JMRI Part I - Just Do ItLet’s Try Operations

By John Stewart (with Craig Gardner)

NMRA National ConventionCleveland, OH

July, 2014

Start Simply on a Small ScaleThe 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

Graphic: MR, June, 1962

Build Train at Origin

Do “work” at Interim locations

Un-build Train at Destination

THE LAYOUTIntroducing the Morgan Valley RR -- Keep it Simple to Start

From: 48 Top Notch Track Plans, by Bob Hayden, Kalmbach Publishing, c. 1993

There is more to the Morgan Valley than meets the eye!

WHAT IS OPERATIONS?Keep it Simple to Start

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 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

Graphic: MR, July, 1961; Nov. 1975

HOW DO I DO OPERATIONS?One Question, Many Answers…

How Do I Do Operations?

• Lots of ways to “operate”• Keep it simple• Consider a step-by-step approach (R. Schumacher)

1. Slow trains down2. Name every place on the RR3. Get railroad running well 4. Figure “work to be done” by your RR5. Start with “substitution switching”

6. Timetable operations7. Train orders by Dispatcher 8. Freight car waybill system

Try JMRI Switchlists

Simpler

More Complex

What Do I Really Need?

What Matters?• Big Layout?• Timetable?• Fast Clock?• Waybills?• Dispatcher?

What “really” matters?• 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• 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

Car Cards/Waybills• The “process” • What the RR does

– Shipper– Consignee– Back office– Crew– Switching cars

• More prototypical?

WHAT IS JMRI?Letting Your Computer Do the Work

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

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT Remember Basic Switching to Help You Setup JMRI

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

Graphic: MR, Sep, 2006

• Basic switching boils down to a few simple moves– Trailing point moves– Facing point moves– Runaround moves

TYPES OF LOCATIONSNot all Locations are the Same

Fundamental Stuff

• 4 types of locations in JMRI– 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)

SET UP LOCATIONSRemember “Name Every Place” on the Railroad

• “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

NBSB

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 LOCATIONThis is the “Work to be Done” for Your Railroad

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 SilverNCStL Box 22291 40’foot 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 Hop 82242 40'foot BlackL&N Hop 82203 40'foot BlackL&N Cab 911 40foot Red

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

NBSB

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

THE LAYOUTApplying What We Have So Far…

• “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

NBSB

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERLet’s Move Some Freight!

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”

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”

Rout

e f

or

this

tr

ain

Switch Community Lumber

Let’s Get to Work,William!

QUESTIONS?Thanks for your attention and interest

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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