Replicating U.S. Railroad operations

[matepava]

Are there any good websites that one can use to study prototype operations of U.S. railroads? Perhaps some good Model railroad websites? We are essentially virtual model railroaders, after all.

[harryadkins]

This website is devoted to model railroading, but many of the concepts are applicable to virtual railroading. I suggest you begin with "Designing Model Railroad Operations" by Richard Schumacher. May of the websites I have found were the result of Google searches on a particular topic.

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/library.htm

Hope this helps,
Harry

[matepava]

Great Website! And from my hometown!!

Thanks for the great tip, Harry!!

[TrainMaster1]

Replicating US Railroad Operations is what we do multiple times a month! If you are interested in learning how to run in prototype operating sessions with your fellow RW owners, I suggest you check out our forum. This can be found at: http://vrma.proboards.com

We run operating sessions based on actual trains from Class One Railroads all over the US and Canada. We provide training for all positions in our sessions. If you are interested in learning how the 1:1 Scale crews do it we are a great place for you to visit.

We have run dozens of session on MSTS and are now in the process of forming an RW owners group and offering prototype operating sessions for them as well. If you like running a railroad versus playing a sim you will like what we do in every operating session.

In our sessions there are live trained dispatchers, yardmasters, maintenance of way personnel, trainmaster in addition to 20+ road freights and locals working all based on the real world counterpart to the sim route. We do all the research so that the symbols and trains are accurate for the time period chosen. We can bring this to RW right now! We just need a core group willing to learn how to run according to prototype rules and guidelines. I am going to be honest and tell you now that is not as easy as it sounds. We do provide all the training, track and signal charts, and guidance that you need to successfully run in a session.

Our operating sessions range from the 1960s to modern day right now. Tomorrow we will be on the CR Indianapolis Line in 1996. We have 2 Dispatchers (just like the real line did) plus a chief of Yard operations on duty to handle 20 main line trains plus 3 locals. You will also hear a number of 2 person crews as we have a live feature that allows trains that work in yard or local service to have an engineer and a conductor on the same train even if they are miles apart. They both see everything at the same time. Yes you can do this in RW too as what we do does not depend on a sim to work!

I would like to invite anyone interested in real operations to drop by and listen tomorrow. We start at 1 pm eastern and will go to about 11 pm when the last train reaches its terminal. You can stay for as much as you like. Just drop me a PM and I will send you the info you need to hear tomorrow's session.

If you like what you hear, starting next Thursday October 6th, we are beginning another Intro Event for new crews. This is where all new members begin their journey of learning all about actual operations and how we do what we do in each session. If you are interested in learning more about becoming an operating member of our group let me know that too and I will be happy to help.

Thanks for reading!

Nick

[OldProf]

... We are essentially virtual model railroaders, after all.

I just have to disagree with your basic premise, here. I, at least, am not a "virtual model railroader". TS2012, like its predecessors, is a
railroad simulator, not a "model railroad" simulator. In my opinion, the only "model railroad" simulator is Trainz, and I say that primarily because of the appearance of its 2D map and the fact that its routes are described as having a certain number of "boards", rather than as having a certain number of miles of track or square miles of territory. Many of the routes available for Trainz also look, again in my opinion, more like model railroad layouts than like real-world railroads.

My intention here is not to start a sim-war, but simply, again, to state that I disagree with the idea that TS2012 is a "model railroad" simulator.

Tom Pallen

[TrainMaster1]

Absolutely correct, Tom. Could not have said that better. That is why we only do Prototype operations based on real world information in every operating session. Alco and early EMD fans will really enjoy our next session coming up on 10/15.

We can show anyone interested in learning railroad operations how to bring that to life right now in RW. Intro Classes start on 10/6 for the next wave of new crews. Interested? Let me know.

Nick

[gtw5812]

I suggest, if you are interested in this kind of stuff, to do an Amazon book search for "Track and Train Dynamics", a very useful publication. Also, google transalert.com or The Railway Education Bureau. Look for the books, "The Elements of Train Dispatching" Vol 1 and 2. They both have very useful information within, and help greatly....even in a simulator. I hope this helps.

R/
Galen

[ChuckF]

Hi! You can also pick up stuff by listening to railroadradio.net or radioreference.com, and i'm sure there are other sites. Will give you some sense as to how trains are dispatched. etc. Cheers; Chuck F.

[TrainMaster1]

If you are interested in approximating what you think an RR does then yes the scanner and reading will work. It takes much more than reading or listening to a scanner to get railroad operations right. There is no substitute for working with people who have actually done it for a living and are willing to share their knowledge. We have had many sim owners attempt to join us and think they can go right into an operating session just because they owner a scanner for x years or have owned the sim for so long.

Think of it this way, how many people would be qualified to walk into the offices of BNSF, NS, CSX, CP, CN or any other class one railroad and announce that they own a scanner, have taken a lot of pictures, and hung around trackside (legally) so when do I start? The engineers job looks easy. To do it right and safely requires lots of training. We provide only the basics that you need to operate in a prototype manner such as train handling, braking systems, signaling systems and more. When you run with us you are on a railroad and have many of the same tools and training that a 1:1 scale engineer has.

The other jobs that we cover include: dispatchers, yardmasters, trainmasters, MOW, C&S, Conductors and all require a commitment to training. Tomorrow night (10/6) nine brave souls will begin their path to the engineers seat with us. If history serves as an indicator 6 will make it through and become Extra Board engineers. This allows them to participate in any operating session where they own that simulator used in that session.

For example our next operating session is set in October of 1980 on the GN High Line between Havre, MT and Whitefish, MT. We actually have a BN Employee Timetable from that very month to cover the rules (such as haz mat handling or speed restrictions by car type), method of track control (CTC, ABS 251-254, DTC, TWC), speed limits for freight/passenger trains and much more. Every train going on the call board for crews to bid on has been researched so we know how many engines they normally drew, types of cars in that train, even in a few cases with unit trains what roads you were most likely to see. What we do is the difference in playing a game (absolutely nothing wrong with that) and running a railroad.

This session will feature 22-26 trains including both Amtrak Empire Builders (7 and 8). All trains that either work in a yard or along the route are two person crews (engineer/conductor) on board. The two people can be anywhere in the world and ride together and see everything their train does at the same time. Conductors actually cut cars and throw switches while the engineer moves the train. We can do that in any sim on the planet as our operating model is independent of the sim used.

We know it is a giant leap from running a scenario by yourself to being in a session with dozens of other trains, DS, YM, TM, and MOW personnel. That is why we started our training program so you can learn the correct way to get the job done. Anyone who wants to listen to the session on 10/15 is more than welcome to do so. Just let me know you are interested by PM and I will get you the info you need. For those who feel they are ready to learn now, we are assembling a group of RW owners to run our first mini session qualifiers soon. You can get you name on the list again by PM and let me know you are interested.

Nick

[TDHenderson]

Nick,

All of this really sounds interesting, but I am having a hard time understanding how this relates to us RW3/TS2012 users as I have yet to see a route that you run that we have available to us.

Are you planning any pure RW3/TS2012 sessions in the future?

Thanks,
Trevor

[TrainMaster1]

Our system of creating operating sessions is completely independent of the simulator used in the session. Our plan is to have MSTS sessions, RW sessions and TRS sessions running every month. We are in the process of getting an RW group together. In order for us to take the large amount time to find and research a route, I have to have a viable group of about 18 hardy souls ready to go through the process to get themselves into the cab. Once we have a trained RW core of engineers, we will start adding several RW sessions a month to our schedule. Until that time we cannot even begin the process of assembling a session.

So here is where those of you interested can help:

1) We need your suggestions for routes. We only do class one railroads (the big ones) and never do any shortlines or fictional railroads. The route has to be a close and faithful representation of its real world counterpart. This means artistic license and missing mileage disqualify it from consideration. The route ideally should be upwards of 100 miles in length. Yes we can deal with shorter routes, just means we will only use that route in a mini session rather than a full operating session.

Route should have some type of challenge to it...single track here and there, lots of industries, something to make it interesting. Big wide routes of endless boredom do not get lots of crews excited nor do "short over before it started" runs. That has been our experience.

2) Sign up to become an engineer with us. This is done in an Intro Event which covers everything you are going to need to know to run in a session.You should be prepared to go through the process of learning the paperwork in a session, get engineer basic engineer training done and then run in two mini session on a selected before you participate in a main operating session. Everyone joining us follows this path even if you are a current Class One Engineer. We do not care how long you have owned the sim or how many trains you have seen or routes you have run. What we do is a completely different process. Be open to learning and getting blown away by the realism of every session.

3) After you acquire enough cab time, you will be eligible to move to higher positions such as Yardmaster or Dispatcher. While no one is ever required to do this, the more qualified people we have the more session get on the schedule.

4) Help bring us quality RW people. The reason we grew as well as we did is the fact that first people in our group were able to identify others interested in learning how to run according to prototype rules and guidelines. There is a limited number of engineer spaces available. We will close to new MSTS engineers soon as we are rapidly approaching full staffing. Once we have enough people to staff all positions we stop hiring just like a real railroad does.

RW and TRS are new and while some of our current members will claim positions, there will be opening for up to 100 or so to join for each simulator.
Being a member also has its benefits as we you will gain access to new routes, equipment, scenarios and other goodies that are strictly only for the use of our members.

So I hope you can see that if enough good people here raise their hands we can bring a world of incredible realism and outstanding experience to RW. In order to do that we need sim owners to step up, we need your suggestions for good routes to run, and we need you to be open to learning how to run in a prototypical manner.

If you think it will help I am willing to host a live Q&A Session to answer all questions and get this train moving. If you want to listen in to a current session you can do that as well just send me a note to let me know your interested in learning more.

Thanks for your time.

Nick

[gwgardner]

Can't beat this online, free game, Freaight Yard Manager, for learning a lot about real world US train operations:

http://www.fymanager.co.uk/

It's a game in which you take the role of a yard master. There are more than a 1000 US/Canada yards being operated, with realistic train movements between the yards, using actual train symbols and prototypical consists. Everything from hump yards to intermodal to unit trains to small yards, mines, power plants.

[Machinist]

Thanks, Gardner

[TrainMaster1]

Gardner:

Excellent choice on the Freight Yard Manager. The major difference between what we do and FYM is that we have live trained personnel running a railroad. With FYM you are still playing a game. And a good one at that.

Even with all the symbols and consists correct, good old humans doing their thing make VORA much more realistic than any game on the planet. Our group runs a railroad with trained personnel in every position. This session (if it sells out) will have 26 trains working in three different yards with 38 engineers, 12 conductors (for the trains that do switching plus AMTK and Yard crews), 2 dispatchers, yardmasters, and a trainmaster. No MOW this time cause we did that in the last session. Also this is all live. That is where the fun comes in working with other people to get the job done right and watching how the simplest move sometimes makes the comedy reel.

The session is set in October of 1980 on the BN between Havre, MT and Whitefish, MT so Alcos and U-Boats and F-45s will be alive and well again. This is the level of detail and realism we can bring to any RW route that depicts a Class One RR as well. Every session is different in era and location around the country. I already know that on 10/29 we come to modern day on a major coal line in the east.

I encourage to take a listen to what we do by stopping by during the 10/15 session. If you like what you hear we will be happy to get you started on your virtual prototype operating career. Send me a PM to listen in and we'll take it from there.

Thanks for your time,

Nick

[Chessie8638]

Can't beat this online, free game, Freaight Yard Manager, for learning a lot about real world US train operations:

http://www.fymanager.co.uk/

It's a game in which you take the role of a yard master. There are more than a 1000 US/Canada yards being operated, with realistic train movements between the yards, using actual train symbols and prototypical consists. Everything from hump yards to intermodal to unit trains to small yards, mines, power plants.

This plus Train Dispatcher is an awesome guide / gameplay to learn: http://www.softrail.com/railsof.html (also used to make atcs displays I think)