October Dispatcher’s Report

We conducted our final, HO scale operations session for 2023 on Saturday, October 14th. The
first train rolled out from Parkersburg High Yard at 12:30pm, with the last train tying up at 4:20pm.
There were 16 operators present including the Superintendent, the Dispatcher, the Parkersburg
High yardmaster (PH), the Parkersburg Low Yardmaster, the Chillicothe yardmaster (CH), the
Midland Steel yardmaster and the Weiland & Port Charles yardmaster/operator. This left 2
operators for the Ohio River division, and 7 mainline operators.

For the sixth time this year, we were again able to start at the top of the schedule and complete the entire schedule. The late start was attributable to communication issues between the throttles and the layout, which was fixed. There were two locomotive failures during the session, too.

Forty-six (46) trains were dispatched on the mainline, 23 westbound and 23 eastbound with 482 cars
moved between Grafton, WV, and Cincinnati, OH. 141 cars were moved on the Ohio River Subdivision with 46 cars in nine trains moved on the W&PC. This gave us a grand total of 669 cars moved during the session. Three trains were annulled, including PH93, the Main Street Job and the Portsmouth subdivision. One Form 19 was issued for an extra CH93 between PH and CH. All work was completed, and no crews died on the law.

With the completion of our October session, our current Operations Bulletin 2023-03-1 has been rescinded. A new Operations Bulletin will be issued, to be effective prior to November 25, which will cover all operations on the layout during the Open House season. Copies will be available in November, before the first open house and with luck, I should have them ready for our November 1 meeting. All open house operators are expected to have a copy of the Operations Bulletin during Open House operations.

I (John Nawn) had a great time this year and hope everyone likewise did, too. Thank you for the opportunity to dispatch the railroad. Stay tuned for our next prototypical Operations Session in March 2024. In the meantime, look forward to seeing everyone at Open House.