Today saw the second running of the GSD as an Operational Model Railway. Seven brave souls entered the Bear Pit and undertook to run the Monday PM timetable. Sixteen trains, only one Passenger, 166, and that was a mixed.. The relative positions were:
Train Controller Geoff Tynan
Blue Lake Yardmaster : Steve Weedon
Operators: Ray Brownbill, Ron Solly and David Orr
Operations Quality Supervisor : Geoff Matthias
Commissioner: Yours Truly
Things got off to slow start with phone logging on issues and general orientation to paperwork and the layout orientation, but they soon started to settle down. The slow start did put a few trains behind schedule but over all most worked through the issues and good few hours was had by all.
I was expecting problems as it is only when the whole crew is here that the layout is put under pressure and weak point break. This was only the second time the layout was put under such pressure. We had problems with power to some points in Wirrega, Murray Bridge and Bridgewater, some of my paperwork was less than salubrious, for instance one Operator noted that he had to take a crossing loop in Tantanoola to cross his own train (Doh!). The timetable worked pretty well and each of the train gave the operators plenty to do. Thanks to Geoff. Steve worked Blue Lake hard and made a few suggestions to improve its workability. That’s always a good sign we are getting there. All in all though I got the impression everyone had a good day, even though I finished with another long list of things to do before the next session in June. They all said they enjoyed the cake.
All trains movements were completed and clock only stopped twice due to delays.
One major issue was the Train Orders did not have enough info on them to be useful so I have set about rewriting them based on Geoff M suggestions.
Whilst I appreciate the patience of the operators I feel I took another step forward toward a reliable Great Southern Division.
