Australian screenshots

[scottling]

I noticed in this shot you have a 3-way crossover signal. Is this for your personal use or is it on the DLS?

Regards,
Clinton.

Hi Clinton,

It's definitely not for Ryan's own personal use, because I use it too, on more than one route!

This is the BR Signal set from VSR. Link here:
http://www.vsr.org.uk/index.cgi?projectid=15

Really quite easy to set up. I don't think there's a tutorial so I'll give you one.

Firstly, you need every single component for it to work effectively.

When placing, simply find an unsignalled junction, and stick any of those signals next to the track.
Make sure your junction has a lever, this will be important when putting up the direction marker on the signal.
Next, place the sign that reads "Modelock: Feather" (invisible in Driver) just behind the signal.
Now, you can place the direction markers on each of the tracks branching off the main one. Put a "straight" feather on the main track, then the respective left or right feathers on the other tracks.

I'll have to get back to you with pictures and show you the drill, because I'm difficut to understand through writing.

Screenies soon,
Scott.

 

[scottling]

Perhaps this will make more sense Clinton :

Place the signal, and a train to test it. Otherwise your feathers will not show up in Surveyor.

Place "Modelock: Feather" just behind the signal.

Place "Signal Feather Straight" on the main track through the junction. (NOTE: This worked better when the icon was placed BEHIND Junction 2 in this shot.)

Now place directional feathers on their respective tracks.

Change the junction so the signal picks up all available feathers and saves them to the signal's "memory".

The setup in Driver.

Hope this helps.
Happy Trainzing,
Scott.

 

[lenice]

I Love Tutorials.

scottling,
Thanks for that little pearl of wisdom. I have been playing with these signals recently and couldn't understand some of the "attachments", 'modelocks' being one. I posted about them in another part of the forum and recieved a welcome PM back from the creator but he hadn't explained some of the other aspects. That now only leaves me with one or two others but that can be dealt with off thread.:Y: :Y:
Regards
Glen

 

[Ryan_McC]

Hi Clinton

Scott is quite correct about setting up those signals, but the one you're referring to is from the railwaves site. It's part of the UK Advanced Signal Kit (a must for serious QR builders!). It is payware, but boy, it's worth it.

The other advantages with them are that if you have a leading position light (ground signal in trainz) between the signal and the points, the junction indicator still works, and you can set the signal to clear only to yellow for diverging routes without having to adjust the config file of the signal. 100% recommended.

Ryan

 

[DaSmith75]

Thank you Ryan and Scott for your guide there - I will try that out when I get my PC upgrade.

 

[ad602000]

I uploaded a pack of NSWGR 4 wheel wagons which have been approved, ABV CV ICV and LV probably after 6pm aest
cheers
pete

 

[DelecServiceCentre]

Hi everyone just a few more from me what in working on

 

[mattm]

Hi guys.

I am currently working on a small section of double track mainline which includes branch to a coal loader, and had a few questions to ask with regards to placing signals and speed-boards.

Currently, i have the Down Mainline signed for a max of 80Km's, with a maximum of 50Km's for the turnout to the branch (signaled with a 3-asp diverge). Trains travel down the branch at a max of 50K's for 3 kilometres before reaching the turnout for the balloon loop (signaled with 2asp home), which has also a length of about 3K's. Speed through the turnout and around the loop is 15KM, with an increase to 25 just before the exit to the loop.
Trains proceed down the branch at 25k's until reaching the exit to the branch, where a max of 40k's is allowed through the turnout (signaled with 3-asp diverge) onto the Up Main, where an increase to 90K's is allowed after about a kilometre.

So, if the above isn't too confusing, what i would like to know is whether i should add in, increase or decrease any speed limits along the branch to make operation smoother, or is this about right for a typical NSW coal line?

Also, what kind of traffic level would seem right for this coal loader? I was thinking maybe 2-3 trains a day, but i'm not to sure wether that would be too many or too little.

Will post a few shots later tonight. Don't expect to much though, it's only me!:hehe:

Thanking you in advance, for what help you can offer,

Matt.

 

[Railwayz]

Hi guys.

I am currently working on a small section of double track mainline which includes branch to a coal loader, and had a few questions to ask with regards to placing signals and speed-boards.

Currently, i have the Down Mainline signed for a max of 80Km's, with a maximum of 50Km's for the turnout to the branch (signaled with a 3-asp diverge). Trains travel down the branch at a max of 50K's for 3 kilometres before reaching the turnout for the balloon loop (signaled with 2asp home), which has also a length of about 3K's. Speed through the turnout and around the loop is 15KM, with an increase to 25 just before the exit to the loop.
Trains proceed down the branch at 25k's until reaching the exit to the branch, where a max of 40k's is allowed through the turnout (signaled with 3-asp diverge) onto the Up Main, where an increase to 90K's is allowed after about a kilometre.

So, if the above isn't too confusing, what i would like to know is whether i should add in, increase or decrease any speed limits along the branch to make operation smoother, or is this about right for a typical NSW coal line?

Also, what kind of traffic level would seem right for this coal loader? I was thinking maybe 2-3 trains a day, but i'm not to sure wether that would be too many or too little.

Will post a few shots later tonight. Don't expect to much though, it's only me!:hehe:

Thanking you in advance, for what help you can offer,

Matt.

Matt,

What you have sounds about right. The only caveat I would add is maybe reduce the speed around the balloon loop to about 10 K's as you have to run at that or less to successfully load the wagons on a real train.

As for frequency of trains it depends purely on the capacity of the loader and whether there is a coal program running or not. I remember when I worked caol trains back in the '80s to Glenlee and Tahmoor it was not unusual to have 8- 10 trains a day.

Railwayz

 

[mattm]

Matt,

What you have sounds about right. The only caveat I would add is maybe reduce the speed around the balloon loop to about 10 K's as you have to run at that or less to successfully load the wagons on a real train.

As for frequency of trains it depends purely on the capacity of the loader and whether there is a coal program running or not. I remember when I worked caol trains back in the '80s to Glenlee and Tahmoor it was not unusual to have 8- 10 trains a day.

Railwayz

Railwayz,

Thanks for the reply. I shall leave the loop speed at 15K's for the time being, and see how that works with the AI. I'm using the NSW Coal Loader by Natvander(?), and it seems to allow loading at about that speed. Out of interest, what does a coal program entail?

While on the subject of coal mines, does any one know where i could get a few pictures of the area around a coalmine, to get an idea of structures and such to place? I tried Google Earth but that's not clear enough to make out much detail.

Matt.

 

[Railwayz]

Railwayz,

Out of interest, what does a coal program entail?

Matt.

A coal program is simply the programming or scheduling of coal trains. It largely depends on the capacity of the loader on one end and the unloader on the other end. A full coal program means that the loader/unloader is running at peak capacity and as one train loads another is waiting to arrive while one is in transit to the unloader and another one is unloading.

It was quite common at times like that for one train to be waiting on the departure signal as another was pulling up to the loader.

Railwayz

 

[Forest_Runner]

I uploaded a pack of NSWGR 4 wheel wagons which have been approved, ABV CV ICV and LV probably after 6pm aest
cheers
pete

Thanks very much, Pete. As expected, these are quality!!

 

[Raichase]

Matt - I'd consider a slightly lower speed for the turnout - depending on how sharp it branches off from the mainline, something from 20-40km/h might be more reasonable.

As for photos of the area around a coal mine, I would think not. I think Davido was telling me that often the loader is located some distance from the mine itself, and the coal is sent along by conveyor, so perhaps that is of help? Aside from photos from crews sent in to magazines like Digest or Motive Power, photos of coal mines are scarce!

Try a google search?

 

[mattm]

Matt - I'd consider a slightly lower speed for the turnout - depending on how sharp it branches off from the mainline, something from 20-40km/h might be more reasonable.

As for photos of the area around a coal mine, I would think not. I think Davido was telling me that often the loader is located some distance from the mine itself, and the coal is sent along by conveyor, so perhaps that is of help? Aside from photos from crews sent in to magazines like Digest or Motive Power, photos of coal mines are scarce!

Try a google search?

Whoops! Sorry, i meant coal loader, not coal mine. I was wondering what buildings, etc would be located in the area immediately around the loader. I just want a few pics so i can have a basic representation of the loading area.
I lack the patience and skills to attempt a full blown open cut mine in trainz, so will just concentrate on the area around the loading facility.

Matt.

 

[Dreadnought1]

Matt,
Check out some coal mines and their associated loaders using Google Earth or Near Map.

Both are simply brilliant for sorting out what goes where for a modern industry.
They're also great for checking out the track layouts (where the resolution allows for it...)

Another option is to look at coal (and other) mining company corporate websites. These websites and their downloadable corporate reports often have good photos and (sometimes) overview maps of their mines and infrastructure.

Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[mattm]

Dreadnought,

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look tomorrow, and see what i can find.

Anyway, 2 of the best shots i took tonight. They are WIPs, so you'll have to excuse the slightly less than perfect texture job.

Nice pics, Forest_Runner.

Cheers,

Matt.

 

[Davido]

Whoops! Sorry, i meant coal loader, not coal mine. I was wondering what buildings, etc would be located in the area immediately around the loader. I just want a few pics so i can have a basic representation of the loading area.
I lack the patience and skills to attempt a full blown open cut mine in trainz, so will just concentrate on the area around the loading facility.

Matt.

Brian Atkins has some good photo's of loaders LOOK HERE and HERE

 

[Raichase]

Thanks for the links, I'll sneak them into the favourites list for an eventual use somewhere, no doubt!

Matt - the landscape is looking the part so far - love the rolling hills to the left of the track in the first shot.

Speaking of work in progress:

Miles away from even completeting the landscape, but this is a scene from my branch line. I like it so far, it's a big sweeping horseshoe descending down to, crossing, and then rising up from a small creek.

 

[Tanvaras]

Hi folks, Some great screen shots over the last few days

I be taking a small hiatus, as my main system 110% died the other day taking along with it the HDD's Mainboard, CPU, GFX card, well pretty much the whole thing. (Not my week) Hope to have a new system up and running sometime late this weekend and back into Trainz, though due to work it could be longer if I am called away.

So, Look forward to seeing some great screenshots when I return with a shiny new system

Cheers all

Trent

 

[Raichase]

Trent - sorry to hear about your PC woes. I've only recently upgraded to a new PC in the last few months after mine died on me. Luckily I did not lose the thousands of train and other photos that I've not even looked at other than through the viewfinder. Hopefully with a shiny new system your Trainz experience may improve in the long run, although I can agree how frustrating it is in the meantime.

Regards,
(The Other) Trent