ProTrak
Prototype Information and Paperwork
- Computer System Overview Summary of CN’s TRACS/YIS, 1993
- Basic Movement Cycle Which List is Used for Which Movement
- Summary of Lists page Summary of Train and Car Routing Lists
- Location and Routing Codes Explanation of use of SPINS and TAG
- The Switchlist Used in Yard, Industrial and Road Switching Operations
- Train Journal – Train ID One of 3 sections of the Train Journal
- Train Journal – Car Consist The “Car Consist” section of the Train Journal
- The Yard Cut List Explanation of headings on yard Cut List
- Conductor Instructions as on BN, under COMPASS, 1980, describes duties of conductor on switching, through and work trains.
- Introduction to TRAIN, the AAR Computer-based Interchange reporting system, as described at 1970 “Cybernetics” Conference
- Railroads reporting using computer-based realtime car control Comments by railroads on success of using realtime car control, with reference to changes made since 1967
- GN uses computer for optimizing car control GN, with car-control well established, describes how they use the computer to optimize terminal operations and car supply. Mentions use of UNIVAC 1 in 1957.
- Uses of Computers for engineering by railroads, 1959 Assignment 4, Committee Report, Economics Of Railway Location and Operation. Includes long lists of computer-types then currently in use.
- SCL’s car tracking system, and proposal to expand with car control Describes SCL computer-based car-tracking system, using 70 terminals (55 in yards) communicating to central 360/40 computer. Describes proposed (car) control loop functions.
- Siding numbers (zone-track), first used by PRR in 1927 Also lists PRR Chicago area siding numbers by Zone and Customer, for 1956 revision
- Yard Operations car routing data flow From C&O, 1969: How advance lists become switchlists, and how waybills are handled in a yard.
- Yards: Expediting traffic flow Facilities for Expediting Freight Traffic Through Yards and Terminals From AREA, Vol. 50, No. 476 November 1948. Continuation of “Assignment 6”, update from previous report in 1938.
- See item e): use of advance lists by teletypes and punch-card-sorting machines
- GST Car Kind codes used in UP’s COIN. COIN was “Complete Operation Information Network”, the predecessor control software to TCS (see section about COIN in Railroads using realtime car control
- Introduction to TCS Operations control program used by MP, UP (after merging MP), and others. As in 1985, dates from 1972
- Example of 6-3-3 customer format Industry-wide practice: Converting customer names to 6-3-3 format
- Car data Car data input screen, NS, TIES February 1991
- Car order input screen, showing “day-of-week” car-ordering
- Track Inventory Query Shows which cars are on a track
- Advance Consists for trains. Examples of various forms of Advance consist available to yard
- Train Tonnage Profilef or trains. Used in train handling, and noting “blocking exceptions”
- Prototype waybill specifications What prototype waybills actually look like. With specifications for size and fonts. Used on all
- What is Switching Definition and explanation of switching practice
- Weighing Rules Definition and explanation of car weighing
- The modern way for sorting waybills! A glimpse of why so many people are involved in manual-waybill and manual car-tracking methods
- Example SPOT maps
- Typical map as used in TOPS/TRACS
On-screen map shown at 50% reduction. Download map is at 100%.- SPIN map GM plant at Oshawa, ON
- Download this TRACS map
- Industry SPOT list for Oshawa map
- Conrail ZTS map for Newark, NJ seaport terminal
- Download this CR ZTS map
- Industry list page 1f or Newark Marine Terminal
Note that Conrail uses a paired 2-digit ‘from’ ‘to’ format for track spots. The numbers are ##zone-###track-##from-##to - Industry list page 2 for Newark Marine Terminal
- Conrail ZTS map for “Elizabeth, NJ”
- This map is more typical as it is on one page.
The symbols along the track, lines plus circles, denote spots - Industry list for Elizabeth map. Ice for a refinery?
- This map is more typical as it is on one page.
- MoPac at Ft Worth, TX
- Schematic map of trackage in Ft Worth area
- Instructions to traincrew on using car control
- Special Spots used for car control
- SPOT map of zone 4, tracks 700 to 896
- Industry List for the map. Note the ##-###-## spot format.
- ATSF at Amarillo, TX, 1987, showing the ATSF’s version of CLIC (Car Location Identity Code)
- Instructions page A for using switchlists
- Instructions page B for using switchlists
- Instructions page C for using switchlists
- Instructions page D for using switchlists
- Instructions CLIC map of customers on Zone 5, Sheet 2
Examples on multiple spots on a single spur. See the topmost three spurs on this map. The boxes with “0#” numbers in the outlines of the structures mark the spots.
The customers’ buildings face two adajcent streets and the spur runs down the backyard. - Download this map
- CLIC list of customers on Zone 5, Sheet 2 map
List is sideways because ATSF printed it that way.
- Typical map as used in TOPS/TRACS
- Instructions to Traincrew on using Switchlists and Car Control
(Enlarged about 50% to be legible on screen)- General Instructions page 1 How Car Control Works
- General Instructions page 2 Foreman’s Switch List
- General Instructions page 3 Maintaining Sequence Check, Repetitive Information
- General Instructions page 4 Returning Switchlists, Adding work to switchlists
- Yard Procedures Reporting Work Complete, If Switching not complete. Note emphasis on reporting work done and train “standing order integrity” – the order of the cars in a train
- Industrial Switching page 1 Cars spotted and pulled, Constructive Placement
- Industrial Switching page 2 Cars not spotted, Plant switching, One car for two customers
- Industrial Switching page 3 Loads/empties left in storage track, Cars not on Switchlist
- Industrial Switching page 4 Cars left for furtherance, cont’d
- Car Quality Card Card stapled to car after inspection
- Cars (kinds: X, R and G) are inspected following Interchange Rule 1, and graded into one of 5 categories:
- A, B, C, K (contaminated) and U (condemned), plus D for gondola cars.
- in current era N and W also are used
- Dirty cars (containing refuse and not yet cleaned) otherwise graded A, B, C are graded X, Y, Z until cleaned. Send these cars to your car cleaning facility.
- You can model car grading, and car cleaning, with manual car-tracking (see photo above) but a computer system makes this a snap.
- Here is an excuse for more boxcars (Fleets for “A” and “K” commodities).
- This CR car was carrying brick into Ontario from Tennessee in 1988.
- Cars (kinds: X, R and G) are inspected following Interchange Rule 1, and graded into one of 5 categories:
Signaling Information
- Fundamental signal aspects, including CPL, from Phillips’ Railroad Operation and Railway Signaling, Copyright 1942, Second Printing Copyright Simmons Boardman 1953
- Color Position Light (CPL) signal aspects from Farrington’s Railroading from the Rear End, pages 192 and 193, Copyright Kip Farrington 1946 (note that “Farrington” is a town on the C&NE)