Concept

The concept for the C&NW came from the fertile mind of Bob Artim. In fact what you will see here was how he orginally envisioned NERR. The C&NW will operate in a fashion similar to a real railroad. After a short training period, engineers will be assigned to a work center where they will complete a contiguous string of short work orders comprising a day's work on the C&NW. Upon completion of each assignment additional options will be available. Here is an example of a days work on the C&NW.

It is Monday and you have reported to work at 7:00 AM. This work order is approximately one half hour in duration. c&nw-ada-c1-dc01m.act "Your starting out at the fueling area in the Ada Intermodal (IM) Yard. Dispatch will switch you out through the IM Yard to the main tracks so you can back down into the piers. Once you reach the piers your conductor will have to align switches for you. There are 8 tankers on Ada Holding #3. This job will require you to move the tankers to the spouts at Diamond Chemicals 1 & 2. Deliver 4 tankers to each siding to be filled with chemicals for the plant to process. When your done go to Riverside yard and dispatch will guide you to a string of hoppers for your next move."

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At 7:30 you commence the second portion of the day's work. Again this work order is approximately one half hour in duration. c&nw-ada-c1-dc02m.act In this work order you have to take your hopper consist up to the Diamond Chemicals Plant and break the string up into 3 parts and place 4 cars on each siding. When your finished head over to the Import Export Pier siding to get some boxcars for the next movement. Take a moment and enlarge the picture. You'll find the yard full since we are using car strings and notice the airliner in the upper right.

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At 8:00 AM part 3 begins and lasts about 40 minutes. c&nw-ada-c1-dc03m.act On this run you are taking the boxcars from Ada Import Export down to the Riverside Yard. There are some more boxes at the Ada Auto Piers that you will also need to add to your consist. In this pic you are just leaving the Ada Auto Piers with your consist. Notice the workers on the pier busily going about their business.

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At 8:40 AM you start part 4 of this day long series. This job lasts approximately 20 minutes. c&nw-ada-c1-dc04m.act First up you have to uncouple the load you just brought down. Then go over 3 tracks and grab the boxcars there and take them back up to Ada Import Export. The boxcars in the foreground are the ones that you need to switch in this work order. The tankers and hoppers are car strings. Wish that airliner would land already. Maybe that's another work order.

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At 9:25 you begin part 6 and it continues for the next 35 minutes.

First up you have to uncouple the load you just brought in. Then go to Diamond Chemicals plant and assemble the hoppers to take them to Riverside.

Part 7 begins at 10:00 AM and lasts for the next 35 minutes.

Uncouple from the train and then go to the next track and grab those hoppers. They are more empties for Diamond Chemical and are to be broken up in the same manner as the first set you took up. A set of 4 on each siding in Diamond Chemical in this order.

1. 4 on Diamond Chem Holding
2. Four on Diamond Chem Holding and Dry
3. Four on Diamond Chem Dry

After dropping the hoppers off head over to Diamond Chemical Piers to gather up the tankers.

At 10:35 AM part 8 starts. This part runs for approximately 40 minutes.

Get the rest of the tankers here at the pier and the ones in holding and take them up to Diamond Chemicals plant. Put 8 on each siding in the tanker area.

Orders:
1. Put 8 tankers on DC Tanker
2. Put 8 tankers on DC Tanker
3. When done go to Diamond Chemical Holding and stop.

This should be sufficient to give you an idea of the type of work being accomplished. Days vary in length from as short as four hours to 8+ hours. This is in keeping with real world railroad practice.

Notice that each work order is fairly short in length. This has been done on purpose. We have heard the membership of other VR's realize that some engineers enjoy long work orders while many prefer shorter work orders.

Management felt that it was important to keep work order length short to minimize the need for saves and/or having to come back another day to complete a work order thus forcing you to try and remember where you were. Most engineers can invest 30 - 40 minutes at a time. In addition, the shorter work order provides a sense of completion and accomplishment while the longer day addresses the desires of those that prefer long work orders. We believe that we have reached a balance that will enhance the play of all engineers.

When complete you will report each work order individually and you will receive credit for the time posted with the work order. It is not critical that you complete each work order in the exact time allotted. Some of you may finish early and some may run over. Because we are running on a tight schedule the following work order will commence at the appointed time no matter how much time you may invest in it's completion.

We hope that you will enjoy working with us at the Cascade & North Western.

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