Digital

Frankly... I can't read an analog clock fast enough anymore. Give me digital....

Two questions??

Hi Dave,

How old are your operators? If they can't tell the time from an analog clock, shouldn't they have leant by now?

If you are going for a true period look - remember, every early-1900's station or depot probably had something like this hanging on its wall. And there was probably one in front of the Despatcher as well. 

Now, which bank do we have to rob to pay for them all??  

Large analog, please

On one hand, I totally appreciate Jeff Shultz' request for digital. Half of my middle school operators can't read the big "old-time" clock on the wall when they start with me, but they can before they head off to high school. 

Aside from that, I find that every "era appropriate" element contributes to the sense of immersion that I enjoy when I'm operating. 

Flavor counts.

Jeff Allen

No question...

Has to be analog.  The time period modeled demands it.  

Randy

Analog

Analog clocks in general work better for me.

One of my friends uses two large analog fast clocks during his operating sessions.  There’s a little panel at the dispatchers desk to start and stop the clocks and set the rate.  So, no math needed, just read the time and there you are.  They work quite well.

Funny story about them.  He loves to promote the hobby and help folks out, and one evening along with a few regulars he had invited a neighbor kid to come operate.  The kid was having a great time, but then dissappeared relatively early.  Turns out his mother told him he had to leave at a certain time, and when he saw that time on the fast clock he left.

So just make sure guests know which clock is the fast clock 

Watches

Dave,

How about wrist watches for the operators?  They would be era appropriate and would be easy to see. The crews would have to synchronize them like railroaders used to do.  Timex or a similar brand wouldn't be too expensive.  And have a nice wall clock for the DS.

Just a thought....

Chris

How about wrist watches for the operators?

An interesting option, (nice lateral thinking) but the historical info suggests that they didn't really come into popular use until WW1.

But pocket watches for a TOC layout? Perfect.

Amazon has them with quartz movements and a chain starting at $6.99.

David Stewart

Pocket watches

Great period idea.  Real problems in reality.  One more thing to handle.  No fast clock ability.  Easy to walk off with.

Pcoket watches

Great project for someone who’s hobby is more in the mechanical/electronics line - pocket watches with modern radio synch’ed guts that can be set to various fast clock ratios, and with a built in high decibal alarm if they get more than 10 feet away from the layout.  I’m only half kidding.  Well, maybe 2/3 kidding.  But it would be pretty neat.

Analog

Both my era's of interest (1880s and 1964) really need analog to reinforce their themes and concepts. I suspect digital would encumber my "immersion" with an obvious anachronism.

I have used analog face clocks in the past. They were not fast clocks, but I used them as fast clocks at 12:1. It takes some getting used to, but quite quickly you and your crews become proficient at reading at a glance what fast time it is and whether it's AM or PM. During a session, I started my clock at midnight. This way when the hour hand was on an even hour, it was AM, on an odd hour was PM. (12:1 5 min = 1 hr.)

The above was over 20 years ago. This go around, I fully intended to use this miniaturized "Regulator" fast clock that was offered by GML Enterprises:

The above was part of a system that GMLE sold that included the master time control and the above was simply a "slave" to repeat the time the master control indicated. More clocks could be daisy-chained so as to have one in view regardless.

Unfortunately, you'll note past tense in my mention of this. Sadly, the owner passed in January of this year, so the above is no longer an option.

SO, back to square one.

Don't know what will work for you and your 1900's era, but digital will simply not work for me and my era choices. I would far prefer to have the look of an analog clock.

As for me, I guess I'll need to consider returning to a circular clock that looks like a "Standard" clock and return to 12:1 so that a common clock (i.e. not a fast clock) can be used.

I'll watch this thread to see what develops.

Andre

Hmmmmm.

Steam gauges are pretty easy.  They should also be accessible and quartz, so they can be relied on for a while.  It should not be a big deal to set them to your cellphone or computer occasionally.  The world is pretty well time coordinated today.  If this works so far, the analog impaired should be able to “cheat” with their watches.  Either analog or digital watches should probably be checked.  Just like in the old days before heading out.  All this ends up in a vote for calibrated analog clocks on the wall.  Nothing really changed…..

JMRI analog clock

JMRI has a built configurable fast clock. One of the display options is an analog clock face.

You don’t need the control panel in your era. But you could build a control panel that has one item, the clock. This could be displayed anywhere you want to hang a cheap tablet or old phone via the web server.

Seems like overkill, but I suspect it could be cheaper than the analog fast clock I’ve seen for sale.  The whole thing could run on a RaspberryPi and would take more than an hour or so to set up.

It may be a pain, at the beginning of the op session to run around and turn on all of the displays.

Analog clocks

Having given the subject a bit more thought, I'll amend my previous plea for digital - with a plea for a larger (8-10" diameter or larger if possible) clock face and non-ornate hands.

Some clock hands are so curlicued that you have to look hard at them to determine which hand is which. And that just slows everything down... when the clock is going faster.

Dave, I will be using a

Dave,

I will be using a somewhat large flock that represents a clock of the period my layout represents. So, I will be using a clock of 1900 vintage. My clock will be like this or very similar. This will help set the mood for the operating session. 

Jim

Clocks

I'm shooting for less of a "Dickens" era and more of a railroad standard clock look.

Or 

Standard clock

Those style clocks are available with battery powered works.Perhaps they could be modified to change the time rate?....DaveB 

Wall Clock

Seeing as my Ozark layout is set in 1964, I will be able to use something like this photo. My 1st choice was going to be the miniature "Regulator" and timing system that GMLI sold, but that's no longer an option. SO, it's back to what I can fix and make do.

Andre

Just Purchased...

This 12" dia one to become my "Standard" clock:

I like the retro RR Roman looking numerals and the aged face, both of which I feel will help a bit to set the mood.

Andre

I use a special clock....

Every 33 minutes it tells me to get a beer....

Westclox

That's a nice clock.  I'll have to look for something like that.

Dave:

Here's a link to the clock I purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018PIS8QQ?psc=1&smid=A1DOA5Y5O44I1N&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

Next up for me is to investigate how guys are doing locks for their main line switches. Seeing as the KC&G's Ozark Sub is a dark railroad, I might be interested in adding that feature.

Andre

Standard Clock

Away from my stash of old rule books, but wasn't there a rule about the governing clock at a depot, station, etc. that it was to be labeled "Standard Clock". The last one that I saw was in the S.P. crew depot in Hearne, Texas.  

Fish:

That is correct.

Andre

Love the Regulator clock, but...................................

The way I look at it, this is another detail that enhances the realism of a period if you are into operations, BUT, it is not something that I want to expend time / money / effort on at this time.  If you are building a large layout, there are compromises that need to be made as neither time nor money are infinite (at least not to me). 

I use a NCE command system.  All of my operators who draw main line assignments utilize NCE master cabs.  I utilize the fast clock option in NCE as my master clock, and the time displays on the master cab. 

I've added digital clocks in my yard areas so guys can use tethered Cab06s, which saves me a few $$ on cabs.  But I get the fast clock for free, and the digital clocks are also driven off of the cab bus.  I'm also considering adding in fascia mounted clocks from Circuits4Tracks at three points on the layout, which would allow for use of the Cab06 in mainline service if that is what my operators want to do.  Some people don't like all of the buttons on the master cabs.

So, for me, the ONLY way I will jump into an analog clock system is if is driven off of the cab bus, and I can plug and play the device.  Even then, I'd have to find someplace to mount the clocks, and that isn't a trivial task either.    I'm also not stringing yet more wire around the layout room just for a fast clock when I have a workable cheap solution.  

I admire the folks that go through the steps to incorporate analog clocks into their operation.  However, it isn't going to happen on my railroad.  I have other things that I want to focus on well ahead of incorporating analog clocks.  

After 50 sessions in the last five years, I haven't had anybody complain about the standard clock method I use, but perhaps, people are just courteous and keep their thoughts to themselves.  

Regards,

Jerry