The freelanced Western Midland may best be described as a short line built to class one standards. Trains operate point-to-point between two terminal yards over a 170 foot mainline. It is fully operational and usually accommodates a crew of 12. In addition to a dispatcher, crew positions include: yardmasters (two), agent/operators (four), as well as several train crews. Train movements during a typical operating session will usually comprise two passenger trains, two through freights and six way freights which are run as extras.

While the Western Midland has a dispatcher's office in a room adjacent to the layout, we usually dispatch over the phone from Calgary, Alberta using a former professional dispatcher from the T.T.&T.O. era on Canadian Pacific. Click on a photo to see an larger image and start the viewer.

At the time John Armstrong designed what became the Western Midland Railroad, the legendary track planner described it as being for the man who was a demon for dispatching and operation. After operating the layout for several years, I agree with his statement.

The Western Midland is a single-level HO railroad controlled by Lenz DCC. The layout is 100 % operational, with scenery covering approximately 85%. It is also a serious mountain railroad with a three-scale mile mainline and a very diversified traffic base, most of which originates or terminates online. Not surprisingly, this results in plenty of way freight activity. Set in September 1938, the Midland is an all-steam road with no intention of dieselizing any time soon.

We have capacity for seven guests who will have the option of bidding on the following positions: agent/operator, yardmaster and the road pool which covers both way freights and through trains. We use T.T.&T.O for dispatching with car cards and way bills for freight car forwarding. Typically, the Midland is dispatched from Calgary, Alberta via long distance telephone by a former Canadian Pacific dispatcher now retired.