Dennis, on the Club layout (), we use JMRI Operations for our Op Sessions.? Our era is 1948-1952 with all dark territory so we use TimeTable and Train Orders.? We have a Time Table, that all Crews use, showing all scheduled trains that go beyond Yard Limits.? Our Dispatcher is also provided a simple listing of the scheduled trains in two formats: one by train number, and one by planned departure time.? That listing is printed from an Excel spreadsheet that has the trains manually listed (since we have a planned schedule and build/print/terminate all trains in JMRI ahead of time).?

As a general rule, departing trains are always built shorter than the shortest passing siding on their route, but if the Dispatcher wants to issue a Train Order, he will talk with the Station Operator ahead of time to ascertain current conditions, since cars are often picked up/dropped off so the number varies.? With no signals on the track, each Station is expected to report trains arriving, passing through, or departing, to the Dispatcher, and the Dispatcher maintains a manual board of the location of every active train.?

Note that we have just one Station Operator position, and he is in the Layout room while the Dispatcher is in the back.? The Station Operator watches all "manned" stations on the layout and reports by phone, all arrivals, passing through, or departing trains.? The phone actually has been displaced by the era-inaccurate FRS radio which allows the Station Operator movement within the layout room.? For any Train Orders to be issued to a train crew, the Dispatcher calls the Station Operator to receive the order who then flags the train at a next station (or station they are working at).? The Dispatcher will ask the Station Operator for status (timing for expected departure when needed, and lengths) to help make decisions before issuing Train Orders.

Hope this provides some additional thoughts for Operations.?

Phil in gorgeous Young Harris, Georgia, USA