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Sierra, El Paso & Northeastern

Operation Philosophy

Design

In spite of the usual space constraints, the railroad attempts to prototypically model the SP mainline between Vaughn, NM and El Paso, TX with a mid-50’s look and feel.   Key points are: 

• Vaughn has an interchange track between the ATSF and SP yards.   The ATSF has an earthen fly-over the SP mainline southwest of Vaughn.
• El Paso is bordered on the west by the Rio Grande River with the SP having two bridges that span the river.    A large smelting operation and cement plant along the river are served by the ATSF.
• The SP’s Dallas Street Yard was the main facility for routing cars west to the Pacific Coast; east to San Antonio and New Orleans; and north to Kansas City and Chicago.  The railroad also serves the Swift meat packing operation in El Paso.
• El Paso Union Station served the ATSF, T&P and SP and was a well-known landmark until the end of passenger service by these railroads.
• A&SM branch line between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft.
• CF&I siding representing the branch line to Jarilla at Seminole.

Between Vaughn and El Paso, the towns of Ancho, Capitan, Alamogordo and Seminole exist and are modeled (with some artistic license) as they were in the mid-50’s.    

Situation 

Often mainlines could be washed out by flash floods in the 50’s: I can personally attest to such an experience.   The operation will mimic such an occurrence for the ATSF so that some of its trains are being routed over the SP to reach El Paso.  

Train Movement 

Train movement is controlled by Train Order.   Time Table operation will consist of two fast freights and two mail trains. All other trains operate under train order.  A dispatcher (DS) will manage the operation, which will consist of fourteen trains during the operating session.  The DS is a typical ornery son-of-a-gun: a continuous stream of verbal banter is always on-going. 

Operating Scheme 

Car movement on the Sierra Central is based on the car cycle concept using computer-based technology.   An Excel spreadsheet is used to generate the following paperwork: 

·         Switch list of the originating train

·         Station agent’s list (at each town) that specifies cars to be picked up by specific trains, cars that are priority moves, and other cars that can be picked up by any train.

·         Yard list for the ATSF switching assignment at Smelter Town

·         Yard list for the Dallas Street Yardmaster 

Train crews will consult with the station agent to determine cars that are available for pick-up.  Prior to departure, all cars that are picked up will be manually added the train’s switch list by the crew. 

Trains

The following trains will be run during the operating session: 

·         Trains 39 and 40 which are the 1^st class mail trains with pick-ups and set outs along the way.

·         Trains 991 and 992 are 2^nd class reefer trains.  991 is basically a through train; 992 works Valley Produce in Alamogordo.

·         Hopper trains (run as extras) switch the mines at Seminole and Capitan, and Vaughn Coal in Alamogordo

·         Stock trains (run as extras) switche sidings in Alamogordo, Seminole and Vaughn

·         Alamogordo & Sacramento Mountain (turn) local switches the Southwestern Lumber and other industries in Alamogordo and returns to Cloudcroft.

·         Two local freights switch any of the towns between Vaughn and El Paso.

·         Diverted ATSF freights that only switch the Santa Fe industrial area in El Paso.  These trains will depart from Vaughn and return after switching American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) and Rio Grande Cement.

·         Sweeper which is a turn that starts in El Paso, runs to Vaughn and returns to El Paso.

·         ATSF Transfer which interchanges loaded and empty hopper cars between the SP Dallas Street Yard and ASARCO in Smelter Town.

Typical train lengths are eight cars, with the exception of the A&SM local and ATSF Transfer.  However, during the course of their run, extras will have a car count that can increase and decrease between towns. 

Uncoupling 

All uncoupling is achieved using a short bamboo stick, commonly referred to as a “pick.”.   For difficult to reach areas on the upper level, a step-up platform is provided.   Two sidings will require setting the couplers to a “delayed” position in order to spot the car correctly. 

Like the prototype, ONLY AN ENGINE CAN MOVE A CAR!  The railroad’s operations department frowns on those who choose to employ the old “pinky push” or “pick flick” to adjust car locations.  Continued use of unacceptable methods for car movement will result in increasingly louder admonishments by railroad management.  Ain’t none of y’all the Jolly Green Giant.