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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 05:30 #71568 | |
maxand
1637 posts |
Wouldn't surprise me if this has been requested before though a quick search turned up nothing. It would make life so much easier if the lengths of loops and sidings could be included in the panel view, e.g., "DGL 550" indicating that the length of the Down Goods Line is 550 metres. Relying on memory is dangerous, referring to an external list is inefficient, and creating a sticky note for each location (which needs replacing each time a TT is begun) is tedious. Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 06:46 #71569 | |
58050
2659 posts |
Depends how much the developer wants the sim to look. Some want to produce a mirror imagine to what the actual panel shows on it in real life. That said the signaller would only be operating that panel, whereas in SimSig terms you can operate as many different panels you have loaded on your system(& have licences for). The signaler in real life would already know the length of the loops under his control & is issued with the relevant documentation such as Sectional appendixes to refer to whereas in SimSig you don't, especially covering the older eras, the up to date ones you can download. The 'F2' screen tells you the length of any train on the panel similar to a TOPS terminal in a PSB where they would be able to interrogate the system to ascertain the klength of any freight train. Maybe on the easy level option in sims this could show alot of additional info until you feel comfortable to proceed to a harder level maybe the answer as some timetables I've written for developers not yet released has this feature on specific parts of the panel where the track layout shown on the panel is mis-leading as to what movements can be made.
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 07:19 #71570 | |
kaiwhara
587 posts |
Most panels would not have this information on the board. How much more clutter do we need? I'm for Realism over niceties...
Sorry guys, I am in the business of making people wait! Log in to reply The following user said thank you: andyb0607 |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 09:16 #71579 | |
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maxand
1637 posts |
Very little clutter, as you put it, since there aren't that many sidings or loops on any given panel. I also seem to recall that signallers have the option of switching to a "close-up" screen which might display this kind of information, but of course for a much smaller area. Nothing beats having the information right at hand instead of needing to look up a Sectional Appendix. Of course, there is nothing to stop the dedicated simmer from preparing a lookup table of platform, loop and siding lengths, complete with location numbers of where to find them, on paper and keeping the list beside him/her. Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 09:19 #71580 | |
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Firefly
521 posts |
Quote:Most panels would not have this information on the board. How much more clutter do we need? I'm for Realism over niceties...Agree, it's too much for an IECC style display, there's already enough on the screens. Panels are much larger scale and many of those do have loop lengths marked on the panel by temporary labels. VDU displays never have loop lengths shown. How difficult is it to print off a list of loops with the lengths and just refer to that list? Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 09:23 #71581 | |
Mattyq
259 posts |
I also agree. I prefer a recreation of the actual workstation, where possible, rather than "niceties". For the record, we use sticky notes (real world) and they work just fine.
Not fat ..... fluffy!! (G Iglesias) Last edited: 01/05/2015 at 09:24 by Mattyq Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 09:30 #71583 | |
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AlexH
161 posts |
From memory Carlisle has the loop length printed near the loop and nobody seems to have objected. Carlisle is not a terribly 'busy' sim in the sense that it is stretched out over quite a long map with it being mostly long mainline sections, so it doesn't really clutter it up. But on a sim representing a smaller or more complicated area would be a challenge to understand. In a sense both sides of this argument are correct; having the loop length is useful but to have it printed is not authentic, but to have it on a post-it note is authentic. So perhaps an 'easy mode' is the way forward. Alternatively, the time spent writing out your own post-it notes using the sticky function is probably 10% of that required to alter the code in the program. The real bonus of having it hard coded into the program is for people like me who aren't always near a reliable connection to check the appendix online. We're in the third world, and SimSig is a lifeline for playing on the laptop when the power has gone out, but with no internet it's hard to check. A minor point. Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 15:28 #71589 | |
GeoffM
6377 posts |
It's not common to find loop lengths on an IECC/Westcad/MCS screen IMX - even on detail/close-up views.
SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 17:23 #71596 | |
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58050
2659 posts |
AlexH wrote: Quote:
You say Carlisle isn't a busy sim. I think when you make a statement like that you should really be more specific on the era. As the author of the 1979-1980tt which will soon be re-released on loader with a much more updated timetable I'd say it's pretty damn busy throughout the sim as some of the users would testify, especially those who have worked through that timetable from start to finish. I would say your comment is based on te modern era timetable. During the BR eras Carlisle Kingmoor was the largest marshaling yard complex on the BR network & you don't get that staus if your not a busy area. Try playing the new version of this timetable when the sim is released on loader then see if you don't think thats too busy. Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 18:04 #71598 | |
pedroathome
916 posts |
" said:AlexH wrote:Reading the comment AlexH made, I do not feel like he was on about any timetables, but rather the layout of the sim. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: AlexH |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 21:30 #71607 | |
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Muzer
718 posts |
Yes, I read it as meaning that the sim is not *visually* busy, which I totally agree with.
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 22:03 #71608 | |
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Hooverman
306 posts |
I couldn't honestly tell you the length of most of our sidings & loops on our panels that deal with freight trains and that after working there for 14 years.
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 22:15 #71609 | |
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John
884 posts 
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" said:I couldn't honestly tell you the length of most of our sidings & loops on our panels that deal with freight trains and that after working there for 14 years.Swerving off-topic for just a sec, how many coaches will the Down Sidings at Brighton accommodate please, Hooverman? Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 22:24 #71610 | |
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Hooverman
306 posts |
" said:" said:Now carriage sidings we do get information on :-)I couldn't honestly tell you the length of most of our sidings & loops on our panels that deal with freight trains and that after working there for 14 years.Swerving off-topic for just a sec, how many coaches will the Down Sidings at Brighton accommodate please, Hooverman? Down main No1 will hold 2x12 and carriage siding No2 will hold 1x12 but the signalling is designed for the new class 700s so if for instance you have 1x12 car sitting on the stops of No1 siding occupying that track circuit then you put another 4car on the Brighton end of No1 siding occupying that track circuit, then the signalling won't clear to allow another 8car on top as it already thinks it's full. Last edited: 01/05/2015 at 22:35 by Hooverman Log in to reply The following user said thank you: John |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 01/05/2015 at 22:30 #71611 | |
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John
884 posts
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Thanks 
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 02/05/2015 at 00:39 #71615 | |
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Danny252
1461 posts |
" said:I couldn't honestly tell you the length of most of our sidings & loops on our panels that deal with freight trains and that after working there for 14 years.It's part of our training/box exam on the Severn Valley - however, I think most people promptly forget for most locations! Mind, it's quite a bit easier when you can just look out the window... Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 02/05/2015 at 05:23 #71621 | |
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AlexH
161 posts |
Please 58050! I did not mean any offence at all in my comment. pedroathome and Muzer were correct, that I was referring to visual information, not number of trains. I tried to make that clear in my posting but I'm very sorry that it did not communicate correctly. I have indeed spent many happy hours playing Carlisle using the 1980s timetable and becoming very stuck very quickly. I am sorry it took so long to reply, a storm came and knocked power and internet out again (really hence my original comment on the benefit of offline information  ) Carlisle is one of my favourite sims. When I visit the UK I often spend time in the Lakes region and so it's very evocative of summer holidays to the UK enjoying the trains streaking through the landscape.
Last edited: 02/05/2015 at 05:26 by AlexH Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 02/05/2015 at 11:51 #71630 | |
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58050
2659 posts |
Alex I'm not taking offense at what you said, just a bit surprised when you said the Carlisle sim wasn't very busy. I personally don't play anything modern era as that doesn't float my boat so to speak. The next version of the Carlisle 1979-1980 tt when the sim is re-released on loader will be alot better than the original as there have been quite a few changes & additions including a couple of steam specials over the S&C which I didn't include before as there wasn't a 'steam' category in the train list part of the tt program. Now that there is they've been added in along with some additional traffic flows that we've rcv'd info on which we didn't have when that timetable was being written. Anyway good luck with it when it comes out.
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 02/05/2015 at 12:51 #71633 | |
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slatteryc
254 posts |
oh come on you can't leave it like that. Loader Carlisle and a new version of the maddest TT for SimSig ( except for some of the Whack-A-Mole Project X stuff ) .... GIVE NOW ... :woohoo:
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| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 02/05/2015 at 14:12 #71637 | |
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58050
2659 posts |
slatteryc wrote: Quote: oh come on you can't leave it like that. Loader Carlisle and a new version of the maddest TT for SimSig ( except for some of the Whack-A-Mole Project X stuff ) .... GIVE NOW ... :woohoo: How much more do you want? Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 03/05/2015 at 10:48 #71670 | |
lazzer
636 posts |
" said:Alex I'm not taking offense at what you said, just a bit surprised when you said the Carlisle sim wasn't very busy. I personally don't play anything modern era as that doesn't float my boat so to speak. The next version of the Carlisle 1979-1980 tt when the sim is re-released on loader will be alot better than the original as there have been quite a few changes & additions including a couple of steam specials over the S&C which I didn't include before as there wasn't a 'steam' category in the train list part of the tt program. Now that there is they've been added in along with some additional traffic flows that we've rcv'd info on which we didn't have when that timetable was being written. Anyway good luck with it when it comes out.As a big fan of Carlisle, and of the older TTs, this one I'm looking forward too. It's bad enough trying to run it as it is now. :lol: Log in to reply |
| Incorporate loop and siding lengths into panel view 03/05/2015 at 11:22 #71671 | |
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58050
2659 posts |
I'm glad you like that tt & the period, I'm like you I'm into the BR era. However the new version of Carlisle 1979-1980 tt has been re-edited so with the chaining to Motherwell it all fits. When I originally wrote the Carlisle 1979-1980 tt I used the Lockerbie timings as the entry timings to the sim, but was then re-editerd as Lockerbie wasn't strictly the entry point of the sim. Now it is so that has been chaned back to the way it was originally done. There's also the Dentonholme Yard pilot trip workings will be added shortly, as now I've got a copy of the 1981 Preston division Trip Notice & Joe(jc92) has got the 1978 edition of the same notice, so between the 2 which should be pretty much covered. When the original timetable was written I only had the 1991 & 1988 Trip Notices to work from so all of the trip services within the timetable will be re-worked & hopefully remove some of the congestion you tended to get. That said some of this has already been done. I've got about 2 doen STNs covering the 1970s & 1980s for the LMR, but just going through some of the late 1970s & early 1980s STNs some additional services have been added as I menyioned earlier a couple of steam charters. John(postal) is the person you really need to thank when the new version is released as he has done the majority of the work on the version of this tt & tested it most diligently as I've been busy working on other projects. The biggest problem with this tt is the fact that the carlisle A&D book I've got for the period has got all the diversions written in pen by signaller W.J. Taylor as this was his personal copy of that book & I'm slowly working on the Motherwell 1979-1980 tt to chain with Carlisle, but I don't have any info on the timings for any of the diverted Penmanshiel trains over the Motherwell PSBs area of control. Now if anyone out there has got any info on this or knows where some can be found on the internet could they let me know. so I can use that to make the tt more realistic otherwise its going to be a case of best huess for that part of the Motherwell tt.
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