Simulation Networking

[Machinist]

So, any word of doing a session on Horseshoe Curve anytime soon? I ask because well...because RSC.com will release Horseshoe Curve for RW either tonight or tomorrow.

As Nick said many times before, once VORA has enough RS2012 qualified engineers, they will start TS2012 sessions. And then, why not a session covering Horseshoe Curve?

For this reason, and once again, I urge all friends of our community to participate as listeners in the next Oct/1rst session, and, if the case, to enroll in the Intro Event for Oct /6 and 9, in order to qualify as VORA's engineers.

I listened the last session, will listen the next, and can say is awesome concerning to prototypical railroad operation stuff, it's all about realism and professionalism. I'm already inscribed to October Intro Event. Lets act! Let's take part of VORA also! From 16 to 18 TS2012 members will be enough according to their guidelines.

Cheers,
Lisboa.

[TrainMaster1]

We Have made no decision on what our first RW route will be.

Here are our guidelines when choosing routes so maybe you can help by letting me know what you would like to see.

1) Route should be at least 100 miles in length. Anything shorter is generally a mini session for us as the runs and chances to work are too few.

2) Must be a faithful representation of a class one road. We never do short lines or fictional routes. 100 percent prototype class one all the time.

3) Route should have at least 50 trains in a 24 hours time frame to support a full session. Remember we are only recreating a part of a day. We try to include at 20+ trains in every full session.

4) Line can be either must be fully signaled (correctly) or dark. Also should have proper signal types and mileposts as we will build the track charts for the session from the base route.

If you have a line in mind that meets the above criteria, send it in and we'll keep a running tally and use it to guide our decisions.

As to Horseshoe--operationally it is of minimal challenge on traffic....it is a great challenge to engineers to properly follow all rules and get up and down the mountain safely. But there is little local work save at Conway, South Fork, Johnstown and Altoona. Not sure what area your version covers but if not at least Conway to Altoona it will never see the light of day in any session. Even better if it makes it through to Enola.

The line offers no meets but plenty of traffic and a good mix as well to keep all dispatchers busy. Also have to think about what era your version is appropriate for as that dictates the railroad on the line and the number of DS we will need as well as yardmasters.

Okay campers sharpen those pencils and get your route ideas in.

Nick

[Chessie8638]

Is there even a route that's 100 or more miles? I'm not aware of any (I haven't even counted miles so don't hold me to that).

[EliteMarksman]

West Coast Main Line is.

[TrainMaster1]

Do not get hung up on the length....just that when you have a short route runs tend to be quick and less interesting. Remember we are creating what an actual class one road does so the route has to be a faithful representation of a Class One. No fictional or short line routes ever in our sessions.

The action in a session comes from finding a route that offers yards and industries as well as a nice mix of main line traffic. In our upcoming session next weekend, we have 25 trains on the call board. 16 of them are what we call a straight shot...this is a train that starts by a crew change point and runs to the next without doing any work at all. The run point to point is 191 rail miles on this route we are using.

The next three main line trains are starting at one of the yards on the route as they originate there in the real world. So those trains have a conductor and an engineer and assemble their trains based on a work order we provide. This includes all proper blocking as to destination for the cars and spacing any hazardous or dangerous loads in the train. Once assembled it is 191 miles to the next yard and recrew on the main.

Three Main Line trains also work along the route as there are four yards along the route. They will pick up and drop off cars to be worked by locals going to various industries. These trains also carry a two man crew.

Last Three are Local and Yard jobs going to and from local industries. They also are two man crews. We actually do train guys to be conductors for operating sessions. That is just one of many jobs we train for in sessions.

There are two dispatchers and a chief yardmaster on direct duty with the train crews and a Train Master and STO (Superintendent of Transportation Operations) supporting the DS and YM in their duties. All positions again based on the real world 1:1 route. Also we will have live Maintenance of Way in this session as there will be rail welding, ballast and track work taking out a section of one the two mains in double track territory.

The session starts at 1 pm with 6 trains already working and we will go until the last train comes home and finishes their work...if all trains run that will be around 11:30 pm so this session is 10 1/2 hours for the managers and anywhere from 1-5 hours for the crews manning the trains.

So the two most important things for a good session...how much traffic is on the line on an average day and what is the average length of run for a crew? This determines how many trains you can run in the session and what type of support personnel you need to keep things moving correctly without any major problems.

So please offer your suggestions for routes and let us determine which will work. We have the resources to know what trains run on most any line in North America in multiple eras. If we find that we have a winner we will start the process of turning that route into an operating session. Our goal is to have 12-24 different routes that fit our criteria since we never do the same route twice in a row.

Keep these dates in mind, if you want to hear the next session on 10/1 send me a PM. If you want to start the path to becoming an engineer in our sessions, our Next Intro Event starts on 10/6. Let me know that you are interested and I will provide you all dates for the Intros.

[TrainMaster1]

Still hoping for some help on routes to use to introduce RW operating sessions as well as good people interested in learning prototype operations. See my last post for dates and times on listening in to the next operating session on 10/1 and Intro Events coming up for new crews.

Thanks,

Nick

[Chacal]

Bad timing. We're just a little bit busy with our new toys right now.
Call again in a couple of weeks or when the wives put an end to it.

[arizonachris]

Bad timing. We're just a little bit busy with our new toys right now.
Call again in a couple of weeks or when the wives put an end to it.

Ain't that the truth. Getting it all to work again, sheesh.

[TrainMaster1]

Well timing is everything. We will still be running sessions as scheduled and moving ahead with our plans for RW. Turns our we have members already in our ranks who are serious about prototype operations and own RW. October Intro Events for new crews coming up soon but we 'll do it again in November (last one for this year).

Still will appreciate any help on suggesting routes that faithfully represent a Class One Railroad. Invitation still open to drop by and hear this Saturday's session. (Not a bad idea to get a set of headphones-so you can't hear significant other yelling as much.) Just send me a PM to get all the info.

Nick

[TrainMaster1]

Well just completed another successful session that had lots of prototype action. We moved 18 main line trains plus several locals (825 loads and 339 MTs for 93915 tons) in just a little over 9 hours today in our 10/1 session.

We had an auto take out a crossing gate requiring restricted speed while RR employees flagged the crossing. Another train (with a GE of course) blew a turbo taking a main out of service. Indy DS did a great job keeping things moving right around the paperweight from Erie, PA. We had live MOW crews replacing ties for 10 miles taking out yet another section of main line again in Indy's territory. MOW had stop boards up requiring all crews to call for permission past the Out of Service area work limits We had trespassers get reported to the police and much more.

Getting ready now for the next Intro Class for new crews starting this Thursday October 6th. If you want to be a part of our RW sessions when we start them, then you need to get onto the Extra Board now and the path starts with new crew Intro Events this week.

Just shoot me a PM!

Nick

[Marleyman]

Did anyone sign up for this and do they have any reports for us please?

[TrainMaster1]

Marleyman:

Several members have been in to listen to live sessions. We are getting ready to do our first RW session later this month. That is the good news.

The bad news is that our last Intro Events is starting tonight and in order to run you must be complete both Intro Classes and then run in the RW mini sessions on 11/28 and 11/30. (Next classes are February 2012 but due to excellent response we may do one in January just for RW owners from this site!)

All new crews go through the same identical process and this includes employees of real railroads as well. To get into tonight's Intro Event

1) Register at our forum: http://vrma.proboards.com/

2) Complete the new member questionnaire when it arrives in your email.

3) This gets you approved on the forum....provided you answer all the 5 questions.

4) We will send you at our forum instructions for getting into the Intro Events.

Please keep an eye on our new forum here in Railworks Hall which will have the latest news and information on anything to do with operating sessions.

This is where all news and info will be about our group. If you are interested in learning prototype operations this is the place to be.

Nick

[arizonachris]

Did anyone sign up for this and do they have any reports for us please?

Yes, I'm signed up for tonight at least, hopefully a lot more. This and Friday are two training/ school sessions. At the least I'll be getting better, real knowledge. Hope you can join!

[Hawk]

There's a new forum dedicated to the VORA topic. You can find it on the main page at this link viewforum.php?f=35

It's in the 'RailWorks Hall' category and the forum title is 'VORA Prototype Sessions & Questions'.

[TrainMaster1]

Quick correction to Chris's post....the classes are tonight and Sunday night not Friday...11/3 and 11/6....then mini sessions to test you knowledge follow.

Thanks to Hawk and the gracious community here we do indeed have our own forum within Railworks Hall. Any questions about our sessions or prototype operations in general feel free to bring them over and we will do our best to get you the info you need.

We are off to a great start here with RW guys coming forward to be a part of Intro Classes and then moving into the mini operating sessions....

So thanks to all of you for making the commitment of your precious time.

See you on the server tonight! (11/3)

Nick