Random Rant About The Sim

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Swindon A & B IECC - SWINDID 130220 25/10/2020 at 14:26 #133322
albie vowles
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Don't worry about the timetable not being 100% complete because it doesn't matter because the simulation is absolutely crap and 10 years out of date so don't worry!

Moderator Note This was originally posted in this thread.

Last edited: 25/10/2020 at 15:05 by headshot119
Reason: Moved from off topic thread

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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 15:01 #133323
headshot119
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Perhaps you could expand out on the issues you are having Albie? That might be a little bit more constructive, and make people more willing to help you out, rather than just going off on a tirade in your first ever post.
"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: 25/10/2020 at 15:03 by headshot119
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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 15:21 #133326
robert
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I use this sim, I can find nothing wrong with it, It works fine
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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 16:29 #133327
TUT
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I think the OP wants a simulation of TVSC, even though it clearly describes itself as Swindon A & B IECC.

If there's one sim that I always go back to, and that always keeps me hooked when I start a 'play-through' it's probably Swindid.

Such a tragedy the panel is now a museum piece, but that's a lot better than it could have been.

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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 18:19 #133331
9pN1SEAp
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robert in post 133326 said:
I use this sim, I can find nothing wrong with it, It works fine
It's upside-down wrt the real panel ;-)

Jamie S (JAMS)
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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 19:38 #133332
GeoffM
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9pN1SEAp in post 133331 said:
robert in post 133326 said:
I use this sim, I can find nothing wrong with it, It works fine
It's upside-down wrt the real panel ;-)
That's only half true. The Swindon B part of the simulation is the "correct" way up while the Swindon A PSB part is "upside down".

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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 19:52 #133333
Albert
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A positive note: Even though it's older, the track layout is still mostly accurate as far as I know. That's not the case for many other sims that old.

EDIT: not true, the line to Gloucester was doubled.

AJP in games
Last edited: 25/10/2020 at 19:53 by Albert
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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 19:52 #133334
Stephen Fulcher
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The original incarnations of Swindon and Didcot, which were essentially stitched together in the Loader format as Swindon A&B without any major modifications are nearly twenty years old now, I can certainly remember playing them in the early 2000s.

The layout at Swindon is not compatible with the current era, mainly due to the double track now existant between Kemble and Swindon, plus the electrification around Didcot.

Also do not forget this simulation is still freeware.

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Random Rant About The Sim 25/10/2020 at 21:08 #133338
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Stephen Fulcher in post 133334 said:
The layout at Swindon is not compatible with the current era, mainly due to the double track now existant between Kemble and Swindon, plus the electrification around Didcot.
That's part of the fun, regulating that little bit!

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Random Rant About The Sim 26/10/2020 at 08:00 #133341
Fendahl
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This has been one of my favorites since the days of chaining the paged versions of Didcot and Swindon.

The work of those who develop the sims and timetables is much appreciated. Not everyone is looking for every consist in every timetable being 100% correct, or every signal being in the exact correct position.

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Random Rant About The Sim 26/10/2020 at 18:12 #133353
dhouk
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Also in my top 3 favourite sims... even without being updated, it still feels close enough!
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 10:38 #136082
albie vowles
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My issues are that the swindon sim is 10 years out of date and when a train enters the swindon up reception in real life, it mostly turns around and comes back or goes straight through, in SimSig it JUST DISSAPEARS!!! OMG!!! i live by purton level crossing and in this sim it is called PIRTON and is still a single line in the sim that triggers me so much, and reading is so wrong!!!
Last edited: 08/01/2021 at 10:39 by albie vowles
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 11:10 #136083
jc92
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Sorry but it isn't 10 years out of date. Its an accurate simulation of the location at the time the simulation was created. Nowhere does it say its intended to reflect the current area. To be technical it simulates Swindon A and B boxes, not the current ROC layout you want.

Trains disappear in the reception as it is (or certainly was) a fan of sidings not controlled by the signal box. Its likely if you continue to run the sim, that the train will reenter later having either run round, or recessed as you said.

If it remains such a major problem, perhaps ask Geoff for a quote for how much he'll need to charge you to provide a personal updated copy of the simulation just for you?

I'll raise the issue of pirton LC as I can see the local village is spelt differently. Thanks for pointing this out.

Edit: LC is actually called Collins Lane. Now logged on mantis

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
Last edited: 08/01/2021 at 11:14 by jc92
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 11:14 #136084
Albert
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EDIT: this post crossed jc92's one which already answers everything.

Hi Albie, this is a simulator representing a specific era including any oddities that might have existed in the signalling at the time. The up reception line is not under the signaller's control but considered part of the yard and hence trains vanish, while you as signaller know they are going to reappear after reversing (and a timetable rule is used to enforce that.) That it has not been updated for the doubling of the line near you doesn't mean it is wrong; it just means the sim represents an older era like many here do. Creating a sim depends on a lot of documentation of the local signalling which may or may not be easily available for a given era.

About the level crossing: there are multiple cases around the country where the railways keep using an outdated/incorrect spelling in their internal documents because it is too much effort to change it.
In any case it is good to know and I hope someone with access to the bugtracker will read this thread and file a bug so it can be investigated.

AJP in games
Last edited: 08/01/2021 at 11:15 by Albert
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 13:39 #136086
clive
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albie vowles in post 136082 said:

i live by purton level crossing and in this sim it is called PIRTON and is still a single line in the sim that triggers me so much, and reading is so wrong!!!
Could you please go and photograph the name sign on the crossing equipment box. That will be what the railway calls it.

It's not just level crossings: the GER built "Felstead" station at Felsted. I have a vague memory there were plenty of stations the GER misnamed.

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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 14:06 #136090
Dick
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The railway call Conington, Connington.
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 14:16 #136091
MarkC
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There's a right way, a wrong way and the Railway Way when it comes to spelling locations on the network.
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 14:38 #136093
03piggs
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Also Spelbrook and Spellbrook; Westmill and West Mill; and Wareside and the station that served it called Mardock for Wareside...
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 14:50 #136094
Chromatix
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Not to mention all the contortions that go on in Wales. A lot of the time you see a Welsh station name and wonder whether it has been Anglicised (thus spelled wrong from a Welshman's perspective) or whether you should pronounce it according to the Welsh rules.
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 15:17 #136095
jc92
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clive in post 136086 said:
albie vowles in post 136082 said:

i live by purton level crossing and in this sim it is called PIRTON and is still a single line in the sim that triggers me so much, and reading is so wrong!!!
Could you please go and photograph the name sign on the crossing equipment box. That will be what the railway calls it.

It's not just level crossings: the GER built "Felstead" station at Felsted. I have a vague memory there were plenty of stations the GER misnamed.
I couldn't find one on Google earth, but its "Collins lane" on the actual panel.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Random Rant About The Sim 08/01/2021 at 16:33 #136111
Steamer
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jc92 in post 136095 said:
clive in post 136086 said:
albie vowles in post 136082 said:

i live by purton level crossing and in this sim it is called PIRTON and is still a single line in the sim that triggers me so much, and reading is so wrong!!!
Could you please go and photograph the name sign on the crossing equipment box. That will be what the railway calls it.

It's not just level crossings: the GER built "Felstead" station at Felsted. I have a vague memory there were plenty of stations the GER misnamed.
I couldn't find one on Google earth, but its "Collins lane" on the actual panel.

And for extra fun, it's "Purton Collins Lane" in the sectional appendix!

"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)
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Random Rant About The Sim 09/01/2021 at 00:06 #136136
AlexRail575
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This video shows the level crossing as "Collins Lane" which is more evidence for this being what's on the panel.
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Random Rant About The Sim 21/03/2021 at 17:53 #138020
BoxBoyKit
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If we're referring to what it currently shows at TVSC, it's Purton Collins Lane. Not sure what it showed/shows on the NX Panel.

As for some other comments, as someone that actually works the current day layouts of Swindon and Didcot, the layout and signalling is virtually unchanged. The major differences are of course the line from Swindon to Kemble being doubled, and the introduction of four aspect and reversible signalling between Appleford and Oxford. Apart from that it's virtually identical and unchanged to how it's presented on the Sim. And for anyone moaning about Reading being out of date, that doesn't really affected the sim. Stuff will either come Down Main or Down Relief, or go Up Main or Up Relief. What happens beyond, certainly as far as the Sim is concerned, is a bit irrelevant...

It's still a brilliant Sim despite being as old as it is. Got me hooked on SimSig and I assure you it's just as fun as working the real thing!

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Random Rant About The Sim 21/03/2021 at 18:56 #138021
lstant
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The NX is written as Collins Lane as shown here:
https://photos.swindonpanel.org.uk/picture.php?/3180/category/190

The society album page spells it Purton Collins Lane and they are familiar with the plans:
https://photos.swindonpanel.org.uk/index.php?/category/61

Also the UWC gate at Purton Common crossing looks like it is spelled Purton Common but the resolution is not quite there:
https://photos.swindonpanel.org.uk/picture.php?/5162/category/16
The original box was definitely spelled Purton:
https://photos.swindonpanel.org.uk/picture.php?/654/category/16

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Random Rant About The Sim 21/03/2021 at 23:23 #138032
GeoffM
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There's a very short article about how the village was variously called Purton, Pirton, and a couple of other variations.
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