,
check with your host first. I remember seeing a host at a loss
for words when a guest operator approached him with a handful of
waybills just removed from his car cards.
Nothing on the Layout, Please - The host spent a lot of time on
his or her scenery to see that static grass installed on the railroad
was knocked off because car cards leaned on the cars to be picked up
ruined it.
Don't Pick the Cars Up to Uncouple, Please - If the models on
the railroad are finely detailed, your host may prefer that you
use magnets or picks to uncouple them rather than picking them up and
thus damaging the details.
Summary - Our hosts have spent tens of thousands of dollars to
put their railroads together, and in an act of enormous generosity,
have invited us to use them. We should be well-behaved guests.
The Anachronistic Era Operating Group
We have 5 layouts in Montgomery County
and one OS2R layout in Washington, D.C..Two of the layouts are based
on the Baltimore and Ohio RR, one on the Long Island RR, one based on
the Pennsylvania RR, one on an Israeli prototype and 1 is
freelanced. The emphasis is on freight operations using switch
lists with minimal passenger operations on some of the railroads. Eras
range from transition to second-generation diesels and all of the
layouts are sceniced. Informality and relaxed operation prevail as
indicated by the name of our group. Our operations do not involve the
use of a fast clock or Train Table/Train Order operations. Normally
six members of the group attend the weekly sessions we hold.
Operations usually commence about 7:30 pm and conclude around 9:00 pm.
Refreshments and bull session follow the operations session.The
surviving core members of the group have been together nearly fifty
years.
The Chesapeake Trainmasters Club
Meeting in Prince Georges, Charles
and Calvert counties in Maryland. All five layouts are freelance
railroads operating in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. All
layouts involve freight operations using different systems for car
forwarding and scheduled passenger operations. Time eras range from
the 1920s to second generation diesels. Informality and relaxed
operation prevail. Fast clock and timetables are in use on all
layouts to varying degrees. Attendance averages 8 or 9 members per
meeting. Operations usually commence at 7:00 pm and conclude at 9:30
pm. Refreshments and bull session follows until 10:00. The core
members have been together over 40 years.
Contact Name: |
Glenn Paulson |
Contact E-Mail: |
glenndrumjome@gmail.com |
Contact Telephone: |
301-848-8877 |
Web Site: |
http://ctc66.weebly.com/
|
Meeting Day: |
Every Tuesday evening |
Meeting Time: |
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
Open for New Members: |
Limited - e-mail above for more information |
Open for Visitors: |
Yes - not more than 1 per session |
Open for Guest Operators: |
Limited - e-mail above for more information |
Number of Layouts: |
Five, including
Dale
Latham - Piedmont Southern
Bob
Reid - Allegheny and Shenandoah
|
Operating Methods: |
Timetable/switchlists/dispatching/car cards
DC and DCC control (varies by layout) |
Delmarva Model RR Club
Contact Name: |
Bill Deeter |
Contact E-Mail: |
Dodgede@cs.com |
Contact Telephone: |
302-856-9250 or 410-723-1709 |
Meeting Day: |
Monthly, we operate the 3rd Sunday of the month from March
to November. |
Meeting Time: |
13:00 to 17:00 |
Open for New Members: |
Yes |
Open for Visitors: |
Yes |
Open for Guest Operators: |
Yes |
Number of Operating Layouts: |
One, the Delmarva Model RR Club,103 E State
Street,Delmar, DE 19940 |
Operating Methods: |
Digitrax control and also for occupancy detection and
signaling (duplux and regular wireless throttles)
Use FRS radios and phones between yards and dispatch. |
Pete & Jane Clarke's East Broad Top
Pete & Jane Clarke model the East Broad Top railroad in HOn3,
the year is 1926. The layout follows actual EBT practices except
that here the iron furnace has been re-opened. This makes the
operations much more interesting and varied. The railroad is
featured in
Great Model Railroads, 2016.
Contact Name: |
Pete Clarke |
Contact E-Mail: |
ebtmx5@aol.com |
Contact Telephone: |
(301)253-4913 |
Meeting Day: |
First Saturday of the month |
Meeting Time: |
12:30 to 4:30 PM |
Open for New Members: |
Yes |
Open for Visitors: |
Yes |
Open for Guest Operators: |
Yes |
Number of Operating Layouts: |
One - Pete & Jane Clarke's East Broad Top |
Operating Methods: |
Time table, train order, car cards. Digitrax control. |
Mat Thompson's Group
Informal group of operators who share common interest in prototype
operations. Contact person maintains mailing list and selects
monthly dates - hosts volunteer for dates and invite operators for
sessions on their layouts. Tone is informal but operations are
sophisticated. Group has been meeting since September 2007 in
Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Contact Name: |
Mat Thompson |
Contact E-Mail: |
ocrr@comcast.net |
Contact Telephone: |
703 743-1895 |
Meeting Day: |
One Saturday monthly |
Meeting Time: |
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Open for New Members: |
By Invitation |
Open for Visitors: |
By Invitation |
Open for Guest Operators: |
By Invitation |
Number of Operating Layouts: |
Varies |
Operating Methods: |
Timetable and Train Order/Car Cards and Waybills |
Nickel City Line Operating Group
The Nickel City
Line operating group meets six times per year. Sessions are
usually Sundays. The layout is located in Dumfries, Virginia.
The layout is free-lanced and situated in the Allegheny
Mountains of Pennsylvania. Time period is modern day (1990s to
2000). Operations include freight, coal, local freight,
passenger and commuter service. Operation sessions work a 3:1
or 2:1 fastclock. The layout is powered by Digitrax. 10
operators per session maximum. Operations commence promptly at
11:00am or 1:00pm depending on the session. Refreshements are
served.
General
information can be obtained at:
http://nclrr.potomac-nmra.org/.
Click here for the Operations Page.
Contact Name: |
Bob Rodriguez |
Contact E-Mail |
nclrr@comcast.net |
Contact Telephone: |
703.680.2908 |
Meeting Day: |
Six times per year |
Meeting
Time: |
11:00am to 3:00pm or 1:00pm
to 5:00pm |
Open for New Members: |
Limited - four openings |
Open for Visitors: |
Yes - No more than two per session |
Open for Guest
Operators: |
Yes - Not more than two per
session |
Number of Operating
Layouts: |
One (HO) - Bob Rodriguez Nickel City Line Railroad |
Operating Methods: |
Virtual and Live Operations, Computer generated
switch lists, CAD dispatching; CAD Yardmaster. |