Documentation

 The word for today is Documentation. When I walk up to a job on a model railroad I want to understand what the layout owner expects of me. I MUST be in a easy to read and understand format. 

Simple,  right?

Like golf, there are only two simple things you need to master,  distance and accuracy. SIMPLE.

Another question arises about Documentation on our model railroads. Does the layout owner go to the time and effort to produce instructions that will allow the guest operator to understand what he needs to do, or should the layout owner gear his documentation to his regular crew?

As a guest operator I’m not happy when I’m faced with a job that I can’t understand. Usually it’s local geography, “Where does this car go?”. A recent layout I visited had clearly marked car cards and waybills (CCWB), but the YM was required to have a “better than average” knowledge of the Midwest and US geography. “It’s simple, Paul, cars billed to destinations east of Omaha go East, those destinations west of Omaha go West”, easy, right?

Okay I get that Chicago is east of Omaha and Seattle is west, but where is Keith, Nebraska?

So layout owners need a simple, clear, and consistent method to instruct crews what to do, and what goes where. Easy. Yeah right.

Jon Cure had the most concise, and informative train briefs I have experienced. I SINCERELY wish I could copy his style. He relays on operators knowing some basic railroad terminology, plus you MUST read and understand what he is writing. Every word is important. We all hate to read, but Jon’s we’re the shortest I’ve encountered, and the most instructive I remember. So he provided you with the vitals without the boring nonsense.

Layout owners need to provide a clear, concise, job brief that is consistent with all other layout documentation. Operators must be versed in railroad terminology and practices.

On AIR 2 I plan to use CCWB to forward cars, and TTTO to control traffic. I have numerous complicated switch jobs planned. I am working on a Car Card that is clearly marked, in large east to read type, so crews can put the car with the card.

I am working on a waybill that, again, is in large type, is easy to read, and will clearly show the operator where that car goes next.

This will be dovetailed with a consistent system of documentation across the layout so that each operator, from each different position, should easily know where cars from his job should be forwarded; plus a Failsafe “If in doubt send it to _______”.

Operators and layout owner will have a better time if there is a clear understanding of what is trying to be accomplished. The crews will get the sense of accomplishment that MOST Operators seek, and layout owners will see their layout operate as intended and will see tangible results when restaging.