Question for John Flann

foulrift · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ

In the current issue of Model Railroad Planning you mention the use of playing cards aid in switching. I have a small switching layout and am looking for a simple switching system.Could you please explain how your system works? Thanks
Bob

Blackcloud · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:23 am Post subject:

! am not sure how John does it but a printed list of freight cars, each allocated a card from the deck, would probably work. For example Ace of Spade = FCPyF boxcar #23, 2 Spades = FI gondola # 7296, 3 spades = FI tankcar #988870... Until all the freight cars to be used are allocated a playing card. Then draw out a plan of the yard large enough to place a playing card on each spot, or use card pockets on the front of the layout relating to the spots.

Shuffle the deck and deal the cards to each spot, some "No traffic" cards could be included, for example a quarter of the deck, or one suit, designating that no traffic will be allocated to a particular spot during the current operating session. The resulting positions of the cards will then indicate where each freight car should be switched too.

Jokers could be used, maybe to indicate that the car already at a particular spot should be held over until the next session. Then if the next card dealt is a valid car card (not No Traffic) that car will need to be left off spot until the next session.

Probably needs a little tweaking but I'd be interested to see how John does it too and if there is any overlap with the method I would use.

In a much simpler situation I use cards with photos of the cars taped to them. These can be selected at random or by members of the audience at an exhibition and placed in a row for the target result on an Inglenook switching puzzle.
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Bob Hughes
CM&EE Blackcloud Railways

shortliner2001 · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 492

This is what I used for Ingleferry Wharf - cards with a suitable photo of the car printed out and placed in the plastic holder made for "Trading Cards" (used by kids for swapping them) to keep them clean. The photo helps to identify the car for inexperienced operators (at least you know what colour you are looking for!) I got them from Borders, but I don't know if they still do them. Must admit I hadn't thought of the "No Traffic" card, but that is a good idea. On an Inglenook, the train is to be made up in the order dealt. Look forward to Johns explanation.

foulrift · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ

Thanks for the replies.I appreciate the information.Good starting point.
Bob

john flann · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject:

Bob, I shall be happy to help. In view of the interest in this subject I was invited by Jack'shortliner' Trollope to write an article for MTI.

This I have done in short order (it was 108F here yesterday and inside was the place to be) and it will be on it's way to the Editor as soon as I can get my scanner orgainized on a new computer I have.

Meantime, if you can pm me with your email address I will send you a sight of it prior to publication.

As to the responses you have had so far on a quick look they all appear far more complicated than my system-still beauty lies in the eye of the beholder-or the deviser of the system!

If you have it a version of my system was in MRP 2003.

John Flann

john flann · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject:

The article I referred to has been written and I had hoped in view of the interest it might have got into MTI 83, but Jack tells me for technical reasons that is not possible.

So, hold your breath, or whatever, but if any member has a question that cannot wait, please raise it here or pm me.

John Flann.

pdbrooksburke · Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Posts: 25 Location: Manchester

I found the article in MTI86 to be a clear description of the 'cards' approach to running.
I guess that the other 2 ways are 'fixed sequences' and 'full timetabing'-the 2 are similar.

How does Johns card syetm 'scale up' when you have 2-3 yards sidings?

I do recall Providence River Branch from earlier MTI's and isnt it a largish (By MTI standards anyway) layout? some colour shots would be nice John...
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Paul

john flann · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject:

I'm glad you liked the article Paul and found it clear, it's actually quite prototypical as described, but an 'editor emeritus' dismissed it out of hand. More fool him I thought.

That's a good question about yards/sidings along the way and the answer is that the length of the train as finally made up, ie the number of vehicles in it cannot exceed the capacity of its road in the fiddle/staging yard.

Assuming that capacity is 9 cars no yard can set out more than 3 cars per train. However if the yards capacities vary one yard with more cars can set out a larger number and vice versa.

As to the PRB I do have some colour photos and if I can prevail upon Jack they will get posted. (I haven't yet mastered the art and my son who can do it is awayin Seattle.)
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John Flann