Joe Kasper's BN Kaw Valley Division

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The Burlington Northern Kaw Valley Division features the BN mainline from Kansas City to Omaha, circa 1985. This large N-scale railroad, 45 by 25 feet, depicts modern, heavy power pulling stack trains, autoracks, TOFC and merchandise. here are 25+ trains, which include TOFC, Auto racks, Unit Coal, Manifest, and local switch jobs. The Railroad has just been raised in the past year, and a new Helix has been installed. The Railroad is Self-Staging so operations can continue past 24 hours if the crew and owner wants. The Railroad is fully signaled and the dispatcher controls the trains with a US&S style dispatching board.

Division or location: Kansas City to Omaha and Lincoln
Interchange Railroads: Iowa Interstate, Union Pacific, Santa Fe, Norfolk Southern
Owner: Joe Kasper
Size of Railroad: 45’ by 25’
Scale: N
Era: 1980’s
Throttle system: Rail Command
Scale Clock Speed: 6:1
Length of Session: 24 hours (fast time)
Number of Crew: 14
Train Control: CTC signaled, US&S Dispatcher Board, and Radio Communications. Radio’s required
Listed Jobs: Dispatcher, YardMaster with 3 yard switcher’s, South Council Bluffs Yard Master, Riverside switcher, 7 Road/Switch crews.

Joe sez:
I chose the name Kaw Valley Division because I model two divisions of the BN, the Kansas City Division and the Nebraska Division. Set in 1988, the railroad runs east from Omaha on the Napier sub and Lincoln on the St. Joseph sub and the two meet at Napier. From here you pass the very busy Riverside job before entering Murray Yard, the focal point of the layout.

Located in North Kansas City, Murray Yard requires three switching crews and a yard master to keep things moving. I'm pleased to note that upon completion of Murray Yard the BNSF chose to copy me and remove their hump also. Trains leaving Murray enter a 16 track staging yard representing Springfield, MO, Tulsa, OK, and the KC Terminal traffic.

We run a variety of trains; intermodal, expediter, through freight, coal, transfers and locals. Two locals, 15606 out of Omaha and 15605 out of KC, service the Napier sub at the towns of Hamburg and McPaul. The junction at Napier is serviced by 91850, a turn out of KC.

For anyone who is anti-social, the railroad has the town of South Council Bluffs. This branch begins at C.B. Junction, located between McPaul and Hamburg and is all yard limits. No radio, very little dispatcher communication and no one to tell you what to do! In fact, I don't care what you do up there! There is plenty of switching to do and trains run as needed to and from the yard.

All of this action is accomplished through a dispatcher utilizing a US&S style CTC panel and searchlight trackside signals. Yes, even the Napier sub is signalled. I got tired of all the radio chatter. The railroad occupies a 45 x 25 room and requires a total crew of 14. We use Rail Command, with tethered and wireless throttles, and radio communication.

For anyone who has not been here since July 2003, Riverside is now mostly scenicked.

For those interested, the signalling system is the CMRI from Bruce Chubb. I use the distributed serial option with four nodes. The largest node is located at the CTC panel. That node is twice the size
of the other nodes due to all the lights and switches in the panel. The trackside signals are from Sunrise. They even custom made several for me. The programming is done through Quick Basic 4.5 and is so easy to use and make changes. I've modified the program at least 20 times to suit my mood or adjust to the crews needs.

Operating positions:

	Yard Master This job requires a radio and you get your own chair and clip board. You must steer your three switch jobs, Ustick, Bowl and Bum in the right direction to keep things moving. Controls at each end of the yard prevent movement in and out of the yard without permission from you and the dispatcher. Communication with the road crews is also required to direct them to their yard track assignment. The auto ramp and car shop must also get worked during the session. See the Yard Master doc for more information. Extra trains will be called when necessary. Don't get yourself plugged!
	Ustick Job Usually assigned to breakdown Murray blocks of cars. You must love sorting cars to take this job. Yard Master may assign other duties if you have the time. No radio required.
	Bowl Job Usually assigned to build and block trains outbound. Expect to do more.
	Bum Job Works the intermodal tracks sorting the high priorty trains 21, 22, 50, 51, X05 and X06 first and then working the auto ramp cars. Expect to do more.
	Dispatcher You must be familiar with US&S style CTC panel operation. Train crews will be assigned by you when you can take them. You will also control the track routing in and out of staging through the use of three rotary matrix panels mounted on either side of the CTC panel (see the web picture). Always check with road crews for Riverside setouts in their trains. These must be made from Main 1. Riverside will let you know if there are cars to be brought to Murray Yard. All train movements are protected against collision by the CTC machine. Any attempt at a conflict will be met with by an audible tone for all to here (DFU). This tone is really to let you know you can't do what you are trying to do. A train sheet is provided to log train movements but is not required.
	Riverside Job This is a total embellishment on my part. The real Riverside is not this busy or fun. You are responsible for all industries between Clarke and Block 4 (27 industries with 105 car spots). Communication is critical between you and the dispatcher at all times. You are required to work both sides of a double track mainline while working with mainline trains that are setting out and picking up cars with you. Don't worry, this job is never done so don't expect to get done. Radio required.
	South Council Bluffs Yard Master job that works all industries in S. Council Bluffs down to C.B. Junction. You originate train 238 (possibly 2nd 238) and receive train 237 and 2nd 237. Watch everyone else sweat and stress out while you enjoy peaceful switching. No radio required.

About the layout host:
Joe Kasper is married to Theresa (Director of Food and Entertainment), father of four that he'll admit to (Katie, JJ, Ben and Rachel), stepfather to three (Nick, Tracy and Ben) and food provider of a dog (Blackie). Joe works for GE Medical and is addicted to video games. Still waiting for J-Lo to call after dumping Ben Affleck.

Layout photos (click on thumbnail to enlarge):

Here is a special photo gallery made specially for Joe's Mom. Now, I don't know Joe's Mom, but she must be one special lady to sew all these curtains for Joe.
THANKS MOM!

Layout photos (click on thumbnail to enlarge):

Here is a special photo gallery made specially for Joe's Mom. Now, I don't know Joe's Mom, but she must be one special lady to sew all these curtains for Joe. THANKS MOM!

Here is a special photo gallery made specially for Joe's Mom. Now, I don't know Joe's Mom, but she must be one special lady to sew all these curtains for Joe.
THANKS MOM!