granddad gnome
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would like a simple system ( computer or other wise) to help record all my freight stock and wagons and how to make them up into trains. Any help please.
On the other hand, having an external process provide the reasons for stock movement and train formation, especially with some form of randomising element, can simulate the way the real life demands of business and passenger loading dictate what the railway has to do to fulfill that requirement. Hence this provides you with "challenges" to solve. It's not something I've ever tried with my layouts but I can see the attraction.The Devonian said:Personally some of the fun in railroading is making choices of what you do and when you do it. I would not let my choices be done by other methods.
Arthur Aardvark said:Following on from dunnyrail's suggestion , http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/SPL-operate.html
Near the bottom of the page is a link to either a downloadable piece of software or an on line version.
The Shunting Puzzle Website has a wealth of information that may be of use to you.
I discovered HyperTalk which was the high level programming language behind Apple's HyperCard many many years ago and loved it. It was so high level it was almost conversational. When Apple stopped using and developing HyperCard I was gutted - and I needed to go over to PCs for my job so it faded into obscurity for me. It was only recently I discovered that HyperTalk is now not only revived but flourishing under the banner of LiveCode and that, for non-commercial use, it's free.Arthur Aardvark said:Fascinating insight and approach using Livecode, thanks for sharing. 8)
dunnyrail said:Ace to 5 Wagon does not move.
T
Well it could be 2-6 if you must! A and Joker can then be used as wildcards with a separate placement of a second card which uses a second set of Burgeration Factors. Say 3 Vans urgently required at Station B for a mass shipment of Condoms to somewhere or other, probably the Fiddle Yard! Or perhaps the Freight Today is Cancelled and all the Wagons need to move tomorrow.chris beckett said:Ace low? Not the way I play cards! Sits ABOVE the King! Must be a cultural thing.....Ho Hum
Rik,ge_rik said:I discovered HyperTalk which was the high level programming language behind Apple's HyperCard many many years ago and loved it. It was so high level it was almost conversational. When Apple stopped using and developing HyperCard I was gutted - and I needed to go over to PCs for my job so it faded into obscurity for me. It was only recently I discovered that HyperTalk is now not only revived but flourishing under the banner of LiveCode and that, for non-commercial use, it's free.
It's taken me a while to get back into the logic of the language but it is a lot more intuitive than other programming languages and so the learning curve is quite shallow. This suits my learning-style - I'm much more of a hands-on, get-stuck-in learner, rather than being bothered with reading-a-manual-from-cover-to-cover type of learner. I'm sure my coding is not the most elegant, but as long as it works...........!!
Rik
Isn't that what is at the heart of this discussion? Sometimes, I like to run my railway as prototypically as I can - following a timetable, marshalling freight trains as realistically as possible (ie loaded cattle wagons nearest the loco, tanker wagons as far away from the loco as possible, etc). I then spend as long as it takes to shunt wagons at each station according to a semi-randomised system which for me mirrors real life. I will happily spend the day lost in my own little world. On other days I just get a couple of locos out and grab whatever stock comes to hand and happily sit and watch them trundling around. I'm even considering using an auto feature inherent in the latest version of the r/c controller I use to get them to stop at the stations. When non railway friends visit, I wouldn't dream of running the timetable or spending the day shunting. Quite apart from their boredom, I'd be concerned they would think I'd a screw loose.ntpntpntp said:On the other hand, having an external process provide the reasons for stock movement and train formation, especially with some form of randomising element, can simulate the way the real life demands of business and passenger loading dictate what the railway has to do to fulfill that requirement. Hence this provides you with "challenges" to solve. It's not something I've ever tried with my layouts but I can see the attraction.
As long as such dispatching and timetabling doesn't become the "be-all and end-all", like some of the exhibition layouts I've encountered over the years where it gets to the point that you spend ages waiting for something to happen! Probably why with my exhibition layout we settle for buzzing trains round and keeping things moving for the viewing public.
Hi Jondunnyrail said:Rik,
That livecode sounds interesting, though I was in the IT game for most of my working career I have never been able to manage the logic of Programming. Something like the ability to juggle 6 variables in the ether and work out where they are going to land. My brain (whats left of it anyway) does not work in that way. Be interesting to see if what you have managed in the way of a Wagon Movement System and if it can run on an iPad.
JonD
BTW - if anyone has any more info such as this on how freight trains should be marshalled, I'd find it interesting.ge_rik said:......... marshalling freight trains as realistically as possible (ie loaded cattle wagons nearest the loco, tanker wagons as far away from the loco as possible, etc).