Op Session: May 9th, 2026

I had another great session tonight!  This one had a few firsts with it.

This was the first session held with a newer tweaked version of JMRI that Dave C. has been helping me with.  I was having a few minor issues, basically trying to balance the flow of cars.  I think we're another step closer.

A HUGE thanks out to you Dave!

This was the first session that included the all new track work in DuBach, happy to reply everything ran reliably.  

Another first was a few newcomers to join us this evening.  Dave, Jeff and Mike from Spring Creek Hobbies, Bruce H and Mark H.  This was also a first time in quite a while that Willie B was able to join us again.

This session was also informative as it confirmed to me several things about my layout and my Ops plan.

• I think 6 operators will be the optimal number per session, although I think I could squeeze in as many as 8 and it could still work.
• The trains all ran with no hiccups, my instructions seemed to be clear enough to all with not much explanation needed. 
• I didn't have many of the guys standing around waiting for something to do, with the exception of the Malvern jobs, they got done quickly and proficiently by Mike, but that also gave us a little time to sit and chew the fat while the other crews dropped off cars for Malvern and got out of the way.
• Proved for sure that both Winnfield locals could run at the same time.
• Proved that the second two through trains could traverse the layout while BOTH of the Winnfield locals were working on the layout.
• It seemed to work well having one crew do double duty: being the yard hostler and the crew for the ICG interchange.
• The overall time still stayed at about 2.5 to 3 hrs. 

All in all, a great session.  Sure feels good to get some of these unknowns answered.

Now on to some photos of the crews during the session.

First, lets meet the crew (L to R): Mark, Dave, Jeff, Willie, Mike and Bruce 

Jeff is working the Malvern AM

Mike is holding up with #34, the first SB through train at El Dorado waiting for Dave
to arrive with the #35 NB through train

Mark is working to get the NB Winnfield local ready to go while Bruce is in charge of the SB Winnfield local as he leaves the yard.

Mike is doing a roll by inspection while Dave brings the NB into El Dorado

Willie is trying to explain to Bruce that he is actually doing his work.
But I don't think Mark is buying it?

Both local crews are getting started
Mike and Dave are in Winnfield with the NB
Willie and Bruce are in Haskell with the SB

Finishing up their work in Winnfield

Wrapping up their work in Haskell

After Willie and Bruce move out of Haskell,
Jeff starts working the interchange at Haskell with the Malvern AM turn

Mike and Dave take a break as Mark brings the third through freight north through DuBach

The next three pics show a busy scene as both locals are trying to get their
work done in El Dorado

If you look closely, both locals are still in El Dorado as Mark is waiting just north of town for the tracks to clear up so he can bring the last SB through freight through El Dorado.

Mike is putting the finishing touches on his chores in El Dorado.
Soon he'll head north to his next stop: Fordyce.

Mike and Dave are working Ozark Irrigation in Fordyce, one more town before beans.

Putting the final cars in place in El Dorado

Mike and Dave have reached Little Rock.
Mark is waiting to receive their train on track 2,
while Willie and Bruce continue there journey south, working DuBach. 

 You guys all did a great job,  Ya'll come back now, ya hear!

A small change at El Dorado

I haven't been doing a lot to the layout since November, Several things have been in the works: the building of Cajun Hydraulics, planning an op session to see if I can have both locals working on the layout at the same time, playing with the 3D printer, planning the complete redo of Dubach and getting supplies for that.

About four years ago I tore up El Dorado completely and removed the small mid yard.  It's been working great with the change, however Quin had mentioned several times during recent sessions that adding a right handed crossover next the depot between the main and siding would make it a little easier for the SB local to work the Mill at El Dorado.

This weekend I decided to get those installed.  It took a few hours to get things gathered up, prep some used Peco C80 turnouts and then getting them installed.  Hardest of all was getting under the layout to get the wiring wrapped up.  

What this does for ops:

When the SB local arrives in El Dorado, it arrives on the main.  The first chore if needed is to work the house track, the second job is to the work the Mill.  In order to get to the mill, the crew needs to cut the cars from the consist and pull clear down to the south end of the El Dorado and make a reverse move clear up to the north of town.  Then it needs to make a couple of switchbacks to access the mill.

With the crossovers, the crew can just pull forward a bit, back through the crossover and they're pretty much right there by the mill.  It'll save a few minutes and distance.

Looking North towards the Mill:

Looking South:

 

  

Target: Dubach

I think I have pretty much ripped up every section of track on the layout at least once if not twice since I've started, with the exception of Malvern.

El Dorado: I removed the small yard when I changed the Ops.

Calion: It was realigned slightly when I changed the track alignment for the Ouachita river scene.

Fordyce: I removed the large Flappers complex and created the Whitewater creek scene to add some negative space.

The main yard: The track was left over from our Bend Track modules and there was just too much track on it since it was designed for mainly staging.  I did make a few adjustments so it could be used in conjunction with the current layout. Let's also say I learned how to lay track better and use better products.

Haskell: It was slightly realigned for better operations.  I also added the Gavilon complex.

Ruston and the ICG interchange: That was done to improve trackwork flow and make the interchange a bit more challenging.  The ICG was also relocated to the front for ease of operations.

Winnfield:  It's still a work in progress, but it's pretty much done, I just need to adjust the spurs to fit the buildings when they get built.    

So now it's time for DuBach.  This will be the third time I've worked on it.  I lengthened the siding once to get a bit more storage space.  I also added and then removed the A&A Cement spur due it being built back in the corner and was too hard to reach.  Also didn't like the way the scenery would have been done.

I've also re-laid the track to ARKLA plastics and added a spur for a mill that will not be used, at least I don't think so?  What I do want to add is an industry that will take Carbon Black hoppers and tanks cars.

As most know, I did not build this line so that it follows what the line did and what industries were proper for the line.  I started this a long time ago: 1982 or so.  Back then I didn't know how to really dig for information and the interwebs were not as full as it is today.  It also didn't help that I wasn't connected to the interweb as I am today.  But with what I have it will keep us busy and entertained for a few hours now and then. 

As of today the current iteration of DuBach looks like this.

Here's what I'm shooting for in DuBach.

This plan will make more use of the space I have in DuBach and will kind of spread things out.  It will also allow for a few roads to be laid in better than before.  

The curved road between A&A and ARKLA will cross the tracks via a bridge and then disappear behind trees in the corner and will make better use of that rear space without having to reach back there while switching.  Again, this is just a rough plan to go off of, but I'm feeling pretty confident that all things will fit.  

The first stage of this change will be starting a kitbash of some kits for the Carbon Black industry along the back drop.  This is going to be the key for the placement of the new alignment of the mainline and siding.  As you can see the main will swing towards the front after it passes the bog on the left.  The first large curve after A&A will be slightly reduced but will still be well over the 18" minimum. 

After OS Omaha

With OS Omaha behind me I can now have some time to breathe.  As I look back on that weekend, I found one thing with my Ops that needs some attention.  While things ran pretty smooth, both mechanically and electrically, even the Ops worked pretty well, with one exception.  I need to work on the scheduling.

My idea that I've ran with over the past several years, I've always run the SB local first over the entire line.  Once it reached the south end of the line, the power was swapped and the crews ran back north to Little Rock.  This takes time, which meant some of the guys were sitting around waiting for something to do.  Not that's out of line for railroading, but when you travel a long distance to play on a layout, you don't want to spend your play time sitting in the crew lounge or walking around watching others play trains.

I had two proposals from some of the visiting crews, one was to include more yard ops and two was to run both locals at the same time. While there just isn't much for yard ops, after that weekend, I did try doing some flat switching of the cars for both locals, breaking them down and blocking before they ran, but again that takes time.

I have not gotten a chance to round up 5 or 6 guys to give running both locals at the same time yet, due to everyone seems to be taking a breather from OS and it's getting close to the holidays.

I've jotted some notes and will try to get a full crew together maybe sometime in December.  If not I'll shoot for sometime after the holiday rush is over.

The last thing I managed to get done to the layout was getting the trees planted around the Ouachita river. 

OS Omaha Operations weekend Oct 26, 2025

This was from the second of my two scheduled sessions:  Sunday morning.

Thomas bringing a train NB through Ruston.

Patrick and Steve are determining the best moves, while Bill looks on.

Contemplating their next move at El Dorado.

Working their way south to Ruston.

Waiting for the ICG to snag the cars from their train.  

Not sure what that look was for from Steve?

Jerry and Thomas working Union Scrap at Winnfield as they start their run north.

 Bill departs SB from El Dorado while Thomas and Jerry decide what to do first.  

Bill is finishing up his SB run as he rounds the engine facility.

Getting the work done at the interchange in Haskell.

Steve, Bill and Patrick are relaxing in the lounge and chatting with my helper Quin.

Was able to catch Steve and Bill just before they left.

I got a smile from Steve this time!

Patrick is working the Malvern PM trick, the final job of the session. 

Thomas is entering the yard after a successful run of the NB local. 

Thank you guys for stopping by and bringing 

The Little Rock to life.

OS Omaha Operations weekend Oct 25, 2025

This was from the first of my two scheduled sessions: Saturday morning.

Mike P is waiting to depart with the SB local as Mike B finishes working the yard. 

Kerry is gathering up the cars for the Malvern AM trick.

Mike working El Dorado while Neil brings a NB train through.

Neil and Kerry are working at El Dorado.

Contemplating their moves at Fordyce.

Mike, Carl, Mike Kerry and Neil

Thank you guys for stopping by and bringing the The Little Rock to life.

OS Omaha Operations weekend Oct 23, 2025

The 3 day weekend is in the books and I gotta say it was fun, enjoyable and a little bit nerve racking.

Nerve racking in the sense that I've never participated in something like this, I was worried that gremlins would show up.

It seems that everything I did to make it enjoyable and go smoothly seemed to work.  The only issues I had were several minor derailments and a couple of misplaced cars.   

This first post was from Thursday evening when Jerry and Allen stopped by.

Jerry is working the first stop on his journey south at Haskell.

Allen is getting his train ready to roll north from Alexandria

Working together to solve an issue.

Got it!

Working the Malvern AM trick.

Arriving at El Dorado.

Working at Winnfield 

Jerry starts his run south as he enters Haskell.

 

   A meeting at Dubach.

Working El Dorado.

Walking his train before leaving El Dorado.

About to hammer the diamond at Ruston.

Entering the yard at Alexandria.

Jerry tries his hand at working the Malvern PM trick.

I think the smiles say enough?

Thanks for stopping by and bringing the Little Rock to life.