How can I simulate the release & locking of a groundframe?
For those who are not familiar with UK practice, a groundframe is a lever or group of levers that are used to control access to a siding, when the points (or turnout) need to be locked so the mainline is safe for passenger trains. Hence a simple hand lever is not sufficient, but the siding is not used frequently enough to justify a signalbox and signals to control it. They are often, but not always, locked to the mainline and released remotely from a distant signalbox when needed.
I have the junction link object, and have set up a groundframe so that clicking on either of the junctions, or the frame itself, will operate the junctions.
I want to simulate the interaction with the remote signalbox.
What I envision is something like this-
1 A surveyor-only object that can be setup in a session, linked to the junctions and if necessary, protecting signals.
2 Clicking on this object will bring up a message interface - with two options - 1 - Train ready to shunt, request release - or - 2 Shunt completed, restore frame.
3 Selecting option 1 will check the permits for the junctions, if all available will then release to manual control, will also set protecting signals to stop. If permits not available will return a message that release not available, retry in a few minutes.
4 Selecting option 2 will release protecting signals to automatic, and return junctions to AI control.
The actual switching of junctions I'm OK with, it's the message display I'm struggling with, anybody any ideas please?
For those who are not familiar with UK practice, a groundframe is a lever or group of levers that are used to control access to a siding, when the points (or turnout) need to be locked so the mainline is safe for passenger trains. Hence a simple hand lever is not sufficient, but the siding is not used frequently enough to justify a signalbox and signals to control it. They are often, but not always, locked to the mainline and released remotely from a distant signalbox when needed.
I have the junction link object, and have set up a groundframe so that clicking on either of the junctions, or the frame itself, will operate the junctions.
I want to simulate the interaction with the remote signalbox.
What I envision is something like this-
1 A surveyor-only object that can be setup in a session, linked to the junctions and if necessary, protecting signals.
2 Clicking on this object will bring up a message interface - with two options - 1 - Train ready to shunt, request release - or - 2 Shunt completed, restore frame.
3 Selecting option 1 will check the permits for the junctions, if all available will then release to manual control, will also set protecting signals to stop. If permits not available will return a message that release not available, retry in a few minutes.
4 Selecting option 2 will release protecting signals to automatic, and return junctions to AI control.
The actual switching of junctions I'm OK with, it's the message display I'm struggling with, anybody any ideas please?
