Freight Car Roster/Inventory?

[jimmillho]

In a time long ago and a land far away, I was collecting HO Beer Cars and had all of my rolling stock listed on 3 X 5 index cards. The Cards had all of the usual info on them, but had to be sorted by hand and if I went to a train show, I had to cary a box of Index cards. When the total number of Beer Cars reach about 200, I deceided to put it all on a computer. I used a spreadsheet to list everything, Locos, Cars (by type), Vehicles, structures etc. It was quite a chore to get it all listed, but not too bad to keep it up to date. As of now, I have over 1100 pieces of rolling stoce and 382 Beer Cars (with no duplicates). I can sort them by car type, Mfg, Road number, cost, estimated value, date aquired etc. If I need more info I just add another column.

I don't think I would change what I am using because of the time to convert it to another format.

Jim

[deemery]

One of the questions/problems when considering this kind of roster is: "What information do I need to record?"

Jim, I'd be interested in seeing the form/layout for your index cards.

dave

[jimmillho]

One of the questions/problems when considering this kind of roster is: "What information do I need to record?"

Jim, I'd be interested in seeing the form/layout for your index cards.

dave

Dave, I will look and see if I can find any left. I think I threw them all away when I got everything on Computer

Jim

[bparrish]

Norm

Rosters can be useful in a number of ways. It allows you to recall when you built a particular model. It also can be set up to keep data on equipment, servicing schedules (checking standards) and insurance referencing. Often large collections of anything will be required as an addendum to your home owners policy.

I have created a roster in Excel where I list: road name, reporting marks, road name, manufacturer of kit, when kit was released, when I built it, when (if) I retrofitted it with trucks, couplers or lettering, photo, anecdotal information of why a car might be in my roster, a gift, or an acquisition from another modeler that holds some importance.

It's a daunting task to get it started but it is easy to maintain once completed. It is also amazing how fast the time goes. I have some cars rolling around that are at or approaching fifty years of service. No ICC thirty five year rule on my railroad.

see ya
Bob

[deemery]

One of the questions/problems when considering this kind of roster is: "What information do I need to record?"

Jim, I'd be interested in seeing the form/layout for your index cards.

dave

Dave, I will look and see if I can find any left. I think I threw them all away when I got everything on Computer

Jim

Or you could do a screen shot of what you're using now...

dave

[IowaFarmBoy]

I use Yard Office but not nearly well enough. In addition to all that has been mentioned already, a good inventory program well maintained including actual photos and with backups, hopefully offsite, will help if you ever need to file an insurance claim.

[Vettelover7]

I use a program called Yard Office. It is a free download from http://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/
It allows you to put in all the information from the car including manufacturer, price, road number, name, etc.
It will then allow you to create reports of statistics, roster, labels and car cards. It can also export to excel but that requires registration.
I find it easy to use and free is a great price.
Chris Peterson

I agree with all of the above, BUT, the creator of Yardoffice died about a year ago. Someone initially was administering the program for the estate, but did not seem too supportive of the software. A Yardoffice Yahoo group was created July 12, 2010. 12 messages were posted during 2010, 2 last year and 1 Jan 31 this year: not a lot of support. I like Yardoffice, but the support and future of the DB worries me. I asked essentially the same question about inventory on the new Computer section of this forum last week. You might cross reference there. Shipit! also has an inventory module as a part of his program. It is very detailed and integrates with Shipit! to generate train movements.
There is also a new database program linked to this months Model Railroad Hobbyist online magazine. I checked it out briefly, but have decided to build my own records in Exsel. Cheap, maybe, but I'll get what I want and can modify it as I see fit.
Regards,
Chip Stevens

[gnatshop]

I checked it out briefly, but have decided to build my own records in Exsel. Cheap, maybe, but I'll get what I want and can modify it as I see fit.
Regards,
Chip Stevens

Exsel, is that the Edsel cousin of Excel?
Just kidding, Chip!
Darn, it's hard to admit agreeing with you (but not as hard as agreeing with Ralph)!

I think Excel is a great way to build easily modifyable databases. Might take a couple of extra steps to get
stuff sorted like you want, but it's easy and most folks have it and are used to it.

When I was putting the 400 small block Chevy engine with Tuned Port Injection in my 1994 Sonoma, I got
the cable and software to log a data file while driving it.
Then I would export the data file into Excel and sort it so I could see where changes were needed in order to
burn a new chip for the vehicle computer (from a 1994 Camaro Z28).

I can't take all the credit - my son is a database manager/analyst who helped in setting up the Excel routines.

[PennCentral]

For what it is worth, I have an Excel spreadsheet where I logged everything railroad-related I purchased. I spent 29 years serving in the USAF and moved many times. An inventory is a good thing to have should items go missing. Every time I moved I knew which box each item was in. Did you ever wonder what box a tool was in? I could tell you. Not now, though, since my railroad equipment is in my final resting place. I have no need to ever move again!

I also find it handy for many reasons already reported by others above. I really use it to document the status on freight cars. I bought over 600 cars in the past 20 years. Mostly kits. I log the cost, mark if it is built, weathered, weighted, coupler height checked, or renumbered. Many kits had repeat road numbers, so once I changed a number, I knew the new reporting marks. I have a ball park dollar figure on what I spent on trains before I retired from service. I can tell you it is a lot, but also less than many people spend on lottery tickets or man toys.

As for structures, I know the kits I bought from some of you folks (your businesses). I even logged the dimensions so I could plan where to put it on the track plan without pulling it out of a box. Logging the stuff was a hobby in itself.

I say Excel can do anything those specialized software programs can do.