I wish to start hosting operating sessions once my railroad is completed , I am new to the "operating" aspect of prototypical operation and it looks like a ton of fun and very addicting too , my layout will have a dispatch area , a yardmaster area , operating signals controlled in the dispatch area , operated with legacy, TMCC controls mostly a freight operations , local switching and advice will be a BIG help , and sites to visit groups to join etc...HELP !
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From what I have read about the subject, joining a club and getting hands on experience and assistance from experienced operators is the best way to learn.
Part IV of the big book of Lionel has good information on operational details and ideas of how to go about it.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-...mplete/dp/0760340269
As a youngster I always wondered why that train was doing what it was doing. I used to attempt to emulate action I saw with my fledgling HO layout(s). I begin learning about operation via the real deal in 1970. Very eye opening.
Along came the RMC/Koester series in the mid-70s using the Virginian & Ohio as the basis, and I was hooked. Ever since all my layouts have been designed with operation in mind. Take away operation, and my interest in model trains pales quickly.
Once you begin to understand operation, and provided your layout design can reasonably handle it, it may change your perception of model railroading forever.
If you want to learn more about model railroad operation than you'll probably ever use, try to find Bruce Chubb's book "How To Operate Your Model Railroad". It's an exhaustive work that is still very useful today.
A quick Google turned up this page that may work well as a "primer":
http://www.nmra.org/chief-dispatcher
Best of luck in your exploration into the seemingly endless world of operation!
Check out CNLVN on YouTube. He has great videos on operating a model railroad.
I would e-mail Chugman (Art) and get his advice. He has lots of experience and has hosted many of these over the past several years.
Part IV of the big book of Lionel has good information on operational details and ideas of how to go about it.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-...mplete/dp/0760340269
Check the sale part of Barnes and Noble (the front at our local store). I just picked up the hard cover version of this for $10 (they had the soft cover version in the back for $30).
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