Keeping Time on the Atlantic Inland

 I NEVER liked the concept of Fast Clocks. On  AIR1 I used 1-1 time, and with the help of several friends, I installed a system of clocks that, in theory, were synchronized, and could be seen from everywhere on the layout. 

They were not synchronized, and they kept very random time*, but they kept time. I eventually removed the worst offending clocks.

My point is every operator could look at the main railroad clock, set their own watches and keep time on the AIR. I, and a couple others, carried pocket watches to keep time. I liked this very much.

There is no need to “Do the math” when you look at a clock. One of the most common questions operators ask is “How much time do I have?”, with my clocks you know. Ten minutes to Ten is ten minutes to Ten. PERIOD.

I have asked myself MANY times, is my enjoyment of a session somehow diminished because a train covered a distance in three real time minutes and I recorded 9:15 on the time sheet as opposed to 9:27?

It’s absurd on its face.

This debate is NOT Objective. I think I can count the layouts I’ve operated on, that use 1-1 time, on the fingers of one hand, with fingers left over. The majority of the layouts I visit use either no clock or a fast clock. I guess “no clock” is 1-1 time too.

I find fast clocks stressful. I have never experienced a prototype operation that emphasized time as much as model railroads. And the vast majority of these model layouts are suffering multiple personality disorders. “Slow down, take your time”, but they run a 4-1 fast clock. 

6-1 clocks are insane.

I have a 24 hour schedule and each session we run a few hours off the clock. It takes four to six months to complete a “day”.

I’m used to it. I like it.



* a train departing Littlerock, the West end of the layout, would often arrive at distant stations at an indicated time that was prior to their schedule depart time from Littlerock! All railroads have quirks.

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