How far between splines?

[d55baron]

When I created my route, I was asked to provide a route name, session name, pick a region, select a working scale and working units. I have yet to figure out the relationship between working scale, working units, and how long a piece of track is between points a and b or between splines.

I have seen route descriptions say there is over 50 miles of mainline. How in samhill do you measure distance covered when laying track? I am unable to find anythine like a tool for this in the tool box (tools pulldown on right side of surveyor winow)

i need to understand this before i can ask my next question, can junctions be placed to close together such that an engine will consistantly overrun the junction, stop, backup and go at it again this time making the proper junction exit after the points have been moved (this all under ai control).

 

[bl4882]

Hello Baron,

As far as working scale, etc., are concerned, they are simply a way of giving you measurements depending on whether you imagine your route to be in HO scale, O scale, or Real Scale. I work in Real Scale, metric. That means that when I use the ruler tool to measure a 40 ft boxcar it comes out to 12.2 meters.

Measuring track distance will require you to prepare a measuring tool. This tool needs to be able to conform itself to track curves and grades. The obvious answer is a cut of cars. Select a type of car that is brightly colored so you can pick it out easily. Measure out a distance that is appropriate to what you are measuring. If you are going to measure a route that is, say, 50 to 55 miles long, you might use a cut of cars, all of the same type and length, that is one mile long. Then replace the cars at each end with a sharply contrasting car of the same length. In other words, if you are going to use 40 foot boxcars, use white ones on the ends and red ones for the rest. Save it as a consist. Then start placing these cuts of cars, end to end on the distance you are measuring. Then start counting. Let us say you lay out 52 one mile cuts. This equals 52 miles. At the end of the humongotrain you are likely to have a distance of track left over with no tracks on it. Place 40 foot box cars until you get to the end. Each mile of track will contain 132 40 ft boxcars (make an actual count because 40 ft is the nominal length and the ones you use might be 41 or 42 feet). If you place 73 more boxcars you know that your route is about 52 and 73/132 mile long, or about 52.55 miles long. You could also create shorter cuts of cars to measure shorter distances where you have to follow curves. Straights are no problem. Use the ruler tool

I don't have an answer for your last question.

Bernie

 

[d55baron]

Thanks for the quick reply. I guess I start building my measureing consist.

 

[mtldrm38]

The freight car is good idea for curves etc and in surveyor the tab with the wrench contains the ruler as with the beginning with what type of real scale metric determines the tool dimensions read....
The junction thingy is another story for AI trains..........things I do...
1. check engine spec files older versions will cause miss read signals and junctions... upgrade em in ccp or I default all engines with the f7 engine spec.........
2. approaching a junction at a reduced speed helps., on main lines I like to use a 01 approach with a reduced speed applied (usually about 1/4 mile or so depending on the speed the train is approaching in the first place)...prior to using a junction signal like a 02,03,06 for example also may note over signaling junctions will also cause the AI train s signals to mis read example a 02 to stop and proceed and right after a 05 etc... can cause the 02 to give clearance like a approach would leaving the AI to watch the following signal instead....

Those 2 things alone gives a AI train more of a chance to follow commands properly........and note others have different approaches that also work..........

Dave =)

 

[wreeder]

Create a new session. Add the Display Custom HUD rule to the session. Run the session and drive a loco along the path you want to measure and the odometer will tell you how far you have driven.

William

 

[danny5]

Don't know if your route is or will be modled after somthing of protype but if so remember that which way the sun comes up on your route?
There been some that builted Routes and realized that the sun was comming up in the west not the east after months of work.
In the mile thing always put in a mile post with a letter of direction.(N.MP 13)This will help you kept track of which way you are going.
If you build a yard name the switches to where they go when switched.(Y T 2)and set the switch radis to 00.05 for when shunting you don't have to drive a loco distent pass the junction to swich it.( jive all your switches a name)(to some where)If you upload your route then when someone DL it he or she will beable to learn it a lot faster.
Setting Track mark at the same radis will stop the loco/car over top the track mark.(not a loco & 1/2 away)
Hopes this helps in your route builting.Looking forward to seeing it.
Danny5