Here are some photos from an operating session on the GC&SF last week.
This was the first operating session on the layout for a couple of the crew members, and some of the others haven't been here for a while, so I started the fast-time clock at a leisurely 4:1 speed ratio. However, the guys performed so well that I soon had the ratio up to 5:1, and then up to 6:1.
Greg brought over his brand new TCS WiFi throttle, so in addition to Digitrax Duplex radio using both a UR92 and a UR93 we also ran WiThrottle Server in DecoderPro. The three wireless systems played very well together. The TCS WiFi throttle is a very nice piece of kit.
 |
| (L-R) Greg H., Duncan and John at Pauls Valley. |
 |
| Derek with the Ardmore local freight at Gene Autry. |
 |
| The Ardmore local freight at Gene Autry. |
 |
| Darren running the Pauls Valley local freight at Wynnewood. |
 |
| Greg H. ran the town switcher at Pauls Valley. Here he is uncoupling a car at the elevator. |
 |
| A pair of H16-44 locos sitting idle at Pauls Valley. |
 |
| Fast Freight train 37 departing southbound after switching some cars at Pauls Valley. |
 |
| Duncan (L) and Don. This was the first operating session these gents had attended on the GC&SF, and they both did a great job. Welcome to the crew Duncan and Don. |
 |
| For some reason, Greg J. looks like a Mt Rushmore statue in the middle of the forest. |
 |
| Don with northbound train 338. |
 |
| Greg H. cutting out some cars from northbound train 38 at Pauls Valley. |
 |
| Darren switching tank cars at the Wynnewood refinery. |
 |
| Brendan ran the yard at Ardmore, and even found time to do the town switcher's work as well (which was a good thing for me as I was supposed to be doing that.) |
 |
| Things aren't as chaotic as they first look. Duncan is holding the Lindsay local (with the Geeps) on the branch line, waiting for train 38 (driven by Greg) to clear the arrival/departure track. Greg, in turn, is waiting for the southbound grain extra (Derek) to clear the switch onto the main track so he can leave the yard. |
 |
| Derek (L) watches as Darren prepares the tank car train train to leave Wynnewood, after he has just switched the refinery. |
 |
| Derek and the grain extra at Wynnewood. |
 |
| The Crew Call Board for the night's session. |
For me this was the most enjoyable session I've hosted for a long time. Apart from one weird glitch when every throttle lost communication for about 15 seconds (even the tethered and wifi throttles), the layout operated very well. I was worried that some of the recently modified switches at Dougherty might fail, but that didn't happen. I had few questions to answer, and only very minor problems to sort out. Well done guys, and thanks for coming over.
Thanks for reading.
Regards,
Ron
