ProTrak

Prototype Information and Paperwork

1. Computer System Overview Summary of CN's TRACS/YIS, 1993
2. Basic Movement Cycle Which List is Used for Which Movement
3. Summary of Lists page Summary of Train and Car Routing Lists
4. Location and Routing Codes Explanation of use of SPINS and TAG
5. The Switchlist Used in Yard, Industrial and Road Switching Operations
6. Train Journal - Train ID One of 3 sections of the Train Journal
7. Train Journal - Car Consist The "Car Consist" section of the Train Journal
8. The Yard Cut List Explanation of headings on yard Cut List

9. Conductor Instructions as on BN, under COMPASS, 1980, describes duties of conductor on switching, through and work trains.

10. Introduction to TRAIN, the AAR Computer-based Interchange reporting system, as described at 1970 "Cybernetics" Conference
11. 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
12. 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.
13. SCL's car tracking system, and proposal to expand with car control functions. 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.

14. Siding numbers (zone-track), first used by PRR in 1927 Also lists PRR Chicago area siding numbers by Zone and Customer, for 1956 revision

     

15. Yard Operations car routing data flow  From C&O, 1969: How advance lists become switchlists, and how waybills are handled in a yard.

16. 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
17. Introduction to TCS Operations control program used by MP, UP (after merging MP), and others. As in 1985, dates from 1972
18. Example of 6-3-3 customer format Industry-wide practice: Converting customer names to 6-3-3 format

19. Car data Car data input screen, NS, TIES February 1991

20. Car order input screen, showing "day-of-week" car-ordering

21. Track Inventory Query Shows which cars are on a track

22. Advance Consists for trains. Examples of various forms of Advance consist available to yard
23. Train Tonnage Profile for trains. Used in train handling, and noting "blocking exceptions" 

24. Prototype waybill specifications  What prototype waybills actually look like.  With specifications for size and fonts.  Used on all railroads.

25. What is Switching  Definition and explanation of switching practice
26. Weighing Rules  Definition and explanation of car weighing

27. The modern way for sorting waybills! A glimpse of why so many people are involved in manual-waybill and manual car-tracking methods

28. 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 1 for 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?
    • 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.

29. 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

30. 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.

Signaling Information 

1. Fundamental signal aspects , including CPL, from Phillips' Railroad Operation and Railway Signaling, Copyright 1942, Second Printing Copyright Simmons Boardman 1953

2. 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)