An engine facility with a variety of power and cabooses
| Photos of Bay Rail Op Session |
| Bay Rails is an invitational group of operation sessions at several Bay Area layouts, taking place in March of the odd numbered years. This year's Op Fest was March 8 - 10, 2007. For the first time, the Chicago & Mackinac RR participated in the gala event. The Bay Rails web site is www.bayrails.com. |
| The event seemed to be a big success despite some electrical problems early on. This electronic problem shut down half of the railroad for about ten minutes. After a quick change of boosters, everything went back to normal and the operations continued. We were scheduled to have 10 operators attend, however, last minute cancellations and a no-show brought the number down to 8 (including the Superintendent). That was one shy of a full crew, but the attending operators did a great job manning all operating positions, even with a short crew. |
| Here is the dispatcher, Jeff Osborn, performing his duties. |
| Larry Altbaum (left) is working the south end of Cadillac while Alan Cooper is serving as the Mackinaw City Yardmaster and giving us the #1 sign. |
| Pete Cressman is working the Traverse City Turn. The town looks a little empty! The upper track is the Mackinaw City Boat Yard (north staging). |
| Here is Les Dahlstedt working Petoskey. This area has a built in 17" raised floor which makes the 67" high Petoskey peninsula easy to reach and work. |
| (Note: Alan is not really that tall - he is standing on the one foot high platform from which the 66" high Mackinaw City yard is worked!) |
Jeff is dispatching while Pete works the
Grand Rapids Industrial District Turn.
Grand Rapids Industrial District Turn.
| Mike O'Brien (left) and Larry Altbaum relax while waiting for clearance (or are they just goofing off?) |
Alan is waiving his magic wand trying
to get his yardmaster duties done
faster!
to get his yardmaster duties done
faster!
| Kent Williams handled the Grand Rapids Yardmaster duties for today. Here he is lining up the cards on the waybill/carcard holder to make sure the paperwork is correct. |
| Switch? What Switch? Larry and Les work a near derailment right next to Michigan Maple Block in Petoskey. (How many railroaders does it take to screw in a lightbulb???) |
| It looks like everyone was having a pretty good time, front to back - Mike, Alan, Larry, Les, Jeff and way in the back, Pete. Kent must have still been working! |
| All in all, I think that everyone had a good time. I certainly did. Thanks everyone for making it so much fun. |
We are already looking forward to 2009
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Here is a busy isle with
Grand Rapids on the left
and Cadillac on the
right. The isle here is 4'
wide.
Grand Rapids on the left
and Cadillac on the
right. The isle here is 4'
wide.
| All in all, we moved 352 cars in our operating session in 36 passenger trains, 4 PRR interchanges and 4 Boat loadings/unloadings. We had no serious accidents, loadings/unloadings. We had no serious accidents, hopefully no major insurance claims and no deaths, so it hopefully no major insurance claims and no deaths, so it MUST have been a good session! |
| Click images to Enlarge: |
| above Traverse City). It is a minor incident where no toxic materials were released. No blood no foul. Film at 11. |
