As some of you know I've been invited to have my layout become part of the OS Omaha Operating weekend this October 2025. I've only been to one operating weekend a few years ago in KC. While there I ran into some folks who were from Omaha that I knew of but never really had the chance to get to know.
Once we got reintroduced, invitations were given to me to play on their layouts and they wanted to come see my layout as well. After I held a few operating sessions, they approached me and asked if I'd like to be part of OS Omaha?
They've been trying to expand their layout resources outside of Omaha and to other nearby communities. Lincoln is only about 50 miles from Omaha and they had another layout owner who was trying to get his layout built. Having two layouts in town could be a good start. I accepted the invitation.
OS Omaha is just less than two weeks away and I've been busy all summer working to get the layout ready for this weekend. One of the guys gave me a suggestion to post some pre-op information somewhere that I can send out in an email ahead of time so the participants can familiarize themselves with the layout before they arrive.
It's been a good learning experience and has been somewhat of a challenge as well, but I'm almost done. After putting things together I'd thought I'd make a post so that I can just send a link to them via email. Of course I will go over this again before each of the three sessions.
Pre-Ops briefing notes
Bathroom
1 bathroom, upstairs, through the kitchen and down the hall, first door on the left.
Exits
One exit, top of the stairs, door is to the left.
Fire Extinguishers
There are two:
One is under the yard, below the engine facility, The other is hanging on the side of the workbench.
Drinks and snacks
Please try and refrain from setting anything on the layout if possible unless it’s unfinished with no scenery.
Please keep the snacks and drinks in the crew lounge, by the workbench.
There are also coasters on the wooden shelf on the west wall.
Throttles - Digitrax UTD6
- If you do not know how to use the throttles or you’ve forgotten how, please ask before trying to figure them out.
To turn the throttles on press the power button on the lower left corner. If they go into sleep mode or turn off from inactivity, press the power button.
To shut them off, press the power button, then press the OFF button (#7).
Please refer to an instruction on the beam above DuBach (Show them).
Throttles should be set for the consist that you will be using, if not, refer to the cheat sheets above DuBach or ask me.
You should only need to change direction (switch on top), dial up the speed (knob), and pressing the “0” button to turn the lights on or off.
When you park a train anywhere, short or long term, move the direction switch on top of the throttle to the center position, this is the brake function and it will keep the train from creeping (Show them).
The direction of travel will display on the screen to the left of the loco number in a small box. F,R,B, otherwise when the headlight is on, it too should tell you the direction of travel.
Find the throttles hanging from hooks from the ceiling joists, please return them there when done.
There are also patches of Velcro on the fascia that can be used for a temporary place to hang a throttle if needed all along the fascia.
Turnouts
Turnouts are all manual, be sure to look ahead of your train travel and align as needed. Please return them to the way you found them or have someone else return them.
If you run a turnout, the circuit breakers will trip and squeal, just quickly throw the turnout to the proper position.
Uncoupling picks
Along the fascia you will find 12 pick pockets, in each one you will find two types of uncoupling picks and a pencil. Please return them to that pocket when you’re done using them, do not carry them with you..
Clipboards
The two locals will have a clipboard hanging above the yard. Each is preloaded with the switch list for the corresponding train. When done, return them to the hooks above the yard from where you found them, they are marked with a small tab.
On the back of each switch list clipboard, you will find the basic instructions for each train. Please read it before leaving the yard.
As you move along the layout, in the ceiling joists, there are marked hooks to hang them on if you need to free up a hand. Please don’t lay them on the layout.
Derailments.
If you derail something and you don’t feel comfortable rerailing it or fixing it, please ask for help.
If the car becomes a BAD ORDER, take it off the train and leave it on the layout where it is. Make note of it on the switch list, write the car info and where it’s located on the layout and a quick explanation of the issue.
Overview of operations and trains
Town maps and Track schematics
On the fascia there are plaques with the town name and The Rock logo. There are also maps at each town. These have the town names, direction of travel, industry spur names and a line map of the layout along the bottom. The current town you’re in will be in bold and underlined.
Signals
The line is dark territory, so no signals, however, there are two signals between Haskell and Fordyce that are showing a solid green aspect, and a Red one near Gavilon (Haskell) these are nothing more than eye candy, you can just ignore them.
There are two yellow distant signals; one by Tioga Jct. and one just south of DuBach that warns of the ICG diamond just south of Ruston. The interlocking signals will be displaying a red aspect all the time. They are controlled by manual push buttons on the fascia, these have a sign next to them saying “Call Box”. After you stop your train, you’ll press the Call Box button on the fascia below the signal you are at. You’ll have to wait randomly between 30 to 60 seconds before it changes to green. It will drop back to red after 15 seconds.
Train Movements and schedules
Train movements are given with verbal authority by the Dispatcher (me) or the Yard Master in a sequential order.
Trains and Jobs (not in sequence)
Yard Master / Hostler / ICG Local
Through Trains: 2- NB’s 34 & 36, 2- SB’s 35 & 37
2 Locals Winnfield SB 775 and NB 776
2 Malvern Turns, AM and PM
Same Tracks
All trains that leave the yard will return to the same track that it left from. Make note of which track you left from as you’ll return to that same track after your run. You can also find a schematic of the yard which has the train locations and the matching tracks.
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History of The Little Rock Line
The Rock Island's Little Rock line originated from its 1902 acquisition of the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway and expansion into Arkansas through the purchase of the Hot Springs Western Railroad and the construction of new track, connecting Little Rock to Eunice, LA.
The line was reorganized in 1977 as the "Little Rock" operating subsidiary and was cut loose from the main company (but still overseen by them) to test new business strategies, which proved profitable but was short-lived due to the Rock Island's 1979 bankruptcy that led to the entire system's demise in March of 1980. Most of the track is now abandoned.
Origins and expansion
The line's roots trace back to the Rock Island's 1902 purchase of the controlling interest in the Chicago, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad.
In 1903, the Rock Island acquired the Hot Springs Western Railroad, which provided access to the spa and resort town of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
To connect its existing lines and expand south from Little Rock, the company established the Rock Island, Arkansas and Louisiana in 1905, combining several existing Arkansas railroads.
The company constructed approximately 200 miles of new track, connecting Little Rock to Eunice, Louisiana, and creating branches to Camden and Crossett.
The "Little Rock" operating subsidiary
In 1977, the Rock Island created a quasi-independent subsidiary, "The Little Rock," to manage its passenger-heavy Arkansas and Louisiana lines, including the former line to Hot Springs.
This move was intended to test new service strategies and improve profitability, as The Rock Island faced financial trouble.
The subsidiary was successful in becoming profitable and regaining some business, but this was cut short by the parent company's bankruptcy in 1979.
Decline and abandonment
Following the Rock Island's receivership in 1979, most of its assets, including the "Little Rock" line, were sold off, and the track was largely abandoned.
Some segments of the former line remain in use by other carriers, with some portions converted for other uses, such as the pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River in Little Rock.
In my basement, the date is set in the Spring of 1979. By this time the tracks to Eunice, LA were in too bad of shape to be used, so the end of the line was at Alexandria, LA. But time is running out…
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Overview of the layout
The layout operates via DCC on a Digitrax wireless system. UT6d radio throttles are used.
Track is mainly PECO and Atlas c80 flex and PECO turnouts on the main line. PECO c55 is used in the yard.
All turnouts are thrown manually.
Motive power is made up of first and second generation 4 axle units, with an occasional 6 axle making an appearance.
Cabooses will be found on all trains.
Some occasional foreign power will show up from time to time via pool or detours: KCS, MoPac, MKT and Southern.
The layout is designed as a large loop, but is operated as a point to point.
The yard is where the two points are combined. One end being Biddle yard in Little Rock, AR. The other end is in the town of Alexandria, LA.
There are a total of 9 trains that run during the session:
4 through freights
2 locals that do all the work during the session
2 switch jobs in the town of Malvern
1 Illinois Central Gulf local that interchanges with The Rock at Ruston, LA
Of the 4 through freights, two opposed to each other, the other two run opposed to each of the 2 locals. These make use of track warrants and contact with the dispatcher (me).
The two Winnfield Locals work the line, southbound from Little Rock to Alexandria working only trailing point switches. Then the second Winnfield local works the line from Alexandria to Little Rock in the same manner. The switching is controlled by a JMRI generated switch list.
In the town of Malvern, there is switching to be done and then the cars are hauled to Haskell, AR and set out on the interchange tracks. Cars are also brought back to Malvern. This happens twice during the session. Each switch job works Haskell after each of the 2 locals depart Haskell.
The ICG local collaborates with the 2 locals to hand off and receive cars that are bound to and from Malvern. This is a live interchange that happens during the session.
Jobs on The Little Rock
There are 9 individual positions during each session that are comprised of the following:
The four through freights are run by one operator.
The 2 Winnfield locals are normally run with a two man crew, but can be done with one.
The Malvern switchers are designed to be run with a single operator.
The Yard Master, Hostler and the ICG local are all done by the same one man crew.
The Yard Master, Hostler and the ICG local (these are combined into one job). The 3 jobs are all fairly short and easy to operate, which is why they have been combined into one. There is no FLAT switching that occurs in the yard during the session. The job consists of hosteling the power and trains around and getting them ready for the road crews.
The ICG local will switch out a few cars from its small train to and from the Junction track at Ruston with the two Winnfield locals.
Each session will usually last between 2 ½ and 3 hours.
