Welcome to the Run 8 Basics Single-Player Operations Page 4.

Now we are going to show you how to use the Run8 CTC Dispatcher screen to set CTC control points that will enable us to get our train to Caliente.

Keep in mind that every Run8 route that we come out with will have a Run8 Dispatcher screen and to access that screen just press F3 while in the sim. If you have multiple routes merged then keep pressing F3 to cycle through the different merged routes and press Esc to go back to the sim. The image below is a zoomed in view of the dispatcher screen on the BNSF MojaveSub showing the part of the route that we need to be concerned about in this training exercise.

So press F3 and open the dispatcher screen. Once your train is out of the UP Bakersfield yard and out on main 1 (south track) you will see it on the screen where we indicate that. We will also need to set some signals to "clear" (green) along the route out to Caliente where we will go into the southbound siding so we will also have to set the two switches to "Reverse" as indicated above. Now we are ready to get back in our locomotive and start running our train, use the Ctrl+F11 keys to jump back in the cab.

Now let's go over actually operating a train in Run8. You may want to use the key chart we mentioned earlier and if you have a RailDriver unit, plug it in and Run8 will recognize it automatically and you can calibrate it by pressing Shift+F2, and make to save the settings when you are finished. Also, if you do not like how we mapped out some of the keys shown in our default key chart, you can change some of them using our Run8 Key Mapper. To open the Run8 Key Mapper press Shift+F6 from the sim (you need to be in window mode for this window to show properly).

Okay now that you are familiar with the key chart let's get this train moving. First we will set the Reverser to the Forward position and release the parking brake. Then set the throttle to notch 1 and start releasing the Train brake but keep the Indy brake fully applied untill you see the Rear brake pressure getting close to 90 and then start releasing the Indy brake, you should start moving now. Don't notch the throttle up too fast or you will break your train apart. Let the slack run out (you can hear it) slowly. The speed limit in the yard is 15 mph and that is untill the end of your train is out of the yard. Once you get out of the yard and onto the main you will need to throttle up as there is a bit of a uphill grade coming out of UP Bakersfield and make sure to set the switches back to normal after leaving the yard.

Now you know enough to start operating trains in Run8! There are a lot of different trains you can operate in the Run8 Summer session and makes a good starting point for making your own sessions so have fun and welcome aboard!