Operating Brookmere yard
INSTRUCTIONS for the Brookmere Yard Master Role
jump to Brookmere Yard Lineup Click Here
jump to Rid Codes Click Here
This assignment involves "The Little Yard that Could" generally provides lots of entertainment in a small space. This yard can create a "Choke Point" for the whole operating session.
The BROOKMERE YARD MASTER ROLE You will:
This is a full time job which will keep you occupied throughout the operating session.
For each formal operating session, there is a line up sheet posted on the facia specifically prepared for Brookmere yard so the yard master knows what trains are expected at what [Fast Clock] time.
Instructions for trains needing special attention or special cars to be switched are highlighted in Yellow. (A sample can be found on Page 5 of these instructions)
The Brookmere Yard has a few "On Company Service" [OCS] locations where Coal, Oil and Railroad supplies may be spotted or lifted.
There are no other industry spots presently modelled in Brookmere Yard.
CAR CARD / Waybill Pockets are located on the facia to your right as you face the yard. Waybills and Car Cards for Brookmere OCS traffic can be found in the Caboose Track Card bin.
BROOKMERE TRACK PLAN  Click to enlarge |
Examination of the track plan will show that while there is a siding, it is not used for meets, but to provide storage for westbound and eastbound cars before they are added to the through freights. The storage tracks behind the station all have pre-assigned functions. Details of track assignments can be found on the control Panel and on page 6 of this instruction. Train crews are not to leave any station before entering Brookmere yard until they have checked in with the yard master and made sure that their train can be accommodated. |
When a train is due [Check lineup and keep an eye on the Fast Clock],
The best place to have the Brookmere Switcher is on the yard lead near where the rear of the incoming train will stop.
Often the only way to get to the required end of the yard is to use the Main Track, because the storage and passing tracks are usually occupied.
Brookmere Yard “Line Up” lists all trains both those on the time table and planned extra trains.
Sample can be found Click Here
Upon a freight train's arrival the yard master first should examine the waybills for the cars and cargo on that train, The Train crew will have these. Please return the updated set before departure.
Using RID [Rapid IDentification] codes and destination information on the waybills/car cards, the yard master should identify what cars are to be left at Brookmere to be marshalled into other trains. Then take appropriate steps to remove them. An equivalent number of cars can be added to the front of the train by the road crew the number of cars to be added should be specified by the YM
a list or RID CODE and Map showing their Geographic location. Click Here
Freight and Mixed Train maximum car count includes caboose and passenger cars.
- Westward trains for the Coquihalla sub division should not exceed 14 cars
- Westward trains for Merritt or Spence's Bridge should not exceed 12 cars
- Eastward trains heading towards the helix should not exceed 16 cars.
Passenger trains sometimes have tail end cars added or dropped at Brookmere,
Check the Lineup sheet and consult with the train crew in case special instructions have been issued.
Way-freights will originate and/or terminate at Brookmere.
When coming on duty at the start of the operating session, The Yard Master can expect to find in Brookmere Yard:
- WAYFREIGHTS ready at start of Session.
- An extra west "The Logger" which operates over the Coquihalla Sub and returns. As it leaves Brookmere Yard this train consists of a Locomotive and a Caboose. This can usually be found on a Turntable lead or the Coaling/Sand tower track.
- A Westward Way Freight for the Merritt Sub with a Locomotive and up to twelve Cars including caboose usually found on storage Track 1.
- On Mondays Wednesdays, and Fridays, a Westward way freight for the Coquihalla Sub-Division with locomotive several cars and Caboose found on Storage track 3.
A good first Job for the Yard master is to check the Car Cards against the Rolling stock in the yard. This provides some orientation of both track locations and their purpose.
TRAINS TO MAKE UP DURING THE SESSION:
Later in the session you can expect to marshall a scheduled west Bound Way Freight the Mixed train Number 805 with a combine plus a Caboose or A special caboose for Merritt-Nicola and Spence's Bridge.
Towards the end of a session, there is an regular extra Eastward Princeton turn is to be marshalled and made ready for departure. The cars for this train are spotted on Storage Track 2.
HINT: Shortly after the Passenger trains 11 & 12 depart Brookmere, the Merritt Spence's Bridge Mixed train Number 805 will depart from Storage Track number 1 immediately behind the station. Management strongly suggest that this track be kept clear for the returning Nicola Turn which normally leaves Merritt as soon as Number 805 arrives at Merritt.
AUTHORITY to operate a train Leaving Brookmere:
All trains departing Brookmere must have a clearance and train orders as dictated by the dispatcher and issued by a Station Operator.
The assembly of these orders and clearance is the responsibility of the Brookmere Station agent or the Terminals Operator.
For Scheduled Through Freight and passenger trains orders will be issued by the "Terminals" Station Operator - inside the Helix.
Through trains will already have orders and clearances from their originating station.
A train should only leave Brookmere after it has orders, clearances, Way bills and Car Cars, a train instruction clip board and the permission of the Yard Master.
BLOCKING TRAINS BEFORE ARRIVAL:
Do not be shy about having trains wait to enter your yard [Within Reason].
To make Brookmere yard more efficient all pre-staged trains are pre-blocked so cars to be set off at Brookmere for switching and forwarding to their destinations are marshalled at the rear of the train.
Before arriving at Brookmere, way-freight crews are expected to marshall their consists in a prescribed order as described in their train instructions.
This essential to ensure the timely and efficient handing of the way-freight consist where cars are usually switched to one of five accumulating tracks.
HISTORY:
| Brookmere was a Division Point on the Kettle Valley Railway.
At a Division Point trains were switched, crews were changed, and authority to run in the form of new Train Orders and Clearances to proceed into the next sub division were issued. Brookmere Station served Three Sub Divisions of the Kettle Valley Railway.
|
 Map copyright Robert Turner used with permission. |
list of the RID CODES, TRACK assignments, and RID CODE MAPClick Here
BROOKMERE as IMPLEMENTED on the COQUIHALLA VALLEY RAILWAY
In order to keep the Train control paperwork to a manageable level on the CQVR, Brookmere is not defined on the time Table as a Division Point.
This means that one set of Train Orders issued at Odlum or Manning is sufficient authority for that train to operate over the Coquihalla Sub Division.
As Brookmere is not operated as a Division Point, the station will have Train order signals.
The provisioning of Train Orders, Clearances and other paper work is the responsibility of the Brookmere Station Agent/Operator who is 15 feet to your left - look up at the ceiling for paper sign. Almost every train that passes Brookmere is usually subject to switching activity before proceeding.
On the Coquihalla Valley Railway, while the track arrangement in yard at Brookmere is accurate for the number and arrangement of tracks, It has only about 30% of the capacity of the prototype yard... Add to this an increased number of trains, and an increased the train frequency to keep other operating session participants pleasantly engaged, you can anticipate that the role of the Brookmere Yard Master is a busy job which tends to get busier as the session progresses.
Coquihalla Valley Railway TRAIN LINE UP at Brookmere for Friday 23 Sept. 1955
| Direction | Destination | Location | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points west | Cars destined for Ruby Creek, Mission, Huntington, and Vancouver, | These are left on the west end (Left side) of the Brookmere siding. | 300's |
| Pentiction points east |
Cars for Midway, Grand Forks, Nelson, Train, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Crowsnest, and eastern Canada / US | Should be left on the east end (Right hand side) of the Brookmere siding. | 000-100, 400's and 900's |
| Princton sub | Cars for way freight (Princeton, Thelia, Manning, Tulameen, Coalmont, Copper Mountain) | are spotted in Storage track 2 of Brookmere yard. | 500s. |
| Coquihalla Sub |
Cars for (Juliet, Coquihalla, Iago, Portia, Othello, Hope, CNR Hope Interchange) | are spotted on Storage Track 3 of Brookmere yard | 200s |
| Merritt Sub | Cars for Kingsvale, Merritt, Middleboro, and Nicola | are spotted on Storage Track 1 of Brookmere yard | 600’s and 700’s |
| west of Merritt |
CQVR unmodelled stations at Coyle, Spius Creek, Canford, Dot, Clapperton, Spence’s Bridge Canadian Pacific Railway East of Spence’s Bridge, including:- Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, Golden, Field, Calgary The British Columbia Southern railway. Capilano Western Railway Pacific Great Eastern | These are all spotted on Storage Track 1 of Brookmere Yard behind the Station | 800’s |
