Ever since the 2015 Portland National Convention, a number of local layout owners and club members oriented toward proto ops have been discussing hosting an ops weekend. In May 2017 it finally happened. Invitations were sent and accepted and on the appointed day a rowdy horde of boomers checked into the Wilsonville La Quinta hotel.

Saturday morning was the BC&SJ's turn to host. At 10AM the expected crew of 15 guest crewmen appeared at the layout room door along with eight guides/mentors. After a crew briefing, wheels began to roll. With such a large crew on hand I anticipated little trouble in finding crews for all trains in a timely manner and that proved to be the case.

Veteran BC&SJ dispatcher Jordan dictated the orders with three guests copying 'em and clearing trains. Two other guests volunteered as yard masters for Bear Creek and South Jackson, a good thing as all my usual yard masters were busy being mentors at the Columbia Cascade & Western (the Klacko Klub as it's know locally).

The session finished at 4pm, just early enough for everyone to scurry across town to the WOOPS evening banquet. A good time (or so I was told), was had by all.

This session was the first with a trackwork-complete Browning and Junction City proudly sported it's new depot (a masterpiece assembed for me by train buddy Jim Moomaw. Thanks Jim!)

Many thanks to all who showed up, guests and regulars. Without you the layout is just an inert pile of plywood, track, and wiring. If it ain't running, it ain't alive!

As usual I didn't run any trains during the session (why is it that owners seldom get to operate on their own layouts?). Maybe that's why things went well.