Initial Set Up

1. Locate each locomotive at the yard desired.
   • Distribute the locomotive pockets for each locomotive to the yard at which it is located and place them on the shelf provided.
2. Locate each piece of rolling stock as desired.
   • Distribute cards and pouches for each piece to the yard at which it is located and place them in the ‘Unassigned wagons’ pocket.

The Trains

The following lists the usual makeup of trains but this can be changed at short notice by authority of the Principle Operator.

Passenger Trains

Melbourne Coastal Express (southbound)

42 Class, RUB set

Sydney Coastal Express (northbound)

42 Class, RUB set

South Coast Paper

36 Class, LLV, BS, BS, FS, FS, MHO

South Coast Milk

36 Class, BMT, BS, BS, FS, FS, MHO

Illawarra Commuter

30 or 41 Class, FO, FOor620/720

Mine Commuter

CPH, CTH or Climax, CCA

Coupling Rules

• On KVHR the following couplers are imagined:
  
  1. All steam locomotives are imagined as fitted with link couplers.
  2. All diesel locomotives are fitted auto couplers front and back.
  3. All goods wagons, except S wagons, are fitted with auto couplers.
  4. S wagons and guards vans are fitted with transition couplers, allowing them to link to both auto and link couplers.

Load allocation

Loads are allocated as follows:-

1. Take the topmost goods load card and search the pouches of the available wagons for one that is of the required type. (i.e. if the goods load card specifies an ‘S’ wagon then the yardmaster must search the ‘Available Wagons’ pocket for an ‘S’ wagon.)
   

Marshalling Rules

Passenger trains

Most passenger trains on KVHR are hauled by steam locomotives. (In 1955 very few trains were powered by diesel locomotives.) If marshalled in accordance with ‘The Trains’ list, no consideration needs to be given to weight or speed.

Goods trains

The sequence of marshalling is as follows:-

1. Allocate loads to available wagons
2. Where applicable, place loads into any open wagons.
3. Determine the destination of each wagon.
4. Marshal trains in accordance with the ‘Marshalling Rules’

Train Control Procedure (Five or more Operators)

• The Principal Operator (PO) has overall management responsibility for the session. He will issue Train Order Cards at his discretion when he feels the next train can be safely prepared and run.
• The PO will issue a Train Order Card to the Yardmaster of the yard in which the train originates.
  

Train Control Procedure (Three or Four Operators)

(With three or four operators the Yardmasters will become drivers and vice versa as appropriate.)

• Train Order Cards are placed in sequence, in a pile near the centre of the front control panel. Each Yardmaster, when he is ready for his next task inspects the pile and if the origin of the next train is his yard he takes the card. If the top card is for another yard, the Yardmaster must wait until it is taken.
  

Train Orders

Overview

All train movements on KVHR are controlled by Train Orders. These are issued in accordance with the rules issued below and authorise the holder to take a train from one yard to another. In the normal course of events these are issued in a set operational sequence.

Equipment

Train Order Cards

These are red cards that permit a train movement. They detail the number and name of the train, its direction (north, south or branch), its origin and its terminus.

Operators

Many operators can be used on KVHR. Good operation requires a minimum of three operators. Operators include drivers (mainline and shunting) and yard masters (Sydney, Melbourne, Kangaroo Valley and Nowra). When there are five or more operators available, a controller (often called the Increasingly Fat Controller) is appointed. A practical maximum number of operators is five drivers, three yard masters and the controller.

Geographical Description

Despite first appearances, KVHR is intended to operate in a point-to-point manner. In general trains run from Sydney through Kangaroo Valley and onward on the mainline to Melbourne or on the branchline to Nowra (and the reverse). There is a loop running capability, but this is more intended for trains to be run in or to allow for those trains, such as loaded coal trains, that always run in the same direction.