August 2024 Dispatcher’s Report

John A. Nawn, Chief Dispatcher

On Saturday, August 17, 2024, we conducted our sixth operating session for the 2024 season, on the HO layout. Nineteen operators were present for the session including the Superintendent, Chief Dispatcher, Dispatcher Trainee, Parkersburg High (PH) yardmaster, Chillicothe (CH) yardmaster, Midland Steel yardmaster, Parkersburg Low (PL) yardmaster, and the Weiland and Port Charles Trainmaster, leaving nine mainline operators, and three operators for the Ohio River subdivision.

The session began at noon with a briefing from the Dispatcher and concluded with the last train tying up at 4:35 PM. While he started into the top of the schedule at the July session before we ended, we again started at the top of the schedule in August to keep the flow of traffic consistent and balance yards. We moved 15 trains with 174 cars eastbound on the mainline and 15 trains with 185 cars, westbound. Two trains were annulled. The Ohio River subdivision handled 122 cars with the W&PC moving 32 cars in 12 trains. A grand total of 513 cars were moved this session. All trains were reported complete at the end of the session.

During this session the Chief Dispatcher was also training a new Dispatcher. In discussions amongst the Superintendent, Dispatcher, and Yardmasters, the need for back-up and/or additional trained and qualified Yardmasters and Dispatcher has been identified. Ideally, multiple people should be trained and qualified to Dispatch and/or operate PH and CH yards, to allow operations to continue when the regularly assigned people are not available or don’t wish to do it. During the August session, I trained John Gladmon to Dispatch the railroad and feel he is now qualified to do so. Likewise, our Superintendent was working with Dave Legates during August to learn Parkersburg High Yard. Presently, at least one other of our regular operators is qualified as a yardmaster at PH. While we should have at least two deep in every position, there is no reason we cannot have more. If you are a regular operator and a dues paying member, and have an interest, you should express your interest to the Superintendent.

And then there were two. That’s right, we have only two prototypical operations sessions left for 2024. So why not join us on Saturday, September 14th for our next operations session. We will be starting where we left off last session and likely roll into the next session. All are invited and we can always use a few more mainline operators. We start at noon, but please feel free to come early to get acquainted with or re-acquainted with the railroad. Any time after 11:00 AM is usually good. Finally, as I will be in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the annual Soo Line Historical & Technical Society’s Convention that weekend, John Gladmon will be handling the Dispatching duties on September 14. I expect to be back for our October 12th session, the last prototypical operating session of 2024 before we roll into Open House season. Tempus fugit.