Hi guys!

I was trying out the NEC4 template, after having been away from it for a while, and I encountered some problems that I thought had been rectified earlier. I'm wondering if an older file might have slipped in inadvertently (I was using a fresh download, and confirmed it with another fresh download today).

I was using the CSX Southbound template.

The first problem is the reversed consist (#32927) on Penrose Track 3, which runs the wrong way and extends out onto the track.

The other problem is that some cars appear twice on the switchlist, destined for two different setouts.

Are you running the latest version of Activity Generator, 4.2.3? I will check the template in case an old file somehow is on the site.

Sorry about the problem.

I'm running 4.2.0 -- would that account for the problem?

It might, since Steve fixed the two destination problem some time back. Please get the latest version of AG and check to see if this problem goes away.

I installed the latest version and tried the template again, and I'm still getting duplicate cars in the switch list.

I encountered the same problem on Shuswap, so obviously I'm doing something wrong. Evidently what gives rise to the problem is checking the same region in the Source Tracks and Work Tracks boxes. I thought that by checking the same region for both, you could quickly generate a local switching activity that would involve pickups and setouts only within that region. I'll have to get the manual out and see what I'm doing wrong.

Actually, I don't think that AG will allow the exact same source track to be a work track also. If it does, then perhaps Steve has a bug.

It is possible to select one or more source tracks in the starting region and also have work in the starting region. As you say, this is a good way to create a local. IMHO, this should be done by checking the box for individual tracks, whether for source or work, rather than by checking off the region box.

Correct, you can choose some tracks in a region as source tracks and other tracks in the same region as Industry tracks or Destination tracks and get work in the same region. But you shouldn't check the whole region for both and AG shouldn't allow you to select the same track to be more than one kind of track. If you want pickups from a given region and want setouts in the same region and this is an AG4 template you will need to check the box (which only appears if an AG4 template) that says "Allow pickups from source tracks to be set out in the same region".

The difference between using Industry and Destination tracks is, if the tracks to work are slated as "Industry" tracks then the kind of car to be set out there will be dependent on the "CarTypeWanted" set up for that track by the template designer. And since a Source track can source any kind of car, it will provide those kinds of cars wanted by the selected industry track or tracks. So for instance if the track wants loaded coal cars then the source track will have loaded coal cars to be picked up and AG will call for loaded coal cars to be delivered to that industry track -- and possibly empty coal cars to be picked up from that track.

If on the other hand instead of an Industry track you called that track a Destination track, then it will accept any kind of cars. So there will be any random types of cars to be picked up at the source tracks and set out (only w/ no pickups) at the chosen Destination tracks.

Finally for the ultimate you can have source tracks, industry tracks, and destination tracks, all in the same region. Then any kind of car will be available in the source tracks, and only the correct "car type wanted" will be delivered to each industry. Finally there will be pickups from that industry appropriate to the type of industry and those will usually be called for delivery to the destination tracks. If you have selected more car capacity (which means all the capacities of each industry track worked limited by your "max cars to pick up on a single track" setting) in Industry tracks then your Total Cars to Handle then you will usually (depending on randomization) get all source ("yard") track pickups to be delivered to the industry tracks, and industry track pickups to be delivered back to the destination tracks. BUT if instead there are more cars to be handled then were selected for work in the industry tracks, AG may fill out the work order by calling for cars in the Source tracks, of any random type, to be set out in the Destination tracks. Consider that a transfer run, inter-yard move, etc.

Make sense? If you continue to have problems please let me know.

Thanks,

Steve