Replicating U.S. Railroad operations

[gwgardner]

Gardner:



I encourage to take a listen to what we do by stopping by during the 10/15 session. If you like what you hear we will be happy to get you started on your virtual prototype operating career. Send me a PM to listen in and we'll take it from there.

Thanks for your time,

Nick

I would love to, if I could ever find more than about 10 uninterrupted minutes online. Just can't happen at my household. Great thing you got going there, however. FYM works for me because it doesn't matter if I get interrupted.

[TrainMaster1]

Hi:

Yes finding uninterrupted time can be quite a challenge. Chessie the program you are talking about does not make ATCS map but is used to create TD3 displays that a person can use to either tap into existing routes built by others or can actually create a route of their own. Most guys with this software tend to do actual routes and you can populate them with trains and accurate symbols so that you can sit in the big chair and have fun with the electronic crews. But remember the game has lots of variables so they can get even at random. Only lousy feature on this game is that some genius thought it would be good to add a feature that allows the player to increase speed by up to 4x (think that is the max). So what was a 50 mph train is now traveling at 200 mph. Good luck notifying next kin as to why "Virtual Engineer Bob" won't be coming home tonight.

We use TD3 maps of every line we do. And we also have access to ATCS (from live Class One feeds) so that our dispatchers are trained in exactly what they need to do to bring everyone home safely. Have only had one major crash and that was on a dark route (no signals) due to engineer error when he blew past the end of his track warrant authority and took 14 loaded grain hoppers head on in single track territory. This destroyed his locos and himself (thankfully only virtually) in the process. The crew working the grain siding was making a pick up at one the plant silos and avoided injury. That is an outstanding record considering the hundreds of trains and crews we have run over the past 17 months.

Nick

[ugadawgs2716]

All right guys and girls, I'm shamelessly trying to generate some more interest in this thread. I have recently joined up with Nick and his crew over at VORA, but was dissapointed to find out that I was only the third member from here at RWA to do so. Nick (who has been very helpful in trying to bring me up to speed on their operations and goals) has informed me that the last Intro event and Mini-Sessions of the year,which are requirements to become qualified, will take place in early November. After reading up on their operations and watching the youtube link that was posted earlier, this set up appears to offer that multi-player interaction we have all been craving in the train simulation community. Only downside, we have to dust off our MSTS once again to get qualified and experience the professionalism and realistic operations that Nick and his crew have put together. Once we have enough members over at VORA (Nick, hope you don't mind me speaking on your behalf here), then we can work to bring this experience over to the RW/TS2012 community. We still need at least eight or so more RW users before we can start working on that. I encourage anyone interested to go ahead and sign up, let's break out the MSTS once again, so that we can experience a true operating session, learn the ins and outs, and migrate these operations over to RW. With the new upgrades to TS2012, a simulator that just continues to improve thanks to Paul Jackson and the RSC folks, and the realism and professionalism of operations, this should make for quite the combination. I personally have not touched MSTS since the release of RW2, but the idea of bringing true operating sessions to TS2012 is enough to push me back temporarily to see the interaction. Let's give this a try, what do we have to lose by giving it a shot, just remember that "a/d" key swap!

Hawk, hope I haven't violated any of your rules trying to recruit some RW users to these events, my sole purpose with this post is to try and generate enough interest so we can take what I see as the next step towards realistic operation in RW. If I have, please feel free to delete the post and send me a scolding PM

[TrainMaster1]

Only change I would make is that it is not necessary to break out MSTS...If we get the magic number of 12-18 people we will go straight to RW for the initial mini sessions and operating session. If you have MSTS you are welcome to use that but if you prefer RW then we need that core group to step up and we can make this happen.

Nick

[Hawk]

Hawk, hope I haven't violated any of your rules trying to recruit some RW users to these events, ...

Not at all! Recruit all you want. It can't hurt a thing.

[ugadawgs2716]

Thanks for the clarification Nick, that should help garner some more interest if we can start from the gate in RW.

[PapaXpress]

I would just like to say that I really this this idea, but I lack any contiguous amount of time. The best time for me would be after 9pm and then I only have around 2 hours (at best!).

[TrainMaster1]

In terms of scheduling sessions, we run two types of sessions.

The first are what we have termed prototype operating sessions. That is exactly what they are down to the last detail. These are always on a Saturday (except for holidays) and are run on a route which sees about 50-60 trains a day in the real world. We need that volume because we are only running a piece of the day and need to have at least 18 trains in a 8 hour stretch.

These prototype sessions generally last anywhere from 8-12 hours...Trains runs are as short as one hour all the way up to, you guessed in 12 hours the maximum hours of service allowed. We have actually done that several times. Most runs are 3 hours or less. So if you have an hour to three hours between 1 pm eastern to about 11 pm eastern you can generally find something to do. You bid on a call board which has trains ranked by seniority. The more runs you have the more complicated jobs you can bid on. You know the length of the run upfront when you are bidding. Yes, you have to bid and then get specific instructions as to number of engines, types of engines, number of cars, weight and length for "your" train. These instructions come from the session Trainmaster and he controls all trains in the session.

The second type of session is a mini session (thank you boys in marketing) and lasts about 4 hours total. This is run to qualifying new crews and personnel as well just for again a shorter operating session. These are always during the week and feature fewer train and smaller routes so that you can get end to end and get your work done in time.

Every session has live dispatchers, yardmasters,and sometimes you will have Maintenance of Way, Comm&Signal guys, Road Foreman of Engines and more involved. These are all trained for the roles and once you complete enough runs , if you would like you can move into one of these positions while they last. Remember just like a real RR we only "hire" when we have openings.

So to close if you can find an hour to run (and come on your are doing more than that now) then I would encourage to get your name on the November Intro List and get ready to have some fun. The November Intro is the last one until February 2012. We will be busy training lots of new Dispatchers, Asst. Trainmasters, Yardmasters, MOW personnel, Conductors and more who already have earned enough seniority to go to training classes. These guys are the backbone of what makes VORA great. I am honored to lead one of the friendliest and most knowledgeable group of people dedicated to prototype operations.

If you are still unsure, try us on. Next week we are running an all day session from 1pm to 11pm eastern. Stop in and listen. Stay as long as you like.This one is set in October of 1980 on the ex-GN High Line route. Yes, this is an MSTS route. But our system can work with any sim anywhere we have a good route and good people interested in running according to the book. You will hear a wide variety of trains including both Empire Builders, manifests, TOFC/COFC (it's 1980 and no double stacks!!!), grain, oil tank, and auto rack traffic working from Havre to Whitefish, MT.

I hope you will take a few minutes to find out what we do, see if you like what you hear and join us.

Thanks for reading.

Nick

[usernametaken]

I'd like to get into this, but I don't have MSTS, only TS2012. Would I need any fancy software for this?

[TrainMaster1]

You do not need any fancy software....just the sim and a way to communicate with the staff and other crews. We can show where to get that for free. The magic is in having trained personnel who turn the sim into a railroad. We are also adding TRS sessions as well to answer your question about TRS2012...our TRS will allow all owners to run in certain sessions and there will be a few 2012 only sessions planned.

The key is having a good real world route in the first place....still looking for more RW engineers and your route suggestions. You participation is the key if this is going to happen...any questions please ask....want to hear a live session...just send a PM and I will get you the info you need to listen in.

Nick

[TrainMaster1]

Last call for people to join us to listen in to tomorrow's session on the BN set in fall 1980...22 freight trains plus AMTK 7 & 8 on the schedule with crews ready to go. Dispatchers and Yardmaster will certainly be busy. This session runs from 1 pm to 11:30 pm eastern time and you can listen to as much of it as you like.

If you like what you hear, I hope you will consider signing up for our Intro Events beginning on November 3rd. This is the path all new crews take to join in operating sessions. Yes we even do this if you have Class One experience as our last class contained a BNSF engineer.

Send me a PM before 10 pm eastern time this evening to be included in the listeners list for this session. Next one coming on 10/29.

Still also looking for your suggestions on RW routes that you think would make for a good operating session.

Thanks for your time,

Nick

[TrainMaster1]

Thanks to those from here who stopped by for any part of yesterday session. That was one of our best ones ever with 22 trains up and down the mountains of the pacific northwest including 2 amtrak trains, plenty of yard work (switching), adding and dropping helper sets (one actually done on the fly!) and more.

We come east for our next session and move the calendar from 1980 to 2011. If you really want to know the difference between playing a game and running railroad, please join us on 10/29...We are working on our first RW session coming in November. If you want to run you have to sign up for the Intro Events beginning on November 3rd. Also we are working on a short video to explain our concept actually using an RW route. Detail coming soon....

Nick