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The following bulleted lists provide dispatcher with some guidance on
the successful operation of the MKT, St. Louis Sub. These notes and
the additional tips were compiled after feedback and observations from past
dispatchers. The notes and tips pages can also be downloaded in PDF format by clicking on the following links:
M-K-T St. Louis Subdivision
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 | Dispatcher calls the trains at his/her discretion. | ||||||||
| Train
movement is by verbal train orders issued by the dispatcher. Feel free to use the dispatcher’s sheet and magnetic train board to help plan your moves. | ||||||||
| The magnetic board shows the siding lengths, in car lengths x 100. For example, a siding with a length of 2200 will hold a 22-car train (including 3 locomotives and a caboose). | ||||||||
| The train crews throw their own turnouts (except for the staging yard). The status of siding, yard, and staging turnouts are displayed on the monitor. | ||||||||
| Have train crews set turnouts around their train when waiting for meets or passes. This facilitates the automatic cab assignment to unoccupied blocks. | ||||||||
| When approaching the end of their run, train crews will request movement into staging. Direct the train crews to “Baden Yard, track X” (eastbound trains) or “Sedalia Yard, track X” (westbound trains) and set the appropriate track using the computer mouse. | ||||||||
| The dispatcher is responsible for aligning the staging yard tracks. Click on a track to set the turnouts for that track. The display screen will update to show the track selected. | ||||||||
| Train location and identification is displayed on the monitor. Yellow blocks indicate occupied status. Cab assignment and direction are also displayed. | ||||||||
| Three-way meets can occur at St. Charles and at New Franklin (using FY A/D tracks). | ||||||||
| Signal aspects are displayed on the screen. Trains need dispatcher authorization in addition to signal indication prior to entering a block. | ||||||||
| If a train crew complains of a red signal, have them set their direction toggle to the forward position and crack the throttle. Some signals are dependent on forward cab direction. | ||||||||
| It is a good idea to keep an unoccupied track between trains. This minimizes the chance for trains to encroach into an occupied block, thereby losing cab control. | ||||||||
| Common
Keyboard Commands:
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| Fast clock operation…The fast clock is currently set to an 8:1 ratio. The operating session usually starts at midnight. The superintendent will call “game on” and start the fast clock. You have the ability to slow or stop the fast clock if conditions warrant. The clock control box is located under the computer monitor. | ||||||||
| Refresh the computer screen by pressing the “return” or “enter” key | ||||||||
| Communication with the Franklin Yard Yardmaster (FY Yardmaster) is important to a successful operating session. Let FT know when a train is approaching and needs to service locos or needs to be worked in FY. Also, since the approaches to the yard are single track in both directions, it is useful to hold a train in the adjacent towns (Boonville to the east and Mokane to the west) if the train will not be able to go directly into the yard. |
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St. Charles siding – note that there are two sidings at St. Charles (north or “wall” siding, and south or “belly” siding). Trains 101 and 103 need to be routed into the north/wall siding if they have drops for NS interchange. The St. Charles local will need to occupy both sidings during his work. |
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Trains 101 and 103 will need to stay on the main at Boonville to access the UP interchange track in the event that they have drops. |
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Pay attention to the train lengths when routing trains into staging. Try to put the longer train (most notably the coal trains) into tracks of sufficient length. |
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Block 13 (the East approach block to FY) should be clear before any movement from the Columbia branch or Westinghouse is performed. |
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For both east and west movements out of staging, it is beneficial to inform the locomotive engineers whether they are to take the sidings in Boonville (eastbound out of Sedalia) or St. Charles (westbound out of Baden Yard). |
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If trains cannot proceed immediately into Franklin Yard, they need to hold in Boonville (west) or Mokane (east). Otherwise they will clog the single main approaches to the yard. |
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Take care not to put too many trains on the railroad at one time. The St. Louis Sub was a sleepy line, and trains should be well-spaced. |
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If you use the magnetic board, the little cabooses are to track the progress of the train as it “OS”s. Place the train ID marker to the point where you have cleared the train, and use the caboose to chart train movement.
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Rule One is to relax and HAVE FUN!
This site was last updated 11/16/03
