You go Bob! Tellum like it is!
I have a question regarding Yard Office Train. Does it allow you to create waybills cards?
Railroadrunner wrote: pastorbob wrote: I too use Excel to keep track of just over 200 diesels, 1600 plus freight cars, and I keep a lot of stats on each, all entered so I can do lookups and sorts.Does fine for me. Bob You know darn well that is classsified as a collector. 200 locos is spoiled and MOST likely 190 of them stay in a case or box. NOT THAT IT IS A BAD THING im just saying. I use a classy method to inventory my 20 trains (THAT I RUN TOO) A dry erase board
pastorbob wrote: I too use Excel to keep track of just over 200 diesels, 1600 plus freight cars, and I keep a lot of stats on each, all entered so I can do lookups and sorts.Does fine for me. Bob
I too use Excel to keep track of just over 200 diesels, 1600 plus freight cars, and I keep a lot of stats on each, all entered so I can do lookups and sorts.
Does fine for me.
Bob
You know darn well that is classsified as a collector. 200 locos is spoiled and MOST likely 190 of them stay in a case or box. NOT THAT IT IS A BAD THING im just saying.
I use a classy method to inventory my 20 trains (THAT I RUN TOO) A dry erase board
Got news for you my friend. I have an operating three deck HO layout, and I cycle consists on and off the railroad for operating sessions. I also have a few special units I run for my own pleasure when by myself and none of the diesels are in boxes. I have a mole hole area which accesses three staging yards and diesel consists are located there to go on and off. The rest of the off line engines are on shelves under the main terminal at Oklahoma City and are also cycled.
About 10 of those diesels are bad order awaiting work when I get a round tuit.
I keep Excel inventories of locos, including date purchased, modifications, DCC information, value for my insurance. Also it avoids duplication of diesel numbers.
I keep Excel inventories of freight cars also for the same reason and to avoid duplication in car numbers.
A collector I am not. You are always welcome to visit the website listed under my name for verification. Personally, I don't think it is anyone's business. I quoted the numbers to justify needing a spreadsheet.
tatans wrote:Inventory for trains?? I hope I'm not the only person who would find this question strange, just how many items must you have to keep a written inventory of this "stuff"
Three years ago, my townhouse was broken into. Granted, the trains weren't touched, but with everything I have, it would have taken me a while to find out what was missing if they had been touched.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
tatans wrote:Inventory for trains?? I hope I'm not the only person who would find this question strange, just how many items must you have to keep a written inventory of this "stuff" A few people have included the amount of "stuff" they have, and I promised myself not to comment on this, other forums have included such preposterous amounts of trains as not to be believed, this inventory thing seems to take away from the hobby itself, is this not true? would it not be more fun to "play with your trains" than spend time keeping track of the amount of equipment ( I'm not going to comment again) BUT every body to their own game eh? I shall go on choo-chooing around with my big KCS passenger diesel and 2 switchers used for logging while you guys inventory( is that a word?) just a comment.
Could be handy if you ever have an insured loss.........
But it IS handy to keep track of which decoders are in which stock, and what the CVs are programed to.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Well call me Amish but I pretty much just keep it all printed on sheets of paper with road name type of car/loco and road numbers. I like keeping it simple so this way I can take it with me whenever I'm shopping for new rolling stock. That way I can just look at it and see what roadnumbers I already have so I don't end up with two of the same thing.
I use MS Access.
Radio Shack used to have a free scanner called the CueCat. It plugged inline with your keyboard. Sometimes one pops up on E-bay.
I have used an excel data base for years, carryed it around on my Sharp Wizard pda and now my sony clie, which is handy to check what i have in stock or what to buy when i am at the hobby store. I tried MItrains, but found it limited in customizing. I have been using Yard Office for about a year and really like it. it was quite easy to import my complete excel data base so that is didn't have to retype every thing in again, which made me a happy hobbo. The software has all the fields i want/need and is reasonably customizable. Barcode scanning would make it easier, but that is way more then i will ever need.
jim
Dear Pastorbob, I hope you are a retired pastor. If you are not, you either have a very understanding congregation or they don't know what you are doing in your basement late at night!
I'm a retired pastor and don't think I would know what to do with that much stuff! I'd rather run them and keep them on the track, then keep them in a box and try to keep track of them!
It's good relaxation, isn't it. Too bad too many pastors and other people in vocations that call for lots of time, don't have a good hobby like rr.
I hope you know I was joking with you. PTL
Try using the Dewey Decimal System. I hear it works well.
I use a software package called MiTrains from Shenandoah Software which was developed specifically for model railroaders. Biggest benefit for me is having the ability to directly print the pocketed Carcards for my operations. I have approx 600 cars and engines which I initially had in an excel datsbase and was able to import that data into MiTrains.
Their website is: http://members.aol.com/Shenware/index.html They also have a program called Waybills for creating and printing 4-sided waybills which I also have used for several years. Programs can be downloaded for trial.
Good Luck,
Gale
jamnest wrote: I use an Excel spread sheet to keep inventory of my locos and rolling stock. I can sort and print a list by any of the fileds. It has been handy to have at train shows and when bidding on Ebay as it is a quick reference as to what I already have.JIM
I use an Excel spread sheet to keep inventory of my locos and rolling stock. I can sort and print a list by any of the fileds. It has been handy to have at train shows and when bidding on Ebay as it is a quick reference as to what I already have.
JIM
Ditto
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I use MS-Excel as well to create my own database of equipment. If you want you could buy a pen type scanner and create the barcode labels with MS-Word or Excel. Just add them to a hidden field in Excel and it will pop them up. The labels would have to be put on the bottom of the equipment. I have thought about this and always dropped the idea as it really had no value, other than just being able to 'do it'. RFID may be another possible way to do this, but since I model the 50's, I think I will stay with 'car cards' that fit the era....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
cacole wrote:I made up my own using Microsoft Access. As long as you don't have too many pieces of rolling stock or locomotives with identical road numbers, you can use the road name and number to sort them instead of needing bar codes and scanners.
I made up my own using Microsoft Access. As long as you don't have too many pieces of rolling stock or locomotives with identical road numbers, you can use the road name and number to sort them instead of needing bar codes and scanners.
I use msaccess too. I allow the program to assign a unique asset id and index on that. I can then dup road # if I want. I browse by list, dbl click to bring up individ asset for history etc. good stuff.
I use TrainTrack for my layout. It even lets you put in pictures of the equipment for your inventory.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
BRVRR wrote: I use a freeware program called RRTrains. It keeps track of all of my locos and rolling stock. There is an extensive number of sheets for each car/loco which include cost, wheel type, coupler type, color, road name, road number etc. You can sort the data with any one of 14-parameters: Number, Road Name, Type, Color etc.There is a section for decoders too. One of the best features is that you can attach a photo to the record of each car/loco. There are several notes sections for maintenance, changes or whatever you might want to add to the record.Here's the link: [url=http://www.gregorybraun.com/]Just scroll down the page and you will come to the RRTrains program.Best of all its free!
I use a freeware program called RRTrains. It keeps track of all of my locos and rolling stock. There is an extensive number of sheets for each car/loco which include cost, wheel type, coupler type, color, road name, road number etc. You can sort the data with any one of 14-parameters: Number, Road Name, Type, Color etc.
There is a section for decoders too. One of the best features is that you can attach a photo to the record of each car/loco. There are several notes sections for maintenance, changes or whatever you might want to add to the record.
Here's the link: [url=http://www.gregorybraun.com/]
Just scroll down the page and you will come to the RRTrains program.
Best of all its free!
Love this program. I have only scratched the surface, but have used it for car cards already. Talk about bringing the RR to life.
John
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
luvadj wrote: Hi Dima;I don't know about barcodes and scanners...seems a bit much, although I do have the capability. I have some scanners and software I used in one of my old stores. I use yard office...it's a good all around program for inventory of locos and rolling stock...here's the link:HTTP://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice I use yardoffice also , very nice setup.
Hi Dima;
I don't know about barcodes and scanners...seems a bit much, although I do have the capability. I have some scanners and software I used in one of my old stores. I use yard office...it's a good all around program for inventory of locos and rolling stock...here's the link:
I use yardoffice also , very nice setup.
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
dehusman wrote: Too bad each locomotive doesn't have some sort of code already on it, like a series of letters and numbers painted on the side that would identify it. 8-)Dave H.
Too bad each locomotive doesn't have some sort of code already on it, like a series of letters and numbers painted on the side that would identify it. 8-)
Dave H.
Mine aren't painted on. They're mounted - little brass plaques.
The DMUs, EMUs and non-powered rolling stock have painted on reporting marks.
Every piece of rolling stock (except steam loco tenders) has a separate car card that stays with it wherever it goes. That includes the workbench and storage/moving boxes. The maintenance record for that item is on the back of its card, readable by the Mark I mod 0 eyeball and updated with a ball pen as necessary.
Modern electronics are wonderful. KISS* is priceless.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
* Keep It Simple, ******.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
My number of cars and locomotives I have is growing. To a point that some aren't on layout anymove. So I want to keep it all organized. I was thinking of some kind of inventory system, even with barcodes. Anyone tried something like this?
It would be pretty cool to scan the barcode and know exactly what the car is, even history of repairs done on it. Or have all the info about the locomotive!