KCS 3rd Sub Ops Session: Sallisaw Yard

Ops session video on the KCS 3rd Sub HO scale model railroad. This video features the Sallisaw Yard operations.
Recorded in June, 2019.
More info on the railroad including track plans etc. can be found at kcs3.webs.com

[@timbober1]

Watched your KCS videos a few times. I saw another video about an expansion you are building, I excited to see it. Thank you for sharing, these operations videos, your layout lends itself to realistic railroading.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you so much for watching, and for your kind words! Operations is my favorite part of the hobby. I am now retired and spend most of my time, with the help of many friends who I am fortunate to have, working on the expansion which will be the 2nd sub. The current RR runs from Heavener OK to Watts OK. The expansion will take it from Watts OK to Pittsburg KS, via Arkansas and Missouri. Actually there are more industries to work on that section. Right now we are finishing up the benchwork and putting up skyboard and valance (masonite/hardboard). No track laid yet.

[@timbober1]

I grew up in St.Paul, Mn. The Ford Plant was half a mile from our house. The Milwaukee Road was literally in our backyard. Sadly the plant and the railroad have been gone for years. My friends and I spent hours watching the trains switch the plant. I played little league baseball on the fields Ford developed. We lived so close to MSP airport the knocker on the door would rattle when the old piston engined planes flew over. I should have either been a pilot or an engineer, but ended up driving truck. Go figure.

[@rccosplay3249]

Wow, a proper ops video. With communication, coordination great layout and AWSOME trains... 💘

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you so much for your comment and for watching!

[@MesquiteBelt]

Not only a good prototypical operation session, but excellent documentation and videography of the entire event! Shows the quality of the layout when every runs like a Swiss watch and sure does make me miss those ghosts on the KCS! Especially loved the MKT hopper car! Want to see this layout one day!

[@misterrainwizard]

I love how prototypically you operate this railroad. Great job on the scenery too! Most people do not realize how much time, effort, money, and skill go into the building and running of a successful model railroad as nice as yours. I've never been to a real operating session, let alone one with such attention to detail as this. The video is very crisp, clean and professional looking. I'm 48 and my grandson is 2 when I get closer to retirement, and he can appreciate it more, I hope to build an operating layout with him! Thanks for sharing such a nice video with those of us who do not yet have the resources to enjoy such a wonderful hobby!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Wayne Smith Thank you! You are always welcome to operate with us - we operate the 4th Saturday of every month (except, we won’t operate in July).

[@misterrainwizard]

@@TTownTrainFan Thank you so much for the invite! I reside near Oklahoma City, where do you operate?

[@TTownTrainFan]

@@misterrainwizard Wow Oklahoma City? No way: I'm not that far. The layout is in Coweta, OK, just southeast of Tulsa. I don't think either of us want to put our email addresses up here on KZbin. We won't be operating this month (July) but the next session is the 4th Saturday of August 8/24). Crew call is 12:30 pm, trains start rolling at 1 pm. Tell you what: if you are truly interested, please go to my web site at kcs3.webs.com and sign up for the forum (it's free). Then post on our forum. We have open sign-ups on that forum every month. And members are notified ahead of operating sessions. Since you are from out of town I'd be happy to reserve a slot for you. Or if you have another suggestion as to how we can connect I'm open to any suggestions. :-)

[@adventure2073]

This is better than television. Very well put together and incredibly entertaining. Subscribed!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Logan, thank you so much for your kind words! Sadly with COVID-19 I haven't been able to host or record any operating sessions for the last 9 months, so I've taken up virtual operations (train-simming). But there are quite a few videos on my channel, from my own KCS and other model RR's. And I'm optimistic about getting back into creating these. It's comments like yours that keep me going!

[@GrandT]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. It's now my go to background video when planning new episodes. Thanks for putting these together, and wonderful layout to boot!

[@TTownTrainFan]

GrandT That’s quite a compliment: I’m subscribed to YOU!! 👍😅

[@ZachPumphery]

Hey Steve, I had no idea that you had these videos on here. These are just excellent, and I thank you for the opportunity to operate on this railroad last winter. Truly a magnificent layout.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Wow Zach THANK YOU! So glad you found the channel!

[@yrunaked4]

what a fantastic ops video. A huge amount of action with lots of surprises. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Rob

[@games-onrick9964]

Such an awesome video, please make more of these and a beautiful layout.

[@michaelneale761]

One of the best Op Session videos I've seen on youtube. Bit of a way to get to an Op session from here in New Zealand, but this video certainly makes you feel like you're there amongst the action. Keep these up!

[@lexpo181]

This is an amazingly excellent video! I really really enjoyed watching your operations! That's the kind of operation I'd like so much to do. :)

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

Sallisaw is always a challenge, but if you love challenges, it’s worth it

[@terryzastrow2657]

I love the layout of different trains

[@scottsmith7051]

Beautifully documented.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you!

[@manderschannel2275]

That’s awesome! I need to join an operation session this looks like fun! As a truck driver I’m also familiar with the setting of the RR.

[@TTownTrainFan]

We’d love to have you! We operate the fourth Saturday of every month, crew call 12:30, operations start at 1 pm. Visit my web site at kcs3.webs.com for more info and to sign up.

[@markmcguire4630]

seeing how i live in Ft.Smith this is close to home.thanks so much

[@TTownTrainFan]

Come on out some time!

[@barryfarmer7317]

I live in sallisaw- where is this layout Steve Davis?

[@Miertreg1]

Nice train nice video 👍👍🙋🏻‍♂️ Greetings from Germany Gert N gauge

[@25mfd]

nice vid... super busy yard there but it went really smooth

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@adrianniemiec8669]

Awesome teamwork , a rail fans dream.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you for watching!

[@g3air3]

Fantastic video! Your team rocks!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you for watching and for your kind words!

[@lonebuffalo74]

With that grade I can here the trains upgrade NB at my home in Bunch OK MP 271 when they leave Marble City OK MP 281. I use to walk along the tracks to the store in Bunch with my brother. We could here SB trains blow for the crossings over 6 miles north. It was safer than the road as we didn't know when a drunk would drive by. North of Bunch on the W side of the tracks to around the corner is the old siding for the passenger trains to use in Bunch. The brick depot burned sometime before the 50's an old wood boxcar was used after. My Mom and Grandpa (mail carrier) use to tell me about walking the tracks for the mail. And I talked to an engineer who started as a mail kicker. He said Bunch was the hardest to kick at as SB there is no warning NB they had the bridge.

[@TTownTrainFan]

What a GREAT story - thank you for sharing! I’ve been to Bunch, it’s a pretty area and a great place to watch trains.

[@johnnyjohnson848]

I was raised in Bunch the first ten years of my life. 1965-75. I live at Zion now and still love to go to and through Bunch any chance I get.

[@GRE2057]

how does the phone system work on the layout and how can I go about making one for my layout? is there a link to the website on how to make a phone system for dispatching? Awesome layout and video!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you for watching and your kind words. There are a fair number of articles on telephone systems for model railroads but they either required too much work or cost too much money. So I did it the cheap way: I bought a cheap PBX online (May have been on Amazon.com). It cost about $60 and was made in China. You can plug up to 8 phones into one I bought. Then I bought old-fashioned “touch tone” phones, ran telephone wire from each phone to that PBX (which is under the layout and very small: about 1” high by 8” wide by 5” deep.). There is a little setup but it came with instructions. I set it up so it was simple: 0 for the dispatcher, 1 for Heavener Yard (the large main yard), 2 for Sallisaw and 3 for Marble City/Quarry Junction.

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Very Cool! Enjoyed it! Thank you Steve for sharing. -Randy

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you Randy for watching!

[@ComicBookGuy33]

Any chance of publishing a track plan?

[@TTownTrainFan]

Definitely! It's on my web site, www.kcs1982.com/. Also was featured, with a plan, in Railroad Model Craftsman's October 2019 issue. Thanks for asking and thanks for your interest..

[@ComicBookGuy33]

Thank you @@TTownTrainFan

[@rustyshackleford6637]

Wow this is very cool. If I was the dispatcher in the other room I'd have to take breaks to wack off, I don't think I could sit there the whole time.

[@mysticrailroad]

just climbed aboard this channel and couldn't watch this whole video but that's a heck of a layout! hats off to you gentlemen. by the way- what's a "sweeper?"

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you for watching and posting a comment! A ‘sweeper’ is a train that picks up cars along its run to take to its terminus - sort of like someone sweeping up a mess. 👍

[@2011Maynard]

Sallisaw looks like an excellent and fun Yardmaster challenge - wish I lived closer if you support NMRA OpSIG, although I'm sure it's not hard to staff. Tell those mainliners to check their speeds 😀...

[@TTownTrainFan]

Maynard, I am am Amber of NMRA and the OPSIG and my layout is listed in the OPSIG directory. We operate on the fourth Saturday of nearly every month (there is a calendar on our website, http;//kcs3.webs.com). Guest operators are always welcome! And we take advance signups for specific jobs each session on our web site. Thanks for watching!

[@richmondrailfan8444]

2011Maynard ur right on the mainline speed

[@atallguynh]

When I was a kid I agonized over where exactly to optimally place my automatic uncouplers. It never occurred to me that just using a skinny-long-official-looking stick could be acceptable!

[@TTownTrainFan]

I do have uncoupler magnets in Heavener and Sallisaw yards. But I decided to go with picks for other spots.

[@bill7493]

Another great video,thanks.Will you be doing more with Run 8 ?

[@TTownTrainFan]

Yes. But probably not for another month. Thanks!

[@bill7493]

@@TTownTrainFan Thanks Steve,I really enjoy your videos.I did mention a while back with your permission I download your vids to my portable hard drive and take them up to my trailer where I have no internet.There I can get my fix.Thanks again.

[@IMRROcom]

? Where did you get or what is the tool you used to convert the photo to cartoon at the begin of this video? I have been looking for a good tool to do this for some time and have not found one I fully like yet. Thanks.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Actually it converts a video to a cartoon look. So I had to freeze the frame and then do the conversion because having it moving seemed too distracting. The tool is included in Adobe Premiere Elements 2015, which is what I use to edit all my videos.

[@xXCameronUhlerXx]

Where is this place at? And is it open to view publicly or for operations only? I live close by Fort Smith is why I ask.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Coweta OK - southeast of Tulsa. I have a few operators who come up from Ft. Smith. We operate on the 4th Saturday of every month at 1 pm. If you don’t want to drive all that way and maybe not get the job you want, you can sign up for specific jobs in advance on our web site Forum. We typically start asking for job picks about 1 1/2 or 2 weeks before the session. And walk-in’s are always welcome - we will find a train for you!

[@mathias369]

Seems like you guys know a lot of railway protocol and understanding of railroad operations, Any of you folks current or former railroaders?

[@TTownTrainFan]

Yes, a few. We have a railway engineer for the SKOL who is a regular, a former BNSF Dispatcher out of the Ft Worth dispatch center, some switch men and conductors etc. Most of us just enjoy railroading and are not working in the industry but there are enough who are to help us learn / which is half the fun to many. THANKS for watching and commenting! 👍

[@scottkunkel129]

Hello do you allow people to come and operate on your layout if so what state are you located in?? Thank you

[@TTownTrainFan]

Yes, definitely! It is open to the public. I'm located in Oklahoma, we operate on the 4th Saturday of every month (with a few exceptions) at 1 pm and ask our crew to show up at 12:30 pm. The best way to guarantee a slot is to go to my web site at kcs3.webs.com and join (it's free). Then you'll have access to the forum and can sign up for crew positions etc. I also have a calendar on that site which confirms which days we are operating etc. Walk-ins are welcome as well but I can't guarantee you'll get the job you want. Thanks, Steve

[@scottkunkel129]

Ok thank you steve davis, I drive a semi truck and next time I'll try to get ahold of you when I'm in the state and see what city you're located in

[@TTownTrainFan]

Scott Kunkel Coweta, OK - southeast of Tulsa

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

What frequency is the group using? Motorola mobile radio at the dispatcher's post? What power level is it set down to? FRS is only 2 watts?

[@TTownTrainFan]

We are using FRS frequencies, less than a watt (200 mW). It doesn’t take much just to transmit within a building like this.

[@Hawks4Life226]

What area are you guys located at ? I run Bnsf Power

[@TTownTrainFan]

Northeastern Oklahoma

[@tonderen1615]

Another great video, but why don't you accelerate more realistic at 16.10 for instance. It would make the video look so much more realistic!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thanks for the comment. I agree. We use ISA ProtoThrottles in the Yard so most of the acceleration is controlled since the locomotives have significant momentum (acceleration and deceleration delay) in those. But the road trains don't. This wasn't produced as a video, it is merely a video of an actual operating session on my RR. Some operators run at more prototypical speeds than others. I want to keep it fun so I don't impose too many rules on the operators.

[@ThePeejRR]

Great! Love your videos!!!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Thank you! I’m looking for more model railroads to shoot videos of!

[@MITracks]

Would love to see a tour of this.

[@old56timer]

Looks like work to me, but to each their own. Retired from KCS.

[@TTownTrainFan]

If it looks like work to you, we succeeded!!! 😂 When you worked for the KCS, did you ever work Heavener? There is a spot called ”Auction House” and I don’t know what it really was or why it would be rail-served. Do you have any idea what it looked like or what types of cars it took?

[@old56timer]

@@TTownTrainFan Worked out of Heavener for 38 years, I have to say I never heard of "Auction House" I'm not saying it's not a thing, just never heard of it.

[@isaiahwelch8066]

@@TTownTrainFan : Hey Steve. I've watched your videos about operating on this layout and it seems just as complex as it looks! Nice job on modeling and operating a railroad about a year before I was born (I'm a 1983 baby, lol). My thoughts about the location called "Auction House" is that back in the early days of rail, back in the 1800s, it actually was an interface for cattle-rustlers and ranchers bringing up cattle to be auctioned off, hence the name. The railroad would then contract with local buyers, and take the carloads of cattle to places like Chicago that had slaughterhouses.

[@TTownTrainFan]

@@isaiahwelch8066 That sounds plausible, thank you.

[@TTownTrainFan]

@@old56timer Interesting. It is on the KCS track chart from 1982. Thanks for letting me know though.

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

How do the throttles seem to be working out?

[@TTownTrainFan]

So far very well, thanks.

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

Steve Davis you’re welcome, hoping to try and make it back soon. Miss running on the ol 3rd Sub

[@cedricsimmons2033]

Hello and good evening the dispatcher can’t take a signal away from a train without talking to the can you stop your train first

[@TTownTrainFan]

Yes, you are absolutely right. Prototype dispatching software won’t allow a dispatcher to take down a signal in front of a train. If a DS needs to take down a signal, he must first ask the crew if they can comply with the signal change. If they say they can, then the DS logs the name of the crewman who confirmed they could comply, and cancels the signal. The signal then “runs time”, typically for 20 minutes, before any conflicting/opposing signals, routes or switches can be set. The CATS software which I’m using to dispatch the KCS unfortunately doesn’t have this feature. Our dispatcher shouldn’t have taken down the signal. Good observation. Thankfully nobody was hurt! 😀

[@dog_house875]

You gonna show more of this??

[@TTownTrainFan]

Well I’ve done a lot of videos on my KCS 4td sub. Not many jobs left to show. I’m talking to my model railroader friends about doing videos of THEIR layouts. There are a number of good ones around here.

[@dog_house875]

Steve Davis I’m just addicted to watching this. Lol if you ever feel up to just record some yard ops since we know what the jobs are that would be pretty cool. Less editing too hahah.

[@snagletoothscott3729]

A GE taking a long time to load? Whodathunk?

[@user-cu9kz5ec8o]

A little strange having helpers so close to the lead units, but excellent layout and ops

[@TTownTrainFan]

Sometimes with switching etc. they change position in the train. You are correct: they should be at least half way back for proper distribution of tractive effort. Too late for the video but I’ve moved them and reminded my operators not to always add their pickups to the rear of the train! 👍😎

[@user-cu9kz5ec8o]

@@TTownTrainFan still a great video though

[@robertgould1718]

Great But expect a basic day penalty slip on the 1 man job

[@sonnypruitt6639]

Big old boy's, playing with their big old toy's!

[@arthurhouston3]

Today world those throttles look like would take a crain to hold them up. Two hands to operate? think smartphone and engine driver work way better. Even NCE and Digitrax controllers you can do with one hand. Get looking op session. got to get up there soon.

[@TTownTrainFan]

Art, I realize not everyone is a fan of the Iowa Scaled Engineering Proto Throttles. I personally like them. With a layout similar to a prototype control cab and the realistic throttle notching and brake action it feels much more like operating a real locomotive. You’ll notice that our operators are holding them in one hand. They ARE very much “today’s world”: they just came out about a year and a half ago, developed by hobbyists. They work with nearly every DCC system. I first got to play with one last year at ProRail in Washington DC. For anyone who does want to learn more about these, including a couple demo videos, see www.protothrottle.com Only a few jobs on the KCS 3rd use them and operators know which jobs. There are fascia holders available for them and I have them but haven’t installed those yet. My road crews mostly use CVP EasyDCC “Ops” throttles or Digitrax UT4’s and UT4D’s. And as you know my entire dispatching system and layout operation system is run via JMRI, so yes I also have WiThrottle and Engine Driver servers running, so anyone who wishes to can use their phones to run trains. 😀 Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@Greatdome99]

Knee socks and wingtips? Sheesh. . .

[@TTownTrainFan]

We take all at the KCS 3rd sub!

[@artroberttucker4218]

Spends money on trains not wardrobe

[@Cnrail-rl4mq]

Holy cow hmmm just go run the red light lol

[@jasonnolander]

Dear. Friend. My. Name. Is. Jason. A. Nolander. C.E. Faithful. Model. Railroader. Police. Group. 30.1. Merry. Christmas. S.C.D.I.

[@terrysweat4187]

And here I thought that model railroading was supposed to be fun? After watching these guy’s this looks like a nightmare day at work to me, just saying??🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Come to think of it I’ve had better days at work after watching this video, what happened to just running a bunch of trains and having fun and maybe a derailment or two.!!

[@TTownTrainFan]

Well different strokes for different folks. Some people like the puzzle aspect of the hobby. And, some just like to run trains. Nothing wrong with that either of course.