Bruce drove up this morning and we got a chance to try out that new JMRI software. Impressive, to say the least. Lots of cars, lots of switching and lots of moves. Burns Jct., Mills Manufacturing, and Hesperus proved challenging which made the session last about 2 hours. We were busy the whole time. Then we broke for lunch and discussed the new software. Picked his brain for a bit about some of the features. Since Bruce wanted to leave here early enough to avoid the WDC rush hour, we only had time for the one. But we did have a lot of fun despite the dismal looking day. He took some pictures which he’ll probably post when he gets home. I didn’t get a chance too…
Cool. We’ll give JMRI a workout next weekend, too. We’ll see how it does keeping crews busy.
What a great ops session.
It started with me leaving the house before 7 AM and getting to Ken’s right around 9:30. I have yet to convince Ken to move closer.
First up was to check out the layout. I had admired Radder’s Mill and it was great to see it again with the repairs.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1130.JPG)
I just love the lush look of the railroad.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1132.JPG)
Then it was on to operations. We started in Delores with a five pickups.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1134.JPG)
Of course there was the mandatory run around.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1135.JPG)
And there was some switching at Burns Junction. Unfortunately, my camera remained in my pocket, as we kept rather busy.
Then we took our 5 car train into Hesperus.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1136.JPG)
Pretty straight forward here, just 2 pickups. A reefer at Chandler’s - the furthest building at the top of the picture. Of course the reefer we want is at the end. And, a combine that’s hidden behind the depot.
So, we probably spent a half hour here.
See, to get there, we first need to move that yellow reefer at the right, down to the track by the depot - the one with the hidden combine. The track THAT reefer is on will hold one car, plus the locomotive.
Just a bit of switching required! And there’s a flat and a gon at that blue building that have to be moved away.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1138.JPG)
Here we are pulling the string of four cars down to the switch; then it’s one at a time, until we get that Colorado Midland Reefer.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1139.JPG)
Then it’s on to the next stop - here’s our long train getting ready to drop one boxcar and pick up another.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/ken/2013.08/IMG_1140.JPG)
As Ken stated, we headed off to lunch to discuss even more. Although Ken did have another train we could have run, I had to wimp out big time - as I REALLY hate driving in DC traffic. It was already about 1 PM, and with over two hours of driving, I could just get ahead of the rush hour - which seems to start earlier and earlier every day.
I made it back to Springfield before the skies opened and I had to put the top up. It is a LOT warmer here then up in Pennsylvania.
Anyway, a GREAT day of operations, and a good workout for the Ops portion of JMRI. Man, there has to be a better name!
Thanks, Ken.
That’s funny, you got rain and the sun popped out here for a few minutes later on. And you’ve just listed 3 good reason WHY you can’t convince me to move down there, it’s hotter, it rains more and the traffic…
And I just realized that’s the most tank cars I’ve had on one train. Never could get them moved on the other program.
And I found that “Text Editor” you mentioned. It’ll simplify things by not having so many pages.
It was my pleasure, Bruce, I really enjoyed that…
Sorta knowing your railroad, Ken, can you post or scan a copy of the train orders or switch list you used?.
This shows the format used when you print out the “Switch List”:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kenbrunt/_forumfiles/SwLt02.jpg)
This shows it when you use “Text Editor”:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kenbrunt/_forumfiles/SwLt01.jpg)
What we both liked about the Switch List format was pick-ups and set-outs could be printed in different colors which made it easier to distinguish between the 2. What we didn’t like about it was all the paper it printed out and we weren’t sure if we had all the cars because it doesn’t show that either.
I like the format of being able to check things off as you do them. Thanks for posting.
Ric Golding said:
I like the format of being able to check things off as you do them. Thanks for posting.
We both liked that one, too…if you remember to carry a pencil with ya…
Ken Brunt said:
Ric Golding said:
I like the format of being able to check things off as you do them. Thanks for posting.
We both liked that one, too…if you remember to carry a pencil with ya…
I found a bunch of clipboards. Ill see about taping a pencil on a piece of string to em.
For our Ops sessions, I picked up some cheap clipboards, and tied a string to it with a pen attached for marking the train lists…
I just came over here from the chat…The chat is getting to be like the general forum…crap…
Anyone want to talk operations ?
The place to purchase clip boards are the Dollar Stores…
RailOps does give you a continuous count of what you have in your train, after each station…
Yes, but that means we have to have crews that count without setting everything down. Tough to find interested people with those qualifications.
If it means setting down my coffee cup, count me out.