Running McKinley takes teamwork, with two main players: the humans (our operators) and the computers. Both play vital roles in keeping the railway moving, but it’s the people who are at the heart of everything.
Station Teams: The Core of the Railway
Each of McKinley’s seven main locations is staffed by two or three people. At the top is the Station Manager, who makes the key decisions: which trains to prepare for departure, how to receive incoming ones, and how to keep everything running according to the timetable. The Station Manager uses an iPad display for real-time updates about train movements, so they always know what’s arriving or departing.
Supporting the manager are one or two Operators. Their role is hands-on: assembling trains, shunting freight wagons, moving locos, and getting the right stock in the right place. In a busy session, the manager may pitch in and help out as well.
In practical terms, an operator might bring a passenger coach set out of the sidings, add a locomotive fresh from the shed, and get everything positioned for departure. Meanwhile, a newly arrived freight train may need breaking up, with wagons shunted to various sidings or industries, and a brake van added to another departing service. Once everything’s ready, the operator lets the Station Manager know, who in turn clears the departure with the control desk.
Because McKinley has fairly intense traffic, good communication within and between teams is essential. Mistakes happen – missed signals, wrong points, the occasional bump – but that’s all part of the fun, and there’s always someone around to help out.
The Control Desk: Keeping It All Flowing
When you enter the layout room, you’ll see the Control Desk to your right. This is where three key roles come together to ensure the smooth, safe operation of the entire railway.
1. The Operations Manager
This person sits in front of the computer running TrainController software – the system responsible for managing trains on the main lines and in the hidden storage yards. Up to a dozen trains may be running under computer control at any one time.
The Operations Manager ensures those trains keep moving, intervening when something goes wrong: a stalled engine, a missed sensor, or (rarely) a derailment. It’s a high-pressure job, and distractions are kept to a minimum to allow full concentration.
2. The District Controller
This role sits “above” the Station Managers, watching the big picture. They look out for bottlenecks or delays, making real-time decisions to keep the network flowing.
If a station falls behind – often due to inexperience or a particularly tricky timetable – the District Controller can slow down the entire railway’s clock to give operators time to catch up. Another option is cancelling a train altogether (yes, just like in real life), which keeps the overall traffic moving even if one service gets sacrificed.
As McKinley expands, this role will become even more important. The District Controller is the bridge between station-level work and system-wide coordination.
3. The Rail Rover (Troubleshooter)
This flexible, roving team member responds to problems anywhere on the layout. If a train stalls or derails, the Rail Rover physically goes to the scene to sort it out – under the boards, into tunnels, wherever needed. They also help when locomotives misbehave or stock gets stuck. The goal: fix problems fast before they block the entire railway.
Station Managers may also call on the Rail Rover when specific issues arise with stock or locomotives. Think of this as a model version of a railway “permanent way” team.
Together, the Operations Manager, District Controller, and Rail Rover form McKinley’s Holy Trinity of control. Be kind to them – they’re keeping your trains running!
Specialised Stations and Roles
While most locations operate under a standard manager-and-operators structure, a few have unique characteristics that require slightly different approaches.
Sheffield: Freight and Loco Management
Sheffield is McKinley’s main marshalling yard and also connects to Doncaster, where locomotives are stored. The Station Manager here also manages incoming and outgoing locos as McKinley transitions through its historical period (1955–1975). Some engines are retired, some are newly introduced, and others return after being repainted.
Sheffield is split into two yards: Victoria and Albert, each with a dedicated operator. The lead operator manages Victoria and oversees the junior operator in Albert. The combination of shunting, loco movements, and historical transitions makes Sheffield one of the more complex locations.
Birmingham: High Stakes Through Station
Birmingham presents a different challenge. With three operators and a lot of main line traffic, it’s critical that movements don’t block the running lines. Mistiming a simple loco move here can cause delays across the entire network.
To address this, Birmingham is split into North and South operating zones, with the Station Manager working slightly apart as a kind of Signalman. Their job is to monitor the main lines, keep tabs on arriving and through trains, and make sure their team knows when to keep the line clear. Special software gives them early warnings about upcoming trains, helping them manage traffic more effectively.
Birmingham is expected to be the last major area to be upgraded as McKinley completes its extension, so for now it may remain more of a visual through-station.
Final Thoughts
Every role at McKinley – from hands-on shunters to high-level controllers – is part of a carefully thought-out system designed to bring the railway to life. Whether you’re building a train from scratch at a busy station or quietly adjusting the railway clock to ease a traffic jam, your work contributes to a beautifully choreographed operation.
Mistakes will happen. Trains will stall. Points will occasionally be wrong. But that’s part of the experience. With good communication, a touch of flexibility, and a sense of humour, the McKinley railway keeps rolling along.