TRAIN MANIFESTS AND SCHEDULING

The purpose of prototype railroading, of course, is to pick up, transport and deliver materials in and beyond its trackage area. It follows that model railroading would be incomplete if it did not simulate the same.

The peg board on the left schedules the 58 actions to be taken by our system during each model day of operation. The numbers refer to train-runs of which there are currently 26. Executing the whole schedule can take four hours or more of real time.

The computer listings on the right show each train's manifest, itemizing the individual cars that are to make it up. The program tries to cycle appropriate cars and loads to all the local industries as well as plausable ones for thru traffic. Having instructions as to how to handle each car is exactly how the prototypes operate.