1. 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

2. 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

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

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

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

6. Keep it Simple to Start
What is operations?

7. 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

8. 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 (?)
???

9. 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

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

11. Graphic: MR, July, 1961; Nov. 1975

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. Letting Your Computer Do the Work
What is Jmri?

18. 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

19. 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…

20. 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”

21. JMRI Settings

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. Not all Locations are the Same
Types of locations

27. 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)

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

29. 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

30. 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

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

32. 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

33. Locations

34. Locations

35. Locations

36. 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
 Red
SOU
Hop Cov
 90031
Gray
Hop
 82242
 Black
 82203
Cab
 911
 40foot

37. Cars

38. Cars

39. 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

40. Routes

41. 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

42. Trains

43. Trains

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

45. Locomotives

46. Locomotives

47. 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

48. Applying What We Have So Far…
The layout

49. 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

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

51. 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

52. Trains

53. Build a Train

54. Remember the Route for this Train

55. 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”

56. Let’s Get to Work, William!

57. Thanks for your attention and interest
Questions?

58. Thanks To
Designing Model Railroad Operations (Realistic Operation by Phases) By Richard Schumacher,
JMRI Software: Google “jmri operations”
48 Top Notch Track Plans, by Bob Hayden, Kalmbach Publishing, c (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

59. Download presentation:
Go to Model RR’g page