Excel Switch Lists?

[wm3798]

@GaryHinshaw I was not aware that JMRI could function for anything but a DCC layout.  I will definitely explore that.  If you look at the latest madness I've posted over in my Retro thread, you'll see that I'm trying to squeeze a little ops out of the smaller space I have.
Sometimes it pays to get trolled!

But I wonder if the system can handle the occasional time warp when I swap my 1890s steam out for a Metroliner!

Lee

[cfritschle]

While not an Excel spreadsheet, Ship It! from Albion Software does produce computer generated switchlists.  http://www.albionsoftware.com/

I have used to sparingly, but I have some friends that use it for regular operating sessions.  There is even a Yahoo Group where you can get technical help.  https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/shipit/info?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9ncm91cHMueWFob28uY29tL25lby9ncm91cHMvc2hpcGl0L2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMvbWVzc2FnZXM&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAtWLCubBMZ0dlELA53afh7T1Wdl_2_VHBXux-Ds6c-Ldsk_3E-WLCaIrSROYCzBXrd4unQCmSl60on04GJFLHs1kuXHgbIeoImzyznhs1yunUCFjd52QyrzBsNLbQ_zcVaLZoxVYKVXw_PMjkzwnVfsVyNH_IYlxpbDjuHdCihQ

[Maletrain]

First draft, based on Ed's CR example. I don't know what a DiCCS is, so I took artistic license and made it "Dispatch Center". Also tweaked a few other things:

Excel spreadsheet here: http://www.everywherewest.com/trw_switchlist.xlsx

Labels are in locked fields so as to not anger the fat-finger gods, the data fields are all normal. Sheet has protection turned on, but without password; turn off sheet protection to modify the labels.

Thank you, Mike!

[wm3798]

I reduced these from actual WM paperwork and have them in a ready to print format...

[peteski]

I reduced these from actual WM paperwork and have them in a ready to print format...

Lee,  the document looks cool, but with all the background "noise", is this a scan of a poor quality copy of the document?

[C855B]

Lee,  the document looks cool, but with all the background "noise", is this a scan of a poor quality copy of the document?

It looks like it had scanned through the paper and captured the printing on the flip side. If there's an opportunity to scan again, placing medium gray (NOT black) paper behind it will mitigate the problem without blowing the contrast. Discovered this technique developing an OCR system 25 years ago.

[CRL]

You could make this document even more realistic with a lot of greasy fingerprints all over it.

[peteski]

It looks like it had scanned through the paper and captured the printing on the flip side. If there's an opportunity to scan again, placing medium gray (NOT black) paper behind it will mitigate the problem without blowing the contrast. Discovered this technique developing an OCR system 25 years ago.

I use black backing sheet (from a craft store) and  it works perfectly well too.  Also the contrast and white and black thresholds can be easily modified (either in the scanner's settings  or in a graphic editor post-scanning), so the printing can be made nice and dark, while the paper is pure white (if one is after that type of a look).  But you are professional graphic guy, so you already know all that. I only do  this as a hobby. 

[Steveruger45]

You could make this document even more realistic with a lot of greasy fingerprints all over it.

 weathering switch lists.  Great idea.

[wm3798]

I believe the original may have been onion skin paper, since several carbon copies (remember them?) had to be cut for the records.  The copy I made was an original sheet.
I also have some Form 19s, also on onion skin...  I resized the copy in Publisher and set up 4 to a sheet.

[wm3798]

The other one I used a lot of was the "Station Record of Train Movements"  ... When the operator says the train is "O.S." or "On Sheet", this is the one they are talking about...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

And that's why I recreated the Conrail ones in InDesign.

Doing the WM forms shouldn't be that hard either.

[GaryHinshaw]

The other one I used a lot of was the "Station Record of Train Movements"  ... When the operator says the train is "O.S." or "On Sheet", this is the one they are talking about...

This is why they used to teach us to stay within the lines in penmanship.

[ncbqguy]

I don't pretend to be an Operations Expert but I have operated on a number of railroads using different systems for freight car movement and this is what I've gathered:
There is a difference between Wheel Reports (all the cars that are in a train and to be picked up) which is a document for the Conductor....basically a distillation of the Waybills associated with all the cars that a particular train is going to handle....and Switch Lists which are the notes hand written by the Brakeman on the ground to plan moves. 
I've found that writing out switch lists is much better than trying to keep track of a stack of Car Cards or juggling them on a shelf or worse leaning them against cuts of cars in a yard or town.  You can write down cars that you don't have waybills for (cars that are staying where they are but have to be moved to perform your work).     
Switch lists are useful even when you get a full printout of the cars from a computer.  It takes less time to jot down the reporting marks and car numbers than having to refer back to the source documents each time you make a move.
I have been on railroads where the owner lays out every move for every car but most times you arrive in town with the car cards / waybills in your train, look through them to see what you're dropping off, look at the sidings to see what cars you have to pick up or leave.  The handwritten Switch List is only good for that one town or yard and is flexible if you encounter a car not picked up or not where it is supposed to be.   
Charlie Vlk 

[JoeD]

Will this work for the 99.999% of modelers who don't do Conrail?? 

The CRHS has just the thing for you!

(Attachment Link)

1 pack of 50 is just $5.

https://conrailshoppe.com/reproduction-conrail-industry-switch-lists/

I designed these for my own use and figured the CRHS could benefit from the fundraiser.

I've also got the yard version of it too, if you need those. We haven't decided on if we're going to print those or not yet.