On the Central Vermont we build our trains in ¡°tricks¡± or shifts, where each model day is two tricks. ?The CV is a large railroad, and it may take 2 or 3 hops (trains) for a car to get from staging to destination. One move per model day simply takes too long. ?I will build the 1st trick trains and terminate them so their cars become available to move again, and then build the 2nd trick trains and terminate them. Each trick is its own op session day and may be 6 hours of running trains.
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Each trick must complete before the next trick runs.
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At the end of the second trick we will inventory car positions and fix them if necessary, and account for bad order or missing cars. ?Then we will repeat the process for the next model day.
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I¡¯ve operated on a railroad where as each train completed its run notice was given to the IT department. ?They would terminate the train, updating car positions, and enabling them to build the next train or 2 with up to date car status. ?Nice, but I agree that those IT positions would be hard to fill. ?I¡¯d rather run trains.
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Jon in San Rafael
