Attached is project form for adding label to panels.
Currently there is some confusion with new users as to which panel is meant when asking how the layout works.
While we have good diagrams of most panels, the general user has no idea the difference between Yard A and Hobson.

Adding a label to each panel will decrease confusion and heklp new users as we write how-to documents for their use.

Proposed is a combination of table number and location name.
Examples:
Table 2
Hartsdale

Table 34
Yard A

Table 11
Springfield Junction

These labels can be made with the label maker from Rex or printed and added under the plexiglass.

Attached are files for proposed changes to control panels #2 and #34 (Yard A)
This would add remote control of Yard A entrance to Yard A control panel, similar to how the interchange junction works today. And may be consolidated with that control system.
There are several options possible, as outlined in the .txt file attached.
They range from minimal changes to redoing the yard A panel.

This is a general proposal, setting out the options available and asking which option to pursue (if any).
Most parts are on hand or available on e-bay or amazon.

The final design depends on the option selected to proceed. The options #2 and #3 have the possibility of reducing the wiring complexity in the Yard A panel, and also reducing the number of wires under the layout.

Feedback is requested, and questions solicited.
Thank you for your time.

Second operating session done.
Mostly worked as expected, but we have found some things to improve.
Main change we need is a list of all trains/jobs, including interchange and staging trains. Some confusion about which trains to run at start of session.
Bob put up the electronic job board, which worked, but did not have complete list of jobs to run (see above).
However, we are operating again!

To enhance fun for visitors to our club. We plan to print CAN YOU FIND sheets and place them on front table. This will allow visitors to interact with the layout and highlight some of the detailed modeling done by our members.

Take a look at attached Draft. Leave comments here or send me an email with your suggestions for items to add, remove or modify.

Thanks, Oliver

While a train being "held out" of a yard is a very common situation in prototype railroading, it's not really much fun for model railroading crews. I have two suggestions for reducing the time spent "held out" by crews and make our crews more efficient.

First, reduce the number of cars to be handled at one time by Cook Yard crews. This can be done by considering Cook Yard to be an intermediate yard, not a terminal where every train must be entirely reclassified.

Through trains, road trains, manifest trains, or whatever you want to call them, would originate at some distant yard (represented by staging), eventually arrive at Cook Yard where some cars would be set out and others picked up. Cars not set out are assumed to have been classified for handling in other yards and are taken on to another distant yard (again represented by staging). This is normal procedure for the majority of prototype yards, particularly yards as small as our Cook Yard.

In practice, we could designate cars on staging yard Tracks 7 & 8 as westbound (WB) and eastbound (EB) through trains respectively. In Cook Yard, Tracks 1 & 2 would be reserved as EB receiving and forwarding; Tracks 10 & 11 as WB receiving and forwarding.

An EB through train, for example, would leave staging Track 8, make at least one circuit of the main, and enter Cook Yard on Track 1. The road crew then sets out part of the train on whatever track the east end yard crew picks (probably Track 2). At the same time, the west end yard crew adds cars to the rear of the train. The road crew is now ready to leave Cook Yard and return to staging Track 8 after another circuit of the main. Note that through cars, in the middle of the train on arrival, are now at the head end, eligible to be set out the next time this EB through train arrives at Cook Yard.

The above activity would be the same for a WB through train except, of course, the WB would leave staging Track 7, enter Cook Yard on Track 11, set out on Track 10 (?), the east end crew would add cars on the rear, and the train would return to staging Track 7. EB and WB trains could conceivably meet at Cook Yard without interfering with each other too much.

The second suggestion is to add a Trainmaster/Switch Tender/Yard Clerk to our operating positions. This new position would be needed only if the operating scenario described above is implemented (otherwise, there would not be enough for him to do).

The Trainmaster/Switch Tender/Yard Clerk's position would be at the staging yard. The Trainmaster would be responsible for deciding when trains leave the staging yard. The Switch Tender would line the switches for all movements in and out of the staging yard; guiding those movements with hand signals or the occasional shout. Road crews would thus not have to crawl under the layout when taking trains or light engines in or out of the staging yard.

The Yard Clerk would determine the number of Cook Yard set outs and pickups for through trains, "turn" the waybills for the setouts, and tell the road crew (possibly with a new form or small sticky notes) how many cars are to be set out and picked up. The Yard Clerk would also be responsible for turning the waybills of cars in transfer runs.

The Yard Clerk could use a spreadsheet like the one at this link (https://1drv.ms/x/s!AijKyfDnchdenJRwHTyV03QtR6T31Q) to help determine the number of setouts and pickups. (Of course, the Trainmaster can always override the spreadsheet.) Using this or a similar spreadsheet would more or less randomly vary the number of cars set out and picked up. The linked spreadsheet can be run in any Windows 10 machine or in any Android mobile device. According to Microsoft, it can also be used in iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices but I have no way to test that.

Can anyone comment about the quality and reliability of Fox Valley Locomotives? I'm considering an EMD GP60B with Lok Sound DCC.

Usually opinions aren't worth much but in this case - I welcome yours.
Oliver

I've been reading JMRI manual, viewing video tutorials and "playing with" to learn how to use JMRI Operations.

Does anyone in our club actually use JMRI Operations on their layout?

Would our Operations group be interested in migrating from Card Cars / Way Bill to computer generated Switch list and Train Manifest?

Comments / Thoughts?

Function buttons on my Engine Driver throttles are labeled to match their actions on the engine that I happen to be running at the time. When I have shown the Engine Driver function buttons on my Android phone to some club members, the response was "How did you do that?". It's not very difficult but it couldn't be described while we were both trying to run trains.

If you'd like to know more, check the attached "Custom Engine Driver Function Labels" paper. That paper includes examples of throttle screens, the files that define those screens for Engine Driver, directions and some important tips.

If there are any questions or suggestions, you can post them here, of course, or you can call me at 469.667.9214.

Here is a link to view proposed and approved layout projects:

https://tinyurl.com/yaqfosn5

Bob Johnson

Oliver donated a dry erase board for us to use to identify the different projects underway at Texas Northern. We will be installing the board this week. The intent of the board is to provide a visual reference for the projects underway. Obviously the staging yard is well underway, and will be represented on the board. The next area of focus will be the Route 66 area. There will be many areas of involvement for this. Anybody interested in joining in should let us know. Don't hesitate to volunteer. I have been learning as we go along, and we need anyone interested in helping to join in. It's our club!