layout operation

[rogertra]

a simple way to determine which engines need a "boiler wash" or inspection is to use the date to determine which ones are out of service. example, today is the 24th, all engines with numbers ending in 4 are not to be dispatched on trains today. tomorrow, the 4s go back into service and the 5s go to the shop.

I like that. 

I'll use it.  Thanks for suggestion.

Sending locos for boiler washout, or even for FRA or the Canadian equivalent mandated inspections is also a good way of rotating diesels and add a prototypical twist for your enginehouse foreman to be concerned over.  For diesels, it could also provide the roundhouse foreman extra work in shuffling loco consists around adding and or removing diesels as they come and go for inspection(s).

[jward]

it could also create situations where you are short on power and have to swap locomotives enroute. or shuffle light engines from yard to yard.