Working on the B and O

I recently got invited to an operating session at Dave Parks's Western Maryland/Baltimore and Ohio layout. David's layout is huge, and can take a crew of 10-15 to operate properly. My job this time was to be in charge of Evitts Creek yard, a mixed freight yard just outside of Cumberland, Ohio. On David's layout, this is the main place for trains to get sorted. Because Dave's layout is primarily a coal hauler (and coal trains get handled at coal-only yards), that meant I didn't always have a ton of work to do. Luckily, I brought my camera to capture some candid photos of life during an operating session.


Coal train passes through Evitts Creek yard.


Switching in Cumberland


I don't know what Jim Betz did, but I'm very scared.


Steve Williams, dispatcher, looks at the train sheet to figure out which train is leaving next.