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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 08:28 #36110 | |
primedetective
33 posts |
Not that this would be completed anytime soon, but it would be nice to have a timetable that works over the sims that can chain to the big group (South Humberside, Worksop, Saltley, Sheffield, Trent, Southampton, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Swindon, Westbury, and Derby for those who have it). That way we could have one gigantic MP if we could somehow get enough people online. At a quick count, I find that there are 57 panels, and 3 extra for those who have Derby makes a round 60. T'would be very fun, despite the logistical nightmare 
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 08:52 #36111 | |
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broodje
180 posts |
You should know though that the older sims (bristol, exeter, Glouchester, Trent) won't chain with the middle bunch (Westbury, Swindon, Sheffield) and the newest (Saltley, Derby). The network code has been changed in the time between these sims were released so you won't be able to connect them.
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 09:56 #36129 | |
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derbybest
274 posts |
I very much doubt if you could get even close to 60 players at one time
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 11:03 #36131 | |
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Jan
889 posts |
Most recent releases seem to be using a September/October 2009 timetable, so with a bit of tweaking perhaps they should be compatible with each other. Southampton cannot be chained with the others, as there is no Salisbury simulation. For the future, there will also be Birmingham New Street, Leicester, and West Hampstead, all of which are currently under development, and should there ever be a Doncaster sim, you could also chain with the King's Cross group of simulations, i.e. Peterborough, Cambridge, King's Cross, the NLL, Euston, and Wembley Suburban. Getting that to work would be truly insane... Two million people attempt to use Birmingham's magnificent rail network every year, with just over a million of them managing to get further than Smethwick. Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 11:50 #36132 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2026 posts |
I think the issue is with the chain coding of the sims themselves, and not the timetables. There are a couple of quirks with the standard timetable, for instance all trains going from Exeter to Westbury have to be stepped up at Castle Cary due to Athelney Crossing being in the Westbury timetable but not the Exeter one, therefore the train has a common point of Castle Cary in both sims timetables, but has Athelney in the middle on Westbury so therefore keeps looking for Athelney long after it has passed it. The only chaining on the Western Region sims that does not work is Gloucester will not chain to Saltley. Exeter and Bristol say that they won't, but the chain works anyway once the initial error message is cancelled. There is also a minor issue with the Melksham single line when Swindon A&B is chained to Westbury. Not sure about the ones outside of the Western Region though. I agree with Derbybest that the chances of getting even half of the number of signalmen required to run all those panels would be remote, although I know Alan (Agilchrist) and Karl (headshot119) managed to fully staff a complete chain of the five Western sims by advertising the game a long time in advance. There is also the small matter of having enough hosts, who generally don't work panels either. I would enjoy playing such a chain game though. Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 12:26 #36134 | |
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Sacro
1171 posts |
There's one being done for Thursday 15-10-2009, all using the same source data and same stock workings for TOCs, I think we've done all the released sims (excluding Edinburgh [due to eras] and the Drain [due to me being lazy]), most of them just need some testing and bug fixing.
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 12:35 #36135 | |
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njimiller
138 posts |
Blimey Sacro - with news like that you'll have me hyperventilating... Nick Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 14:02 #36136 | |
Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
" said:I think the issue is with the chain coding of the sims themselves, and not the timetables.Was that reported - don't recall that being an issue? Can you give more details of exactly what you mean. " said: Melksham has been fixed since but in doing so all the chains outwith the trio I have responsibility for maybe broken as the core code was re-engineered. Kurt, who has most of the others, has not been around much for a while as far as I am aware. No current plans to re-release, not least because I'm 5% of the way through checking and where necessary rebuilding Exeter to the scale plans. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 15:49 #36139 | |
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guidomcc
246 posts |
" said:South Humberside, Worksop, Saltley, Sheffield, Trent, Southampton, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Swindon, Westbury ... 57 panelsOpinions may differ, but In my opinion:[table] [tr] [td]South Humberside[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]One on the Immy end, one on Scun[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Worksop[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Saltley[/td] [td]2/3?[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Sheffield[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Trent[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Bristol[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]Filton, Bath and Weston, and TM[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Exeter[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]East and west of Stoke Canon[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Gloucester[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]1 on North, one on the rest[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Swindon[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]One on Swindon, one on Didcot[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Westbury[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]One on Reading, one on the Westburys[/td] [/tr] [/table] I guess you would need supervisors as well, say one for Western and others? Gaps in the table are gaps in my knowledge 
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 16:08 #36140 | |
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Sacro
1171 posts |
Amateurs! Most of those can be done by one person, aside from Swindon with ARS, which doesn't even require that! Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 16:32 #36143 | |
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Danny252
1461 posts |
Saltley I find is a stretch for one man (though I'm sure once I learn the TT inside out I'll manage it!), and Trent is just a pain because there's all sorts of faffing about with the Toton shunter and level crossings!
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 16:42 #36144 | |
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John
884 posts |
Trent can be comfortably run with 4 people. 1 on Nottingham and E.Notts, 1 on Trent, 1 on S&S and Erewash, and 1 on Clay X / Kirkby / Robin Hood / Pinxton.
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 16:42 #36145 | |
Steamer
3922 posts |
" said:Most of those can be done by one person, aside from Swindon with ARS, which doesn't even require that!ARS cannot be trusted in the Didcot area. guidomcc said: Gaps in the table are gaps in my knowledgeAgain, only my opinion: Worksop: 1 Sheffield: 2, one on 1, 2 and 6, the other on 3, 4 and 5. Trent: 3 Clay Cross+Kirkby Summit+Erewash Valley+Robin Hood+Pinxton, E. Nottingham+Nottingham, Stapleford and Sandiacre+Trent Saltley: 3 North+Central, South Bottom+Stratford, South Top. "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: 09/10/2012 at 16:44 by Steamer Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 17:17 #36146 | |
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primedetective
33 posts |
Yeah I think the full chain could be run with much less if people run multiple panels, maybe somewhere around the 30 mark depending on individual preference. So which of these sims can actually chain to the others? (technically or officially) Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 17:57 #36147 | |
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njimiller
138 posts |
What will currently chain to what was touched on in an earlier post - the question is perhaps more about if and when the updates will come to enable a bigger chain. Nick Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 19:19 #36155 | |
onlydjw
456 posts |
" said:" said:Athelney seems to be set up as a key location in Westbury, but not in Exeter. Hence the timetable has to have an Athelney location in Westbury, but that location, but not in Exeter, so hence the timetable does not step when trains run from Exeter to Westbury, the TT's do not step.I think the issue is with the chain coding of the sims themselves, and not the timetables.Was that reported - don't recall that being an issue? Can you give more details of exactly what you mean.Peter It's certainly been known about for a long time amongst those who have regularly done Western Chains (I've been involved in two such groups, and both seemed sure it has been reported, and there are certainly people involved who are more than capable of reporting such an issue). God bless, Daniel Wilson Last edited: 09/10/2012 at 19:29 by onlydjw Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 19:25 #36156 | |
headshot119
4869 posts |
" said:" said:The issue comes from the fact that Athenly crossing is a timetable location on Westbury; however it is not a key location and therefore it only effects timetables where the writer has chosen to include the Athenly time, and the fact it's not a timetable location on Exeter in any form.." said:Athelney seems to be set us as a key location in Westbury, but not in Exeter. Hence the timetable has to have an Athelney location in Westbury, but that location, but not in Exeter, so hence the timetable does not step when trains run from Exeter to Westbury, the TT's do not step.I think the issue is with the chain coding of the sims themselves, and not the timetables.Was that reported - don't recall that being an issue? Can you give more details of exactly what you mean.Peter If Exeter and Westbury are chained the train drops off of Exeter fine, but doesn't step up to Castle Cary on the Westbury sim, it remains as showing next location Athenly. Hope that helps Peter. "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: 09/10/2012 at 19:26 by headshot119 Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 19:25 #36157 | |
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guidomcc
246 posts |
" said:Amateurs!Agreed! I was allowing for the fact that not everybody will have the necessary SimSig skills - for example, South Humberside can get quite hairy at times on one-man operation and if you allow for the delay that MP have it would be very difficult. Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 21:36 #36187 | |
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Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
" said:" said:OK thanks, just needs to be told to exclude Athelney then; simples. The fact that it not in both Sims is more a cosmetic issue but I can add the location if it helps." said:The issue comes from the fact that Athenly crossing is a timetable location on Westbury; however it is not a key location and therefore it only effects timetables where the writer has chosen to include the Athenly time, and the fact it's not a timetable location on Exeter in any form.." said:Athelney seems to be set us as a key location in Westbury, but not in Exeter. Hence the timetable has to have an Athelney location in Westbury, but that location, but not in Exeter, so hence the timetable does not step when trains run from Exeter to Westbury, the TT's do not step.I think the issue is with the chain coding of the sims themselves, and not the timetables.Was that reported - don't recall that being an issue? Can you give more details of exactly what you mean.Peter Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Last edited: 09/10/2012 at 21:44 by Peter Bennet Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 22:23 #36189 | |
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primedetective
33 posts |
Which of these sims can be chained to the others?
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| The Big Chain 09/10/2012 at 22:50 #36190 | |
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primedetective
33 posts |
I want to be able to run a special train all the way from Cleethorpes to Paignton
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| The Big Chain 10/10/2012 at 05:48 #36194 | |
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Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
" said:Which of these sims can be chained to the others?This is a part list: KX+Cambridge+Peterborough Westbury+Swindid+Exeter+Bristol+Gloucester Edinburgh+CScot Some of the Midlands ones but someone else will have to tell you what's what there. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 10/10/2012 at 07:22 #36195 | |
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AndyG
1834 posts |
S Humberside + Worksop Derby + Saltley Trent + Sheffield I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either. Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 10/10/2012 at 08:59 #36196 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2026 posts |
Reference the timetables, Karl has answered as well as I can above, but the issue seems to be with "Athelney Crossing" not needing to be in the timetable on the Westbury sim. When Westbury is run alone, it works fine, when chained the standard TT fails to step up, and has to be advanced manually. I believe that the Project X timetable that has been written for both sims works fine as the writers omitted the Athelney Crossing point from the Westbury TT, so it would probably be easier just to modify the 2009 TT by removing that point than altering the sim itself. --- I think Ben is being a little harsh on a lot of people by suggesting them to be amateurs. With failures and/or delays some of those sims would be difficult to operate solo in the context of a large chain game which requires signalling to be a lot more "sharp" than just a single sim if the timetable is not going to drift miles out of time. Also noteworthy, I know Saltley very well, and I find it a challenge to keep running smoothly on my own with delays and failures on, and always have to run it at 1:1 speed, which would be a little tedious for whoever had the misfortune of supervising the ARS on Swindon. --- Peter, do you know if there are any plans on Kurt's part to modify the north end of Gloucester to allow a Saltley chain? Log in to reply |
| The Big Chain 10/10/2012 at 11:47 #36210 | |
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Aurora
183 posts |
Wouldn't this be mind blowing! Even if just to watch all unfold :p And just imagine how quickly new messages would be added to the message board with all those trains operating and messages between SimSignallers. Would probably render the three line default useless as there'd be way too much to notice. Nil. Log in to reply |