Hints & tips

Here are three more hints and tips, aimed at less experienced players (like me) playing an entirely new timetable:

1) Assume the TT is full of errors and confusing timing points, even if it is by a supposedly reputable TT writer and is supposed to have been thoroughly play tested beforehand. Assume it will prove much more confusing than you initially thought (because it probably will!). Just because you have played a previous TT on the same sim does not mean this new TT is straightforward. Forewarned is forearmed. It will force you to improve your skill set for dealing with problems as they appear. Don't thank the TT writer unless your first run happens to be totally smooth.

2) On your first run, forget about trying to keep to the timetable and instead concentrate on getting the sequence of trains right. Don't worry if you're an hour or more behind schedule, just aim to get the trains where they need to go and be content with this. This includes planning ahead for trains that must join. Don't hesitate to run the sim at two-thirds or even half speed. Don't make playing SimSig a stress ordeal; remember, if you're running two or more panels, you're actually being asked to do the job of two or more people. Just relax and pretend instead that you're playing with model trains, where timing schedules are unimportant and only the sequence of trains matters.

3) Discover how much you can get done while the sim is paused. Don't do any more than you absolutely need to while the sim is running, and you will surprise yourself by how much better the sim will run when you resume. You can edit timetables, locate mystery trains that will need to join those currently in your area, write sticky notes to yourself and check (but not answer) incoming telephone messages, and generally troubleshoot ahead. You don't need to do any of this while the sim is running.

Good luck.

Always assume anything posted by Maxand will get peoples backs up within the first paragraph or two and result in about six hundred posts following it expressing peoples outrage.

Here are three more hints and tips, aimed at less experienced players (like me) playing an entirely new timetable:

1) Assume the TT is full of errors, confusing timing points and deliberate traps, even if it is by a supposedly reputable TT writer and is supposed to have been thoroughly play tested beforehand. Assume it will prove much more confusing than you initially thought (because it probably will!). Just because you have played a previous TT on the same sim does not mean this new TT will be straightforward. Forewarned is forearmed. It will force you to improve your skill set for dealing with problems as they appear. Don't thank the TT writer unless your first run happens to be totally smooth.

1) Assume the TT is full of errors, confusing timing points and deliberate traps, even if it is by a supposedly reputable TT writer and is supposed to have been thoroughly play tested beforehand. Assume it will prove much more confusing than you initially thought (because it probably will!). Just because you have played a previous TT on the same sim does not mean this new TT will be straightforward. Forewarned is forearmed. It will force you to improve your skill set for dealing with problems as they appear. Don't thank the TT writer unless your first run happens to be totally smooth.

2) On your first run, forget about trying to keep to the timetable and instead concentrate on getting the sequence of trains right. Don't worry if you're an hour or more behind schedule, just aim to get the trains where they need to go and be content with this. This includes planning ahead for trains that must join. Don't hesitate to run the sim at two-thirds or even half speed. Don't make playing SimSig a stress ordeal; remember, if you're running two or more panels, you're actually being asked to do the job of two or more people. Just relax and pretend instead that you're playing with model trains, where timing schedules are unimportant and only the sequence of trains matters.

If you run the timetable analyser (Available via the F4 menu) then you will see any errors or warnings appertaining to the timetable.

If the timing points are confusing then try learning the sims geography first!

If your not thanking the TT writer does that mean your not going to thank the sim developer if you find a signal 1 space to the left of where you think it should be, or even SIMSIG itself because you think it's not as easy to run a sim because it doesn't have a feature you want?

But I reserve my thanks for those who are able to view their work through a novice's eye.

As for Steamer's advice, all I can say is, try it my way too, then see which works better for you. My earlier comments were sincere.

1) Assume the TT is full of errors, confusing timing points and deliberate traps, even if it is by a supposedly reputable TT writer and is supposed to have been thoroughly play tested beforehand. Assume it will prove much more confusing than you initially thought (because it probably will!). Just because you have played a previous TT on the same sim does not mean this new TT will be straightforward. Forewarned is forearmed. It will force you to improve your skill set for dealing with problems as they appear. Don't thank the TT writer unless your first run happens to be totally smooth.

3) Discover how much you can get done while the sim is paused. Don't do any more than you absolutely need to while the sim is running, and you will surprise yourself by how much better the sim will run when you resume. You can edit timetables, locate mystery trains that will need to join those currently in your area, write sticky notes to yourself, check (but not answer) incoming telephone messages and generally troubleshoot ahead. You don't need to do any of this while the sim is running.