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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 17:43 #142013
JamesDaniel
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when I try and create a timetable for Staffordshire I use data of RTT but it only says how heavy it is how do i know how long or what loco it has. Does anybody use a certain website?
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 17:50 #142014
andyallen4014
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With a fair degree of difficulty if you're an industry outsider. It is certainly what I find most challenging about creating timetables.

There are some online sources, forums, photo websites etc that can help you.

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 17:54 #142015
JamesDaniel
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i'll have a look but it makes it so hard especially when theres freight that makes up 35% of the traffic
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 18:05 #142016
JamesDaniel
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andyallen4014 in post 142014 said:
With a fair degree of difficulty if you're an industry outsider. It is certainly what I find most challenging about creating timetables.

There are some online sources, forums, photo websites etc that can help you.
do you know any?

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 18:07 #142017
andyallen4014
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JamesDaniel in post 142015 said:
i'll have a look but it makes it so hard especially when theres freight that makes up 35% of the traffic
This is one of the reasons the user contributed timetables are so appreciated and so much time and care is taken over them to ensure their accuracy.

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 24/10/2021 at 21:30 #142021
bill_gensheet
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JamesDaniel in post 142013 said:
when I try and create a timetable for Staffordshire I use data of RTT but it only says how heavy it is how do i know how long or what loco it has. Does anybody use a certain website?
To be picky, it tells you what weight of train it is timed for. That does not mean it is that weight.

So say the Workington - Aberdeen tanks:
http://charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/liverail/train/25162812/18/10/21
has a timing load of 1000 tons

This can be anything from 5 to 13 wagons but has the same timing load every day. It just means the driver takes it a bit easier or can get more time for a visit to the curry house / chippy in Dundee !

Bill

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 07:43 #142026
JamesDaniel
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Yes - but how would I know the length and what engine in leading the consist

James

Last edited: 25/10/2021 at 08:46 by JamesDaniel
Reason: None given

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 08:56 #142028
wellgroomed
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Not without getting information from railway sources. There's nothing publically available, short of heading to a station/other location and physically obtaining the information.
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 09:55 #142029
flabberdacks
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JamesDaniel in post 142026 said:
Yes - but how would I know the length and what engine in leading the consist

James
It requires a fair bit of time and effort to collect this information.

Freight adds so much interesting variety to a sim that it's worth taking the time to do well, but the information you need generally isn't published and will take some research to discover. The locomotive power on a train could be changed on the day as required by the operator. Whatever it takes to deliver the cargo.

I have found facebook groups quite helpful in this regard, or youtube videos taken from lineside as the train goes past, seeing what's on each train.

If you're doing a current-day timetable, or anything from the past few years, going to that location and seeing what moves around is also a pretty great day out.

Hope this helps!

Last edited: 25/10/2021 at 09:58 by flabberdacks
Reason: None given

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 13:26 #142033
Meld
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James - try flickr youtube etc you'll find plenty pf reference there. LTSV Wagons has a good reference section as well
Passed the age to be doing 'Spoon Feeding' !!!
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 17:43 #142034
Steamer
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As Meld said, typing the headcode into YouTube or Google will often pull up videos/photos of the working, especially as Stafford and (for WCML traffic) Tamworth are popular with enthusiasts. If you need to find out the headcode (RTT will only show the real codes for GBRF workings), archive WTTs are here: https://history.networkrail.co.uk/index.php?name=so_4b13306b-816a-4d77-89ec-630d6beb2680 and the current one is on NR's main website.

GBRF have also signed up to 'Know Your Train' on RTT, so loco numbers are shown; unfortunately I don't think they send anything other than 66s through Stafford!

If all else fails, create a generic train type for the type of traffic (Containers, Engineers etc.) and get a typical length from the supplied TT. That's what I always ended up doing for my own TTs.

"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)
Last edited: 25/10/2021 at 17:44 by Steamer
Reason: None given

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 25/10/2021 at 18:49 #142036
bill_gensheet
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Steamer in post 142034 said:
As Meld said, typing the headcode into YouTube or Google will often pull up videos/photos of the working, especially as Stafford and (for WCML traffic) Tamworth are popular with enthusiasts. If you need to find out the headcode (RTT will only show the real codes for GBRF workings), archive WTTs are here: https://history.networkrail.co.uk/index.php?name=so_4b13306b-816a-4d77-89ec-630d6beb2680 and the current one is on NR's main website.

GBRF have also signed up to 'Know Your Train' on RTT, so loco numbers are shown; unfortunately I don't think they send anything other than 66s through Stafford!

If all else fails, create a generic train type for the type of traffic (Containers, Engineers etc.) and get a typical length from the supplied TT. That's what I always ended up doing for my own TTs.
+1 for that, especially with a pass through area like Stafford. Deal with the oddities right and leave the rest generic.

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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 27/10/2021 at 23:14 #142060
Lagertoe
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Here are some examples of freight train consists at Stafford yesterday 27.10.21
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 28/10/2021 at 13:43 #142075
JamesDaniel
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thank you, lagertoe but the file won't open
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How to get a description of what a certain freight train consists eg. loco and what sort of wagons+ 28/10/2021 at 13:44 #142076
JamesDaniel
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oop found it out thanks
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