At the beginning of June, we held the 2025 edition of our regional operating event, WOOPS (Western Oregon OPerationS). This was a three-day event with guest operators operating on at least one area layout a day. We had several bonus sessions during a couple of evenings plus before the main event. We also arranged layout tours on the Friday evening. A banquet was held Saturday evening for our guest operators and hosting crew. We had sixty operating slots each of the three days and were blessed with rapid response to our initial invitation message, filling those sixty slots in less than a week.
My SP Cascade Line held operating sessions on Friday, June 6, and Sunday, June 8. Friday evening and Saturday were filled for me with re-staging for the Sunday operation, completing a task in 24 hours that I normally take four or so days to accomplish for normal operations. The first session, reported herein, was the tenth anniversary of the first operating session held on the full mainline as I built my railroad toward display and operations for the PDX2015 NMRA National Convention in Portland. I have come far since then!
I hosted seventeen guest operators for both of my WOOPS sessions. I was supported by five of my regular operators for the first session. Herewith some images from the June 6, session.
Operators gather for the session. The social aspect is an important part of operating sessions!
Guest Bruce M. bravely took on the role of Dispatcher for the session.
Guests Scott B. and Michael B. worked the Eugene Arrival-Departure Yard.
Guest Al D. (gray shirt, center) served as Eugene Yardmaster. Norm B. (blue shirt, right) served as the Eugene East Switcher. Scott W. (plaid shirt, center) served as the Eugene West Switcher and also worked as the Eugene City Switcher. In the background, Clint E. rolls a mainline freight Eastbound into Eugene past the depot.
I caught local mentor John B. in the act of photography at Springfield. Mark G. (dark gray shirt) and George F. worked the Springfield-A Turn. This job switches industry on the backdrop side of the mainline at Springfield. Clint E. remains in the background with his EB freight rolling into Eugene.
Clint E. brings another freight into Oakridge where it will pick up helpers for the mountain climb. Local mentor crewman Jim L. (left) served as Assistant Chief Dispatcher and Crew Caller, helping keep the crews working—an important task with the large crew we had for the session. In the background, Phil K. works with an EB train working downhill through Cruzatte.
Group photo for the June 6, operating session.
I was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic, experienced, happy groups for both of my WOOPS sessions. I will report on the June 8, session in a separate posting.
