Operating Session 26

Operating session #26 took place on Thursday 4/9/2026.  The session started at 1:55 PM railroad time, and ended at 8:53 PM railroad time.  This was a regular session for the Roundhosers, with 4 crew in addition to myself.  We ran at a 3:1 clock ratio.  All of the crew members had visited the layout several times before.  

Here were the assignments for the session, afternoon of Wednesday 9/23/1959:

• Clock on at 1:55 PM
• 1:55 PM ATSF/P&E/C&IM/P&PU dispatcher on duty.  Dan J, all session job.
• 1:55 PM ATSF Westward extra local in Washington.  Bob M.
• 2:00 PM ATSF Pekin switcher on duty.  Mitch R.
• 2:00 PM PPU yard switcher on duty.  Bob H, all (most?) session job.
• 2:00 PM PE #12 Eastward passenger from East Peoria.  Bill S.
• ~ 2:30 PM ATSF Coal empty extra from East Yard.  Mitch R.
• 2:30 PM PE Pekin switcher on duty, delayed due to crew.  Dan J, occasionally assigned.
• 3:05 PM CIM #7 Southward freight from East Peoria.  Bill S.
• 3:15 PM ATSF #13 Westward passenger from ATSF staging (Streator).  Bill S.
• 4:30 PM 3:30 PM ATSF #50 Eastward way-freight from East Yard.  Bob H.
• 4:30 PM PE #90 Eastward freight from East Peoria.  Bob M.
• 4:45 PM ATSF #49 Westward way-freight from ATSF staging (Streator).  Bill S.
• Did not run ~ 6:00 PM ATSF Eastward extra local freight from East Yard.
• 6:30 PM ~ 7:15 PM ATSF Coal extra from Streator to EP(TPW) or East Yard.  Bob H.
• 7:00 PM ATSF #18 Eastward mail and express from Pekin.  Bill S.
• Clock off at 8:53 PM
• Did not run 1:20 AM PE #99 Westward freight from PE staging (Bloomington)

ATSF train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Wed 9/23/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete
10	C+E Extra 806 West at Morton C+E Extra 2101 East at East Yard	EXTRA 806 WEST MEET EXTRA 2101 EAST AT MORTON	1:56 PM
11	C+E Eng 2101 at East Yard	ENGINE 2101 RUN EXTRA EAST YARD TO STREATOR	1:58 PM
12	C+E No 50 at East Yard C+E Extra 806 West at Morton	No 50 ENGINE 126L RUN 1 HOUR LATE	3:55 PM
13	C+E Eng 300L at Streator	ENGINE 300L RUN EXTRA STREATOR TO EAST YARD	6:11 PM

No PE train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Wed 9/23/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

No CIM train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Wed 9/23/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

Final thoughts:

• The layout ran well.
• The trip speed of the command station has been slowed down to make sure the PSX circuit breakers trip before the command station, to avoid the entire layout shorting at once.  This worked well.
• I'm still not fully sure if the slightly adjusted the location of the Digitrax UR93 duple radio has helped.
• The passenger trains being a bit shorter than in the past helped the sanity of the ATSF Pekin switcher.
• Running the layout with 4 crew is two fewer than optimal.  A switchjob went unstaffed, and some other trains were delayed or cancelled due to lack of available crew.
• The session was a success and I think everyone had fun.

I don't currently have any op sessions scheduled, but will likely try to run a session or two in August and early September before the Amrail Ops event which is the end of September.