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Short Line Data Systems ROCS Update – February 2005
Website: www.sdsrocs.com
Greetings –
Sorry for the tardiness of this month’s update, but I do have an excuse. As we were hearing about whether the groundhog had seen his shadow, my wife was giving birth to our second son, Robert. Everyone is doing fine, and other than being a little short on sleep, things are starting to move back to a more normal routine. Unfortunately, we will not be in Jacksonville next week for the CSXT Short Line meeting, but we will be back on the circuit for RR Day on the Hill in March.
The new arrival has not prevented us from working on our latest product, ROCSDispatch. We have started using the system on a daily basis at the M&E, and we’ll look at some of the features in this update.
In addition to ROCSDispatch, we have been continuing our work on ROCSMobile, and we’ll bring you up to date on what has been going on with our field deployed event reporting system.
We also haven’t been letting the classic ROCS system sit idle. We have been doing a little tweaking to Version 9, and we can bring you up to date on it.
ROCSDispatch
As I mentioned in last month’s update, we have released a new product, ROCSDispatch. ROCSDispatch is a dispatching system meant for the small railroad. We have taken many of the best features of the different dispatcher sheets, Class 1 systems, and our experiences in the railroad industry to create an easy to use that meets the requirements of the FRA rules. This new system is Access based, like the classic ROCS system, and utilizes the same point and click user interface that we pioneered for EDI with ROCS.
The main screen is laid out with two major sections: on the left side of the screen are the main data entry areas, and on the right side is the TrackStatus display. The data entry areas allow you to enter dispatcher on duty times, train crew information, track occupation, and train location. Buttons allow the user to create and manage Form Ds, record Foul Time and Grade Crossings out of Service, and keep track of Track Car movements. Other buttons allow the user to record weather conditions, general order in effect, and other information, such as radio assignments and unusual occurrences.
The TrackStatus screen gives the user an easy to understand view of what is happening on the railroad at that moment. All of the switches, bridges, grade crossings, and other significant locations on the railroad are listed in milepost order. Tracks out of service are shown on the screen in color with the Form D and Person in Charge, as well as any grade crossings out of service is listed in color. Trains and track car movements are indicated with the train number, speed restrictions are shown, and train location and direction of travel is listed. The screen refreshes when the new information is entered, and really gives the user a good view of the railroad.A summary report of the day’s operations is available for printing, and is a good way to record your dispatcher’s hours of service.
We intend to make a couple of improvements to the system as time goes on, including ways to keep track of your train crew’s hours of service, extra board rotation, and adaptation to the General Code. If you are interested in ROCSDispatch, please give us a call.
ROCSMobile
Development of ROCSMobile is continuing, and we are still playing around with screen arrangements. There are a couple of different paths we can follow depending on the hardware chosen, so we are testing out a number of ideas and really trying everything before we settle on one solution.
Version 9
Deployment and improvement of Version 9 is ongoing. We have added a new report showing all of the hazardous cars incoming, on line, or outbound in the last seven days. With all of the security concerns out there right now, you now have a one-click hazmat inventory at your fingertips.
Well, that is all for now. We’re sorry that we’ll be missing everyone in Jax next week, but we do look forward to seeing everyone in DC for RR Day on the hill.
Stay safe.
Steven Friedland President |
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