Comment: At the moment CN 6700 is in Jasper, facing east bound. I want it to proceed on the mainline to Coaldale and pick up all of my passenger cars and return to Jasper, placing them on a holding spur line. I want to have a trainman with me to throw whatever turnouts need changing. I want to keep my operating speed below 60 mph and I want to have some of the sounds of my coupling and uncoupling activities.

The first task is get CN 6700 facing in the right direction as it enters the Coaldale East yard. It should be backing into the yard so it can simply couple to the waiting passenger cars.

This is very much a modelling problem and does not reflect a realistic situation in the prototype. In reality the locomotive would be one that was able to move in either direction with no obvious "front" end. Or there would be a turntable in the Coaldale yard for turning it around. I have two choices: either use a 5-finger turntable or run the route in a manner that gets the locomotive facing the opposite direction. This time I will opt for the latter strategy as I need to familiarize myself with the operating characteristics of this layout.

Engineer Terry and Trainman Dale climb aboard CN 6700 in the Jasper mainline. Terry initiates the start-up sequence. There is a hiss as the unit produces a Long Air Let-off. The Dynamic Brakes shut off and the unit begins to enter normal operation.

Eng: Train 100 East to Dispatch.
Disp: Go ahead 100.
Eng: Train 100 is at Jasper and is ready to depart.
Disp: Train 100 East, you have permission to proceed East to Pine Ridge.
Eng: Train 100 East. Proceed East to Pine Ridge, copy.

Terry sounds the horn and starts the bell ringing as he eases the throttle forward and CN 6700 begins slowly moving through the town. As they leave town Terry turns off the bell, gives the horn one more blast and moves out on to the trestle over the Rocky River. They both look down into the canyon, give each other a quick glance and then begin focusing on the route ahead.

Twenty minutes later there is the crackle of the two-way radio as Terry contacts the dispatcher.

Eng: Train 100 East to Dispatch.
Disp: Go ahead 100.
Eng: Train 10 East by Black Diamond.
Disp: Thank you. 100 East by Black Diamond.

CN 6700 is now at the maximum speed of 60 mph as it moves smoothly through the foothills. Another 45 minutes pass and then Terry contacts the dispatcher again.

Eng: Train 100 East to Dispatch.
Disp: Go ahead 100.
Eng: Permission to enter Lone Pine reversing loop.
Disp: Train 100 East, you have permission to enter Lone Pine reversing loop.
Eng: Train 100 East. Proceed to Lone Pine reversing loop, copy.

All mainline turnouts are automatically handled by CTC so both Terry and Dale sit back and watch the scenery. There are no oncoming trains scheduled and there is little to do until they arrive in Coaldale East.

Terry eases back on the throttle as they approach the mainline and as soon as the unit clears the turnout Terry brings it to a halt and then begins the long backup to Coaldale East. As they pass the Wild Rose flour mill Terry gets back on the radio.

Eng: Train 100 East to Dispatch
Disp: Go ahead 100.
Eng: Train 100 by Wild Rose.
Disp: Thank you. 100 East by Wild Rose.

Terry begins slowing down, hits the horn for one shrill blast and starts the bell ringing as they enter the Coaldale yard. The yard crew has lined all of the turnouts as CN 6700 backs slowly into track 4. There is a clang as the couplers make contact with passenger coach 1244. Terry stops the train and then slowly begins moving forward. All 5 cars are following. The consist is: passenger diner 1244, passenger baggage 2351, observation car Alexandria Bay, passenger coach Lac Flamand & Pullam passenger coach Riverdale Park; a total of 5 cars.

Eng: Train 100 West to Dispatch.
Disp: Go ahead 101.
Eng: Train 101 is at Coaldale East and is ready to depart.
Disp: Train 101 West, you have permission to proceed West to Jasper.
Eng: Train 101 West. Proceed West to Jasper, copy.

Pulling out of the Coaldale East yard

There is a loud bang and a shower of sparks coming from the undercarriage of passenger diner car 1244. There is a problem with the car and it is quickly disconnected from the train and left for the yard crew to pick up and take it to the maintenance shed for repairs. Terry backs CN 6700 into car #2351, makes the coupling, and once again, slowly moves forward picking up speed as they pass the Wild Rose flour mill for the second time this day.

Passing through the Black Diamond district

Crossing the trestle into Jasper

The remainder of the journey is uneventful and train 101 arrives in Jasper just as the sun is beginning to set over Pyramid mountain. Terry stops the train, puts it into reverse, and backs the cars into the holding siding on the edge of town.

Backing the cars into the holding spur

The cars are now fully in the holding siding

Another quick uncoupling and he moves CN 6700 forward into town where he shuts down the engine.

Moving into the Jasper yard

Eng: Train 101 West to Dispatch.
Disp: Go ahead 101.
Eng: Train 101 is in Jasper. The cars are now in the holding siding.
Disp: Train 101 in Jasper, copy. Have a pleasant evening.

Comment: There was one problem during this session - the coupler on passenger coach 1244 fell off and needs to be replaced. Overall it was a very satisfying session. I was able to move the entire consist of 5 passenger cars from the Coaldale Yard to a holding spur in Jasper where they will remain until I am ready to run a passenger train. This also frees up some much needed space in the Coaldale yard.

The track appears to be holding up well as there were no derailments. This is the first time I have run a passenger train on this layout. I had no difficulty pushing all four cars into the holding spur.

A check of all five cars indicated they were last inspected in 2006. They are a bit dusty and they should all receive preventative maintenance (check coupler for height and action, dust off the outside, check weight, clean wheels).

I consider 4 of these cars to be operational. Car 1244 needs to have a coupler replaced on one end.

I enjoyed writing my first narrative of a session but it is time consuming.

I was able to use the bell and whistle but forgot to use the sound when coupling and uncoupling. I also need more practice with having a trainman on board. I was able to keep the speed at the appropriate level at various stages of the journey (i.e. slow over the trestle, slow approaching critical turnouts, slow in the yards).