Subway Construction Set

6.     Operation

The first thing any engineer, motorman or train operator (TO, the “politically correct” currently used term for motorman) does before running a route is qualifying on it. This usually involves riding along the route and studying it, learning all the stations, speed restrictions, signal locations, and where all the switches lead. They have to be able to recognize if control sends them down an incorrect or unfamiliar routing. This sometimes happens accidentally, or is sometimes done due to a diversion in traffic (whether it’s caused by a train ahead in BIE (Breaks In Emergency, caused by either a passenger pulling an emergency brake cord, or by running a red signal), equipment malfunction, track fire, police incident, etc.) They are then tested on this knowledge prior to being allowed to actually run a train over the route. Likewise, you should know your route well before you attempt to run it, if it’s anything more than a simple out and back trip or loop. Make a list of stations, note which ones are express and which are local. Things look different from the cab than they do from overhead. If you know ahead of time where you need to switch to another track, chances are you’ll be prepared when you get there (especially when you don’t have an interlocking changing the switching for you). Don’t worry if you overshoot stations or a switch the first few times. Consider this schoolcar, and there’s nobody there to write you up if you make a mistake.

 What follows is all based on DCC operation. Currently there are no speed limit signs, so the default speed limit of 40 mph is in effect. I find that running out about 10 clicks of the throttle (on a 6 car train) is sufficient for runs between stations, while 12 clicks makes for a nice “express” experience. When running “express”, the usual practice is to reduce to normal operating speed 1 station before your next stop (decreasing the throttle 2 clicks), though it is possible (though occasionally tricky) to wait until entering the station with a stop to decrease the throttle. For local stops, I find that cutting the throttle by 2 clicks about midway through the station, then by 2 clicks again ¾ of the way in, followed by a full stop (“?” key) as the 3rd from last support pillar is adjacent with the front of the cab will stop the train in just about the right spot. Running flat-out at the speed limit will take a considerably longer time to stop, which could result in being written up for a BIE if you don’t stop the train in time. Okay, that concludes your time in schoolcar, good luck!