My progress using RAILOP operations software.

[RexHea]

Many of you saw my post inquiring about computer software that is designed to run Operations on our layouts. After researching several options by reading relative forums, followed by reading the vendors literature and then experimenting with their Demos, I decided to go with RailOPS.

I thought you may be interested in my progress and decided to start this thread to allow you to ask questions and allow you to follow my learning experience. NO! I am far removed from being a programming geek and have buried my humble and few programming skills long ago. THAT's why I chose this program. All you do is enter the statistics of your layout: cars and their numbers lengths, cities, routes, car locations, length of sidings, motive power, industries, types of cars as per industry, and etc.

REMEMBER: I am learning as I go and will be glad to pass on info to you as I have it and experience it. If you need more concrete information, then you will have to do as I and go through all the forums and etc.

RailOps is a Windows based program (It's all on the screen.) that offers easy to follow steps for the setup and data entry and provides the following:

1. RailOP builds trains automatically from the data files, but allows any manual changes to train consists that you wish.
2. Handles an unlimited number of cars, engines, trains, and locations (cities and sidings)
3. A "Manifest" on one sheet of paper gives an engineer all the information he needs from the trains origin to its destination.
4. Generates working switch lists for yards and towns -- user selectable.
5. Reports preview on screen before printing.
6. Switch lists can be generated before and/or during an operating session.
7. Every Operating Session is different.
8. Unit trains -- freight, passenger, and maintenance of way -- can be used.
9. Cars are handled individually or in blocks (Kernels).
10. Takes into account RR grades, car weights, and individual engine power.
11. Provides "local moves" - between industries in the same city.
12. Dynamically updates files as trains are moved.
13. Prints lists of all car locations, by city and siding.
14. Provides results at end of session.

OPTIONALLY, with the Advanced Version RailOP:
Use your computer screen as a Dispatcher Panel with real-time car spotting.
Allows customization of Manifests.
Train movements can be scheduled by real time or "fast-clock" time.
Plots your train movements on a time vs. location graph, so you can spot conflicts of two or more trains working a city at the same time.

The cost is $99.00 for the basic and $139.00 for the advanced (don't be scared of the word "Advanced". It should be worded "Plus" or "Extended Version". It simply has more goodies in it.)

Please be free with your thoughts and post. This will serve many purposes, but will certainly encourage me to do well with my project.

[Steve B]

I'll be keeping up with your work on this one Rex, it sounds like it could be a great addition to any layout

[RexHea]

Why did I decide on running my layout using operations? Two years ago, when I first met Carey (our CJcrescent), he began "bugging me" about using operations on my layout. "NO WAY!", I would confidently exclaim, "I just want to use a simple running scheme and enjoy my layout with a few friends and me, myself, and I." Well, that was good for awhile. Then I had the good fortune to go to Glenn's (Brasshat) for one of our ARG meets. He has a fantastic and huge "N" scale layout that had been setup from day one to use Operations controlled with computer software (he uses a DOS based software, Switchlist.)

From that point on, I began thinking that there was indeed something missing on my layout. I would eventually get bored by simply going over to point "A" and drop off a randomly selected car and then go to where-ever and do the same. Over the past year, I began focusing more on the operational possibilities of my layout and how much more fun it would be to have a list of tasks to follow and to give reason as to why I am doing it.

One question I had was would this be good for the 'sessions' when it is just me or would I always have to have an "Ops Session" with many. Once I started my research into all this, it was easy to conclude that "Sure! Why not just me."

So, I am now having a great time compiling and getting all the layout information ready for entering into the software. Something that I did not expect to happen is a better understanding of my layout capabilities. By gathering all the info, I have been able to see better ways of accomplishing train movements, switching sequences, and in general, the short-falls in how my layout handles traffic.

[RexHea]

Rex, RailOp sounds great. I'm wondering how it would work for us. Two immediate questions I have are:

1/ Since we run trains between staging yards, how can we prevent overloading an individual yard (three yards, 4 tracks each) at some point during the ops session? In hand writing ops sessions, this has to be carefully accounted for to get the maximum traffic density on the mainline during the session.

2/ Can the program control train length? Our RR is small. Each staging yard track is only 6 feet long. That equates to roughly two locos, seven cars, and a caboose. Of course, when trains are "on scene" they can pick up cars for longer trains as long as they drop some off before going back into staging.


Your first question:
1. During the initial setup: your inventory of cars, that is complete with descriptions and car length (40', 50', 80'), are entered into the software. Also, all your locomotives and descriptions/lengths are done the same way.
2. The location on the layout of each car is entered.
3. All tracks that will store cars is entered by name and length in 'real' inches (or scale) and the direction of the points are entered [Trailing Eastbound, Trailing Northbound, and both (like a passing track).] Multiple track locations, such as a yard, can have each track labeled by name (#1, #2, A, B, North, South, whatever)

Now your software will track movement of cars and will automatically determine what cars are in a yard and how much track space is available in each yard/siding and will only build a manifest/switchlist that allows for the space available. You can also select for your train manifest: only trailing points North, trailing South, or for some real head scratching moves...any direction.

The train manifest is randomly generated so that it is different everytime, but does allow for you to edit the list for cars that you do not want to move or want to add.

You can select how many times a car will be moved during a session. 'Once only' allows for people like myself to be slow on arrivals so that someone else is not waiting to pick it up.

All this info can be edited at any time. If you want to add a new car to the layout, set one off for repair, physically move it to another location, just go to the car list and make the change. You must not move cars around without telling the software or returning it.

So, if you want to just do rounds for the fun of it without returning the cars to their originating locations, they will get lost in the program. What I am doing is leaving my yards as a unit, based on total track length. That way I can couple-up to a string of them, run them around for railfanning, and then easily return them to any of that originating yard's tracks.

[RexHea]

Rex, RailOp sounds great. I'm wondering how it would work for us. Two immediate questions I have are:

2/ Can the program control train length? Our RR is small. Each staging yard track is only 6 feet long. That equates to roughly two locos, seven cars, and a caboose. Of course, when trains are "on scene" they can pick up cars for longer trains as long as they drop some off before going back into staging.

Your second:
Yes, you can setup a maximum total train length for your routes. You want this to be longer than actual for the times you may add a car or two. This can be easily done by entering the length using inches, ie. 36" 60", 96", 120", etc.. There are a couple of options for staged trains, but it's recommended to have it treated as a whole with no pickups at the originating track. Otherwise, it works the same as any other train. If you were using your Stage tracks for Delay track, then all you have to do is consider this as a stopover and you can even set a length of time.

Size of the layout does not matter. All that is required is that there be two cities. If you have a loop-only layout, all you have to do is call the originating city one name and the destination city a different name on the route, even though they are the same physical location.

[grande man]

Thanks Rex! It sounds great. I'm going to read some more on their web site and keep following this thread as you get deeper into it.

[NZRMac]

Can you make a copy of the software? (the Scotish coming out in me $$$$;) ) Sounds great Rex, I'll read up too so I know what I'm doing when I come over.:D

Ken

[grande man]

Ken, you can download a free demo version. I just did. Rex may really be onto something here...

[RexHea]

Ken, just for the fun of it, go to http://www.railop.com/
Download their demo and play with it. You can go through the steps and build and run trains in it with the existing data. It is fun to do. Be sure and print out the demosteps file and follow it through.

Then you will really be in practice when you come over.:D :D

[NZRMac]

Yup that's cool:cool: , I think I'll need more than the yard and roundy roundy I have now:confused:

Ken.

[Steve B]

Just downloaded it,,,

Now then,,, Just had a thought(sound of gears grinding in head) if more than one person had a list of somebody else's layout and stock and vise versa could you make an operating session for them to follow, it would be like having a dispatcher in the next room or in this case across the other side of the world,,,
just a thought

[jbaakko]

Thanks for the "review" Rex! Certainly got me interested.

[SP4439]

a buddy of mine was using this program and it started to goof up. it kept over filling industry and yard tracks. some cars wouldn't move at all even after 15 operations a few cars would just not be moved in the program. and to remedy this he had to delete every thing in the program and re enter everything. when it worked good it was great fun and added realism to a layout.

[RexHea]

I haven't heard or read that is a problem with this program, but the "Shipit" program is suppose to be notorious for this. I have read that there are preventative measures for this built in to RailOp, at least the new version. One that comes to my still learning mind is the fact that you can't put more cars on a siding or yard than the distance of track will allow or beyond its max number of cars allowed. It won't put that yard on a manifest if it is full. I will look deeper into it and try to find out what they do to prevent everything from going to one end of the layout.

I appreciate your input, JoshD. I am sure there are many quirks to be found and dealt with. It would be naive to believe that a $139.00 software would be perfect. Thanks again and please input any other info you may have. It could save me a headache later on.;) :)

[RexHea]

Just downloaded it,,,

Now then,,, Just had a thought(sound of gears grinding in head) if more than one person had a list of somebody else's layout and stock and vise versa could you make an operating session for them to follow, it would be like having a dispatcher in the next room or in this case across the other side of the world,,,
just a thought

Sure! You would just have to have a good way to communicate back and forth to know when a train has arrived and done its thing. Of course, you would have to do that in your layout room if you had a designated Dispatcher located there. I think it would be cool to use voice activated head sets for the engineers. "Train 068 now arriving at Fordum Pass", "Train 068 completed manifest and ready to depart Fordum Pass" Yeah man! I like it.:D

[jbaakko]

Been done many times, you can "hire out" the operator, with some wireless computer headsets, the engineers can hear then dispatcher, and talk to him, using a "voice conference" on a messenger...

Now if I could only find a site demonstrating it.

[jbaakko]

Oh hey check out this site, not what I was mentioning, but:
http://www.opsig.org/

[RexHea]

Yeah Josh, NMRA has a wealth of information and a SIG for just about every part of our hobby. I wish more would support it with their membership.

[NZRMac]

Lets use Skype, just use staging yards as others layouts. "Sending train number *** to BC&W coal mine".

Ken.

[jbaakko]

Lets use Skype, just use staging yards as others layouts. "Sending train number *** to BC&W coal mine".

Ken.
How about we all just join up on MSN, Yahoo, ICQ or AOL messengers, then its free?

[RexHea]

As I have stated, one good thing about gathering all the information for use with the RailOP software is actually seeing what the capabilities are of my layout. Today, I completed the draft of my route schematic that will now help me to figure out routes for the different trains. Before, I would think "Well, I will run over there by the door and then maybe over to the thingy and ..."
I did this one in Corel Draw, but you could do yours in paint or Word or equivalent. Here is a picture of it. Click for enlarged view.
EDIT: Thought you would like to know that the town of Sweetwater is where the John Barleycorn & Sons distillery is located. hehehe!:rolleyes: :D

[RexHea]

I have now compiled and entered all the data required by the RailOP software. Here are the steps I followed and any notes that needed to be mentioned:

The first thing I did was to setup the software for my layout by name, max length of train, direction of trains, scale, and etc. NOTE: The length of the train is only the maximum. Individual routes can be set at any length up to this setting, i.e. layout setting at 120", route from Nashville to Evansville max train length of 72".

1. Made a list of all major areas along the mainlines. This included junctions, cities, any area that needed to be referred to on a route.

2. Under each city/location, named (#4 Ajax Rec.) and listed each siding that will originate or terminate shipments (if any) and noted what type of siding: yard, industrial, service, or interchange and what type of cars it will accept.

3. Measured and noted the usable length of each siding in inches (metric can be used). NOTE: a yard can be entered as individually named tracks (#1, #2, caboose, etc.) or simply as Yard in total trackage. Inbound/outbound tracks are considered the same as mainline and are entered only as a non-destination track.

4. Noted the siding's trailing points northbound or southbound (you can also use East/West or left/right directions).

5. Made a car list using reporting marks, number, length, type, location on layout.

6. Made a list of engines using number, type, load rating, location.

7. Developed routes. example: (Ashland/Cherokee (Ashland-Watts-West jct.-Warrior jct.-Cherokee.)

All of this information was then entered into the program. There are many option settings (too many to list here) with each of these sections to perfect the operations to match your needs. I hate data entry, but this program is so user friendly that it didn't take very long to enter all data. There are many drop-downs and check boxes to aid you and a help file is always there by using a "?" or selecting "F1".

[RexHea]

Yesterday, I invited Cjcrescent over to be one of my train engineers and help me put the smoke test to RailOPs.

The First route was set to run a freight train from Cherokee to Ashland with no stops. An engine was selected and the manifest was randomly generated (you can also build the manifest by manually selecting cars). Carey left the yard pulling 9 freight cars and a caboose and used a GP7 for power. The manifest called for train termination at Ashland with the cars going to several industries and to a couple of yard tracks. When the switching at Ashland was completed, I terminated the train in the software. The software now shows the new location of the engine, cars, and caboose. Carey was all smiles and had a blast of a good time.

The Second route was more experimental than the first in that I chose the option of making 3 Kernels of 6 coal cars each. A "kernel", in reference to this software, is the grouping of like cars (coal, ore, etc.) to be handled as one and never split-up. You can have 2-19 cars in a kernel.

The train was to haul a manually selected kernel from the coal mine at Providence to the US Steel coal dump track at Newton. Oh-oh! It would not allow me!:confused: :confused: Ah! I know what it is. I had located one of the kernels on the coal dump track at the mill and there wasn't any room. No problem! I went to the locations menu, selected Newton and a storage track at the mill and allowed it to receive loaded coal cars. CASE SOLVED!;)

So you can see that it all went very well on the trial run, but little adjustments here and there will always have to be made. I will try to keep you informed as I go along and experience different scenarios. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[RexHea]

a buddy of mine was using this program and it started to goof up. it kept over filling industry and yard tracks. some cars wouldn't move at all even after 15 operations a few cars would just not be moved in the program. and to remedy this he had to delete every thing in the program and re enter everything. when it worked good it was great fun and added realism to a layout.

Understanding RailOPs a little better now, I know of several "user" ways to prevent this.
1. Each siding/yard can be set to a frequency of 1:1, meaning it will receive cars with the same frequency as any other track. Or, you can set it to a higher ratio, such as 5:1 receiving cars 5 times more likely than other tracks. OR, you can set it at -5:1 meaning that it will receive cars only once per 5 chances compared to other tracks.

2. The user has access to a track usage analyzer and can keep up with how car and siding usage are running and make adjustments to correct if needed.

3. Balance out the direction and size of your trains. You shouldn't have all long trains going one way and short the other.

4. Make sure that each type of car has several tracks that will accept that type.

5. Always do a backup to the data files then if something goes awry, then they can easily be reloaded. RailOp has a single radio button that you push to backup/reload data files to a memorystick, floppy, or whatever.

6. When manually building a train, you must make sure that you are not overloading an area of the layout.

RailOP does have software controls and monitors to help prevent some of these problems and tries to balance the operations in its random generation of manifests.

[WCWBrassHat]

Rex,

Sounds like the software is working out okay. I am looking forward to getting some free time (after Dad heads home) to come over and help you test it and learn out it works so I can see if I want RailOps or ShipIt.

Why don't you catch a ride with Bill Barger and come over for my operating session Sat. night. Should have a record size group (looks like 9). You could bring CJ as I am looking for a dispatcher.

Glenn

Glenn

[grande man]

Carey left the yard pulling 9 freight cars and a caboose and used a GP7 for power.

:eek: :eek: :eek: Geez Rex. There must be something wrong with him. Did you call 911??? :D

[RexHea]

Glenn: Thank you for the invite, but I will be heading over to Scott's in Hoover tomorrow to visit and do some layout work. 9 guys will sure be fun at your place. Let me know when you are free to come over.

CJ...Dispatcher? Yikes! You better have a real wrecking crew handy. ha! ha!


Eric: Ha! Yeah, I know what you mean. Once he got used to the diesel fumes he was just fine...even giggled a time or two. Ha!

[Steve B]

Rex So Carey has gotten the Diseasel disease has he:eek: , it's about time;)

[Cjcrescent]

Rex So Carey has gotten the Diseasel disease has he:eek: , it's about time;)

Nah, Steve, ain't got the disease. It was only the Cherokee/Ashland thru freight I pulled with the die-easal. I pulled the coal train with what God meant for coal to be pulled by,STEAM!:D:D:D

[L&N Castle]

Evening all. CJ,is RAILOPS really easy to use as you guys are saying? For instance,how does this operating program work with DCC? I would like very much to see this system in use,so that I have some idea of what it all does.Rex,you mean Carey ran a train without incident? How did that happen?~!:p :D .I wish I could have seen that.Also,since the last ARG meet,I now have both L&N MP-15's #5038Ꭹ,for a grand total of four.Also,I have added two U-30C's,one is the XR-1499,a one of a kind U-boat from GE,that was painted Black,Gold,and White. Any way,maybe once I FINALLY get a layout up and built,maybe I can put RAILOPS to use on my Railroad.William.

[CSX_road_slug]

Rex, it looks like you're having a ball with that railOPs software. My friend Jim Brewer uses some type of op-ware on his Shenandoah Division layout. But that thing is huge! Plenty of origins/destinations, and rolling stock to serve them.

My layout only has six industries on it (not including the steel mill), would it be practical for me?

[RexHea]

William: Thank you for your post. DCC or DC has nothing to do with the operation of this program. It provides computer generated information about your layout rolling stock and motive power based on data that you have entered into the data base. There is no physical/electrical connection to the layout. It works very much like the one Glenn uses in his op sessions; RailOp is a newer and windows based program where Glenn's is an old DOS version. He is looking at this program and SHIPIT to make a change. Yes, it is time to plant your feet and get started on your layout. Sounds like a good ARG event;) :) .

[RexHea]

Ken: I believe that it would add a lot of fun to any layout, regardless of size and configuration. All you need is a point of origin and a distination. Now if you don't have two towns/cities (staging for beyond the walls can be a city), then you can make a route called "Single City" for local moves only, i.e. switching in the mill and to the main yard, Don't forget: you can set your sidings to accept only the type of cars that you want, such as only ore loaded, only ore empty, or have mixed tracks for everything. Just what ever you want.

Now, here is what I have done and you can do: There is a lousy sitcom on TV and I have the urge to run a train. I go to the computer (located anywhere, even work) and click a route, tell it to set me up a train on this route (or I can manually build it and modify it). Then I print it out and go to the layout. I physically build up the train and get everything ready to go and head to the first destination. Following the manifest/switchlist instructions, I setout the cars and/or pickup the cars listed then procede to the next stop and etc. until I am at my destination. I go back to the computer and tell it the train is now terminated. All new car/engine/caboose locations are changed to reflect this.
Yes, you already know this, but think about it: I didn't have to arbitrarily select my cars and try to imagine a logical pickup and setout operation. The software gives you the feeling of reason as to why you are making these moves and running your trains. Just like the real guys!:D

[RexHea]

Just a small update.
I have been setting up the route of the coal haul that leaves the Coal mine to the Coke plant and then returns. I have tested this several times and it has worked very well.


Here's what I wanted it to do:
1. Have designated hopper cars for the Coke Plant haul only.
2. I do not want to mix coal haul cars on the tracks with those with misc. destinations.
3. Leave the coal mine with loaded cars designated for the Coke run only.
4. Arrive at Coke plant Coal dump and drop off loaded cars and pickup empties.
5. Return to the Coal Mine and put the cars on designated tracks for this Coal haul.

Solution:

1. Add new type coal hoppers for this use, i.e. USScoal hopper. Place cars in a group called a Kernel. They will always travel together.
2. Set the program to use Loaded/Empty function which allows you to set a track to receive one or the other, or both.
3. Set the Coal Mine tracks for this as Empties-in only, USS Coal Hopper only
4. Set the Coke Plant track as Loads-in only, USS Coal Hopper only.
5. Double the length in the software for the coal dump track so the software will think that there is plenty of room for the cars that are there and the ones coming in. (It will not send cars to a full siding without a force.) This is not a problem since once at the Coke Plant you uncouple the loads, pull the empties out of the way, and drop off the loads.


Couple up the empties and head to the mine. When at the mine, place on the designated track that the manifest calls for.
When the train route is complete and marked accordingly in the software, the software then changes the empties at the mine to show they are loaded and the same thing happens at the Coal Dump, loads become empty.

Slick, huh!

[NZRMac]

Yup!! real slick. Like using the old loads out empties in but only in the puter.

Ken.

[grande man]

Sounds good Rex, like some serious fun. :cool: