While we are talking about operations in a model railroad context I think it might be worthwhile to define what a model railway is. I’ll state the following:

“A model railroad layout is a model of a railroad, real or fictitious, that aims to reproduce the trains, track and other infrastructure and an operating plan to make it all work together for the owner and other operators in a logical and prototypical way.”

By this, I mean that you can own a plywood central-style layout (plywood surface, track and a few tin cans and cereal boxes to fill in for the industries) and yet still have a model railroad. This may seem wrong to those who need scenery to feel a model is complete. However, look at it from an operating perspective by answering the following questions.

1. Are shippers and consignees serviced regularly?
2. Is there a working operations plan in place?
3. Do trains run according to the operating plan?
4. Are the users (train crews, dispatchers, signallers, etc) happy with their experience of operating the layout?

If you get a YES to at least 3 out of the four questions then you have a model of a railroad, shortened to model railroad for clarity.

A “model railroad” does not need to be scenically complete to be functional. When I last visited David Barrow’s Cat Mountain and Santa Fé (CM&SF) it was a 24-foot by 36-foot plywood central with architectural models and photos of industries. There was little scenery. That scenery, however, was evocative of the area and time frame for the railroad modelled. The operating scheme for the railroad was fully in place.

This allowed assigned crews to get to work with their trains and fulfil the train’s role according to the operations plan. Once that ‘job’ was finished the crew could (if work was available) start another job or take a break before their next job.

Read on for more information in the next section – 106 – Ops Criteria.

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