Control Panels
At each local switching location there is a fascia control panel with a diagram of the local trackage. Industries are labeled alongside their corresponding sidings.
The current route of switch is indicated by an LED on the closed route of the switch on the diagram. "Touch" the LED and the switch will throw and the LED will change color. A green indicates the switch is normal; red indicates thrown. (Unfortunately, the LED colors do not photograph well.)
Locations with only a switch or two may have recessed "cup" toggle LED's in lieu of a control panel:
Crews shall always return switches to their normal positions prior to leaving the area.
Sort Rails
At each local switching location there is a sort rail upon which crews may sort car cards/waybills and plan their switching moves.
Car Card Boxes
At each local switching location there is a car card box with three slots -- labeled Inbound, Load/Unload, and Outbound. A PRR Keystone emblem contains the designation of the switching location from the CT1000: List of Reportable Locations.
Switch crews shall place into the Inbound slot the cards for cars that they have delivered to the destination customer indicated on the waybill.
Cars for delivery may include a dedicated less-than-carload car for delivery to a local freight station or public delivery track -- treat it as above. If there is not a dedicated LCL car for the location and the train is carrying a "roaming" LCL car, check its LCL waybills for any deliveries for the location. If there are deliveries, there will be an unloading time indicated on the waybill; that dwell time should be simulated. The LCL waybill should be removed from the car card and be placed in the Inbound box; the car card and other LCL waybills stay with the train.
Between shifts, the Freight Agent will move car cards from the Inbound slot to the Load/Unload slot where they will remain while the car is loaded/unloaded. The Freight Agent will also move car cards from the Load/Unload slot to the Outbound slot once they are fully loaded/unloaded and are ready for pickup.
Switch crews shall pickup cars whose cards are in the Outbound slot and shall add the cards to their train packet.
Cars for pickup may include a dedicated less-than-carload car from a freight station -- treat it as above. If there is not a dedicated LCL car for the location and the train is carrying a "roaming" LCL car, check for LCL waybills in the Outbound box. If there are outbounds, there will be a loading time indicated on the waybill; that dwell time should be simulated. The LCL waybill should be added to the car card with other LCL waybills and stay with the train.
If the number of pickups exceeds the limit for the train, the priority of pickup shall be loaded cars (perishables first), foreign road empty cars, then home road empty cars.
Throttle Holders
Velcro throttle holders are located at many places on the fascia, typically with throttle jacks:
Drink Holders
Please do not place drinks on the surface of the model railroad. Fold up holders are available on the fascia:
