Operations Format

I added a new page (under "Espee Oregon Division Pages" on the right column) titled, "Insight on Operations".  Here's a quick link:  Insight on operations
This page is designed to give outsiders a look at how the railroad operates, as well as preparing new crews for what awaits them when they get their first crew call.
This is still a work in progress, and I am actively looking for better ways to do the paperwork as well as improving how the railroad runs, but it's a start.  The railroad was originally designed to operate with three road crews and a yard crew on DC throttles.  Today we are running with as many as 11 participants to make it all come together, so the layout has endured some growing pains along the way to say the least.  Eugene Yard is the main yard on the layout and has only been in full service for about six months now, but ironing out the bugs more and more with each ops session... so improvements are taking place at a pretty good rate.  The completion of the staging yard is expected to add still more diversity to the layout and its operations soon.  If you have any suggestions how to improve what we have going so far, open to suggestions, but so far this seems to work pretty good!

Peninsula Addition Breaks Ground

The new peninsula will connect to the Helix, and preliminary drawings have it all configured with a built in workbench underneath a staging yard, and two sidings incorporated above the staging yard.  The two sidings are not yet completed in the drawing phase, but will be located between current layout deck levels.  Staging will be a 10 track double ended yard, with through track design.  The layout's termination points will be at opposing ends of staging with Klamath Falls on the West, and Portland on the East.

Over the weekend got the first phase of this project under way with the workbench getting built, and placed in approximate position.  This being the starting point, I will follow up with basic open grid framework to connect the workbench to the existing layout for the additional levels.  The work surface is about the same size as my old workbench on saw horses was (2' X 4'), but now I have an additional 1' of storage space in the rear for material organizers / storage (3' X 4').

The workbench slides back in for ops sessions to clear the isle.  Pics show it in both positions.  The framework pictured above the workbench is a part of what the staging horseshoe will sit on.  The main focus here is to get staging in to open up operations more.  Existing parts of the layout are crying for more scenery, so see how this all plays out once staging appears.  I'll try to update the trackplan here soon to help show what is taking place.  Special thanks to Ray and Craig for helping on this project!