Upcoming Games

No games to display

Full list
Add a game

Upcoming Events

No events to display

Port Talbot FAQ

You are here: Home > Forum > Simulations > Released > Port Talbot > Port Talbot FAQ

Page 1 of 4

Port Talbot FAQ 28/10/2018 at 12:50 #112909
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Port Talbot Frequently Asked Questions

Do you think you've found a bug? Or do you have a problem running the simulation, check through this thread first.

Remember timetables are dealt with in the relevant timetable thread.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
The following user said thank you: Meld
Port Talbot SX 08 04 2015 29/10/2018 at 14:48 #112961
Phil-jmw
Avatar
669 posts
Online
Currently up to 0553, only issue so far is 5L34 which, after going through Swansea carriage washer then towards the Dn Goods to reverse behind 462 Sig, does not change ends but instead calls up from 549 Sig, so had to instruct dvr to reverse.
Last edited: 29/10/2018 at 14:53 by headshot119
Reason: None given

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 14:54 #112962
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Fixed for 1.0.2 simulation version
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
The following users said thank you: Meld, Phil-jmw
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 16:59 #112969
Troy100
Avatar
19 posts
Will MCB-OD crossings be simulated in future?

And how do they actually work? I know about the obstacle detection technology but does the signaller still have to manually lower gates or do they work automatically if a route is set?

Cheers

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 17:02 #112970
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Shaun in post 112969 said:
Will MCB-OD crossings be simulated in future?

And how do they actually work? I know about the obstacle detection technology but does the signaller still have to manually lower gates or do they work automatically if a route is set?

Cheers
It is hoped that SimSig will receive a core code update for MCB-OD. In real life a signaller has very little interaction with them until they go wrong. You just set the route and leave them to get on with it.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 17:32 #112975
Steamer
Avatar
3913 posts
headshot119 in post 112970 said:
Shaun in post 112969 said:
Will MCB-OD crossings be simulated in future?

And how do they actually work? I know about the obstacle detection technology but does the signaller still have to manually lower gates or do they work automatically if a route is set?

Cheers
It is hoped that SimSig will receive a core code update for MCB-OD. In real life a signaller has very little interaction with them until they go wrong. You just set the route and leave them to get on with it.
Depending on where the core code addition is in the 'to do' list, would it be possible to simulate them in the same way as Bentley Heath (Dorridge) on Saltley?

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 17:34 #112976
Splodge
Avatar
698 posts
Are the green triangles at Llanelli related to the MCB-OD operation?
There's the right way, the wrong way and the railway.
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 17:47 #112977
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Splodge in post 112976 said:
Are the green triangles at Llanelli related to the MCB-OD operation?
It's mentioned in the manual, but they are to select the non stop exit for the crossings.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Last edited: 29/10/2018 at 19:17 by headshot119
Reason: None given

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 19:27 #112979
58050
Avatar
2644 posts
Karl I've looked at the track layout of Port Talbot & pretty much all of the main freight locations are there(Margam Knuckle Yard, Llandeilo Jn & the line to Pantyffynon). So my question is will this sim fit OK for a late 1980s era timetable? 1987/88 period, or do you intend on doing another sim for that era?
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 19:41 #112980
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
58050 in post 112979 said:
Karl I've looked at the track layout of Port Talbot & pretty much all of the main freight locations are there(Margam Knuckle Yard, Llandeilo Jn & the line to Pantyffynon). So my question is will this sim fit OK for a late 1980s era timetable? 1987/88 period, or do you intend on doing another sim for that era?
Hello, it's unlikely you will have everything you need for a 1980s timetable, At the earliest the sim would be dated 1992 when A position was converted from a panel to a VDU.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 20:17 #112981
58050
Avatar
2644 posts
headshot119 in post 112980 said:
58050 in post 112979 said:
Karl I've looked at the track layout of Port Talbot & pretty much all of the main freight locations are there(Margam Knuckle Yard, Llandeilo Jn & the line to Pantyffynon). So my question is will this sim fit OK for a late 1980s era timetable? 1987/88 period, or do you intend on doing another sim for that era?
Hello, it's unlikely you will have everything you need for a 1980s timetable, At the earliest the sim would be dated 1992 when A position was converted from a panel to a VDU.

OK Karl so does this mean you are going to do an earlier era for this sim at some point in the future? Cos if you're not going to then I guess it's case of doing the best with what you've got here. As the Cardiff PSB sim timetable I'm doing is 1988 & I do have a Swansea station working book for 1987 which wouldn't be alot different to 1988, but would make quite a challenging timetable chaining Port talbot & Cardiff to gether with the same timetble.

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 20:24 #112982
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
If the quality of information ever became available for an early era I would do one, unfortunately that level of information hasn't been available.
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 20:32 #112983
58050
Avatar
2644 posts
Well I hope you kept everything I sent you & if I get some more then I'll pass it along. I guess then I'll purchase a licence for Port talbot at some point in the future & write the tt based on that sim. That way if one ever gets t do an earlier era sim then the tt will only need updating.
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 22:07 #112985
y10g9
Avatar
895 posts
Enjoying the sim so far Karl.

Had a quick questions about UWC and Tunnels on the District Lines.
The RAIB report about the extensive track damage between Ferryside and Llangennech suggests that there are UWC which have not been marked in the sim, aswell as Penllergaer and Llangyfelach Tunnels.
Did the Port Talbot box not have any of these marked on the map, or have they been missed of?

Cheers

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 22:11 #112986
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Hi Nath,

Not marked on the panel, and the UWCs weren't listed on any of the data I had.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 22:22 #112988
Steamer
Avatar
3913 posts
That's odd- they're shown in Quail and the Sectional Appendix. Could it be that they don't have telephones?
"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 22:26 #112989
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
Steamer in post 112988 said:
That's odd- they're shown in Quail and the Sectional Appendix. Could it be that they don't have telephones?
Quite normal for crossings not to be marked on panels or diagrams. Neither of my boxes UWCs are marked on the diagram.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Log in to reply
The following user said thank you: Steamer
Port Talbot FAQ 29/10/2018 at 22:51 #112990
Muzer
Avatar
718 posts
A reasonably comprehensive list (at least, the most comprehensive I've seen available publicly) of UWCs can be found at ABC Railway Guide.
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 01:44 #112992
JamesN
Avatar
1570 posts
Online
headshot119 in post 112980 said:
Hello, it's unlikely you will have everything you need for a 1980s timetable, At the earliest the sim would be dated 1992 when A position was converted from a panel to a VDU.
Sorry, but that's really not correct...

A position was converted to VDU 13 Apr 2007. The new workstation was originally located in temporary accommodation alongside the main panel box until 20 May 2007 while the left hand end of the panel was carefully deconstructed to make room on the operating floor.

Photo Album on Swindon Panel website by a then S Wales S&T member showing various stages of the deconstruction; including a picture of the A position in use in March 2007:- http://photos.swindonpanel.org.uk/index.php?/category/80 - the deconstruction process was of interest to the society in the early days as that was the original plan to get the panel out of the building; these photos were provided to the society to show us what we were up against!

At Pascal's level of attention to detail; the sim as-is probably isn't really suitable for a 1980/90s timetable. That's not to say one couldn't be operated on the modern layout with some artistic license however!

Log in to reply
The following user said thank you: 58050
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 02:37 #112993
GeoffM
Avatar
6274 posts
JamesN in post 112992 said:
headshot119 in post 112980 said:
Hello, it's unlikely you will have everything you need for a 1980s timetable, At the earliest the sim would be dated 1992 when A position was converted from a panel to a VDU.
Sorry, but that's really not correct...
There were a number of changes to Port Talbot in 1991-2. This is confirmed by presence of signalling notices on SRS, and IIRC is the works referred to (repeatedly!) by my former boss who talked of moving and re-configuring existing tiles in between trains (eek!) in order to make room for track changes. I don't have any details of the specific changes.

Granted, probably not a VDU.

SimSig Boss
Last edited: 30/10/2018 at 02:38 by GeoffM
Reason: None given

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 08:47 #112995
TomOF
Avatar
452 posts
It was indeed 2007.

Port Talbot PSB has had many changes over the years.

Doing an 80s sim would not be easy as a large amount of sidings have disappeared off the panel, and things like Gowerton to Bynea being singled in the 80s only to be redoubled relatively recently. Margam area is a lot different now to what is was when the panel was in its heyday.

Port Talbot LC has only gone in the last couple of years. Etc..

IIRC the main changes in ‘92 where to bring in the carriage washing equipment at Swansea.

Last edited: 30/10/2018 at 08:48 by TomOF
Reason: None given

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 09:33 #112996
headshot119
Avatar
4869 posts
That will teach me to go from memory, though I knew 1992 was significant in some way to MAJOR alterations to the panel.

Tom is right for the attention to detail that Pascal likes to put into a timetable, the simulation isn't really suitable.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Last edited: 30/10/2018 at 09:44 by headshot119
Reason: None given

Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 12:41 #112998
58050
Avatar
2644 posts
Looks like we'll need to ook for some more SNs that cover that area so you can do an older era. I know you've got the Dectional Appendix for the 1980s, but obviously you need more than just that. So for now I'll have to look at seeing what I can & can't get away with on the current sim. Seems a shame just to have Cardiff PSB as a stand alone 1988 timetable which certainly has a massive amount of freight & trip workings from the notices I've got.
Log in to reply
Port Talbot FAQ 30/10/2018 at 13:41 #112999
JamesN
Avatar
1570 posts
Online
Signalling notices aren’t really much use - almost all Port Talbot ones are in the SRS online archive anyway. What’s needed are locking sketches, control tables and so on.
Log in to reply
PontyClun Down 31/10/2018 at 06:11 #113012
jem771
Avatar
102 posts
If you have 2 trains enter the sim directly behind eachother the 2nd train overwrites the first trains description

you probably already know this but the TD doesn't step from platform 1A at Pen-y-bont

Jezz
Last edited: 31/10/2018 at 06:33 by jem771
Reason: None given

Log in to reply