Operations Council Meeting Summary

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2026 Time: 12:30 PM – 1:05 PM Attendees: 15 members Chaired by: Bob

Financial Report

Interior track ~1 day from done (Bill finishing). Roof 70–80% complete, aiming to finish that day; exterior being repainted. Still to come: windows, front doors, front siding, and paneling the interior rear wall (studs currently visible from the track). Smokestacks will be built; Robert may do some solar-powered interior lighting and sound.

Curve switch complete with kick switch installed — transport-out switch pending Bruce’s return. Final switches layout laid out this afternoon. Two new tracks still need grading/base rock and leveling before track can be laid. The October target may not be fully achieved.
Turntable connection (Bruce? — pending return): We will install a wood header on top of the brick retaining wall, with yard tracks mounted on top.

Design/development phase complete (with Train Mountain’s signal gurus + a local board designer). Quote obtained from a Chinese manufacturer for proof-of-concept boards; funding request submitted to the board and reviewed immediately after this meeting. Expects boards by ~Sept 1, to be tested at Train Mountain over Ed’s break there; work resumes late September here. Goal: prove the concept before year-end.

Still stuck awaiting parts. Wheels already replaced on the riding car; the outstanding issue is the transmission and speeder’s wheels.

Final sign-off done with Ed on yard length signs; Google Sheet updated. Minor yield-sign modifications. Will build prototypes of three designs (length signs, mile markers, yield sign) for final sign-off with Bill, then proceed. Mile markers already installed railroad-wide.

Heavy prep for the first-time ops meet. Ed has inventoried all on-site cars (PV&A-owned, member-owned by car type), is defining industries per car type, and is creating waybills for car movements. ~39 cars available today; target ~60 — Ed is soliciting additional cars from members.

Converting six remaining wooden-tie switches to plastic ties — replacing points and re-gauging any out-of-gauge switches — and continuing remote/kick remote/local conversions. Spreadsheet ~70% done (30% remaining includes Rabbit Flat). One locked, unused switch in the Caboose Camp yard remains to be regauged.

Robert and Marty have started recruiting; work week runs Saturday Nov 7 through Friday Nov 13. The first weekend is critical — a show of hands was taken.
Please complete the invite RSVP form so organizers can plan days, meals, and headcount.
Larger vision floated by Bob (speculative, not agreed): rework from the spillway up to the old high bridge, including single-tracking the tunnel and possibly converting the Midway spur into the Midway siding. Much prep can be done in advance, but the job could take the railroad down for most of November if we bite off too much. Consensus: convert the wooden switches first, and define “chunkable” projects that can be started and finished cleanly.

Water pipe break: an unshut break erodes our water supply fast. A new main electronic shutoff valve is on the side of the signal box — flip the switch to cut water. The 2” line runs far, so flow continues briefly after shutoff. Everyone must know where it is.
Fire — fight it, don’t stand down: misinformed “do not fight fires” signs have been taken down. Grass fires are easy to knock down early — stomp them, use hand tools, water-pressure stations, or backpack pumps; hoses reach far but can tire you out. Sprinklers can help if in the correct position (don’t run six at once — pressure drops; use a single selective sprinkler). Attack from the burn side. Send someone to the front gate to direct the fire department.
Snakes: high season — rattlesnakes seen (one under the RF picnic table). Take care moving anything left lying out. Please do not harm them, they eat gophers.
Run-day sprinkling: no longer routine now that grass is mowed back, but the system stays available for hot/windy/high-hazard days —check on its use if in doubt.
Radios: mandatory on an engine; carrying one always is encouraged — you’re part of the fire/relay chain. (Radios donated by Robert.)

Date	Event	Notes
August	—	Nothing planned.
September	Tri Club Meet	Bob and Mike to begin planning.
October	Operations Meet	Ed organizing; needs ~60 cars.
Nov 7–13	Work Week	RSVP form out; first weekend critical.

If the spillway-to-high bridge rework proceeds, is a November & December-long shutdown acceptable?
·Roundhouse/elevation sign numbering scheme (route names) — to be resolved with Steve.

Meeting Adjourned 1:06PM