Switching lists

Switching lists can be a whole lotta of work.  Lots of people use a car routing system with cards for every car.  I think those car cards are too much work.  I have even seen different color paper markers on top of freight cars.  This makes having an operating session on my small layout too much work.  I have no car cards and no filing system.  My conductor uses a switching list, clipboard, pencil and a uncoupler.  The switching list is made up and all I have to do is print one from my computer and we are ready to go.  I simply write the cars at each industry and write what cars are going where.  Makes it easy for me.  I believe I got this from Lance Mindheim's website.  Being a teacher, I want to stay away from paperwork as much as possible.

Example of an older Virginia Midland switch list.  Remember, I have 2 railroads on my layout.  That means 2 separate switch lists.  The VC switch list is a lot smaller and takes half the time.