Start Simply on a Small Scale The Morgan Valley RR in 4’ x 6’ JMRI Software “Operations” Module

1. JMRI Part I - Just Do ItLet’s Try OperationsBy John Stewart (with Craig Gardner)NMRA National ConventionCleveland, OHJuly, 2014 Start Simply on a Small Scale The Morgan Valley RR in 4’ x 6’ JMRI Software “Operations” Module

2. Today’s Goal: Execute a Switchlist for the Morgan Valley RR Begin with the end in mind… Graphic: MR, June, 1962

3. Build Train at Origin Do “work” at Interim locations Un-build Train at Destination

4. Introducing the Morgan Valley RR -- Keep it Simple to Start The layout

5. There is more to the Morgan Valley than meets the eye! From: 48 Top Notch Track Plans, by Bob Hayden, Kalmbach Publishing, c. 1993

6. Keep it Simple to Start What is operations?

7. What is Operations? • Simply a way to: • Make your railroad more fun • Round and round gets boring • Even “finished” gets boring • Have a reason to “run trains” • Invite friends to help run the RR

8. What is Operations? • Desirable traits: • Create somewhat un-predictable action • “Automatic” car movements (after setup) • Represents work “my” railroad needs to do • Not too complex for me • Have fun and learn while doing • Learn and do in stages (?) ???

9. What is Operations? • Two basic components to “operations” • Moving cars to “do work” • Moving trains “to move the cars” • Moving cars • More about “switching cars” at a place • The end result of the railroad’s business • Moving trains • One train is “easy” to move • Multiple trains gets more complicated • For now, let’s keep these components separate • Think about “switching cars” vs. “dispatching trains” • Today’s focus is on “switching cars” – a fun place to start

10. The Basic Work of the Railroad is Moving Freight How/why do RR’s move cars?

11. Graphic: MR, July, 1961; Nov. 1975

12. One Question, Many Answers… How do I do operations?

13. How Do I Do Operations? • Lots of ways to “operate” • Keep it simple • Consider a step-by-step approach (R. Schumacher) • Slow trains down • Name every place on the RR • Get railroad running well • Figure “work to be done” by your RR • Start with “substitution switching” • Timetable operations • Train orders by Dispatcher • Freight car waybill system Simpler Try JMRI Switchlists More Complex

14. What Do I Really Need? What Matters? What “really” matters? Size doesn’t matter Later, maybe Not time yet Paperwork intensive Way later, maybe • Big Layout? • Timetable? • Fast Clock? • Waybills? • Dispatcher? Denver & Salt Lake Lawrenceburg & Nicholasville

15. What Do I Really Need? • Like everything in this wonderful hobby – the choice is yours • Its your railroad • Our experience is that you can do this in steps • Get operations working, then decide what appeals to you • If you find you want/need more complexity, then go for it

16. Switchlist vs. Car Cards/Waybills Switchlists Car Cards/Waybills The “process” What the RR does Shipper Consignee Back office Crew Switching cars More prototypical? • The actual work to be done • What the crew sees • Where “wheel meets steel” • Less up front paperwork • Less paper on the layout • Pick ‘em up, set ‘em out • Switching cars • Easier to implement • Can always move “up” to waybills if you want to later

17. Letting Your Computer Do the Work What is Jmri?

18. What is JMRI? • JMRI (Java Model RR Interface) • A very robust and powerful software • A “free” software, developed by dedicated hobbyists for hobbyists (Thank You!) • JMRI has separate modules for different jobs • Today’s focus is on “Operations” module • Not about “dispatching”; does create trains • Develops “switchlists” to move cars/do work • Might lead you to waybills, timetables & dispatching

19. Create computer generated train mainifests • List of car pickups & setouts • Car locations • Before switching • After • Define (for your RR) • Locations • Cars/Locomotives roster • Trains and their routes • And more… JMRI can be complex – Keep it Simple Don’t get frustrated, go step by step…

20. Key Things to Do in JMRI Ops • Build database of your RR • Settings • Locations • Routes • Cars • Trains • Locomotives • And more, if you need it • All these needed for any method you choose • There is always “setup” – let computer do “work”

21. JMRI Settings

22. Remember Basic Switching to Help You Setup JMRI Things to think about

23. Things to Think About • Running a railroad can be very complex • Operations can reflect all of this • But it doesn’t have to • You can have fun • Run a train • Switch cars • One move at a time

24. Train Direction for Switching • Basic switching boils down to a few simple moves • Trailing point moves Graphic: MR, Sep, 2006

25. Train Direction for Switching • Basic switching boils down to a few simple moves • Trailing point moves • Facing point moves • Runaround moves Graphic: MR, Sep, 2006

26. Not all Locations are the Same Types of locations

27. Fundamental Stuff • 4 types of locations in JMRI • Spur tracks • Yard tracks • Interchange tracks • Staging tracks • Other “locations” • Might help route trains • Some locations have “no work” • Store cars, “swap” loads • Store cars (only) • Store cars for forwarding • Store trains (only)

28. Remember “Name Every Place” on the Railroad Set up Locations

29. “Locations” • Amhurst “Yard” • Community Lumber • 4L Jct. • Passing Siding • Twenty Five Jct. • Evergreen • Dagget Electrical • Evergreen Furniture • Indy • Getty Oil • Iron Works • HegertWhsl • Forman Foundry • Wm’s Hardware NB SB

30. Work to be Done • For Example: Getty Oil • Sells petroleum products • Cars needed? (Imagination) • Tank: Bulk oil/fuel • Box: Drums or cases • Flat: Eqpt/Repairs GETTY OIL

31. This is the “Work to be Done” for Your Railroad Repeat for each Location

32. Cars Needed for Work to be Done • Make a list of locations • Assume car types to serve each location • Yards should serve all car types • Some locations are • “Placeholders” for routing • Don’t need cars • There is no “right” answer • Just select some cars to start • You may fine tune/adjust later

33. Locations

34. Locations

35. Locations

36. Fundamental Stuff • Cars • A database of the cars you need to serve your customers • JMRI will • Assign cars to trains • “Load or unload” cars at industries • “Remember” where cars are for next train

37. Cars

38. Cars

39. Fundamental Stuff • Route • Where does this train go to do it’s job? • Simply a sequence of “locations” you select • Think about train “direction” • Think about switching moves to be made SB NB

40. Routes

41. Fundamental Stuff • Trains • Create Trains to do the work you have identified • You set the route for this train • Places you need to go • Direction of train may simplify switching

42. Trains

43. Trains

44. Fundamental Stuff • Locomotives • Optional, believe it or not • Keep it simple to start

45. Locomotives

46. Locomotives

47. Fundamental Stuff • More, much more • Special loads • Sequence of cars • Sequence of loads • Directional switching • Train selection • Local switching • Grades, train weight • Locomotive capacity • Staging

48. Applying What We Have So Far… The layout

49. “Locations” • Amhurst “Yard” • Community Lumber • 4L Jct. • Passing Siding • Twenty Five Jct. • Evergreen • Dagget Electrical • Evergreen Furniture • Indy • Getty Oil • Iron Works • HegertWhsl • Forman Foundry • Wm’s Hardware NB SB

50. Let’s Move Some Freight! Putting it all together