JMRI Part I - Just Do It Let’s Try Operations By John Stewart (with Craig Gardner) NMRA National Convention Cleveland, OH July, 2014 Start Simply on a Small Scale The Morgan Valley RR in 4’ x 6’ JMRI Software “Operations” Module

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

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

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

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

Keep it Simple to Start What is operations?

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

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 (?) ???

What is Operations? Two basic components to “operations” Moving cars 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

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

Graphic: MR, July, 1961; Nov. 1975

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

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

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

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

Switchlist vs. Car Cards/Waybills Switchlists Car Cards/Waybills 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 The “process” What the RR does Shipper Consignee Back office Crew Switching cars More prototypical?

Letting Your Computer Do the Work What is Jmri?

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

JMRI can be complex – Keep it Simple Don’t get frustrated, go step by step… 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…

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”

JMRI Settings

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

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

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

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

Not all Locations are the Same Types of locations

Fundamental Stuff 4 types of locations in JMRI Other “locations” 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)

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

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

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

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

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

Locations

Locations

Locations

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 Railroad Type Road No. Length (scale ft w/o couplers) Color L&N SW 1500  5009  41 foot  Yellow Gray SAL Box  25125 40’foot  Silver NCStL  22291  Brown/wyellow stripe  Texaco Tank  TCX 270  40'foot  Silver Black ATSF Flat  ATSF 297155  Red SOU Hop Cov  90031 Gray Hop  82242  Black  82203 Cab  911  40foot

Cars

Cars

Fundamental Stuff NB SB 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

Routes

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

Trains

Trains

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

Locomotives

Locomotives

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

Applying What We Have So Far… The layout

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

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

Fundamental Stuff Building Trains The program “builds” trains for you Program picks cars to serve the customers along the route How does it “know”? Least busy car Least busy location Generally random selection Never quite the same (unless…) There are situations when “random” is not good You may set various controls to get what you want

Trains

Build a Train

Remember the Route for this Train

Preview Switchlist Route for this train Train originates at Amhurst “yard” Switch Community Lumber Some locations have no work Swap cars at Passing Siding No Work at 25 Jct. Switch Evergreen industries Switch Indy (Getty) Pick up at Passing Siding Train terminates at Amhurst “yard”

Let’s Get to Work, William!

Thanks for your attention and interest Questions?

Thanks To Designing Model Railroad Operations (Realistic Operation by Phases) By Richard Schumacher, http://www.gatewaynmra.org/designops.htm JMRI Software: Google “jmri operations” http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/operations/Operations.shtml 48 Top Notch Track Plans, by Bob Hayden, Kalmbach Publishing, c. 1993 (and others) Those who have allowed “newbie” visitors to their operations sessions: Nicho Young, Nashville, TN Glenn Samuel, Mobile AL Bill Barger, Northport, AL Rex Heacock, Northport, AL Norm Stenzel, Suwanee, GA Allen Keller, Talbott, TN Dave Houseman, Kodak, TN Los Angeles and Salt Lake RR Club, Nolensville, TN

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