TrainCrew App: Do more than run your train

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This weekend I FINALLY got a chance to work on something I've been meaning to for months (or years, kinda):
http://traincrew.conrail1285.com/

It's a webapp (recommended for phones or ipads) that lets you simulate various railroading tasks. It's intended to be used alongside a throttle while operating on a layout to simulate the frequently non-modeled stuff that makes railroading so interesting.

I'm releasing it under the GPL, so you can download it and play with it yourself at: https://github.com/ekapus/TrainCrew

If you want to make changes, please feel free. If you'd like to have them incorporated, I'd love to be bombarded with Pull Requests!

[seusscaboose]

Fast lock option during set-up
 

Maybe in V2.????

 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Fast lock option during set-up
 

Maybe in V2.????

 

Yep. I'll eventually make that a setting. Right now, I'm just guessing at 4x for things like waiting a minute or walking the train.

[chrismears]

I love this content focused on incorporating more of the actions of running a train than just controlling the locomotive. I feel it brings us closer to replicating the railroading we enjoy trackside and it's all so exciting.

In a similar vein, have you seen Bill Brillinger's project?
http://www.pdc.ca/bnml/app.html

He's been working on an app. that takes a CN employee timetable and modifies it for his layout. Injected in the app is functionality to perform typical jobs like brake tests (clock timers). He maintains a blog on Model Railroad Hobbyist which has this post that does a nice job of introducing the app:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/24681

/chris

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I love this content focused on incorporating more of the actions of running a train than just controlling the locomotive. I feel it brings us closer to replicating the railroading we enjoy trackside and it's all so exciting.

In a similar vein, have you seen Bill Brillinger's project?
http://www.pdc.ca/bnml/app.html

He's been working on an app. that takes a CN employee timetable and modifies it for his layout. Injected in the app is functionality to perform typical jobs like brake tests (clock timers). He maintains a blog on Model Railroad Hobbyist which has this post that does a nice job of introducing the app:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/24681

/chris

Thanks Chris.

Yep, I know about Bill's stuff. I love it, especially the layout specific details (like customs, you get a random actual customs officer assigned).
It's actually the thing that prompted me to get my butt in gear and get going on this.
In fact, my brake test stuff is basically his brake test stuff without all the error states that he has built in... they're coming.
He knows about my project and I've received his blessing, too, which was really important for me.

I had thought about asking to contribute to his, but it's so specific to his layout, so I thought a standalone thing would be better.

[Iain]

Couple of positional issues on my Firefox Phone (yes, I'm one of those )

For instance, under Switching, the little box with the number is rendering in such a place that only the top tenth or so is visible. 

[Philip H]

so now I need 3 hands to run a train. 

I do like the idea.

But if I'm running on a wifi throttle with my iphone, toggling to this will be a tad cumbersome.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

so now I need 3 hands to run a train. 

I do like the idea.

But if I'm running on a wifi throttle with my iphone, toggling to this will be a tad cumbersome.

That's a good point, but I hadn't really thought about it because I still prefer "hard throttles" to the phone (unless I'm in a pinch).

I also think this is really best for a two man crew, because it gives the ground pounder something else to do.

[sirenwerks]

That's a good point, but I hadn't really thought about it because I still prefer "hard throttles" to the phone (unless I'm in a pinch).

I also think this is really best for a two man crew, because it gives the ground pounder something else to do.

You mean besides holding the throttle jockey's beer and juggling car cards?

[chrismears]

so now I need 3 hands to run a train. 

I do like the idea.

But if I'm running on a wifi throttle with my iphone, toggling to this will be a tad cumbersome.

Similar thought here too. I use WiiThrottle and like it but on the local layouts I operate on, we run one-man crews most of the time so balancing the clip board and paper switchlist is equally cumbersome. What I'd really like to have is the ability, from within the throttle app (WiiThrottle or whatever) to swipe to the switchlist from within the app. This would be the same as moving within the app to the throttle settings or calling a different locomotive.

It would be neat if you could replicate setting the car's handbrakes when placing a car. At the other end of service, finding a way to mark that a car's load was checked such as the tie-downs on a lumber flat, before moving the car.

/chris

[seusscaboose]

I like it... I wanna run it as a pilot on my next Op's session... 

Anything that adds more prototypical sound to the layout i'm in favor of

I am going to ask the Conductors to use it.  Adding to their workload.

[svedblen]

Nice! I'm impressed.

Couple of positional issues on my Firefox Phone (yes, I'm one of those )

For instance, under Switching, the little box with the number is rendering in such a place that only the top tenth or so is visible.

Similar problem on an Iphone 5 (Safari and Chrome alike). Time count down box barely visible behind the ops control below.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Nice! I'm impressed.

Similar problem on an Iphone 5 (Safari and Chrome alike). Time count down box barely visible behind the ops control below.

Interesting. I'll see if I can sort that out on my wife's phone when she gets home.

[conrail98]

Interesting. I'll see if I can sort that out on my wife's phone when she gets home.

Make it an app <cough/>

[seusscaboose]

i think that would take away the "open-sourceness" of it [/cough]