An op session check list

I was looking through some past emails that were sent to me about this blog, and found one interesting one to which I apparently never replied. It had to do with what things I do before an operating (or “op”) session. I have posted several times about one aspect of this question, car choice and movements during an op session, and how those are set up (see for example, this: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2024/10/car-movements-for-operating-session.html ).

But my topic today is not the car movement part, it’s the layout part. I am sure the list I follow is pretty common to all layout owners’ procedures, but I will show it anyway. I don’t really need a “to do” list because I’ve had a layout for years, and have entirely internalized the things that need to be done to operate. But some years ago, when I was busy with other things, I did make up a list to make sure that in the press of everything else, I did get the essentials all done.

You may note that some of what is on my list is normal layout maintenance, but it’s maintenance that needs to be updated before an op session to make sure performance is dependable. 

The list is below. Some parts are obvious, such as cleaning track and locomotive wheels. My DCC system is NCE, and the throttle key pads do get dirty with use; the throttles can be opened up and the dirt removed with soap and water. I check for throttle buttons which are as responsive as they should be, and clean them if not.

I run every train that is expected to operate, and make sure everything is okay; ditto for checking every track switch to make sure it functions correctly electrically. This latter point is rarely a problem, but annoying if occurring in a session. Ordinarily all freight cars on the layout are veterans, but if a new one, or a newly modified one, is scheduled in the upcoming session, I check its operation in my “rookie test” (described in this post: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-rookie-test.html ).

There are several paperwork parts to this. Because nearly all my freight cars have multiple waybills on file, I need to check that the waybill for each car that is part of the intended action in the upcoming session is correct and complete. The car may have had a different industry service in the previous session, so the waybill needs to be current. An example is this load of cement (a Richard Hendrickson weathering job).

I write a new train order and clearance card for the branchline train from Shumala to Santa Rosalia and return, and also do a fresh line-up for the mainline trains that will operate in the session (for background on that, see: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2019/01/line-ups-for-operating.html ). I continue to find line-ups a very useful tool for sessions. 

For some sessions, I also issue a Bulletin, as I’ve described in a previous post (you can read it at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2019/11/more-operating-sessions.html ). To repeat an example, if a ballast train is to be run, I might issue this: 

Something that isn’t on the list, but which I think is important to do, is to send an email to the operators who are signed up for a session, about a week beforehand, giving them a layout description if they haven’t visited lately, and also reminding them of anything especially relevant. For my upcoming session, for example, being in September, I will send them a link to a recent post about operating the layout during peak harvest season (that post is at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2025/08/operations-for-peak-harvest-season.html ).

As I mentioned above, normally before op sessions I do most or all of these tasks from embedded memory, but from time to time I have printed it out again to make sure I get everything done for the session. I always want the layout to operate as well as it can, following the vision I have of how it ought to perform.

Tony Thompson