It’s hard to believe that almost two years have passed since I introduced train registers at Golden Lake and Pembroke. In reality, there would be two registers at each station – one for each direction. However, in the interest of reducing the amount of stuff, I decided to make only one book that serves both directions by turning it upside down. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
After two years, I can say it was not a good idea.
Every operator has needed help to find the right page, and there have been several errors where northbound trains have signed the southbound register. Not only that, but when I introduced pockets for train orders and clearances, those pockets were upside-down sometimes, and risked spilling their contents on the floor.
Introducing a distinct book at each station for each direction sounds like a subtle refinement, but I’m sure it will make a noticeable improvement.
Pembroke:87 
There’s usually a reason why the prototype did things a certain way… …looks like you have just found out!
Thanks for sharing: this experience can save someone else from finding out that this “good idea” turned out to have pitfalls.
Do you have details on how you made your register book? I’m thinking about making one as well for my layout but more as a “guest register” for visitors to sign into. My branch ran on other than main track during the time I model so it’s not really “needed” during operations but I thought it would be a fun way to record the amount of visits, operations, etc.
Craig
Hi Craig,
I’ve created a tag that contains my three posts on the registers: https://pembroke87.ca/tag/registers/
Also, the register itself is a public document here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oCRMPmrhnyjJHkb-f4IifpOoYzLBpt87IIWajp6BTes/edit?usp=sharing
As you can see, I’ve refined the registers a couple of times. First by changing the columns so there is less busy work and more clarity to the remaining columns, then by separating the north and southbound registers physically.
I do tend to use the registers as visitor books as almost everyone who visits runs a train, unless they appear in a larger group like a layout tour. There is probably a prototype artifact that is relevant for switching operations, and that equally captures the visitor’s visit. Could you get them to sign in and out at the beginning and end of their visit (shift)?
Cheers,
Rene
Rene,
The block register books I’ve seen have a “time in” and “time out” column so that could be used as a visitor log time stamp (and also see how long ops sessions last).
I should have reframed my question as once you printed out the pages did you get it bound in a book? Or what does the cover look like?
Craig
Oh that. Yes, these registers are just pages printed and put into a legal-size report cover.
However, my guest book is printed by Blurb. That story is here: https://pembroke87.ca/2015/04/01/the-first-signature-in-the-guest-book/