Chicagoland RPM 2024 and an Invitation to a Spokane Southern Operating Session

[JerryZ]

According to the following link, the Chicago RPM meet is scheduled for October 10-12, 2024. I would like to start discussions on holding an operating session before / during / after this event with participants on this forum that will be attending this meet.

https://www.rpmconference.com/

I could schedule this session for Wednesday evening, October 8. I'd like to do a four hour session with a 2:1 fast clock. I've found that this is a great way to have folks that are new to my railroad to get acclimated to Timetable and Train Order operation, and have a session with a more "relaxed" feel. I'll post further information on jobs etc. once I see if there is interest.

If that does not work (there will probably be other folks holding sessions on Thursday), I could also do any time on Thursday, or on Sunday. We have plenty of time to plan ahead of this event. Please let me know if you are interested.

Information on the Spokane Southern can be found here:

https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...rn-railroad-ho

Regards,
Jerry

[Steve H AC&Y]

I plan to attend Chicagoland RPM in 2024 and would certainly be game for a Spokane Southern ops session. Wednesday might be a stretch but Thursday or even Sunday could work. Thanks for giving the opportunity consideration.

Steve

[Karl]

I’m coming in for the RPM, an ops session while I’m there would be fun! How many people does the layout take to run?

[JerryZ]

Hi Karl. Depending on the time a day, 12-15 people (which includes a Dispatcher and Operator). When I do sessions with out of town guests, I cover those two jobs with my regular crew. I can also cover the DeBraal Yard yardmaster job unless somebody really likes the experience of managing a yard (writing out switch lists to get stuff into and out of the yard for the two yard crews). I pretty much run the whole gamut of jobs between road freight and passenger, local jobs, and yard jobs every session. So if you are available, please come, and I can get local folks to fill in depending on how many people coming to RPM are interested in attending.

[Karl]

JerryZ that sounds great. I may have a couple other guys wanting to join me

[JerryZ]

The more the merrier Karl.😁

Regards,
Jerry

[JerryZ]

Gents:

It is time to start arranging an operating session. Due to conflicts with other layouts within Rail Group, I will need to schedule this session for Sunday, October 13, 2024. I prefer to run a four hour session with a 2:1 clock, which makes the sessions a bit more relaxed than if I run a three hour session with a 3:1 clock.

So, doors would open at 8:45 AM, clock on at 9:30 AM (or earlier if all arrive early enough). Run to 1:30PM. We usually adjourn to the local Portillo's for lunch after the session.

Please let the crew caller know if you would like to attend. If you have others that are attending RPM and would like to attend, please extend them an invitation and let me know their names and email addresses, so that I can send out pre-session information.

I will fill 0ut the crew with local invitees as needed.

Regards,
Jerry Zeman