So What makes GSPOS Work

 For those interested here's how Claude AI and I built the GSPOS.

The whole system uses an Airtable database as its Reference Source. The Airtable Workspace has tables detailing every part of the layout and its operations. There are tables for Railway Owners (SAR, VR, ANR and Private Owners); Motive Power, Rolling Stock, Towns, Sidings, Sessions, etc etc.

The Locomotive Table in Airtable

We then built a Python Script to interrogate the Database and place the selected Session (Monday PM, Wednesday AM etc) on the server (the Server is on the PC. . From that server all information for the Session is passed to Operators, Yardmasters and the Dispatcher. Simple?

Well there is still some setup work. To prepare for a session we have setup a few 'Generators' that do the calculations. Generators are simple webpages that interrogate the Database and make produce an outcome for the next stage in the process.

 First there is the Waybill Generator, it determines where cars are and where they have to go. It's the bit that turns the waybill over to the next job. There are certain rules in place to prevent the Silos getting Tank cars full of fuel etc, but if the Generator did that (which it wont), but if it sent a car to a place I don't want it to I simply change it in the Generators results or in the Airtable Waybill Table, if I have already pressed the "Write to Airtable" button.

The Waybill Generator outcome screen. this process usually take 1 second.

Next I open the Session Planning Generator. This process works train consists for the session. It looks at the waybills and assigns them to a train. It also allocates Motive Power and Brake Vans. Again if I don't like the allocations I can easily change them.

The Session Planning Screen

We are now ready for the Session.

Once the session is completed I open the Post Session Generator, this asks me did everything move as planned, if not I can change what didn't move, then it moves the cars in the Database to their new positions ready for the next Session for Waybill to be written. 

The Post Session Generator Screen

All these Generators and the Python script are all run from desktop Shortcuts on the PC screen. At the moment its a little clunky but soon I will wrap it all up into a simple to follow App on the PC.

The GSPOS Orientation & Getting a Train Ready to Depart

Part 1.  Logging On 

To Access the GS Driver System the Operator needs to log in to the Local Wifi (GSDWIFI 2.4G); (Note some phones push back on joining a network that is not connected to the Internet, just accept the connection and move on); then open the Phone's Browser (eg Chrome or Safari etc but it can be any Browser) and type in http://192.168.20.100:8090/my OR open the Phone's Camera and point it at the GSD Driver QR Code that will log straight in.

Part 2: Finding your Trains for the Session

Once in the Screen, the Operator is presented with is a list of Drivers for the session. He selects his name.

Part 3. Finding your First Train

On selecting his namne, the Operator is presented with a list of trains to be run for the Session (or if it is a Sequence Session, just the next train they are to run). Each Train is listed with its departure location and the time it departs.  It also tells the Operator where the train will finish and what Type of train it is. 

At the top of each Train number is a tab titled Train Order Operators should touch that tab to see what the details of the run will be.

Part 4. Orienting the Train Details 

Once the Operator is happy with the task ahead he taps the Red Back Arrow above the Train number to return to the Home Screen and then selects the train number. The Train Details Screen then is presented.

The Train Details Screen provides details of the Current Location of the Train (152 is at Millicent) The Locomotive and Brake Van details (835 and 275) Tapping either number presents a photo of either, plus the Function map for Locos. The Timetable, note the current location is again highlighted, and any special instructions (152 shunts Bridgewater while also crossing 547). 

Part 5. Getting Ready to Depart.

Underneath the Timetable is the Manifest. Here the Operator checks the cars on the train and taps "Mark on Train" when he is satisfied the car is on the train.

Note the Operator has swept the screen upward but the Train Number and Now At information is kept, including the Timetable departure time. Note train VR89 has 9 cars in its consist. The Operator has the choice of tapping each car as On the Train or simply tapping Departed (which will mark all cars on the Train)

Once the Operator is satisfied all the cars are on the train he should Tap Departed, as this indicates to the Dispatcher the Train is Ready to Depart. This logic will carry through to the next Part 'Shunting'.

No more 52 Pickup

 A loud bang penetrated the room as one operator drops his tin full of car cars, waybills and train orders onto the BDR floor, or cards get dropped onto the Wild Creek floor when the bulldog clip failed, or my arm knocks the cards off the shelf at the D&S, BUGGA. Now I have to sort through them, put them in order and hope I have the right sequence uppermost in the car card pocket. There has to be a better way!

There is, enter the GSD Paperless Operations System (GPOS). Developed in concert with the emerging AI tools freely available on the Interweb, the Commish has developed a basic App that allows Operators to have Train Orders, Manifests and Car Cards and Waybills in a simple App on their phones. GPOS allows Operators to have a complete nights work in the comfort of their hand. GPOS is suitable for Timetable Sessions or Sequence Sessions. For Time Table Sessions Operators simply log on to the App and their evenings work is displayed, for Sequence Sessions the Dispatcher allocated trains on an iPad App as each Operator completes their train. BTW the system works on both Apple and Android Phones.

The Timetable Operators Home Screen

The Operator simply taps the first train and that takes them to the Train's Details.

The Train Details Screen provides the Train Number and Current Location, Loco and Brake Van details, the Timetable and Switchlist Tasks.

The Train Details Screen has all the data required to run a train, including Locomotive and Brake Van info, the Train's current location, switchlist detail for each shunt. Touching the Locomotive number and/or Brake Van number will bring up Photos of those vehicles and touching the Car number will bring up the Car Card and Waybills in a traditional look.

   

Shunting Information is clearly shown at Each Town along the Layout

Here we see t two sets of cars set out at Dartmoor and 5 pickups.

As each move is made the Operator taps 'Spotted' for setouts and 'On Train' for Pulls. This updates the Database. Once the Operator finishes in a town he taps the "Finished this Town" button and reports to the Dispatch he is ready to go. he then goes back to the Task screen to select his next train.

The Dispatcher watches over the whole system on the Overwatch Panel on his PC. He can follow trains around the layout as they switch, maintaining an overwatch on each movement. I plan to write Operations Guides for the Operators on this site so that they can familiarise themselves with the system and refresh their memories before arriving for a session.

I plan to trial this over the next few months with the GSD Crews and see how it goes. 

Wish me Luck

The Commish

Fast Clocks

The development of my layout has been somewhat slowed as I have sought to develop a Fast Clock for the room which is not run as a Powerpoint Presentation where one slide represents one minute which clicks over and a monitor one every 10 seconds. The at approach has served me well but I am looking for something cleaner. Enter ChatGTP.

I asked ChatGTP to design me a system that would provide me  Fast Clocks around the layout room that would display an easy to read fast clock  showing the Session being run, the time and the status of the clock indicating if it is Running or Paused. I also wanted central control so that the clocks can be stopped during a session in case of a major delay.  

The system we designed and built is based on an ESP32 Development Board running a 4 inch TFT SPI Screen. The ESP is loaded with a C++ sketch via the Arduino IDE and is linked to the PC by the internal Wifi in the Layout Room. 

The Central Control is exercised through a Python Sketch running through MS Visual Studio Code which displays a set of controls in the corner of the PC screen. I can set the session, e.g. Monday AM, the Start Time, e.g. 01:55 and the Ratio the clock is to run at. The Central control also tells me what time is displayed on each clock, its connection status and its IP address. Each clock connects via wifi with its own unique IP Address. The control Button are SET (to set the common time etc on each clock, Start to run the clocks, Pause, Resume and Reset which puts the clocks back to 00:00. The MS VS Code also shows the Message flow between the layout and the clocks which each acknowledge receipt of the data.

Here is what the latest version looks like.

The main display

The Master Control

The ESP 32 mounted on my crudely constructed perf board circuit

I am pretty pleased with the outcome and Operators will not have to look far to see a clock with the Time table time displayed clearly in a colourful easy to read display

The Commish

Operations Session 19 Aug 26

 Today's Operations session was based on the  1977 Tuesday AM Schedule. The day started with the overnight Jets, both ways between Dry Creek Yard in Adelaide and Dynon Yard in Melbourne stopping for a Locomotive change in Blue Lake, shortly followed by 901 the Express freight Mile End to Blue Lake with lading for the Apcel Paper Plant at Snuggery. Operator 1 was Ray, Operator 2 was David and Operator 3 was Ron. Steve and  Geoff M acted as Yardmasters at Blue Lake and Geoff T was in charge dispatching from Train Control. 

Ray holds 731 at Wirrega while Steve and Geoff M clear 82 from Blue Lake. 

Once the Jets were cleared from Blue Lake, there was no time to rest as VR 7, an Express freight from Heywood, hauled by an unusual motive power an SAR 800, arrived from Heywood replacing the stalled J Class steamer due to its driver not understanding F7 applies a brake to the locomotive, Fat Fingers.  At the same time 8141 (westbound Overland) arrived from Melbourne for its Locomotive change and onward trip to Adelaide. The Yardmaster had some quick work to move a VLX car from VR7 onto 185, The Apcel Switch Job, which was departing 1 hour (10 minutes) later with its manifest off 901. Ray departed Dry Creek Yard with 161 for shunting at Wirrega and Blue Lake with its load of  empty Grain wagons and empty Livestock. With that we stopped for lunch and a review of the mornings action. 

SAR930 959 crosses the mighty Murray River at Murray Bridge as it hauls 87 on towards its final destination at Blue Lake

Geoff M stables VR 510 after its duty done on the Victorian part of the morning Jet, 9126.

After lunch 161 and 185 completed their shunting moves and the Passenger traffic started. An SAR Brill arrived from Millicent and the Walker Railcar from Heywood into the Blue Lake Station precinct. 10 minutes later the Adelaide bound Bluebird 542 headed off in  Ray's capable hands, while David guided the Blue Lake Bound Bluebird 281 into Bridgewater from Adelaide for the cross with its namesake.

In the meantime Ron departed Blue Lake with Mile End bound 214 Goods, shunting Murray Bridge and Bridgewater on its way through. Once 281 arrived at Blue Lake Mrs Kafoops transferred to the Walker Railcar waiting in the East Station Dock for its trip back to Heywood on VR 56. The final whistle blew on the Platform at 13:45 clearing 583, the SAR Brill heading back to Millicent. Quietness descended on the Train Room as we all retired for Coffee, Tea and Cake to  sit and talk about the experience.

All in all a pretty good day enjoyed by all. The F%&#up Fairies appeared once or twice but none so bad as to spoil the Action. Steve, the Blue Lake Yardmaster was performing at his best, both operationally and in the art of advice giving, which of course is ignored.

Why Oh Why do I listen to them!

 Ever since I opened up the Great Southern Division to human involvement, the flood of recommendations for ‘improvement’ to track design has been relentless. Everyone seems to see how operations could become more efficient if only there was……… I am a meek and mild empath, who only want to make others happy, even if it is at my emotional detriment. ‘It’s all about them’. One particular, no two particular commentators have made suggestions about Blue Lake Yard. I want a Siding for a Cold Store to service Insulation Cars, they want a runaround track so shorten their shunting obligations. I had a brain wave that had the potential to satisfy both our needs. Why not put in a crossover, including that which shall not be mentioned, between Yard Tracks 1, 2, and 3 in the middle of the yard to keep the commentators happy and allow me to use the Cold Store Track for , we’ll, a Cold Store. 

Track looks great.

Now for the point motors…….

I had MTB MP4 I could put under there, as the switches are operated from the local switch panel. 

Did I ever tell you I hate putting in point motors on those children of Satan, known as double slips, oh damn I said its name……. Grrrrrr.

Operations Session 10 - 20 May 26

The month of May is slipping by and activities on the GSD have been at full pace. Earlier in the month we had a visit from the Wednesday morning train group who enjoyed a couple of hours of running trains on a sequence schedule whilst yesterday, the 20th the northern ops group came and ran the Friday PM timetabled session. We were missing our Blue Lake Hostler, Geoff Matthias, but we managed to get through the session, with usual amount of  technical challenges appearing, not the least of which was trying to run 809 with address of 509…. Doh!

Crew was Geoff Tynan Dispatcher; Steve Weedon Blue Lake Yardmaster (pining for his old job as Tantanoola Porter); Operators Ron Solly; Ray Brownbill; and David Orr.Yours truly as Staging Yardmaster. 

Operationally things ran pretty smoothly although the Blue Lake Yardmaster thought I was a bit rough expecting him to remove a wagon from an arriving train and placing it on a departing train in a 20 minute time frame. The 20 minutes being 20 fast minutes, so 5 minutes in real time. There was also a problem in Snuggery when 281 and 574 were trying to shunt the yard at the same time. 

The usual problems with coupler heights gave us some grief at times and some points played up. I will remove the MP4 switches from the mainline points and replace them with Tortoise machines. the DIgikeijs DR4018 Switch Decider will be replaced with DCC Specialties Wabbits, which won’t throw the MP4 or Cobalt switches, only Tortoise machines.

I am very unhappy with my wiring, I think it’s very unreliable so I plan over the next month to clean it up and make it a little more robust.

The Gallery from yesterday. 

Ray Brownbill brings 251 carefully into Murray Bridge, where a busy shunting sequence awaits.

Ron Solly takes a moment to review his working orders for VR16 before departing for Heywood. 

Blue Lake Yardmaster Steve Weedon works the yard — quietly reserving judgement on whoever wrote the timetable 

Dave runs 932 around his train the pick up a car to place in the Caltex Siding in Murray Bridge

547 hurtles through Bridgewater on it way to Millicent

The Blue Lake Yard has plenty of spare room with all the spare trackage

After dropping cars at Blue Lake, 830 hauling Train 547 passes Snuggery on its final leg to Millicent

Afternoon tea was served with Helen’s rhubarb cake and cream. The real reason  they come and visit.

April Ops on the GSD

Ron Said to me "Its been a while since you did a post mate". So I thought I would put a few words down about the last month. As I opened the Blogger App I noticed a Draft January and Draft February file that didn't get posted, so March has to be a doozy.

Developments

New trackage has been laid in Blue Lake with an extension of the K&S siding and moving the Goods Shed south so the old Goods Shed siding could become the Dairy Siding. Well The Blue Lake Yardmaster had different ideas and thought it would make a great little run-around track for his operations, bugger the new industry. Well we will see about that. However the new trackage seems to work well.

TrainController 11 Gold has been purchased to upgrade the 9 Silver so a good deal of work is being done to get that up and operating correctly. There is so much more to learn because of the extra option now at my fingertips, particularly around Schedules and block management.

On the 3D design and print side of things I have been drawing my version of the Bridgeport Hotel based on a 1970's picture I found on the net  which is coming together slowly. I am also drawing the top building and ground infrastructure for the Wirrega Silos to the I can complete the scenery in that town.

I thought I would try my hand at decal printing so with so many RB Insulation Cars, OBf and Y open wagons printed and painted I thought I would give it a go. I think they came out pretty good. I did have one observer ask if they were Orient Express Models. I said you need glasses son.

Scenery wise I am trying to focus on Wirrega at the moment and needed some Mallee Trees. No one makes them for a reasonable price, so I thought I would make my own based on the tried and true wire armature covered in No More Gaps and covered with Woodland Scenics fluffy stuff. So far I have made four with two red gums in the making.

I continue to work on 520. It runs well but I still need to work on the raer trailing truck which hits a step on curves and derails.

Operations

Enough of the gloating lets talk about the Operating Session Friday AM run on the 15 April. The usual crew assembled for Helens Apple Cake at 10.30 for coffee. A quick brief of the changes to operations which included the addition of a Staging Yardmaster in the Wild Creek Model. Primarily to assist the operators to find and park their trains and take the pressure off the Dispatcher to work out what tracks are free etc. Yours Truly took on the role which seemed to work well. Dispatcher for the day was Geoff T, Operators Ray, Ron and David and Blue Lake Yardmaster and engine Hostler were Pi and Geoff M.

Ops ran pretty well, although commitment to the fast clock was absent in the odd operator. Unfortunately 254, the Adelaide bound Bluebird had a failure in Wirrega, so was hauled to the passing siding and a bus service using Wally Jackson's 1946 Austin Motor Bus was used to ferry passengers to Adelaide. He must get around to restoring that one day. Speaking of old vehicles I did buy a 3D print file of a Commer Knocker as I remember the old Commer tracks as a kid, but I digress.

The session had the added complexity of the western point at Wirrega decided on a sickie, so a quick Jemmy rig saw the offending point revert to digit control. A small list of issues around coupler heights and  block detectors flashing will keep me enthralled for another month before we get together again on 20 May for the Friday PM session.

Ray switching 75 in Bridgewater

905 departs Bridgewater for Murray Bridge

Ron trying to work out how to acquire J519 for VR56 for its run to Dartmoor

Geoff T reviewing the Master schedule while overseeing Operations in Traincontroller 11 Gold

Geoff M taking S315 for a spin on the Blue Lake Turntable before parking it in the locomotive service tracks

281 the Blue Lake bound Bluebird makes a stop at Upper Sturt

AN833 switches the Apcel Paper Plant in Snuggery

A rare sight, the bluebirds pass each other in Wirrega. 259 had failed earlier requiring passengers to take a very slow and uncomfortable ride to Adelaide

A quiet Running Session on the GSD 28 Jan 26

 This morning our small Wednesday Group gathered to run a sequence session based on the Tuesday/Thursday Timetable, but without the clock. Operators Steve Weedon, Geoff Tynan and Michael Robinson gathered to run a selection of trains across the layout. Below are some pics of the session. It was the first session for the new bridge across the door and the new Turnable in Blue Lake. Both worked flawlessly. Unlike the only double slip left on the layout which for some reason decided to short out every train that ran across it.

VR J class 519 sits on the Turntable about to hook up to its train later in the day.

SAR train 333 heads enters Bridgewater on its way to WIRREGA to drop off empty OB wagons at the silo.

VR train 89 switches Dartmoor

Michael guiding SAR train 390 clears the cutting before heading over the viaduct to cross the Murray River flood plain

VR train 16 flies through Dartmoor on its way to HEYWOOD

SAR train 261 ‘the Apcel switch’ passes through Tantanoola on its way to Snuggery

SAR train 82 flies across the Murray River flood plain on its way to Dry Creek Yard

Across the river now,  82 crosses the River road switch area, before entering Murray Bridge.

VR train 9142 headed by C Class 510 crosses the Glenelg River Trestle as it enters Dartmoor on its way to Heywood