Railworks America

Did anyone see this CNN clip where a railroad trainer was demonstrating train speeds on a training simulator.
What was interesting is the simulator was made from full size loco controls connected to our old friend Rail Simulator.





PS - I was watching a live stream - so I am not able to provide a link unfortunately.

I see they don't know there's an update out
~4 years later

Or maybe because they are not gamers what they have is plenty for what they are trying to do.

The system might be isolated from the 'net, or that the system requirements and overhead for RS is quite small when compared to RW.

Besides which, these "news" groups (CNN, Fox, et al.) are more interested in glitzy productions rather than raw substance.

I do find the control desktop very interesting, however.

Yah, I was surprised that real life railroads would be using our Rail Simulator for professional training. It was a pretty elaborate setup, with the cab simulator in what appeared to be a railroad company training room. I came into the middle of the clip and didn't catch which railroad. He demonstrated stopping a train from 100 MPH and demonstrated taking a train through a curve at 50 MPH and 100 MPH, with the train derailing on the second run. I think he was running on the Castle Rock route, but I am not certain. I wonder if they were using 'stock physics' or if the RR had done some work to customize the engine and wagon files for an improved simulation.

If it were a true simulator, the cab is more than likely to be a true replica of the actual engine being simulated. All controls would work just like in the real thing with the forces and travels of controls simulated exactly as in the simulated engine. The visual system is probably actual footage of the route being simulated and the sounds would be actual sound recordings of the operation of the real engine on the route being simulated.

Just a thought from an old flight simulator design engineer.

Dave

wacampbell wrote:Yah, I was surprised that real life railroads would be using our Rail Simulator for professional training. It was a pretty elaborate setup, with the cab simulator in what appeared to be a railroad company training room. I came into the middle of the clip and didn't catch which railroad. He demonstrated stopping a train from 100 MPH and demonstrated taking a train through a curve at 50 MPH and 100 MPH, with the train derailing on the second run. I think he was running on the Castle Rock route, but I am not certain. I wonder if they were using 'stock physics' or if the RR had done some work to customize the engine and wagon files for an improved simulation.

May seem curious, but for training getting used to signalling and keeping concentration it may work and is much cheaper than a full blown simulator. You cannot learn to drive though, I think. If you can also bring the gauges outside the screen that may help a lot ...

First Scotrail also use or used a version of TS for training. One of the UK routes Glasgow Airport - Glasgow along with the Glass 380 EMU started out being made for Scotrail and only ended up in game when the plans for the real route to the airport were shelved. But it's interesting to see real railways using TS.

I wouldn't even remotely consider MODOC a real railroad by any sort or means. Besides, paying for training you'll receive from the carrier of choice is a joke now days anyways.
Why pay x amount of money for training for 6 mo when the railroad will do it in 17 weeks, and do it right?
All MODOC does is produce know-it-all railroaders that no one likes to work with.

BNSFdude wrote:I wouldn't even remotely consider MODOC a real railroad by any sort or means. Besides, paying for training you'll receive from the carrier of choice is a joke now days anyways.
Why pay x amount of money for training for 6 mo when the railroad will do it in 17 weeks, and do it right?
All MODOC does is produce know-it-all railroaders that no one likes to work with.

Well I'd imagine like any other industry, railroads would prefer an applicant have some experience than none at all. I can't see how that wouldn't give an individual a better chance of consideration for the position in a sea of applicants that have no experience whatsoever. I'd certainly consider it worth the money if I got the job.... when without it my odds were considerably lower.

It's a 20,000 dollar job interview, as we say. The exclusivity of railroading has long since gone.
The majority of buffs from that go to MODOC or NARS even is someone who knows it all. No one likes that guy.

BNSFdude wrote:It's a 20,000 dollar job interview, as we say. The exclusivity of railroading has long since gone.
The majority of buffs from that go to MODOC or NARS even is someone who knows it all. No one likes that guy.

Well a private college that has a low job placement rate, doesn't stay in business long. If these railroad schools didn't have decent placement rates, word would get out (especially in the internet age) and the schools wouldn't last. Cuz people aren't gonna enroll in schools that give out $20k pieces of paper with little real job prospects.

I know and have known people in the railroad industry. I've read lots of posts on various forums from others in the industry. What I have gathered is that these positions are highly coveted and the competition is pretty fierce. Lots of applicants for limited positions. If a degree gets you far more offers or chances than someone without one, then money well spent. If not... then I would agree with you Anthony.

As for a know it all? I can tolerate them far more than a know little or know nothing. I'd rather tweak into shape someone who knows most of the stuff already than someone I need to train on what to do. Hence why lots of jobs openings in life prefer, require or otherwise give a leg up to those with experience.

I personally use this simulator to keep up on my skills as a steam engineer in the off season, I just had to wait for one realistic enough. I noticed a large difference in train handling at the start of this season.



As far as a know it all: people that know it all are a real bothersome to those that do.