Operations

Example switch list shown in the image:

2 very tough things to understand:

1) a yellow note is important: Local means that move is local! Last Car means just that, keep it at the end, don't complain about the missing coupler!

2) a car is listed only on 1 row per list...so the destination (which means the place the car is heading to) is in the TO column in the row you picked the car up.

Numbers in the first column does not prescribe the order the cars are in, but tells you how many cars will be in your train when you leave. A negative number before the town's name tells how many cars to set out there. But, follow tough thing #2 to figure out which cars!

NoHMP means no-hump, and remember that...it is a long drive from the top of the hump back to the no-hump track, maybe plan ahead.

No need to pick the shortest straw out of a hat, you will be a yard guy half the session. As shown below with Part 1 and Part 2 for each of the 4 main operators, you will either get to a yard, or work hard to get out of the yard!

We use track warrants as obtained from the dispatcher on the other side of the Zello Push to Talk application on your smart phone. So please install that and bring a headset with a microphone included to reduce the echos. The ONLY thing that is required operating on the TxNamib, is that you try to pronounce the names of the towns, as they would in Namibia. Two rules making that easier: an 'a' is an 'ah', just like a Jamaican would say "a banana". Second rule, they pronounce ALL the letters. Except maybe the 'd' in Okahandja, which is silent and the "mund" in Swakopmund, which might just be missing when we are lazy. See, now you are fluent in Namibian!!!

We also draw numbers from a hat to determine who wants the hardest job, well, whatever you draw, that is the job you are going to do, we just want to see who is the most willing, so don't be last!

Operator #1:

Part 1:

Train #004, Windhoek to Walvisbaai, mixed freight: Ready to depart

  • Depart from WDH Intermodal track #1

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Pull into WVB engine facility, local switcher will remove cars

Train #411, Walvisbaai to Windhoek, loaded coal: WVB preparing

  • Same #004 engines, couple to cars on Departure track

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Deliver coal to Van Eck power plant, back track, uncouple engines

Uber to Hump Yard (Engines do not go across hump and cars are not delivered into bottom)

  • Arrived at 06:00, #001 Keetmanshoop to Windhoek, 5 to 8 cars need to be humped

Train #121, Hump

(Train #421 Arrives from Walvisbaai)

Train #131 Hump #421’s cars

(Train #701 Arrives from Outjo)


Part 2:

Train #158 from Hump track #5

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Use track #4 passing through Kranzberg

  • Left hand running in Helix



Operator #2:

Part 1:

Train #701 from Outjo to Windhoek (3 local moves in Outjo)

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Left hand running leaving Otjiwarongo on siding

  • Left hand running between Omaruru and Kranzberg


Part 2:

Run Hump yard to deliver Train #701 cars

Train #151, Hump



Operator #3:

Part 1:

Train #104 from Windhoek to Walvisbaai, leave WDH after #001

  • Cars in Hump yard track #5 or #6, also need to pick a no-hump autorack car up before leaving

  • Keep the mainline clear for the #411 train from WVB

  • Pull into WVB engine facility, local switcher will remove cars

Part 2:

WVB: Deliver #104’s cars

Continue WVB yard work for Train #479 and #481

(Train #064 arrives, pull cars off arrival track and deliver)


Operator #4:

Part 1:

Prepare Loaded Coal to Departure track for #411

Move red Intermodal cars

(Train #004 arrives, pull cars off arrival track)

(Train #411 leaves)

Train #404 local switching

  • Deliver #004 cars

  • Build train #457


Train #414 local switching

  • build Train #479 until #104 arrive

(Train #104 arrives, pull cars off arrival track)


Part 2:

Train #457

  • use #104’s engines

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Left hand running in Helix



Operator #5 (when present):

Train #421, Walvisbaai, track 6, to Windhoek

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • One delivery in Swakopmund


Train #064 KMH->WVB

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Depart from WDH Intermodal track #2


Train #479 WVB->TSU

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Stop in Otavi(OTV) after GFT+TSU split


Train #481 WVB->WDH

  • Request track warrants from Dispatcher

  • Deliver to WDH Intermodal track