Sea Trials II

Today was the culmination of 6 years of work. In 2008 I started building my HO scale version of the Cayuga Sub as was used by both the CNR and the Wabash in Southwestern Ontario. Today we ran the Timetable with a few revisions.
For the most part it was a success.

Red Ball #82 (eastbound) meets extra # 1163 (westbound) at Simcoe. The extra has taken the siding.

Working with the timetable that Trevor Marshall and I had modified from the prototype, the other operators today, Chris Abbott, Brian Dickey and John Mellow, moved 9 through freights and the daily mixed to Jarvis and back.
I as the dispatcher have a few things to learn and the operators need a little more familiarity with the layout and the processes to have things move as smoothly as they should.
I realized that I need train register books at each end of the layout, as well as a proper trainsheet for the dispatcher. Saves confusion and errors.
I need to focus now on getting functioning train order boards up at all required locations. A need that became very apparent very quickly.
We also need to amend some of the times on the timetable. Some trains spent too much time waiting, when they could have been moving. Can't make money with idle trains!

                                             Mixed #355 clears the main for #402

Some track glitches arose, as well as some cranky freight cars. We find and fix these by running more often. All in all I'm very pleased with the how the day went. All this time and trouble has not been in vain.
My heart felt thanks goes out to all of my friends here in Ontario who have helped this layout come to life. I'm really sorry that Rich isn't with us anymore to have seen it come together. And a shout out to some the people who provided so much inspiration over the years, Bill Darnaby, Tony Koester, Andy Sperandeo, Marty McGuirk, Chet French, and many others. Couldn't have done it without all of you.
Onward!