Ohio Rail Build 10, Upgrading to AG4 Options

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

Following a request from one of our users and also with Steve's permission, since he worked the template package for AG3. I have started working on a AG4 template package for the Ohio Rail build 10 route. Thanks again Steve!

Markers have been put on all 333 sidings and there is still lots of work ahead. Eight templates are expected in the package: NB, SB, YARDS and the LOCALS Templates for each the OR&W and the WV&O railroads. A lot of work has been done on the first 2 templates, the YARDS for both railroads, mostly done. The user will be able to choose to do some yard work in 13 different areas with close to 20 starting points. Zanesville have three starting points which the user can choose to start. Some have two starting points like in McConnelsville, Mt.Ephraim, the Byesville-Cambridge, the Caldwell-Florence or the Unionville-Otten Lumber areas.

For both the YARDS templates alone, there are 21 AI trains, mostly eye candy traffic and is not expected to interfere with the area of your work chosen. I have successfully done my first SLG-Generated act in Swik. The required stock package is expected to be among those dedicated for the OH10 route. In addition, I am including a MP15DC package from TS and the MP15DC will be the player engines for the YARDS template in both OR&W and WV&O liveries, as you can see a screenshot of the OR&W version.

Here is a teaser shot, the only one taken so far (Otten Lumber area) as there is lots of work ahead and some head scratching as I am progressing in the package.

Will update later

[dgionet]

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately, the usual maps referred to do not have the marker's orientation which is key to determine if any work can be done on such sidings, depending on the direction of the activity. However the user can use the available maps and mark himself on each siding where is located the marker.

In my early use of AG, I have found deception when finding out that the designated siding to have work on, when arriving there, was on the wrong direction and couldn't finish the act. This is why I have decided to build maps from the AE (with screenshots) with the marker's orientation. This helped me a lot then and today as well and am happy to share the idea with our users. Of course they can use any set of maps they feel comfortable to use with.

[nbeveridge]

Hi Steve,

In my early use of AG, I have found deception when finding out that the designated siding to have work on, when arriving there, was on the wrong direction and couldn't finish the act. This is why I have decided to build maps from the AE (with screenshots) with the marker's orientation. This helped me a lot then and today as well and am happy to share the idea with our users. Of course they can use any set of maps they feel comfortable to use with.

Like Steve, I assume that by "the wrong direction " you mean that when you arrive at the track, it is facing point and you must use the front coupler. You also need a runaround track. Sometimes a runaround track is miles away from the track in quesiton. This is a real life situation for the prototype. And it is a lot of fun in the simulator!

Some users have suggested (demanded?) to me that all templates should be set up so that only trailing point work is possible. Some users have even insisted that facing point work is not possible and have demanded that I show them move by move how to do it. This is okay with me -- I enjoy helping others to have the fun of facing point! Want to discuss a double saw?

We have many users who relish the facing point challenges, including those wherein no runaround track is nearby. So in order to satisfy all users, I always include the facing point tracks, but I state in the user documentation that in general the user should generate an activity for trailing point tracks only. I then explain a little about the need for a runaround track, and that some facing point work will require extra planning beyond just moving the player train to the vicinity industry track. If a map is available, I refer the user to the map as a guide in creating activities.