The Racetrack: Aurora - Chicago (BNSF + Metra)

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

Question: For the new crossing signals, Will there be a Mechanical bell version as well?

[emd645e3]

Question: For the new crossing signals, Will there be a Mechanical bell version as well?

If I'm right they have either fully or just about replace the crossing bells on the entire racetrack with the eletronic ones.

Also forgot about this. This is the entire Metra portion of the route in real life from Aurora to Chicago.

http://youtu.be/PEmGIy7KN2c

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

More screens...


One of many other stations on the line

Nice!!! I like the attention to detail, like the short crossing barrier guarding the pedestrian sidewalk.

So we can assume this route comes with lots of useful and much needed assets for urban settings.

I have one question about the signalling. The prototype route is a mixture of many styles and eras of signalling and has/had lots of junctions with other railroads. There even still are some manned towers left, quickly falling due to rationalisation and integration.( Read here: http://position-light.blogspot.nl)
How will it look in your route?

[barnez]

Nice!!! I like the attention to detail, like the short crossing barrier guarding the pedestrian sidewalk.

So we can assume this route comes with lots of useful and much needed assets for urban settings.

Packed. We have lots of items for use in urban/ suburban routes.

I have one question about the signalling. The prototype route is a mixture of many styles and eras of signalling and has/had lots of junctions with other railroads. There even still are some manned towers left, quickly falling due to rationalisation and integration.( Read here: http://position-light.blogspot.nl)
How will it look in your route?

Signaling was a challenge. We simplifed a bit and gave the route its safetran upgrade early. Of course, the classic trilights are still in place protecting the interlocking approach at Union Station.

Partly due to the nature of TS signals, the spurs onto other railroads (rightly or wrongly) are covered by the same BNSF CORA signals that govern the majority of the remainder of the mainline.

Signal towers, where they still stand, are for the most part in-place.



-barnez

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Nice!!! I like the attention to detail, like the short crossing barrier guarding the pedestrian sidewalk.

-barnez

Thanks for answering my questions above.

Now I am being extremely picky about small details: pedestrian safety - there should be fences and barriers to keep pedestrians from walking around the crossing gate using the platform ends.
Then there is wheelchair access, compulsory in subsidised public transport, which means the platform entries should be sloped or have a ramp somewhere, signs, guide lines, reserved parking ....

Urban routes pose an entirely different challenge to route builders than a Big Sky Country route set in the wide open American West.
The final impression of a route being "like in real life" is in these small details.

Good progress to you and your team. So far the route and trains looks great.

[Metrarailfan]

Now I am being extremely picky about small details: pedestrian safety - there should be fences and barriers to keep pedestrians from walking around the crossing gate

They're not there in real life.

[barnez]

Now I am being extremely picky about small details: pedestrian safety - there should be fences and barriers to keep pedestrians from walking around the crossing gate using the platform ends.
Then there is wheelchair access, compulsory in subsidised public transport, which means the platform entries should be sloped or have a ramp somewhere, signs, guide lines, reserved parking ....

Urban routes pose an entirely different challenge to route builders than a Big Sky Country route set in the wide open American West.
The final impression of a route being "like in real life" is in these small details.

Please inform the necessary governing authorities of the same, we model what we see and try to get it as close as possible

westmont01.jpg

Regarding fences - many - but not all of the intermediate stations have a fence separating either Main 1 or Main 3. In most of these locations we decided to omit the fences for better clearances. We had them in-place at several locations and felt they simply got in the way.

Hmmm ... maybe I should add that pole traffic light



-barnez

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Now I am being extremely picky about small details: pedestrian safety - there should be fences and barriers to keep pedestrians from walking around the crossing gate using the platform ends.
Then there is wheelchair access, compulsory in subsidised public transport, which means the platform entries should be sloped or have a ramp somewhere, signs, guide lines, reserved parking ....

Urban routes pose an entirely different challenge to route builders than a Big Sky Country route set in the wide open American West.
The final impression of a route being "like in real life" is in these small details.

Please inform the necessary governing authorities of the same, we model what we see and try to get it as close as possible

westmont01.jpg

Regarding fences - many - but not all of the intermediate stations have a fence separating either Main 1 or Main 3. In most of these locations we decided to omit the fences for better clearances. We had them in-place at several locations and felt they simply got in the way.

Hmmm ... maybe I should add that pole traffic light



-barnez

Hahaha, American citizens must be very law abiding and careful by nature. Most urban grade crossing fatalities are caused by pedestrians climbing over, crawling under or otherwise circumventing the crossing barriers.
Perhaps it takes a certain number of fatalities and lawsuits for compensation before the authorities react and impose rules and regulations?
If my minor child was killed in a grade crossing accident I would sue the railroad, transport authority and city to the end over insufficient protection of the innocent.
I didn't mean the fences preventing people from crossing the tracks between platforms. Adults being run over by a train doing that only have to blame themselves.


BTW: is that Google Streetview? Cool, this amount of detail. Must be a great help in building a present day route. I believe there is even a Google Railview of sorts here and there.

[buzz456]

"Hahaha, American citizens must be very law abiding and careful by nature. Most urban grade crossing fatalities are caused by pedestrians climbing over, crawling under or otherwise circumventing the crossing barriers."

It a law called Darwin's law. Some are too stupid to take care of their own survival therefore they perish. You know the old saying "The trouble with trying to make everything idiot proof is that idiots are so inventive."

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

"Hahaha, American citizens must be very law abiding and careful by nature. Most urban grade crossing fatalities are caused by pedestrians climbing over, crawling under or otherwise circumventing the crossing barriers."

It a law called Darwin's law. Some are too stupid to take care of their own survival therefore they perish. You know the old saying "The trouble with trying to make everything idiot proof is that idiots are so inventive."

Well said, Buzz.

... the perils of building an urban route in a train simulation game ...

Anyway, back to topic; Metra Aurora Line. No more derailing of this thread, right?

[dejoh]

It a law called Darwin's law. Some are too stupid to take care of their own survival therefore they perish. You know the old saying "The trouble with trying to make everything idiot proof is that idiots are so inventive."

Good one Buzz. How about a the many knuckleheads walking down the tracks, backs to the trains, with their headphones on. also the many pedestrians trying to beat the oncoming trains at the stations. They go around the stopped commuter train, only to get clocked by a fast moving freight.
Great job on this route. For extra realism, add a few panhandlers and graffiti. Don't forget the many large outdoor billboards along the right-of-way.
I cross over and around this route a couple of times a month.

[barnez]

Good one Buzz. How about a the many knuckleheads walking down the tracks, backs to the trains, with their headphones on. also the many pedestrians trying to beat the oncoming trains at the stations. They go around the stopped commuter train, only to get clocked by a fast moving freight.

We've had 4 of these on this route year-to-date.

Great job on this route. For extra realism, add a few panhandlers and graffiti. Don't forget the many large outdoor billboards along the right-of-way.
I cross over and around this route a couple of times a month.

The billboards are bone of contention between ourselves & DTG. They are super-sensitive about licensing & Ads and such. Rick dislikes creating fake ads & names. Add to that - most of the source material we have available is completely inappropriate to the area -advertising New York or London.



-barnez

[ColoradoRailfan]

Anyway, back to topic; Metra Aurora Line. No more derailing of this thread, right?

Sorry im just late to the party.

The crossing signals are nice.

Please inform the necessary governing authorities of the same, we model what we see and try to get it as close as possible




-barnez

That same location there is a good picture of the crossing gates there, photo by eddo777

24187419.jpg

As you can see, the Pedestrian signal does look different from yours, as this one in the pic is either a WCH or a WRRS crossing mechanism with only 1 arm. And the crossing on the other side of the tracks (far signal) is a Type 95 gate mechanism I believe. But I can see that it would probably take time to remodel it so it is still a very good job! Also, if you could make the gate (when going down and going up) have a total time of 6-8 seconds? In real life they are like that, and it adds a little more realism.

Some links to the information of the gates: http://www.lystra-derbygroup.com/transp ... l%2095.pdf
http://www.ansaldo-sts.com/sites/ansald ... M-6495.pdf
http://www.ansaldo-sts.com/sites/ansald ... -6495B.pdf

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Great job on this route. For extra realism, add a few panhandlers and graffiti. Don't forget the many large outdoor billboards along the right-of-way.
I cross over and around this route a couple of times a month.

The billboards are bone of contention between ourselves & DTG. They are super-sensitive about licensing & Ads and such. Rick dislikes creating fake ads & names. Add to that - most of the source material we have available is completely inappropriate to the area -advertising New York or London.



-barnez

Personally, I hate graffiti, but it is essential decor for any urban setting. As is all the rubbish and trash lying about .... Graffiti is considered art by some, you might even get issues over including photo realistic graffiti, bah!

About the billboards, I don't know how affluent the neighborhoods by the tracks are, but what about billboards with stripped, shredded, faded, unreadable advertisements with a banner posted over them reading "Advertising space for rent. Call 00 12345678"?

Following this route and other US urban settings like NEC in Google Earth is very interesting, what an industrial ruins and urban wasteland.

[barnez]

As you can see, the Pedestrian signal does look different from yours, as this one in the pic is either a WCH or a WRRS crossing mechanism with only 1 arm. And the crossing on the other side of the tracks (far signal) is a Type 95 gate mechanism I believe. But I can see that it would probably take time to remodel it so it is still a very good job! Also, if you could make the gate (when going down and going up) have a total time of 6-8 seconds? In real life they are like that, and it adds a little more realism.

While I appreciate the enthusiasm & desire for perfection, we also have to keep things practical. The actual route features a veritable hodge-podge of gate models and manufacturers. To further complicate super-realism, BNSF appears to use the mindset of "whatever is available to fix the broken parts is good enough" so there are multiple instances of USS gate pedestals & arms being driven by WCH mechanisms, or vice-versa. I believe there is actually a 3rd manufacturer thrown in the mix occasionally. Even the gate-arms themselves differ from location to location: Some as pictured, the stripes are diagonal, while others (as modeled) are vertical.

To model each to its exact specifications would amount to a fools errand in the long run. Next week, one of the gates will have a breakdown, and BNSF will patch it with whatever is available and now it won't match the model. That aside, each unique model & texture represent another draw call for the system. We've got 40+ miles of dense urban/ suburban scenery and we're trying to run these things @ 70mph and make sure you don't all have to go buy a new GPU to do so.

In the end, we chose one "stock" model, and created different packages to fit the equipment present at each crossing in regards to number of gates, pedestrian gates, and gantries.

I should point out that we received some questions from beta testers about the lack-of-uniformity at each crossing.

We will take a look at the script, I believe the animation timing is a variable we can adjust.



-barnez