In the previous video we created shuttle and cycle Schedules with the Auto Train Toolbar. We were able to save them, they ended up in the Schedules tab of the Dispatcher window.
It is possible to create and edit Schedules directly in the Dispatcher window. This even gives us some more possibilities and some more ‘precise’ control than the Auto Train Toolbar, which is why this way of creating Schedules has my preference.
First get into Edit mode via the toolbar Edit icon, or via the View menu > Edit Mode, or via the shortcut Ctrl-E.
Open the ‘Dispatcher’ via the Window menu > New Dispatcher Window.
Create a new Schedule via the Schedule menu > Create Schedule.
In the left sidebar click the Schedule tab, the new Schedule should be listed there as Schedule##. Double click the Schedule to open its Properties window. Give it a name in the General tab and change all other parameters to suit our needs. In the Rules tab (de)select all the Rules we want to be active for this Schedule.
To add blocks and routes to the Schedule, first activate the Tools menu > Pick From Block Diagram, or click its icon in the Dispatcher Window toolbar.
We can now click blocks and routes from the diagram and they will be included in the Schedule. If a mistake is made, click a block or route and hit Delete on the keyboard. Not to worry, it deletes it from the Schedule, not from the diagram.
Personally I find it more convenient to open the ‘Routes in Schedule’ tab in the left sidebar and select the routes I like to include there. This automatically also includes the blocks connected to the routes.
When done, we need to click the blocks we want to become our start and destination blocks and click the appropriate Start (green arrow) or End (orange bar) icon.
If we like to modify block properties, double click a block and make the changes, like e.g. add a scheduled waiting time. These settings are only valid for this block in THIS Schedule. The same block can have different properties in another Schedule. This makes it all very powerful and versatile.
Have fun!
rudysmodelrailway 
Hi, I want to start some new schedules with a “clean” dispatcher window and for some reason I can’t delete the autotrain and spontaneous run schedules that are in the dispatcher window. When I right click it only gives me options to “terminate” or “reset”. A “decommission” box does not activate and no delete option. I can delete other schedules that I make, I’m sure you deleted your autotrain schedule . I’m using version TC gold version 9 by the way.
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | April 5, 2020, 20:11Those two can’t be deleted. They are there by default, such that you can easily open their attributes windows to change their schedule rules.
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Posted by RudyB | April 5, 2020, 20:47Hi Rudy,
Thanks for the reply.
Can you please try to help me, I have created a schedule in the dispatcher window as you described using routes. Its a cycle type and I have selected start and stop points in the same starting block. The route is highlighted and a loco in the start block, but every time I try to start the schedule I get a message in the message window saying ” Schedule cannot be started or continued. Call the ‘Details’ command for further information”
Is this the ‘Details’ drop down in the dispatcher window ? All that shows is the state of the selected block and I cannot see any issues there.
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | April 7, 2020, 21:10I’ve sent you an email. If you send me your TC file I’ll have a look.
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Posted by RudyB | April 8, 2020, 07:21Hi Rudy,
I have almost completed installing all my magnetic switches for the contact indicators and hopefully will soon be running several trains on schedules. I know that you mentioned that you are using magnetic switches, so am asking this general question. I have noticed during testing that, obviously, the switch for a certain block only activates an occupied signal (block turns red) when the loco initially passes over it, as the magnetic switches are momentary contacts, and then the block returns to plain (unoccupied) colour even if that loco has stopped further along in the block. In practise, how does TC prevent another train entering that block.
Regards
Alan .
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Posted by Alan | March 26, 2018, 21:55Yes, with monetary sensor the block returns to status ‘reserved’ with the light color. TC still knows the train is there, the blocj os reserved and no other trains are allowed in. If you like the pink color to last longer you can go into the sensor properties and change settings in the ‘memory’ tab.
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Posted by RudyB | March 27, 2018, 15:09Hi Rudy,
Thanks for the reply,
So does TC remove the reserved status once the next block along the route is triggered by its sensor ?
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | March 27, 2018, 19:34The blcj is automatically released, but not on hitting the next sensor. By default it releases the previous block when the stop marker of the next block is reached. This is safe, but also relatively late. You can speed it up by changing the setting to one of the ‘smart’ modes. ‘Smart upon entry’ usually works fine, as long as you have specified the correct train lengths.
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Posted by RudyB | March 27, 2018, 20:34Thanks again Rudy,
BTW, I have increased the occupied colour to 5 seconds, which makes it easier to keep track of what’s happening.
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | March 28, 2018, 20:35Hi Rudy,
Where do I find this “Smart upon entry” mode
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | March 31, 2018, 20:25In the schedule rules. Double click a schedule (in edit mode) to bring up the schedule properties window, then click the Rules tab.
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Posted by RudyB | March 31, 2018, 21:14Thanks again Rudy
Regards
Alan
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Posted by Alan | April 1, 2018, 20:27Hi
Does a schedule have to be specific to a train or can you use the same schedule for different trains or does each train have to have its own unique schedule for the same route
Regards
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Posted by Andy | October 25, 2016, 09:49When you double click a schedule in the list it’s properties window opens. One of the tabs at the top is the ‘Trains’ tab. If there are no trains allocated, the schedule is valid for all trains. As soon as you add one or more trains there, the schedule becomes valid only for those trains.
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Posted by RudyB | October 25, 2016, 12:48Thanks for the reply
So that was going to be my next question can the same schedule run at the same time for different trains
Regards
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Posted by Andy | October 25, 2016, 13:08Hi
That was going to be my next question can you have the same schedule running more than one train at the same time
Regards
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Posted by Andy | October 25, 2016, 13:37