Train Operations on the Pokey
When I first began planning the n-scale version of the Pokey I had envisioned running long coal trains from Williamson south towards Bluefield. The size of my basement sent those ideas to the garbage heap. After careful research on the internet, contact with various helpful railfans and reading all I could on NS train operations in this region I discovered that coal is sent both north and south along the Pocahontas Division. In order to duplicate the north/south coal traffic and the various intermodal, grain and merchandise trains I decided to model only a small area of the division. Thus, I settled on Iaeger, Auville Yard and coal operations on the Dry Fork Branch.
Iaeger lies about midway between Williamson and Bluefield. My staging yard will represent north-south traffic to and from these two points. After choosing Iaeger as the showcase of the layout, I added a portion of the Dry Fork Branch because there are several large loaders which could be accurately reproduced and at the same time add interest to operating sessions. Coal trains from the Dry Fork Branch will be handled by the massive Y-6a, Geeps, or the new SD-60's. Run through freights will see GP-9's, SD-9's, SD-45's, SD-40's, GP-60's or Alco products like RS-3's, RS-11's, RSD-12's or even some GE C-30's.
There will also be some local switching around Iaeger, there are two small coal loaders just outside of town and two local industries. The local will be handled by either an SW-9, Geeps or Alco road switchers. My road power will of course depend on which era I happen to be running on operating nights.
I envision having an operating crew of at least two or three persons. One will handle the Dry Fork operations, the others, trains running north and south from the staging yard. Switching around Iaeger can be handled by one of the road engineers. The layout can also be handled by a one person crew if need be. I expect that operating the trains on the Dry Fork Branch will be the most desired assignment on the Pokey. These trains will have to back down the branch as in the prototype and the crews will have to stop and flag the train as it crosses over the local highway several times.
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