Railworks America

Back in the steam era, before radios, warnings were given to the engineer by the use of flares or Torpedoes. Torpedoes were placed on the rails, and made a loud bang when run over. They were loud enough so the engineer could hear it over the noise of the engine.
Does anyone know if these items would be available? If not, is there anyone that would be interested in making some. I certainly do not have the skills to do it.

Thanks much.

You could do torpedos ( we call them detonators - it might be worth searching UKTS to see if someone's already done any ) as a simple signal - I've no idea what the flares looked like, but if you can make an emitter to look like one then that's as doable as the audible signal, I guess. I could probably knock up a blueprint & script if someone else can do the other assets.

No doubt they can be made.

A torpedo is just a bang when the train passes a certain spot in a scenario. I assume an event can be scripted to sound a bang and have white flash.

A fusee is just an particle emitter with the right colour and fireworks, and perhaps red/orange smoke during daytime? I again assume an event can be scripted to set off the fusee.

Unless you mean the pyshical thing. I believe torpedos are small circular cans, much like a tin of shoeshine, with metal wraps that wrap around the rail head.
Fusees are like marine emergency signals, you can hold them in your hand and wave. About a foot long and perhaps 1 - 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

They would be nice items to have in a scenario, but a lot of scripting will be needed to have them interact with the player.

Can edit the default aws ramps - they send a signal message when a train goes over, you just need to make some sort of bang instead :)

Kali wrote:Can edit the default aws ramps - they send a signal message when a train goes over, you just need to make some sort of bang instead :)

Kali, as resourceful as ever.
Yes, the AWS would probably be easiest to hack into a torpedo. Never understood why US loco's have British AWS in their blueprints, but now the connection can be made useful. Running over a torpedoe means going straight into emergeny, I presume.

The fusee will be a litte more difficult, as it needs to be seen from a distance and can be approached and overrun.
I don't think we will get a figure waving a fusee, but then can also be dropped in the track or put in the trackside dirt.
I don't know about the rule governing a fusee, probably warning the crew only to reduce speed immediately and fast and be prepared to stop on sight of the obstacle or whatever.

In these days of radio communications, CTC and PTC, are torpedos and fusees even still in use? Overhere, they have been abandoned because they often got stolen from the cabs and as professional fireworks, are powerful and dangerous to tamper with.

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:
Kali, as resourceful as ever.
Yes, the AWS would probably be easiest to hack into a torpedo. Never understood why US loco's have British AWS in their blueprints, but now the connection can be made useful. Running over a torpedoe means going straight into emergeny, I presume.

Well, you can take the signal message out of the AWS script ( and of course just take the AWS controls out of the blueprint too ), then you'd just get the audio - obviously you have to add the audio! the default UK semaphores have audio set up. Otherwise yes you could trigger an AWS warning, I guess.

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:The fusee will be a litte more difficult, as it needs to be seen from a distance and can be approached and overrun.
I don't think we will get a figure waving a fusee, but then can also be dropped in the track or put in the trackside dirt.
I don't know about the rule governing a fusee, probably warning the crew only to reduce speed immediately and fast and be prepared to stop on sight of the obstacle or whatever.

Can either just move the track link up the track ( that's the simplest way, infinitely variable ) or trigger the signal at an earlier distance.

The Picture of the flares (like roadside flares) Buzz showed is perfect.
You all have great ideas about the torpedoes, although I'm not sure I understand the technicalities of all your responses.
The Torpedo is anything that would make a loud bang when run over. I have seen and witnessed torpedoes. They are about the size of a half of a beer can. I'm not sure you could see one in the scale we use, but if it could be placed something like a Destination Marker, it would probably work great. Could anyone put together a "Warning Package that would include these? Pleeeese. I think others that are interested in steam operations would use such a package.
I am creative handicapped when it comes to these things. If Buzz remembers me he could attest to that.
Thanks for all of your responses.

Something I forgot. In the emergency package could there be a man waving a red lantern?
And yet another question I have. Is there a way to have a signal showing red (previous signal yellow) without the track ahead being occupied? I would use this to warn a train of faulty, weak, flooded or slightly damaged track in the block ahead. Of course this signal could be turned to yellow or green, after a stop, using the TAB Key.

Thanks Guys