After Session Changes

After the 145th session I have decided to make several changes to hopefully improve the operations especially for the dispatcher.

Most of these changes are to the Train Order system and they have been made and tested.

One of the two major changes I made was to not allow a Form A for a train that requires a Form 19 until after the corresponding Form 19 has been made complete.  For example for the Hood Turn if the Train Order system is in full automatic mode the dispatcher will no longer be able to make complete a Form A giving the Hood Turn clearance until he has created and made complete the corresponding Form 19.

I also changed the Train Order system so when the system is in fully automatic mode it will only list options in the drop down boxes that are valid for the train identified in the TO box.  This will greatly reduce the noise the dispatcher has to wade through to create Form 19s and From CIs.  In fact in most cases only three options will be displayed for each TO train selected.

The final change I made is actually to the Traffic Generator but it is displayed in the Train Order system and that is the addition of a standing CI for the conductor of train 30 to verify that he does not have any N&W interchange cars in his consist and if he does to have them removed.  Hopefully this will be one more chance to keep these cars off of mixed train #30 where they cause trouble in Stanley.

All of these changes have been fully tested.  But as we know that means nothing.  Only the next session will tell if the changes made were good or not.

Continuing on, in an attempt to clear up confusion concerning the Helix Interlock I am creating a cheat sheet (or card) that describes the operations of the Helix Interlock, shows pictures of the three control panels and walks the operator through how each panel works and when it is used.  Now if I can just figure out how to get the operators to read this card.

Another change as a result of the 145th session will be to cut a hole on the shelf that holds the Digitrax command station to allow for more air flow around the heat sink.  This command station has been working without fail for 144 sessions but decided to over heat during the 145th.  So I will make this change to try and prevent this from happening again.

And finally since the helix monitoring system failed during the 145th session I will be looking for a replacement.  Hopefully this replacement will have better resolution allowing the engineers to actually see their trains in the helix.  At least that is the goal.