Pockets showed up today. Have about half the car cards done. I’ll be able to test this out tomorrow.
EDIT: Finished all the cards I have. Went outside for a while, sorting cards to where the cars currently are, and found that I dont have cards for six cars (they wernt in JRMI either) So, brought those cars in to get photographed and make up some cards.
Are you planning to change to car cards for TrainOps? I’ve pretty much given up on JMRI and have been hand writing switch lists.
I think so? Even with just two trains running, I end up with either over-capacity sidings, or industries that just never get served. Its frustrating.
I think with car cards, I can have a ‘merchandise train’ that serves all the warehouses along the route, or the trains will be “serve these industries over this route”, that kind of thing.
And you guys wonder why anyone would want to run Amtrak roundy round again and again?
One thing Stan is trying to implement is yardmaster/agent positions. while this is a good idea and i tried out during trainopps, I didn’t get a good enough head start to do the agent position much good, but with practice will get better. the point of the agent is to scope out the industries served buy the train, and limit train length to account for pickups and set-outs along the route.
Al P.
Exactly my experience. I’ve tried tweaking, changing routes and all manner of things and it never gets any better.
You could just say that your OPERATING/modeling Canadian Railroads circa August 24, 2024. Perhaps title the waybill “Project 24 2024”.
Just a thought that might help ya’ out ?
First test-run of Car Cards and Waybills was a reasonable success. I did a one-town merchandiser train from Burke Yard to Williamsport and back, only servicing the warehouse, interchange, and Brough-Kenn machinery. Only had 4 cars to pick up at Burke.
So after digging those out, the train is ready to go and sets off.
Arriving at Williamsport, we only find two boxcars going our way.
So a bit of digging those two out, with limited space at the interchange made it interesting.
Then I had to run around the rest of the train and push the two gondolas into the interchange. All the updated trackwork here worked flawlessly.
Then it was time to reassemble the train and head back home to Burke.
All in all, it was pretty easy. I can see how I have to tweak some of the cards randomness, but overall I’m pretty happy.
Having experienced just about every form of “Operation Paperwork” going back to the ancient paper clip on a four sided card…and ending up with the now old "RailOps program; Our use of that RailOps Program sure serves us well to this day.
Many of the Southern “Invaders” back in the day, experienced great Operations on the IPP&W, during those happy Invasions.
Today we try to keep the paperwork simple with just “Train Orders” for each train, and start-up lists to determine where the cars are to be located on the railroad on each of our continuing Weekly Saturday operations. Nothing to carry around but a clip board with a sheet of paper. No need to store car cards in racks at each station…but…
I do admire, and support those that continuously look for “Supposedly better methods”…so, PLEASE don’t get me wrong…
Operations can be fun, and continuously attract new friends/members to the group…then again, there is a balance, that is most important…
TOO MUCH, and TOO CLOSE to Prototype Operations can drive people away in frustration…
RailOps may not be supported as a program, but it still can work well.
This is coming from our group that OPERATES Every Saturday Morning, putting out at least 250 pieces of rolling stock, before each operation can start. In the locations where they must be to start…all in about 30-45 minutes, then putting it all away after about 3-4 hours of operation, in an order that it can be put back out the following Saturday, in order that the continuing operations will resume.
We have been doing this for over 20 years, with an average of about 20 operators/FRIENDS…each week.
We are ALWAYS looking for NEW IDEAS, so we are NOT in any way close minded to a POSITIVE change for the better.
As always, WE WELCOME our Friends and LSC people, to come and experience an Operation here, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada…just drop a line, and let us know when you can drop in…Please.
See "Mike’s Railroad Blogs, on the link at: www.ovgrs.ca
