HA!! I finally did it. I was able to let trains run and even switched out a few cars while I had guests to show. My cousin and his GF came down to my lair the other day as I was just about to wire in a block for my coal yard spur, (yes I’m still blocking), and wanted to see what I was up to. I had my newly tuned Athearn GP-9 leading it’s dummy counterpart and about 8-9 cars. It went around and around without a single glitch. The only oopps I had was when I tried to back through a switch that I had over run and the train started to jack knife. But I stopped it and pulled it back through and don’t you know that last car popped right back on the rails, never had to get out of my seat.
But this show I put on for my cousin made me think about why we always have so many problems running trains when there’s guests you’re trying to show off too. Here’s my theory, I think that when you’re by yourself you are less distracted and you can line up your switches and block power to do what you need it to do. But what I found with my cousin there was that it is VERY distracting to try and do those things when you’re talking with someone or even trying to explain what you’re doing at the time. Ooooops, one missed switch or one block on the wrong cab and everything goes to heck in a hand bag, quick.
So, could it be that “The Curse” is only basic distraction by your onlookers and not a hex that we all believe in that cause our railways to embarrass us when we’re trying to show people all that we’ve worked so hard on??
Questions, Comments???
Cogratulations. I still believe in Murphy’s law, but thet last time I had an open house the problem lay in two turnout I had mislabeled. That was distraction. I think that having guests is a learned art and I am still learning. Looks like you have learned a lot.
Hi AR: I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head. I’ve had a few almost identical experiences. Distraction and haste = instant derailment. I’ve also found that if you let your guest run a train and you assume the role of switchman, things generally run pretty smooth. Good observation!
Grampys, that is a good obersvation. Most guests only want to run trains anyhow To the average visiter with little to no modeling experiance the other work associated with operating isn’t nearly as exciting as holding the throttle and moving the train around the layout. Taking over as conductor/switchman is a great idea.
Must be nice! I just had family in from California. Spent 2 days cleaning track and loco wheels and doing maintenance and had it all running perfect…till my guest arrived…[banghead]
Stutters, stalls, derailments. The whole nine yards!
My uncle had trains when he was younger. he just laughed and said-“You know they never run right when someone else is watching!”[(-D]
All this sounds soooo familiar.
Congratulations on the successful ops session! [tup]
It is quite a challenge to run the trains with guests and have it all run smoothly, Mr. Murphy likes to show up unannounced at the drop of a hat!
Glad to hear you had an (almost) perfect first session! If you suffered a derailment because you were distracted or preoccupied, your operations may be more prototypically accurate than you realize [;)]
Jamie