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| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 10:05 #149298 | |
Champs450007
97 posts |
Question for those who make timetables, how do you know how long a freight train's consist is when you're writing your timetables? I use a mixture of Freightmaster & Railcams to search up freight moves which gives me the data I need to add in timetable wise but can never work out how long a consist should be.
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| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 11:06 #149300 | |
wellgroomed
110 posts |
This depends on which TT I am writing. If it's historic, I tend to research typical train lengths online or via books. If it's a current TT, I use industry data. I appreciate however that this mostly isn't publicly available. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 11:15 #149301 | |
bill_gensheet
1413 posts 
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From signalling a train being a bit short is not a problem, so I err on the short side and use generic lengths based on image searches. Any particularly long trains, ie where the length might affect looping, are generally noted with warnings such as 'Up to 80 SLU' or 'Up to 19 SCL' especially in older WTT. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 12:09 #149302 | |
58050
2659 posts
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Champs450007 in post 149298 said:Question for those who make timetables, how do you know how long a freight train's consist is when you're writing your timetables? I use a mixture of Freightmaster & Railcams to search up freight moves which gives me the data I need to add in timetable wise but can never work out how long a consist should be.The proper way to do it as I do is by using an official Freight Train Loads book, which apart from telling you the maximum tonnage over a certain route, but also it tells you the length limit of the train n SLUs. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 12:22 #149305 | |
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Champs450007
97 posts |
Thankyou all. I'm in the industry as a driver but on the passenger side of things so don't really get much in the way of freight side of things data wise. May just hazard a guess and use random lengths really.
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| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 13:27 #149306 | |
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officer dibble
409 posts |
I use TRUST at work both from live schedules and historical data where possible to get wagon types and lengths for realism, which is most helpful, especially when it comes to Freightliner workings. A few years ago, I did produce an Excel spreadsheet for the various FOCs containing numerous freight trains showing the consists and associated lengths. I may do an updated version in the new year (if time permits, work keeps getting in the way!), as many wagons types have been scrapped and many new wagon types have appeared across the network. When in doubt - Contingency plan 2A. Someone didn't buy the milk - 2A. Someone sneezed at Swansea - 2A. A driver complains the cab is too cold - 2A. Unable to operate a HEx service 4 vice 8 - 2A. Points failure at Ipswich - 2A. Landslip at Pitlochry - 2A Log in to reply The following users said thank you: Champs450007, DriverCurran |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 13:31 #149307 | |
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58050
2659 posts
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Champs450007 in post 149305 said:Thankyou all. I'm in the industry as a driver but on the passenger side of things so don't really get much in the way of freight side of things data wise. May just hazard a guess and use random lengths really.Almost 95% of my railway career was on the freight side & I've collected quite a number of Freight train loads books which I usefor creating freight trains in my SimSIg TTs. Where exactly were you looking at for this or these freight trains? Preferably I'd need an origin location & destination location as well as a specific route to look in some of my loads books to give you a loading. As I only write BR era timetables the most modern freight loads book I have is for 1997. So I can't give you a specific loading for say a Class 66 or Class 70 loco, but can give you a length limit for it as they don't tend to change that much unless the loop lengths along the route or the destination has had its sdgs altered. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 14:01 #149308 | |
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0D07
91 posts |
Afternoon, Network Rail Still produces Freight Train Loads Books that gives the maximum tonnage and also the maximum lengths permitted for the routes concerned they also have a section in the back that is for Service Plan Reviews (Trains runnning overweight and overlength but with permission from Network Rail) You can also use TOPS by doing a T2XX input this will give you the maximum tonnage for all trains between 2 Stannon locations E.G. 23432 (Doncaster Belomont) to 21201 (Immingham Reception Sidings) if you put the class of loco it will give all the tonnages and maximum lengths for all types of traffic. If you are looking for a SLU Conversion chart they one these was produced in the Working Manual for Rail Staff and this should now be found in Section the new TW4 or TW5 of the rule book as they they merged the Working Manual into that publication about 2 years ago. Is it something specific that you are trying to work out the weight or the length for? Thanks, 0D07. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 14:04 #149309 | |
HST125Scorton
1191 posts
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I use TRUST for up to date train lengths and also historical dates. I also use WTTs along side TRUST to maker a fuller timetable for freight workings.
Aaron (AJRO) | Timetable Writer Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 14:11 #149310 | |
zacpartridge
11 posts |
I’m sure my way is slightly less authentic than most people’s but it works for me. 1. I would consider where that train is running to and from to know whether it is likely to be running empty, full, half empty etc. ie, a train departing from a quarry has a high likelihood of being full of aggregate, whereas a train entering a quarry has a high likelihood of carrying empty aggregate wagons. The same analysis can be carried out for intermodal considering trains going to/from ports and terminals. 2. I look at the timing load to get the weight. 3. Divide the weight of the train by the weight of individual wagons (full, empty, half empty, or a mix of each) after minusing the weight of the loco. 4. Multiply the calculated number of wagons by the rough length of each wagon for a rough estimate of the length of the train. I also sometimes use railcams and YouTube videos to get an idea on length for specific tricky workings (such as MoD workings which are harder to predict the wagons) It must be said though, if you are going to do it this way, make sure you test your timetable to check that each train is not too long for set downs etc. * I am well aware that there are probably better and more accurate ways of doing this but it works for me and gives me a nice variety of lengths. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 14:21 #149311 | |
postal
5264 posts
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zacpartridge in post 149310 said:4. Multiply the calculated number of wagons by the rough length of each wagon for a rough estimate of the length of the train.If you know the number and type(s) of wagons and type of loco, you can download a length calculator (for example at https://www.SimSig.co.uk/File/Download/2360), put in the information and get an accurate length. “In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe Last edited: 14/12/2022 at 14:22 by postal Reason: None given Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Champs450007 |
| Freight Train Lengths 14/12/2022 at 14:39 #149312 | |
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Champs450007
97 posts |
Thankyou all for your replies. I'm just looking at doing freight workings that went through Clapham Junction on the windsor side in the recent weeks mainly on a Thursday. All I needed really was the train length in terms of how many meters it would be more than anything else number of wagons would've been nice but not essential to know.
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| Freight Train Lengths 15/12/2022 at 18:14 #149345 | |
JamesDaniel
40 posts |
Can i have a link please? (To Trust)
Last edited: 15/12/2022 at 18:17 by JamesDaniel Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| Freight Train Lengths 15/12/2022 at 18:20 #149346 | |
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HST125Scorton
1191 posts
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JamesDaniel in post 149345 said:Can i have a link please? (To Trust)It's not available to the public, only to those who work within the Industry. Aaron (AJRO) | Timetable Writer Log in to reply The following user said thank you: JamesDaniel |