So I've done a video on this one but I've adjusted things slightly. We are still who knows how long away from this all being implemented. For now we prepare and business is as usual. But once we are ready and AI is here once determined what the capabilities are this is the proposed schedule based on the feedback I've received.
Until it's determined if a potential admin or assistant can initialize AI, Mike will be likely responsible for starting AI, and starting pausing the system clock. He has indicated to me that his availability on most days will be 10am weekdays before he goes to work, and Sunday he is also around start and stop. Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Friday he is also available to stop AI and pause the system clock.
Based on this availability along with the data I've received from the survey last week, I'm going with the following proposed minimum schedule.
As Of 8/28 | California Server | Hours A Week | Hours A Day | Slow Down Factor | Sunday | Tue, Thu | Friday |
Dispatcher | At least 2 most of the time under AI | 48 | 6.857142857 | 3.5 | 3pm-11pm | 10am-11pm | 10am-Midnight |
Yardmaster | Part time under AI | 16 | 2.285714286 | 2:40 | 2:40 | 2:40 | |
Hump Operator | Barstow | 48 | 6.857142857 | 8 hours | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Trim Operator | Barstow | 48 | 6.857142857 | 8 hours | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Hump Operator | West Colton | 24 | 3.428571429 | 4 hours | 4 hours | 4 hours | |
Trim Operator | West Colton | 24 | 3.428571429 | 4 hours | 4 hours | 4 hours | |
Switcher | SJVR | 48 | 6.857142857 | 8 hours | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Switcher | Mojave | 16 | 2.285714286 | 2:40 | 2:40 | 2:40 | |
Switcher | BNSF Bakersfield | 16 | 2.285714286 | 2:40 | 2:40 | 2:40 | |
Switcher | UP Bakersfield | 16 | 2.285714286 | 2:40 | 2:40 | 2:40 | |
Switcher | San Bernardino | 48 | 6.857142857 | 8 hours | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Switcher | Boron Crew | 34 | 4.857142857 | 5 hours | 5 hours | 5 hours | |
Switcher | Cadiz Crew | 42 | 6 | 7 hours | 7 hours | 7 hours | |
Switcher | Victoriville | 5 | 0.7142857143 | As Req | As Req | As Req | |
Switcher | US Borax | 5 | 0.7142857143 | As Req | As Req | As Req | |
438 | 62.57142857 | ||||||
8 | 26 | 14 |
I will be lead dispatcher on Sunday and will take on any others looking to assist through the day and evening on Sunday. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Bear will be lead dispatcher starting at 10:00am EDT. On all these starts the clock will be started by Mike.
I will come on to relieve Bear Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The handoff will be absolute on Tuesday and Thursday, but may be delayed slightly on Friday. Most Fridays I will be no later than 8:30pm EDT, but likely around just in time for hand off.
The total amount of time in the chart above is at 438 man hours. This is just over 50% of the indicated interest in the survey. The schedule is subject to change, however I'm also proposing these restrictions based on making the server as realistic as possible.
24/7 was a concept or gimmick in some ways to be competitive with other servers and be available for others. Because of this nature and the ability for not just California but other RTS servers including those yet to be developed or even non-RTS servers I recommend that people seek out the maximum potential whereever it may be period.
I know some have indicated quite a bit of availability and that is great, but as of now we will not be able to have enough 24/7 coverage to go all out. This schedule for example does not have any AI scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
I also don't believe all switching will be done within the confines of the time's recommended. I think we have enough to dispatch, and for the most part keep things rolling in yards or at least with minimal delay.
What I recommend is that in times between the AI periods that we restrict access and remain in dictatorship or obligatory mode. Prior to each "SESSION" an availability and interest form will be filled out by anyone looking to have a prime position other than mainline crew (though these can be requested as well).
Once the clock has stopped at the end of the AI period no further mainline movements be permitted. However any leftover time that was available for switching can be left on the clock to fill out. In other words if a hump and trim crew was only available for 4 hours on a Sunday, 4 hours can be made available by request by a qualified yard crew under the direction and approved by an admin or yardmaster. Any switchers or local jobs needing the mainline to finish work not completed will be close enough to perform their work and potentially cleared far enough in advance of the work zone to catch up with other traffic.
All other mainlines will be holding in their final positions on the mains including blocking paths etc. Signals will remain dark, and access will be restricted. In fact it can go so far as to change the password so that only those given exclusive access can run.
Again this is my suggestion and it is not my call as it's not my sever. But I only see this fair to the dispatchers who want to dispatch a full territory, and to the crews that expect to see full capacity traffic when running. To me the days of running 24/7 anarchy is pointless. Think of it as staging prior to a model railorad ops session. RTS used to run this way and I know this may not work for many people.
My suggestion to those that it doesn't is to also set up or run on other servers. I plan on taking some of my spare nights if there is no work to visit places like AI and run with them if they are available. I have not made any recommendation regarding A Line as I'm not qualified enough to know the current needs for most positions there any longer.
With more routes coming down the road, and perhaps even more RTS servers an alternate nights we could have everything from alternate era's to alternate reality (freelance, protolance, etc.). Hopefully at some point the numbers and demands increase, and the capability allows us to be available even more often. But the way I see it I am certainly going to be spending more time than now on California server as well as others. I don't see this as a setback, I see this as an opportunity to maximize our community.