Folks - Before reading selections from Life on the Mississippi to my 10-year old son last night, he had quite a few questions about how freight cars move on railroads. He willingly listened to a 10-minute summary of interchange traffic, per diem charges, AAR Rules and MTY handling! Needless to say, he seems quite eager to actually operate our budding pike, and not just run trains in a circle (Dad needs to get moving on the track). I'd originally considered developing my own prototype-based waybills (similar to what John King outline in MRP a few years ago), using these in conjunction with switch lists. However, I'm thinking that the ubiquitous Old Line Graphics car cards/waybills might be better for a 10-year old. Thoughts from those who can provide any real-life experience? This is a good time also to say "Thank You!" to both Karl Brand and Rick McClellan. He still talks about how much he enjoyed visiting with and listening to you both. I find he's a much more willing audience when it's someone other than his Pop talking trains. I appreciate what you both have done to instill exuberance in him! Best Regards,
For car cards and waybills check out my creations. Print the car cards on 110 lb manilla index stock and the waybills on 110 lb white index stock. You may want to test the double-side printing of the waybills for proper registration. Cut out the car cards, fold up the side tabs on the line and then fold up the bottom on the line to produce a pocket. Put a bead of white glue on the tab and glue to the front of the card above the lower fold line. These cards do not need tape (which waybills will eventually slice through). I used Visio to produce the original file and then printed to pdf format. I also have locomotive, loco consist and caboose cards in Visio format. Contact me via PM for more info.
Keith, this is a superb start! THANK YOU! My son seems to learn best when he can learn hands-on, and when he can put a concept into context. I'll be in touch as questions arise... Thanks again,
Hi Chris, I am attaching my waybills to this message. These print on pre-perforated business cards you can buy at the office supply store. You only get one side (2 cycles) on the waybills this way, but it saves a lot of time making them waybills to begin with. These should fit into Keith's car cards, though I have attached a template for my car-cards as well (these you do need to cut out....) Paul
I too use business card size car cards and waybills that I printed using Microsoft Publisher. I figured out how to import my carfleet data base onto the car cards using mail merge. I am still trying how to figure out how to do it with 4 sided waybills. I bought business card plastic sheets at Walmart and cut them up to use as holders. I made a slot jig to cut the slot in them for the waybills. I had Rick McClellan critique them and he thought the print font on them was a little too small. I enlarged them a point or two. I don't have a problem seeing up close so they work great for me. I personally like the ones from Micro Mark but they need better holders. For some reason I just hate seeing car card holders that are taped up. Just my thoughts. Bob Wintle
Bob, you should like my car cards then, because the design is such that they are intended to be glued together and the result is a pocket that is easy to insert waybills.
Many of the operators I know are using the car card and waybill system by Shenware. It is based on the proven, time tested, easy to use and owner controlled McFall system. There are many options available to how you can customize the format of your car cards and waybills. If desired, these can include the use of colors and photos. Recommend you click around the web site to see examples of the many features. Please see http://www.shenware.com/waybills.html Best of all is an extensive data base of information on shippers, industries, commodity types, car types, shippers, receivers, era, etc. As a result, much of the research and set up is done in advance for you. Need a consignee, commodity to ship, type of industry, location in a city or state and/or serving railroad? More than likely it is in the data base. Many individuals are contributing additional prototype railroad, model railroad, industry, commodity, location and servicing railroad information that continue to expand the depth and breath of the data base. The Operations Special Interest Group (OPSig) has compiled a list of over 40,000 prototype industries. Think about trying to compile a list of just the industries served by the Frisco. Then, add their location(s), car types and commodities. This is a vary handy tool! The data can be customized, searched, sorted, sub files created, and the data converted to a usable formats. Shinware offers an Industrial File Manager (IndMan) program to assist in managing the volume of this data. A few clicks on the computer loads the information you desire and control for printing. The format is much easier to read than hand written car cards and waybills. If there is enough interest, operators on Frisco.org might want to start our own data base of Frisco specific industry data to contribute to the OPSig and Shinware's efforts. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
