This page will be updated to reflect upcoming events relating to 1950s era operations on the Tehachapi Pass Exhibit.
One day "local" club operation session to be a two 5-hour shift, 10 hour session.
This session will be two 10 hour days. Complete with at least 4 more scheduled trains, plus extra sections are expected to be run. The freight train cycle/freight car forwarding system is expected to cycle at least once totally through during the 20 hours of operation, with the locals and passenger trains working through two "days".
The Final Mojave Yard is nearly complete. The A&P tracks are being finished and the bus wires are about to be pulled. Once the wiring at Mojave is done, the heavy construction can start on the 600 car East Staging Yard adjacent and below Mojave Yard.
West Bakersfield is complete except for several industrial spurs and the freight house. The "City" switcher's yard is complete, allowing easier work of the head-end cars and team tracks. Also the "70's" yard is done and in use as a diesel engine house until the Santa Fe yard is built. All of the inbound engine leads are complete on the west side of the turntable.
Also last but not least, the paperwork for the operation sessions is coming along nicely. Each freight train has a "wheel report" list that is picked up, travels with, and is delivered to the terminal yard by the train crew. This packet includes special "captive service" routing folders containing the switch lists listing the assigned cars and also the general service cars that fill out the train's consist.
Yardmaster and local crew instructions are coming along. Also general train crew, operator, and official's notes and standard operating procedures documents are undergoing final review.
Loading forecasts are also printed for yard and local crews to assign empty cars for loading and routing of loaded cars from local industries several days in advance.
The Bena and Edison extension has been cut in. This now adds about 7 extra minutes running time between Bakersfield and Ilmon on double track. Eventually the sheds at Edison will be built after the ABS signaling is installed between Kern Jct and Bena. Hopefully soon the CTC will be extended to Bena. Spring switches are installed at Bena to allow westward trains to be routed onto the westward main track and the eastward trains departing Bena to trail through the East switches and onto the single main track without having to realign any switches.
I will get the Timetable posted here as soon as I can, and I'll have the Line-Up up ASAP as well.
Layout prep work is going well, mostly cleaning and testing new switches, engines, and giving some revamped equipment a shakedown run. This session will include a new Timetable including Famoso Yard (valley staging) and tonnage ratings for 1950s era engines on build sections of the railroad, Famoso to Tunnel 8.
This session will be two 10 hour days. Complete with at least 4 more scheduled trains, plus extra sections are expected to be run. The freight train cycle/freight car forwarding system is expected to cycle at least once totally through during the 20 hours of operation, with the locals and passenger trains working through two "days".
Thank you to all the participants at the Nov.2004 Tehachapi Time Table/Train Order Operation, T4O2, session. It was a blast! Please, stay in touch.
For invited guest who were unable to make the Nov 2004 Session.
Another great Op Session. Lots of fun and trains had by all.
Goal; to be running trains over the Tehachapi Loop and have "Porta Mojave" yard in operation as Eastern terminal.
Goal met, trains ran over the Loop!
We will be having the "Grand Opening" for the Tunnel 10 extention on Aug 6th... wine and cheese avaliable. Cheese only for the big cheese or the cheesest people there!
Here we go... time to get Mojave yard working!
Goals; Continue woring on layout and operating fleet of equipment. May get other sections of layout built and finished.