The train driver in the courtyard

In the following few days.

The courtyard seemed peaceful, but anyone could see that there was something wrong with the look Xu Damao gave Jia Dongxu.

Everyone knew that Xu Damao's family and the Jia family had become mortal enemies this time.

Jia Zhang felt that Yi Zhonghai did not help Jia Dongxu, and the relationship between the Jia and Yi families became distant.

Yan Jiecheng still works hard carrying coal every day.

Apart from that, life in the compound was relatively peaceful.

Time is like a man’s capital, becoming less and less, and passing away faster and faster.

three days later.

Li Aiguo completed the drawing work.

Taking advantage of the break in driving, I rode my bike to the Wood Products Business Department of Qianmen Locomotive Depot located in Hutong No. 1, Meishi Street.

The Wood Products Business Department is a small collective under the Qianmen Locomotive Depot. It was established during the "Four-County Elimination Operation" and is mainly responsible for the production of bird-repellent whistles and mousetraps.

Although the four-pronged extermination campaign has ended, the authorities have not relaxed the work of driving away birds and rats.

In particular, there is a great demand for bird-repellent whistles, so the production work of the wooden products department is very busy.

The director of the wood products business department is Zhou Xingming from the Logistics Department of Qianmen Locomotive Depot. When Li Aiguo was in the depot, he had dealt with him a lot.

Seeing Li Aiguo pushing his bicycle in, Zhou Xingming greeted him with a smile: "Driver Li, what brings you to this remote place today?"

Although the Wood Products Business Department is also located in the capital, it is a subsidiary factory after all, so the leaders and employees of the Wood Products Business Department jokingly said that they were exiled.

"Old Zhou, we are all contributing to the railway industry. We are as tall as each other. If there were no mousetraps like yours on the train, how could we meet the hygiene standards?"

Li Aiguo knew that Zhou Xingming was joking, so he also made a few jokes and handed him a cigarette.

"Driver Li, if you ask me, you have the highest level of ideological awareness in our section."

Zhou Xingming was delighted. He took the cigarette and asked with a smile, "What do you want today? We are all family, just tell me directly."

"Then I won't be polite." Li Aiguo took out the blueprint of the slide from his canvas bag and handed it to Zhou Xingming: "Your business department has the most carpenters in our section. Please help me build it."

"This is..." Zhou Xingming looked at the blueprint from left to right, but still couldn't figure out what it was.

"Slides are toys for children to play with. As you know, our locomotive depot nursery is short of toys right now."

Li Aiguo explained the situation, and Zhou Xingming immediately became interested when he heard that these were toys for children to play with.

His sixth son is also in the senior class of the nursery.

"That's easy. I'll immediately organize a group of carpenters to help you build the slide."

Zhou Xingming asked the officer on duty to call Chen, the team leader of the first carpentry group.

He picked up the drawing again and looked at it. He seemed to remember something and frowned.

"Driver Li, this, ahem, this."

"What's wrong?" Li Aiguo felt strange. Zhou Xingming used to be very cheerful, but why did he become so timid today?

Zhou Xingming looked at Li Aiguo and seemed to have made up his mind.

After walking over and closing the office door, he pointed at the drawing and whispered in Li Aiguo's ear.

"Driver Li, your slide is well designed.

It's just that the position of the red flag seems to be a bit problematic. The red flag is erected on the city wall, and sliding down the slide, does it mean that our road can only go downhill?

Especially since this slide is for children, it is digging the roots for the next generation."

Li Aiguo finally understood why Zhou Xingming's behavior was so strange.

You have to know that Zhou Xingming has violated a taboo by pointing out such things, and he might be implicated, so many people will avoid talking about it.

It turns out that he is a comrade from the same family.

Li Aiguo studied the blueprint and touched his chin: "The slide does have the meaning of going downhill, and it was indeed not well considered. I need to reflect on it.

How about this, make three flags, hang one at the top of the stairs, one on the tower, and one at the exit of the slide. This is called "A Thousand Miles of Red Mountains and Rivers".

Zhou Xingming thought about it carefully and nodded in agreement: "Children playing on the slide is similar to our career. Our career requires hard work to succeed.

Children need to work hard to climb up to play on the slide. We are nurturing the spirit of the next generation, which is a good idea."

Li Aiguo picked up a pencil and changed the drawing. At this time, Chen, the team leader of the carpentry group, pushed open the door.

As soon as he entered the office, Li Aiguo discovered that Team Leader Chen was an old acquaintance.

"Uncle, so you work here." Li Aiguo greeted him enthusiastically.

Master Chen looked up and saw Li Aiguo, and asked in surprise: "Aiguo, why are you here?"

This Master Chen is none other than Wang Da Kui’s distant uncle from Dongyang, the wood carving master Chen Zhenyuan.

But Chen Zhenyuan and his fellow apprentices were originally assigned to work in a furniture factory, so how come they appeared here?
"So you two know each other. This makes things easier." Zhou Xingming was very respectful to the master Chen Zhenyuan. He poured tea for him and handed him cigarettes.

After a casual chat with Chen Zhenyuan, Li Aiguo also understood the whole story.

Master Chen got the job at the furniture factory because of the background of the woodcarving masters and because of Li Aiguo's business of making bird-repellent whistles.

But later, the domestic bird-repellent whistles gradually became saturated, production dropped sharply, and there was no need for so many masters.

Some wood carving masters from Dongyang returned to Dongyang and were arranged to work in local furniture factories.

Chen Zhenyuan and a dozen other woodcarving masters were praised by their superiors for their outstanding performance and were qualified to stay in Beijing.

It just so happened that the production of bird-repellent whistles was taken over by the Wood Products Business Department of the Qianmen Locomotive Depot, and Master Chen and those wood carving masters were transferred over.

Although the wood products business of the locomotive maintenance section is a small collective under the locomotive maintenance section, its welfare benefits are similar to those of ordinary factories.

Now Chen Zhenyuan can get a salary of more than 50 yuan per month, and has been allocated two "affordable housing units". He lives a happy life.

"Come to think of it, it's all thanks to you." Chen Zhenyuan is a reserved person, but he couldn't help getting excited when he talked about these things.

You know, with the experience of making the "bird-repelling whistle" in the Chusi, his previous "black history" of carving furniture for dignitaries was washed away.

"Oh, it has nothing to do with me. It's just your good craftsmanship."

Speaking of craftsmanship, Li Aiguo took the opportunity to hand over the blueprint of the slide: "Master Chen, take a look, how long does it take to build this slide?"

As the inheritor of wood carving skills, Chen Zhenyuan is very familiar with making small gadgets like slides. He can give the exact time after just two glances.

"If the wood is sufficient, our carpentry team can make the slide in two days."

"Then it'll be hard work."

Because the manufacture of the slide had a work order from the Qianmen Maintenance Depot, the Wood Products Management Department went through the formal procedures and was able to arrange production immediately.

The materials department began to prepare the wood, and Chen Zhenyuan also planned to take the drawings back to discuss the work with the carpenters.

Li Aiguo originally planned to return to the studio to prepare information for speeding up trains, but after hesitating for a moment, he stayed.

"Master Chen, if you don't mind, could you take me to visit your workshop?"

He had always wanted to make some small toys out of wood, and if this place was suitable, it would save a lot of trouble.

"What do you mind? Let's go."

The dozen or so wood carving masters in the carpentry group are all from Dongyang.

They also knew that they were transferred to the capital because of Li Aiguo's bird-scaring whistle. After learning of Li Aiguo's identity, they were extremely enthusiastic.

While greeting the wood carving masters, Li Aiguo took the opportunity to observe the workshop.

The so-called workshop is a large warehouse with several workbenches in the middle. Seven or eight workers are carving bird-repellent whistles, and there are various kinds of wood next to them.

Several light yellow pieces of wood caught Li Aiguo's attention.

The texture of this wood is straight and fine, its structure is uniform, and it is much smoother and more delicate than ordinary wood.

"Is this lotus wood?" Li Aiguo picked up a piece of wood excitedly.

"Hey, Driver Li, you also know about wood." Chen Zhenyuan was a little surprised.

The white ash tree, commonly known as the ash, is a large evergreen tree native to the south.

Although it is not rare, the wood used in China these days is mainly hard wood such as jujube, walnut, camphor, and pine.

The yield of large trees like magnolia is not as high as that of poplar, and the density is not as high as that of jujube. They are rarely used to make furniture, so they are still rare in the north.

Li Aiguo certainly knew about lotus wood, which was a good material for making building blocks in later generations.

He once asked several masters in the Qianmen maintenance workshop to look for the lotus wood, but there was no news. Unexpectedly, he found it here.

"Master Chen, I would like you to help me make a few little gadgets." Seeing He Mu, Li Aiguo no longer hesitated and took out a drawing from his canvas bag.

Chen Zhenyuan was a little confused by the drawing.

"Why do you have to saw such good wood into pieces?"

“It’s a building block.”

"Building Blocks?"

“It’s just a place for kids to play together.”

"Is it fun?" In Chen Zhenyuan's opinion, this pile of wood blocks is not as interesting as pushing the iron ring.

"."

Li Aiguo had no other way to explain, so he could only cough twice and said, "Just think of this thing as a set with the slide."

"Well, that's easy. Just wait a moment."

Chen Zhenyuan picked up the saw, axe, plane and chisel and started working for a while. In a short while, he had made dozens of building blocks of different shapes.

He then found some paint and painted the blocks in various colors and drew various symbols according to the blueprint.

Two hours later, a complete set of building blocks was completed.

"Driver Li, what do you think of this?" Chen Zhenyuan handed the building blocks to Li Aiguo.

Li Aiguo took the building blocks and looked at them carefully.

There are special paints here.

I saw the red ones like ripe apples, the yellow ones like the bright sunshine, the blue ones like the deep ocean, and the green ones like the vibrant grass.

Some of the symbols drawn on it are simple numbers, arranged neatly and orderly.

"Master Chen, this is simply perfect!" Li Aiguo couldn't help but admire, "Your craftsmanship is amazing! The children will definitely like it."

Chen Zhenyuan scratched his head and smiled innocently: "As long as I can help you, that's good enough."

It was almost noon, and Li Aiguo was worried about meeting a comrade from the Zhengzhou Bureau, so he planned to leave with the building blocks.

After leaving the wood products department, he turned into the supply and marketing cooperative on the corner and bought a pack of cigarettes. He then returned to the workshop, opened the packs, and distributed a pack to each carpenter.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"Hey, Driver Li, how can you say this?" The cigarettes are not expensive, just ordinary Daqianmen, but the friendship contained in them is extraordinary.

Chen Zhenyuan felt it was a bit hot to handle and wanted to refuse.

Before he could push, Li Aiguo had already ridden his bicycle and left the wood products business department.

"Oh, logically we should thank driver Li, but now he actually..." Chen Zhenyuan was not good at speaking and didn't know what to say.

He turned his head and looked at the carpenters: "Everyone, please work harder and make the slide with guaranteed quality and quantity, otherwise I will let down driver Li."

"Don't worry, Master Chen, we are not the kind of people without conscience." The carpenters agreed in unison.
-
At this time, Li Aiguo had already returned to Qianmen Locomotive Depot on his bicycle.

As soon as he arrived at the section gate, security officer Xiao Liu greeted him with a smile: "Driver Li, a comrade from Zhengzhou is here to see you. I followed your instructions and asked him to wait at the studio gate."

"Thanks."

Li Aiguo rode his bicycle straight to the studio and saw a middle-aged man in navy blue work clothes standing at the door of the studio from a distance.

"Master Dou, I didn't expect you to come so early." Li Aiguo parked his bicycle and quickly walked forward to shake the middle-aged man's hand.

This person was none other than Dou Wu, the shunting worker whom Li Aiguo's delegation had met at the Zhengzhou Locomotive North Section.

The reason why Dou Wu appeared in the capital was because the ministry decided to set up a train speed-up team.

In addition to replacing equipment, the most important thing to increase train speed is to change the current train scheduling mode.

At Li Aiguo's suggestion, in addition to drawing technicians from research institutes across the country, the ministry also selected a large number of dispatchers from local areas to participate in the compilation of the new dispatching model.

Li Aiguo was very impressed by Dou Wu, the developer of the inertial shunting method, and he nominated Master Dou to the department at that time.

Of course, there was another important reason why Li Aiguo invited Master Dou to the studio.

"I came here right after I received a call from the department." Dou Wu was still as taciturn as before, and his words were so brief that Li Aiguo misunderstood the meaning of "right now."

After entering the studio and chatting for a while, Li Aiguo realized that something was wrong.

"You didn't bring any luggage this time?"

"I'll be right there."

"You didn't tell your wife and children?"

"I'll be right there."

"What were you doing before you got on the train?"

Dou Wu said seriously: "I am a shunter, of course I dispatch trains. I received a notice from the section, handed over the job, and jumped on a passing train to come here."

Li Aiguo: "."

He felt that he had underestimated the enthusiasm of workers these days.

Being able to participate in the compilation of a new national dispatch model is an honor in itself.

Fortunately, Dou Wu did not forget to hand over the work.

"Where do you live?"

Dou Wu said seriously, "Driver Li, let's not talk about these irrelevant things. What exactly is this new dispatching method? How much can it improve dispatching efficiency?"

Yes, I met a workaholic.

Li Aiguo knew that Dou Wu only had work in his eyes now, so he didn't say anything more. He stood up, took out a large stack of manuscript paper from the cabinet and placed it in front of him.

Looking at the four or five centimeters high manuscript paper, Dou Wu's eyes widened with excitement: "Driver Li, you have actually figured out the details of the new dispatching method?"

Li Aiguo said: "These are the catalogues."

Dou Wu: “.”

This time it was Dou Wu's turn to remain silent.

He took two deep breaths before he calmed down, rubbed his hands, and opened the catalog with excitement.

After just flipping through a few pages, Dou Wu became even more excited.

The train driver in front of me was actually planning to design a new dispatching method and compile an operation diagram for the entire railway network.

The scheduling method currently implemented in China is similar to the scheduling method used in Europe and the United States in later generations, which is based on planning and supplemented by scheduling.

Local governments first submit dispatch applications, which are then submitted to the railway bureaus. The railway bureaus then submit them to the ministry for review. The ministry then draws up a plan based on the applications, which are then distributed to the railway bureaus, which then execute according to the plan.

Dispatching is only needed for some temporary freight or temporary passengers.

This presents a problem - the entire scheduling process takes too long, and sometimes the scheduling applications submitted from various locations conflict with each other.

In the new dispatching method, Li Aiguo used the domestic dispatching method of later generations - dispatching as the main method and planning as the auxiliary method.

Nationwide, the Ministry of Railways is responsible for railway dispatching, which prepares the operation diagram of the entire railway network.

Based on this, each railway station will formulate plans and dispatch train operations.

In other words, the ministry is only responsible for the operation diagram of the railway network, and the railway dispatching work is the responsibility of the railway bureau dispatching office (bureau dispatching) and station dispatching (station dispatching).

The bureau's dispatching office is divided into: Road XX dispatching station 1, Road XX dispatching station 2, Road XX freight dispatching station, power supply dispatching station, passenger dispatching station, engineering dispatching station and other dispatching methods.

The station dispatcher is responsible for planning and directing the shunting work of the station. The station duty officer is responsible for receiving and dispatching trains.

There is division of labor and cooperation between the two.

The three combined form a strict dispatching network across the country.

"This railway network operation map is a good thing. It can not only improve dispatching efficiency, but also maximize the use of idle railway resources."

As an old dispatcher who created the dispatching method, Dou Wu instantly realized that the new dispatching method developed by Li Aiguo took into account the dispatching issues comprehensively across the national railways.

In contrast, his lazy scheduling method focuses only on the scheduling of freight trains within the station.

The difference between the two is like the difference between a component and a large machine.

However, after reading the catalog, Dou Wu quickly realized a problem.

"Driver Li, with such a huge dispatching job, the most stressful thing should be the railway network operation diagram. If there is a problem with the operation diagram, then all dispatching will be in trouble."

"Master Dou, you are indeed an expert in dispatching. You saw the problem right away. That's why I asked you to come."

Li Aiguo stood up and stretched out his hand to Dou Wu: "Master Dou, are you willing to help me design the railway network operation diagram?"

"Me? Can I really do it? I heard that there are many researchers, experts and scholars from research institutes coming to Beijing this time. I am just a worker."

Dou Wu was almost overwhelmed by excitement at first, but after he came to his senses, he subconsciously took a step back.

Li Aiguo said: "Of course, we can't do it just by the two of us. But you have practical experience, and I have a preliminary plan for the railway network operation diagram. We can combine theory with practice and build a big framework."

There was no concept of project framework at that time, and Li Aiguo wanted to explain a few more words.

Dou Wu realized Li Aiguo's ambition and said excitedly, "We are like the master who builds a house. We first put up the beams and then hire people to build the walls."

"Yes, we are the master chefs!"

Dou Wu took a deep breath and held Li Aiguo's hand tightly: "Master Li, as long as you don't despise me, I will do my best!"

What Li Aiguo admired was Dou Wu's fighting spirit.

In fact, based on his experience in his previous life, he had already figured out the general situation of the railway network operation map during this period of time, and what was missing were just some details to fill in.

Compared with those experts and scholars, Dou Wu may not have profound knowledge reserves, but he truly loves dispatching work and truly regards the railway as his home.

Only with the participation of such people in the work can we overcome all difficulties and develop the railway network operation diagram.

According to Li Aiguo's plan, the first draft of the railway network operation diagram will be submitted to the ministry for review only after it is designed.

At present, the old leader has gone to the south for vacation.

But the old leader is never just one person.

There are still many people in the ministry who oppose the abolition of the Progress Office.

If we rashly release the railway network operation map without any clue, we will only be attacked by these people.

Then, Li Aiguo took out a notebook.

"There will be a meeting in the ministry in a few days, and I will present the road network concept. Before that, you should take a look at this first."

Dou Wu opened the notebook with a red plastic cover.

The title page has a line of words written on it: "How to arrange the arrival and departure of trains at a station within 24 hours, or how to arrange the trains to pass through a section, what time all the trains arrive and leave, how to optimize efficiency."

The following pages include: "Station shunting work, pull-out line shunting, hump shunting, technical operation process of freight trains at technical stations, shunting operation plan." and other content.

Dou Wu was also a person who had received further education and had learned professional knowledge about trains, so he immediately realized what this was.

He raised his head and said incredulously, "Driver Li, you compiled a dispatch book?"

"The name of this book is Railway Operation Organization. It is a book about railway dispatching that I compiled based on my work experience."

Books on railway dispatching. Dou Wu held the book as if he was holding a treasure.

You should know that in those days, both at home and abroad, the dispatching work of trains was still based on practical experience, and no dispatching theory had been formed.

There are no professional books at home or abroad that explain and analyze scheduling.

In particular, there is a chapter at the back of this notebook that specifically explains the calculation of the main indicators of the train operation network.

As long as you understand this book, you may be able to compile a railway network.

Then, Dou Wu opened his notebook and started reading on the desk.

Looking at Dou Wu who was studying seriously, Li Aiguo raised his wrist to check the time and found that it was already evening before he knew it.

"Master Dou, where are you staying tonight?"

Dou Wu said without even looking up: "The ministry has arranged for us to stay at the Railway Guest House, but the round trip will take too much time, so I will stay here tonight."

Li Aiguo: "."

Li Aiguo thought that there was no way to persuade this good comrade who loved learning to leave, so he could only let him stay in the studio at night.

Fortunately, some sensitive items had already been transported to the weather station, so there was no need to worry about leaks.

Li Aiguo asked Dou Wu to rest early, and he rode his bicycle and left the locomotive depot leisurely.

When he went out, he made a report with the security officer to prevent Dou Wu from being arrested as a thief.

"Hey, Driver Li, I haven't eaten yet?" At dinner time, Dou Wu finally raised his head.

He looked around and found that he was the only one in the studio.

"Hey, Driver Li, when did Nen leave?"

"Forget it, eating is not a big deal!" Dou Wu took a few deep breaths, tightened his belt, and immediately felt his stomach was full. Then he picked up the notebook and continued to study.

"The compilation of the train marshaling plan for direct trains from the loading station. Oh, so this is the principle of compilation. I thought it was just specially stipulated for convenience. Hey, this book is really interesting."

(End of this chapter)