Some time ago while passing through the Rochelle Illinois area, I had the chance to stop by the rail park and catch a couple of trains before sunset. One other rail fan there said that in the gift shop was a computer screen of the dispatcher board for that area, where fans could watch and keep up with the activities, of course while I was there the gift shop was closed. Does anyone know where I can find this website so I can enjoy the Rochelle action from home? Thanks, Dave
Dave:
Try the website below… you need to email a request for membership, once approved the directions come as to how to download the software and get up and running. It’s pretty cool stuff!
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/ATCS_Monitor/
Tom
Hey Tom, Thanks for the help. I found the site, got registered, and have received the info. Now all I have to do is put the puzzle pieces together when my brain is a bit more refreshed. [swg] Thanks again, Dave
Dave,
Let me begin be welcoming you to the group. [#welcome]
I think you’ll find soon enough how invaluable a tool ATCS Monitor actuall is. I’ve been using it for several months now and it’s always running on my computer, usually covering the BNSF Aurora Sub. Check out my three part video on how I use it, http://www.railroadradio.net/ and the Trains Webcam to monitor Rochelle: http://cs.trains.com/forums/1392840/ShowPost.aspx
Here are some instructions that I recently sent Chad Thomas and Ryan LaPlaca on how to create profiles. This should help you solve the “puzzle”:
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First, you have to download the program. From the ATCS Monitor Yahoo Group Main Page, click: Files>Application>ATCSMon375.exe. This is the basic 3.7.5 version. Make sure you download the program to your Program Files Directory on either your C: or D: drives. There is also a 3.7.8 beta version required for certain layouts like the BNSF Aurora Sub, but we’ll focus on the basic version for now; you can always install the beta version later.
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Go to the ATCS Monitor yahoo group main page and click on Files>Data Files>go through the list and find the division that you want>go through the list and find the subdivision that you want. Once you’ve found the .zip file, Save it to your desktop.
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Now, go to your desktop and open it if it doesn’t open automatically. When it’s open you’ll want to select “extract all fles”. The extraction wizard should open. It will ask you to select a folder to extract all files to. Browse your computer and find the “ATCS Monitor” folder created in: My Computer>(C:) or (D:) which ever dr
Ted:
Where were you when I was trying to get ATCS running (I had to do a little head-banging to get it working!)??? Your information above is excellent… you may want to try and post it on the ATCS website so others can benefit as well.
Wow, Ted… You must be the “ATCS Guru”[:D]. Thanks for the info, as spring work is picking up for me, it may be a few days before I can get back to the process of getting my computer configured for this. If it’s ok, I may call on you for some help later when I get some free time. Thanks again…Dave.
Thanks for the kind words Dave, but I’m no Guru. Let me redirect your thanks to David Ogle in Port Orange, Florida, member of the ATCS Monitor and FEC Railway Yahoo Group who took his time by calling me while I was trackside on the FEC. HE walked me through the installment and profile creating process. If it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t have ATCS Monitor at all. He really opened my eyes to this wonderful railfanning tool by contacting me off-list with an offer to help me if I was interested…I’m reall glad that I accepted his offer. Thanks David.
I also give credit to Dave Sheppard, CSX FL-GA System Operator in Naples, FL for teaching me how to create sound rules and for sharing his vast knowledge of how this stuff “really works” with me which, I admit, I still don’t fully understand. He and I will be railfanning the Orlando area this Saturday together.
Even more thanks to the Real ATCS Gurus… Gary Hahn, Larry Gabriel, Doug Nipper, Dave Houy and all the server hosts across the country. If it weren’t for their Passion, Time, Sweat and Money the rest of us who contributed Zero to the cause would be on the outside looking in. We should recognize their efforts and remember to not take them for granted.
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Sounds cool. Any chance you could post some screen shots of it working?
I guess you didn’t catch this thread. Check out the opening post.