Hey, my layout isn’t even running yet. But I watched the Dream-Plan-Build video on operations (the N scale NH layout) where do I get all the paper work for that operating system? Like the log books switch lists car card pockets. and where do I get a fast clock system? Mike
NS:
Buy a cheap quartz wall clock, pry off the hour hand, use minute hand as hour hand for 12:1 fast clock. Not sure about the other stuff, because I haven’t seen the video. I assume they used some sort of cu$tom $pecial form$?
I use a starter set of forms from Micro Mark. I will be buying more as time goes by. I just need to get the durn thing finished and running first he he he.
I look for images of vintage paperwork that might be perhaps being sold on certain web auctions that provide really crisp images for people who are too cheap to purchase, and not ethical enough to not make a knock off copy… not that I know anyone like that…
I then re-size the image to print out on regular paper, and zip zap zip, instant paperwork.
I have train sheets, form 19 train orders, and a couple of other goodies I use.
For car cards and waybills, I use blank index cards, avery labels, and print it yourself business card stock.
I don’t pay for anything if I don’t have to…
Lee
You can get car cards from just about any LHS but that costs more money than is necessary so the next best thing is to create your own.
I have two things i use for operations 1. a car card for each piece of rolling stock on the layout and 2. a waybill.
I used the microsoft word draw feature and a printer to create the car cards. I get six car cards on one sheet of paper (I used colored construction paper instead of regular ink jet paper because it’s a bit thicker and holds up better than plain paper.) The car card included titles and fill in the blank lines by each title. which included:
SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES CAR CARD
AAR________
OWNER_______
CAR #_________
CAR DESCRIPTION_______(I just write in what the actual car is i.e. 50’ boxcar, gondola, covered hopper ect. in case someone is running a train that isn’t familiar with AAR numbers.)
Then the last line: RETURN EMPTY TO YARD______ TRACK #_______
Then I print the car cards, cut them out with scissors, fold the bottom section to form a pocket to hold the waybill and tape the sides to hold the pocket in place.
Next I make a way bill on regular paper a bit smaller than the car cards so that they fit in the car card pocket. I can get 12 of them on a sheet of paper which i also cut out and stable together in 25 sheet forms. That way i can fill them out when making a train, tear them from the stack and place them in the car card pocket. which includes;
FREIGHT WAYBILL
Free fast clock for Windows
http://www.wesleysteiner.com/mrsoftware/mrfastclock.html
Car cards
http://www.sunsetwestproductions.com/carcards.htm
http://siskiyou.railfan.net/operations/carCards.html
I’ve made my car cards and waybills with excel. You can see and get this as well as other paper work at my operation site.
Wolfgang
I have used Wolfgang’s excel program for car cards and waybills and I highly recommend them. They are simple to use and easy to modify. I don’t read German but they are intuitive so they can easily be changed to suit your needs.
Steve B.
If your printer can handle 3x5 index cards, they are probably the best choice for car cards. Waybills can be batch-created, then printed on plain paper and cut apart.
I created most of my car cards and waybills the old-fashioned way - with a ball pen and some colored markers. The waybills are ‘souvenirs’ of my last assignment to Thailand during the SEA war.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Do you create one card per car?
Example:
From MR RR USA
To: My town
Boxcar FVRR 1234
Load: Widgets
Destination: Falls Bearing Company.
Now…
Once that one load is delivered, do we have to reuse that card containing the widgets load again?
Do we make several cards representing different loads for the same boxcar?
Your example (except for the reporting marks of a car) is actually a waybill, which would be used with a CAR CARD to generate one movement. It might have a back side which could read: Empty car. Route to MR RR USA, Willie’s Widget Works, for loading. After the loaded car is delivered, the waybill is removed and the car either gets a new ‘empty car’ waybill or is routed in accordance with special instructions on the car card which are usually hidden behind the waybill.
The car card would read, “FVRR 1234, Box Car,” along with any additional special information (example, Clean Lading Only,) and instructions (Return empty to FVRR.) It has a pocket for the waybill. Once made, the car card stays with that car forevermore, even when it has to go to the workbench. Some modelers, including myself, record repair, inspection and modification data on the back of the card.
Hope this has been helpful.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with car cards and waybills)
Falls Valley RR,
look at my site "way of hopper BN 25384" . There you can see what to do with waybills during a journey of a car.
I prefer my smaller car cars. This way I can hold them like a bunch of playing cards. And the picture helps the unexperienced operator.
Wolfgang
It has been helpful thanks!