For Operators

 Blelow operators of the Clearwater Pacific can find links to relevant documents required for railroad operation.

Operations

Operations on the Clearwater Pacific Railway begin with the railroad already in motion. Each session reflects a continuation of prior activity rather than a reset, with conditions shaped before the crew takes control. This state-based method opens up more flexible operations as the state of the railroad, not a timetable or schedule determine how the railroad is run. 

Daily operations consist of three distinct phases of operation. C-LOC-201(Morning Tramp) is the backbone of the railroad.  This train covers the entire railroad and is responsible for working the BNSF interchange from the night before, ensuring that Clearwater North traffic is dropped off and KS interchange dealt with and seeing that the needs of all customers in the Clearwater area are being met. SCN-001 (Clearwater North Switcher) is based in the Port of Clearwater North and is solely responsible for all work in that area. Its duty is to ensure that any interchange from both the KS and BNSF are dealt with and that the two customers in its service area are switched. The 001 also ensures any traffic headed west is prepared and set out for later pick up. C-LOC-202 (Afternoon Local)  again covers all of Clearwater, pulls any traffic from Clearwater North, works Clearwater proper and prepares the BNSF interchange for the evening pick up. The last thing done is to ensure the railroad is ready for it's next day of operations. 

This set up allows for multiple simultaneous operations if the crew size dictates. It also means a solo operator can work the the entire railroad for the whole day for just a single car move. This flexibility of state-based operation set the Clearwater Industrial apart from many operating layouts. 

Railroad Standards

For Bulletproof Operations as espoused by Don Irace, standardization is the key. The CSLP has adopted this idea with gusto to that end the following are standards on the line. You can find our full car roster HERE.

Car Weight: NMRA Standards or close as we can reasonably come. Every car is weighed and if found wanting brought up to weight if feasible. 

Couplers: The standard coupler of the CLSP is the Kadee #148. We appreciate the simplicity of the design and ease of procurement and installation. 

Wheels: Metal wheels are standard. Wheelsets are Walther's Proto 33 all metal wheels. 

Curves: All curves on the CSLP are 18" radius and maximum car length is 55'. These limitations reflect the industrial area we are recreating. 

DCC: The layout uses an NCE Power Cab and all locomotives are sound equipped.