Jackson & Burke Railroad

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KVRY Ops


Every year, the Kaskaskia Valley Railway holds an Annual Fall Operating Session over Saturday and Sunday (they also host one in the spring), in Carlyle, Illinois.


Ric and Jan Golding host a very fun event.  

They use RailOps software for the control of car movement and radios for dispatching.

It is a weekend ops session with both days starting around noon and going until nobody is running trains anymore.

The setup starts on Friday and sometimes Thursday, but the actual event is  Saturday and Sunday.  

The goal is to run 18 trains to a schedule; sometimes more, sometimes left.  Either way, there is lots of food and its a lot of fun.


2008

On Halloween, we flew out to St. Louis in October and then drove to Carlyle, Illinois where we visited Ric and Jan Golding’s Kaskaskia Valley Railway.

The KVRY starts in the basement and extends from the back of the house all the way to the front yard.  

It takes quite a bit of time to traverse from one end to the other, and just getting out of the basement can be an adventure in itself.  


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November 1. Saturday. The front yard
November 1. Saturday. The front yard
The weather was perfect. It was warm and the skies were clear. Here, Doug Matheson, Bart Salmons, and André Schofield survey part of the layout in the backyard, near Beagle Junction. Doug traveled from Ottawa, Canada, while Bart hails from West Virginia, and André from Minnesota. I first met all of these guys on-line; the internet can really bring people together.
The weather was perfect. It was warm and the skies were clear. Here, Doug Matheson, Bart Salmons, and André Schofield survey part of the layout in the backyard, near Beagle Junction.
Doug traveled from Ottawa, Canada, while Bart hails from West Virginia, and André from Minnesota. I first met all of these guys on-line; the internet can really bring people together.
Ric has detailed signs at each switching location.
Ric has detailed signs at each switching location.
November 1. Andre and Doug take a break.
November 1. Andre and Doug take a break.
Ric also has a live steam track set up.
Ric also has a live steam track set up.
Bart, Ric, and Andy warm by the fire.
Bart, Ric, and Andy warm by the fire.
Ken and Doug.
Ken and Doug.
November 2. Sunday. The KVRY uses a dispatcher based in a room just off the kitchen. Train operators communicate via two-way radios to get permission to advance to the next town. Here, Jane Clarke, the dispatcher, checks a switch list while Bart looks on. In the background are Doug Matheson and Andy Clarke.
November 2. Sunday. The KVRY uses a dispatcher based in a room just off the kitchen. Train operators communicate via two-way radios to get permission to advance to the next town. Here, Jane Clarke, the dispatcher, checks a switch list while Bart looks on. In the background are Doug Matheson and Andy Clarke.
Jean, out front with our train.
Jean, out front with our train.
November 2. Just like real life, trains get to sit awhile. Doug Matheson and Ken Brunt are waiting with their train at Southern Junction. Southern Junction is where the track from the basement joins the outdoor railroad.
November 2. Just like real life, trains get to sit awhile. Doug Matheson and Ken Brunt are waiting with their train at Southern Junction. Southern Junction is where the track from the basement joins the outdoor railroad.
Outside, you can see that it was a beautiful fall day. Andy Clarke is the yardmaster for Consolidated Yard, which is located at the front of the house. The track to the right is a switch back that goes from Consolidated down to “Cat Dump”.
Outside, you can see that it was a beautiful fall day. Andy Clarke is the yardmaster for Consolidated Yard, which is located at the front of the house. The track to the right is a switch back that goes from Consolidated down to “Cat Dump”.
On the left, Jane Clarke, Jan Golding and Ric Golding. Ric and Jan are tireless promoters of the hobby.
On the left, Jane Clarke, Jan Golding and Ric Golding. Ric and Jan are tireless promoters of the hobby.

2009

Last year we flew out to St. Louis, then rented a car to drive for an hour or so to Carlyle.   But a 12 hour delay on the flight out convinced to drive from now on.

Jean and I always walk around Carlyle Lake before heading over to the operations session.


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November 7. Saturday. Carlyle Lake is beautiful in the fall.
November 7. Saturday. Carlyle Lake is beautiful in the fall.
We spot a flock of cedar waxwings.
We spot a flock of cedar waxwings.
After our walk by the lake, we head over to Ric & Jan's layout. Operations start by moving the cars out of the basement. It’s not just plain storage, it’s fully detailed - and there’s something new each year.
After our walk by the lake, we head over to Ric & Jan's layout. Operations start by moving the cars out of the basement. It’s not just plain storage, it’s fully detailed - and there’s something new each year.
November 7. Ken and Rodney relax in the basement before the start of the session.
November 7. Ken and Rodney relax in the basement before the start of the session.
I brought out my work in progress Mikado. Here's a shot of it next to a K-27.
I brought out my work in progress Mikado. Here's a shot of it next to a K-27.
Rodney and Ric discuss the next train in the dispatcher’s office.
Rodney and Ric discuss the next train in the dispatcher’s office.
November 7. Out back, each train crew is busy. A crew typically consists of an engineer and a conductor. The engineer is responsible for running the locomotive.
November 7. Out back, each train crew is busy. A crew typically consists of an engineer and a conductor. The engineer is responsible for running the locomotive.
Here, Jean is the engineer as we try to get out of the track maze in the basement.
Here, Jean is the engineer as we try to get out of the track maze in the basement.
Rodney and Jean in the basement.
Rodney and Jean in the basement.
November 8. Sunday. The conductor uses a raid to contact the dispatcher for permission to move to the next stop. There, the conductor is responsible for setting out and picking up cars according to a switch list.
November 8. Sunday. The conductor uses a raid to contact the dispatcher for permission to move to the next stop. There, the conductor is responsible for setting out and picking up cars according to a switch list.
There's time to relax and EAT in the crew lounge.
There's time to relax and EAT in the crew lounge.

2010

This year, we stopped by Andy Clarke’s Bluestone Southern on Friday before the annual event at the KVRY.  

We arrived at Andy and Jane's a bit before noon on Friday. It was very windy and not all that warm - except for the hospitality!  

Saturday found us over on the KVRY for operations.


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November 5. Friday. My locomotive on the way to Overlook.
November 5. Friday. My locomotive on the way to Overlook.
Andy’s train moves out of his basement window - and includes a modern J&B car.
Andy’s train moves out of his basement window - and includes a modern J&B car.
November 5. Friday.
November 5. Friday.
November 5. It's a LARGE layout.
November 5. It's a LARGE layout.
Andy and his long train head down the grade.
Andy and his long train head down the grade.
Then, back UP the grade.
Then, back UP the grade.
November 5. You can see future layout in the background!
November 5. You can see future layout in the background!
My motorcar is dwarfed...
My motorcar is dwarfed...
November 5.
November 5.
Everything seems so massive!
Everything seems so massive!
The current track plan. But, every year it just gets BIGGER!
The current track plan. But, every year it just gets BIGGER!
November 5. Andy's penguin and ice car.
November 5. Andy's penguin and ice car.
Bart and I out on the layout.
Bart and I out on the layout.
My ten wheeler and parlor car.
My ten wheeler and parlor car.
November 6. Saturday. Jean and I head over to Carlyle Lake.
November 6. Saturday. Jean and I head over to Carlyle Lake.
We take a walk across this neat suspension bridge.
We take a walk across this neat suspension bridge.
Jean acts as the engineer as we take a train around the KVRY.
Jean acts as the engineer as we take a train around the KVRY.
November 6. I'm having too much fun to take very many pictures, but we operate most of the day. Darkness does not equal end of operations.
November 6. I'm having too much fun to take very many pictures, but we operate most of the day. Darkness does not equal end of operations.
Operations extend into darkness on Saturday, but Jane, our dispatcher, does get a chance to warm up by the fire.
Operations extend into darkness on Saturday, but Jane, our dispatcher, does get a chance to warm up by the fire.
At the end of the night, the trains return to the basement.
At the end of the night, the trains return to the basement.
November 7. Sunday morning and it's time for operations again.
November 7. Sunday morning and it's time for operations again.
Here our train is switching Beagle Junction.
Here our train is switching Beagle Junction.
Ric and Denny in the kitchen on Sunday afternoon, after yet another successful and fun session.
Ric and Denny in the kitchen on Sunday afternoon, after yet another successful and fun session.

2011

This is bittersweet as this is the last session to be held at Ric and Jan's.

It looks like Andy and Jane will be hosting further sessions on their Bluestone Southern.


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November 4. Friday. We head out to the Bluestone Southern where Andy is working on his Caboose Gazebo.
November 4. Friday. We head out to the Bluestone Southern where Andy is working on his Caboose Gazebo.
My Shay runs pass the lighthouse with a consist of my ET&WNC hoppers.
My Shay runs pass the lighthouse with a consist of my ET&WNC hoppers.
There are still flowers blooming in November.
There are still flowers blooming in November.
November 4. Friday. We all enjoy some fine food and friendship inside.
November 4. Friday. We all enjoy some fine food and friendship inside.
Ric Golding is busy switching the Industrial Park.
Ric Golding is busy switching the Industrial Park.
My Shay and caboose.
My Shay and caboose.
November 4. My Shay retrieves a string of cars.
November 4. My Shay retrieves a string of cars.
November 5. Saturday. Jean and I take a short hike.
November 5. Saturday. Jean and I take a short hike.
Saturday and Sunday are the days for Operations on the KVRY. We head over early Saturday to help setup.
Saturday and Sunday are the days for Operations on the KVRY. We head over early Saturday to help setup.
November 5. Saturday. Andy is the yardmaster.
November 5. Saturday. Andy is the yardmaster.
Jean is the engineer for our train.
Jean is the engineer for our train.
It's a warm day to sit and chat.
It's a warm day to sit and chat.
November 6. Sunday morning finds Jan ballasting the track.
November 6. Sunday morning finds Jan ballasting the track.
Lots of maintenance is always required.
Lots of maintenance is always required.
The dispatch office is busy as trains are prepared for the day.
The dispatch office is busy as trains are prepared for the day.
November 6. Sunday. During an operating session, all dispatching is done via hand held radios. Here Jane and Ric work on a train, while Ken rests a bit.
November 6. Sunday. During an operating session, all dispatching is done via hand held radios. Here Jane and Ric work on a train, while Ken rests a bit.
The KVRY starts in the basement and it’s quite convoluted to find your way out - as well as difficult to reach the elevated switches.
The KVRY starts in the basement and it’s quite convoluted to find your way out - as well as difficult to reach the elevated switches.
Once outside, it's easier to find your way.
Once outside, it's easier to find your way.
November 6. Two trains meet.
November 6. Two trains meet.
The entrance to the basement is always a bottleneck.
The entrance to the basement is always a bottleneck.
The basement is also a workshop.
The basement is also a workshop.