dispatching trains on layout with paper

[Anonymous]

I am in need of a system to make up train lists or to have a car-card system. Is there anything commercially available? I had a simple computer program in MS-Dos that crashed and the files became corrupted so I am without a system. Remember the KISS principle. I don't need complexity. Richard Hitchcock, [e-mail] alter ego of atsf3768

[Anonymous]

hi rich: a simple card system would seem to be the answer. it would not require a computer. you did not make it clear weather or not you wanted to discard your computer or not. each car would have a small index card assigned to it. this card in turn would slip into a larger envelope to be stored in front of the area where the car is assigned. yopu could move your cars anywhere you want just keep the card with the car. mmy group and i use a system like it and it has worked for years for us. it would include a discription of the car. included would be road name, length, color, etc. also it would have 4 locations on the ends of the card on both sides one location per end. i hope this does not sound to complicated because it is not. if you want more info im [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Richard, I use a really simple system. No cards for any cars. Identify the area (destination) where you want to run your train. Identify the various industries or spur tracks in that area. For each industry or spur, list the types of cars (box,tank, reefer, etc) that logically could go there. From this information make out a card showing the industries and the number (1,2,3,not the specific car number) and type of cars that will make up your train. Do this several times alocating different cars each time. If this approach seems interesting, let me know at [e-mail] and I will send a more complete description.

[Anonymous]

I don't use car cards. Instead, I run trains with a specific amount of cars needed for each siding it visits, and carry a "train card" to see exactly what I should leave and take from each industry. Oh, and FYI, I always put cars to go to the main yard on the front of the train, Behind the locos.

[kschmidt]

I have been running on a friends layout who uses computer printed train lists. The program is one that he wrote himself. However it requires an APPLE/MAC computer to run it. He is willing to give to anyone who asks. [e-mail]