Hi Guys
Im in the process now of starting some operations again on the railroad and was just wondering would anybody have a link to where I can find some switch list templates that can be printed out? also does anyone use computer to software to generate switch lists,waybills,car forwarding. I have seen a couple but was wondering if anyone uses them
Jeremy
I use Excel to generate my car cards and waybills. You can download the files at my website.
I’ve just made two videos : Operate your railroad **part I **and part II
Wolfgang
I started out operating by myself. The biggest thing I found was that if you have a computer generating your manifests, you won’t know what is coming, and that makes it more interesting. I now hold regular operating sessions on my layout with four operators.
There are several programs out there. JMRI has an Operations module that is free. I like and use Rail Op advanced. No matter what you get, there will be a set up process and learning curve. Ship-it is another one, and there are one or two more.
You will find that as in anything, people who have and use a particular program will swear by it, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, Rail Op has the best Yahoo support group. However they have to, because Rail Op has no formal instruction manual. The JMRI operations module (program) is new, less than a year old I think, but changes are being made in every new JMRI release.
When I was looking for an operations program, I also looked at Ship-It. I also looked at the Yahoo users group for it, and there was no activity. That said either the program was a good one that needed no support, or everyone gave up on it. Then I learned that besides the basic program, you also had to buy different add-on modules to be able to do different things. That kept jacking the price up. But many folks swear by it, so what can I say, other than I wasn’t going to feel comfortable with it so I didn’t choose it.
I AM happy with Rail Op, although some that had Rail Op decided to go with JMRI. I guess if I were just starting out, I might go with FREE first.
The Naptown & White River is an open-door for members club, thus things can move at any time day or night. Our swittch lists are made in MS Excel, and are set up for Roadname, number, load, pickup, set out, and train information. We fill it in based on whatever we walk into the day of, or the night before, with very little setup, outside of trains to kill tiem whilst Yardmasters figure out what they have,
We tried Railop, we tried one other, they just don’t work for us, Too rigid, too much setup, not enough proper routing. Besides, I’d rather make things up myself and give the otders. out of my yard.