March 5, 2011

After almost a year, the VBR&S was back in action.
Bill Cox, the owner gave his briefing before the session began, and as usual forgot some key things that gave operators some problems later, but hey this is supposed to fun, right? Jim Hogan and Cary Campbell are giving Bill their full attention.

A bit later Cary is showing Donnie Smith, one of our new operators how it's done at Rockfish.

Our dispatcher this time was Bob Burke, who did a splendid job as usual.

Cary Campbell found himself in the camera's lens again as he watched his train at Kemper Street Station, Mike Cathy's watching his across the aisle at Tye River.

Jim Hogan and Dan George share some railroading stories in front of the Lower Basin area.

Clint Foster grabbed his usual job on the VBR and here has come into Tye River to meet the Southern local.

As usual the hardest working guys were at Monroe Yard. Rick Lull, Yardmaster Robbie Burns, and Tom Buckingham did a fine job keeping the Railroad's hot spot from becoming a parking lot.

Here's a better shot of Tom switching local industries around Monroe.

Another new operator (to us) was Rick Lull's dad, Scott. Obviously he, like Donnie Smith had operated elsewhere before. Here Scott and Dan George plot a move.

Wayland Moore was taking so many pictures, I decided to just use his for this post. I even managed to take one of him with his camera. Thanks Wayland and nice shirt!

We had a few derailments, a few shorts, and even one "Unstoppable" freight, but all and all I hope everyone had fun.

April 18, 2010 Op Session

Our first session of 2010 is done. We had a few dead spots in my track to contend with, and radio problems, both communication radios and Digitrax radio throttles seemed to have minds of their own. We're blaming a Solar Flare unless I can find something else. I have this feeling its going to work fine for me tomorrow...we'll see.Keith Stillman was our dispatcher and did a super job, and this after hosting a session on his Easton & Potomac yesterday.

Our Monroe Yard crew is in deep discussion over where cars should go. They are left to right Tom Buckingham, Wayland Moore and Derek Wimberly.

Jerry Ritter has a northbound leaving Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg.

Dan Mulhearn has a train going through Rockfish, VA and Jim Hogan is minding his train as well.

Dan George and Steve Robbins both have work in Charlottesville Yard, and seem to be enjoying it.

Clint Foster is working the Virginia Blue Ridge in Piney River.

Bob Burke was our man in Charlottesville working both the Southern and C&O yards there.

I hope everyone had a good time, and tomorrow I'll get to work on the glitches.

Oct. 4th Operating Session

Another VBR&S op session is on the books! I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. Time flew by as there were a number of issues I had to address, but trains ran, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
We had a new crew at Monroe Yard, and it looks like they did a fine job. In fact the only real problem I was aware of was that I forgot to explain the detector operation for the Wye to our Yard Master, Wayland Moore. Here with Wayland (middle) is Jim Hogan (front), and Dan Mulhearn.

The Yard guys even employed a fourth member to assist in some of the more mundane jobs like checking the air and MU hoses between diesel units. His name is Stink Bug, so naturally they called him "Stinky" I understand he did some walkway walking on moving freight cars, so watch for more pictures of the "Fourth Yard Crew Member".

Deep in discussion around Charlottesville we find from left to right Clint Foster, Mike Cathy, and Steve Robbins.

Dan George decided to take a break from the yard and run trains this time, and here he has a southbound Southern Railway Varnish at Charlottesville.

Bob Burke was our dispatcher again, so he got to play with all the new stuff that controls the signals at Rio and Montview. He seems pleased.

Cary Campbell is ready to find his train at Montview.

Derek Wimberly is ready at Rio, just waiting for the time to roll south with another train.

After running some passenger trains Mike Garber and Howard Heltman ran the Lynchburg Switcher. Here they're waiting for the Monroe Yard crew to work their train so it can return to Lynchburg.

Finally, the best part of the whole afternoon as we descend upon Tina's kitchen to see what's for dinner.

One Hot Operating Session!

Saturday afternoon I discovered the train room air conditioning was not working. I had just had it serviced the previous Monday! An e-mail was dispatched advising VBR&S operators to dress to sweat. Not only did they come but we had a really good session.
I convinced Bob Burke to try dispatching, and he jumped right in and did a fine job.

Dan George, our Yard Master at Monroe, drank lots of water to deal with the heat...at least we think it was water. Every time I walked over to see what was going on at Monroe, someone would say, "Here comes Sir Topham Hat, don't do that right now."

Derek Wimberly has a southbound xtra coming into Tye River.

Gary Quale had both the Southern and C&O yard jobs covered at Charlottesville.

Gene Browning has a southbound loading passengers at Charlottesville.

Howard Heltman has a N&W passenger train rolling out of Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg heading for a loco and crew change at Monroe.

Jerry Ritter has northbound freight rolling through Kemper Street.

Jim Hogan is performing some complicated switching moves in Charlottesville's Southern Yard.

Keith Stillman keeps his eye on the Yard Master as he handles the south end of Monroe Yard.

Mike Garber has a southbound Southern passenger train almost to a stop at Kemper Street.

Steve Robbins has a northbound rolling through Kemper Street.

Tom Buckingham handled the north end of Monroe Yard.

Wayland Moore tackled the Lynchburg Switcher. Here he's switching along Jefferson Street in Lynchburg's Lower Basin.

Despite the heat I think we all had a good time on the VBR&S. After operating we were served a fine dinner by my wife Tina. I'm convinced her food is real reason they keep coming back.

Thanks for a great session guys!

Sunday March 29th, 2009

The first VBR&S operating session of 2009 is in the books. A total of eight operators participated, and hopefully all had a good time.

Rick Lull, from Chesterfield, VA was our newest operator, but he was running trains by himself in no time. Welcome on board Rick!

Monroe Yard had two VBR&S vets running it, Dan George....

and Bob Burke. Both complained when I interrupted their work for the photographs.

Wayland Moore has a northbound at Monroe. He is no doubt watching the Yard Crew swiftly switch his train.

Gary Quale has an Extra northbound at Rockfish. Gordon Watkins watches with the ever growing Lower Basin of Lynchburg in the background.

Derek Wimberly has the Lynchburg Switcher working the Lower Basin area.

Finally our dispatcher today was Bill Cox, here hard at work trying to remember how to fill out the Dispatcher's Sheet.

October 8, 2008

The VBR&S hosted a group of Richmond area modelers operating on several Lynchburg area layouts on this Saturday. Chris Schieck was to have hosted the guys for the morning op session, and Tom Nelson in the afternoon. Chris is taking Cancer treatments in Texas however, so the VBR&S agreed to be the morning substitute.

Tom Nelson brought one of Chris' favorite cars over bring up the markers on a southbound Southern passenger train. We're all thinking of you Chris, and hope to have you back hosting sessions soon.

Wayland Moore agreed to be our dispatcher, and looks like he has the chore totally under control.

Robbie Alvis worked Monroe Yard with Bob Burke. In fact he and Bob handled the entire yard themselves successfully. Usually we assign three guys here.

Phil Taylor seems to be enjoying a meet on James River Trestle. Well, as soon as Bill Cox gets around to building the Trestle. Right now it's a bridge with no visible means of support over track cleaning supplies.

The ever elusive Mike Garber has turned his back on the camera, but we did catch the equally elusive Bill McMillian.

Ahh, there's Mike Garber, also pleased with the meet on James River Trestle.

Ken Montero is helping out in Monroe Yard. He's getting a local ready to head north.

Keith Stillman has passengers loading at Charlottesville with a south bound passenger train.

Jerry Ritter did the Yard duties in Charlottesville for the Southern and the C&O.

It was good to have Howard Heltman back on the VBR&S. He moved to PA a few years ago, but missed operating with us, so he took his old job in Richmond back at least for a while. Not that's a model railroader!

Bob Burke is supervising in Monroe as a Yard Master should. Robbie and Howie are doing the work.

I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Good job guys...see you next time.