Operating Session 27

Operating session #27 took place on Saturday 9/19/2026.  The session started at 6:40 AM railroad time, and ended at 2:55 PM railroad time.  This was a extra session for the Roundhosers, with 5 crew in addition to myself.  We ran at a 3:1 clock ratio.  We had one new crew member and the rest being regulars.  The primary purpose of the session was to give the layout a good workout before the upcoming Amrail Ops weekend session next week.

Here were the assignments for the session, morning of Thursday 9/24/1959:

• 6:00 AM ATSF/P&E/C&IM/P&PU dispatcher on duty.  Dan J, all session job.
• 6:00 AM ATSF Pekin switcher on duty. - Dan J to start, then Frank S, all session job.
• 6:00 AM PPU yard switcher on duty.  Mark V, all session job.
• Clock on at 6:40 AM
• 6:45 AM ATSF Eastward extra local freight from East Yard.  Mike A.
• 7:00 AM ATSF #14 Eastward passenger from Pekin.  Steve C.
• 7:45 AM ATSF #47 Westward green fruit express from ATSF staging (Streator).  Bill S.
• 7:30 AM 8:00 AM PE #94 Eastward freight from East Peoria.  Steve C.
• 10:00 AM ATSF #48 Eastward through-freight from East Yard.  Bill S.
• 10:15 AM CIM #6 Northward freight from CIM staging.  Dan J.
• 10:15 AM ATSF coal extra from ATSF staging (Streator) to Pekin. Dan J to start, then Steve C.
• 12:05 PM PE #11 Westward passenger from PE staging (Bloomington). Mark V.
• 12:20 PM ATSF #17 Westward mail and express from ATSF staging (Streator).  Bill S.
• 12:50 PM PE #95 Westward freight from PE staging (Bloomington).  Dan J.
• 1:20 PM ATSF Eastward coal empty extra from East Yard to ATSF staging (Streator). Bill S.
• 2:00 PM PE Pekin switcher on duty.  Did not start due to lack of crew.
• 2:00 PM PE #12 Eastward passenger from East Peoria.  Mark V.
• Clock off at 2:55 PM

ATSF train orders issued during this session, morning of Thu 9/24/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete
1	C+E Eng 2105 at East Yard	ENGINE 2105 RUN EXTRA EAST YARD TO STREATOR	5:52 AM
2	C+E No 47 at Streator C+E No 14 at Pekin	No 47 ENGINE 300L MEET No 14 ENGINE 83L AT ROANOKE. No 47 TAKE SIDING.	6:25 AM
3	C+E Extra 2105 East at Morton C+E Extra 1101 West at Streator	EXTRA 1101 WEST MEET EXTRA 2105 EAST AT MORTON	9:21 AM
4	C+E Eng 1101 at Streator	ENGINE 1101 RUN EXTRA STREATOR TO EAST YARD	9:23 AM
5	C+E Eng 1166 at East Yard	ENGINE 1166 RUN EXTRA EAST YARD TO STREATOR	12:45 PM

No PE train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Thu 9/24/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

No CIM train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Thu 9/24/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

Final thoughts:

• The layout ran well.  The completion of installing frog juicers on every* turnout frog on the layout has eliminated any hesitation as locomotives cross some of the previously unpowered turnout frogs.  * = Every turnout frog other than those in the "temporary" staging yard.
• A few of the UT4D throttles acted a bit goofy as the voltage in the batteries got lower.  For the Amrail ops weekend I need to make sure every UT4D throttle gets a fresh 9v battery to prevent shenanigans.
• We started the session with 5 crew, which is one short of optimal.  We had a person needing to leave early so were two short by the end.  This resulted in some crew members going from train to train without a break.  The P&PU switch crew also ended up having to run some of the P&E trains.  I ended up also starting the runs of a couple of trains until crew were available.  I need to remember to plan for and stage fewer trains when I'm short of crew.
• The session was a success and I think everyone had fun.
• I'm looking forward to hosting a bunch of out-of-towners next weekend for an op session for the Amrail Ops event