Transcript Implementing Operations with JMRI Operations Module

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
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:
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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:
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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 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
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
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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”
Try JMRI Switchlists
6. Timetable operations
7. Train orders by Dispatcher
8. Freight car waybill system
(R. Schumacher)
Simpler
More Complex
What Do I Really Need?
What Matters?
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Big Layout?
Timetable?
Fast Clock?
Waybills?
Dispatcher?
Lawrenceburg & Nicholasville
What “really” matters?
• Size doesn’t matter
• Later, maybe
• Not time yet
• Paperwork intensive
• Way later, maybe
Denver & Salt Lake
What Do I Really Need?
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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
• The actual work to be done
• What the crew sees
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Where “wheel meets steel”
Less up front paperwork
Less paper on the layout
Pick ‘em up, set ‘em out
Switching cars
Car Cards/Waybills
• The “process”
• What the RR does
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Shipper
Consignee
Back office
Crew
Switching cars
• Easier to implement
• More prototypical?
• Can always move “up” to waybills if you want to later
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
• Create computer generated train mainifests
Don’t get frustrated,
go step by step…
• List of car pickups & setouts
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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
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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
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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
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Spur tracks
Yard tracks
Interchange tracks
Staging tracks
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Store cars, “swap” loads
Store cars (only)
Store cars for forwarding
Store trains (only)
• Other “locations”
– Might help route trains
– Some locations have “no work”
Remember “Name Every Place” on the Railroad
SET UP LOCATIONS
• “Locations”
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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
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.
Color
5009
Length (scale ft w/o
couplers)
41 foot
L&N
SW 1500
SAL
NCStL
Box
Box
25125
22291
40’foot
40’foot
Silver
Brown/wyellow stripe
Texaco
Tank
TCX 270
40'foot
Silver Black
ATSF
Flat
ATSF 297155
40'foot
Red
SOU
Hop Cov
90031
40'foot
Gray
L&N
L&N
L&N
Hop
Hop
Cab
82242
82203
911
40'foot
40'foot
40foot
Black
Black
Red
Yellow Gray
Cars
Cars
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
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
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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
• “Locations”
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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
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
Train originates at Amhurst “yard”
Route for this train
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
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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
Download
presentation:
www.bhamrails.info
Go to Model RR’g page