Jim describes the car card system that is similar to the prototype; i.e. delivering empties to a requester and picking up loaded cars based on the content of the car. This applies to one car, multiple cars, or a complete train.

A pictoral and descriptive narrative on a typical operating session on Brian Morgan layout. Includes track plan. There is also a sidebar and his operating system. The article on page 62 of the same issue has Brian describing how he took digital photos and archived the operating session.

This introductory article discusses what switching is, how to uncouple cars, and how to deal with trailing point and facing point turnouts

Using hidden staging to automatically move a train forward delivering new cars once a set number of cars have been removed from the interchange track. It magically appears like the real foreign railroad delivered new cars.

Techniques the Model Railroader staff employs to maintain great operations. Covers smooth roadbed, trackplanning, wiring, coupler standards, leveling benchwork, keeping freight car rolling smoothly, planning for access, ballasting turnouts, and tuning commercial turnouts.

The article covers how the author built a magnetic tag display to visually show the distribution of motive power during an operating session.

The article introduces the concept of operations and how to get started in it. It covers mapping your railroad, industrial analysis, starting with a switch list, car cards and waybills, and boxes and shelves in which to store these car cards and waybills.

The author describes how he accomplishes operations on his layout. He has continuous staging so that trains can be re-used during a session, or have many sessions back-to-back.

This is the second installment on operations and deals with how to get the cars to the right places and move trains so they don't run into each other.

The author describes how he got into operations. Includes photos of his layout, and a trackplan of the 12' by 12' HO-scale layout.

An interesting switching puzzle, with the solution on the next page.

Creating paperwork for a small L-shaped switching layout and a small oval layout with three spurs.

The author followed prototype practices for operating his layout (featured in the August 1994 issue of Model Railroader). The article covers the research he did and has many photos of his layout.

Operate without watching the clock.

Describes how the author "added" operations to a small 6' x 13' HO-scale layout. He established a list of industries that need to be serviced by the rails and determined the flow of traffic. Based on that he developed a train schedule. He describes the Freight Car Card Forwarding System by Micro Mark and the wooden boxes he made to hold those cards.

The author presents a switching puzzle on his layout.

Detailed article on how to do operations: framework for operations, car destinations, waybills, basic switching, traffic control, timetables and train orders, CTC, track warrants, profit and loss.

Thoughts related to continuous restaging of complete trains.

A small switching puzzle (solution is offered on page 180).

Adding jobs for these types of operators to your operating session adds another level of authenticity to your session - immitating what was done in years past.

The article covers ideas the author has implemented on his layout to make operating sessions last longer and be more fun, even though the layout may be small. He discusses two-person crews, having operators create their switch lists, developing traffic and schedules, implementing switch locks, manual uncoupling, slowing down the fast clock, enforcing top speeds via DCC decoders, and adding sound.