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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 06/07/2013 at 23:45 #46669
AndyG
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A Vote of Thanks to Geoff (simulation), Guy H (Chiltern Railways), Noel Y (WTTs) and no doubt other contributors and testers for a popular new simulation that sneaked in under the radar (see the guesses in the July meet thread).

In particular, appreciation to Chiltern Railways for allowing Geoff to make available to the SimSig community a version of the project produced primarily for them.

I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either.
Last edited: 06/07/2013 at 23:56 by AndyG
Reason: link added

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The following users said thank you: postal, Gwasanaethau, John, BarryM, TimTamToe, Steamer, Jan, John 23, Whiterider, sloppyjag, GoochyB, officer dibble, guidomcc, Nutter
Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 06/07/2013 at 23:51 #46670
postal
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5190 posts
And we never even knew it was going to be ready until it was ready!
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 06/07/2013 at 23:51 by postal
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 00:14 #46671
Roadrunner
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111 posts
Rubbish, Postal. Sims do not just magically appear out of the blue, overnight. (And stop using brain-washing type slogans such as "It will be ready, when it is ready." That sort of behaviour is below your level of intelligence. SimSig operates a secret society. The people that know, know all the details, well beforehand. The rest of us are kept in the dark. Why SimSig runs a hobby group in this way, defies explanation! (and is a hostile attitude to adopt towards your client group!)
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 00:42 #46672
memorialstingray
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:evil: OK Roadrunner, may I just say with an attitude like that no wonder you are excluded from normal human being activities, you sound like a very bitter person who rather than welcomes the release of a new simulation decides to try to shroud it in controversy and malice. the developers of these sims (myself included) spend a lot of their own time weather it be research or general development is irrelevant, it is unpaid and is done for the enjoyment of others, if this is not good for you, you are more than welcome to use the door that is about hit your ass.....
Last edited: 07/07/2013 at 00:43 by memorialstingray
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The following users said thank you: seagulls, NCC1701, Steamer, andyb0607, TimTamToe, derbybest, DriverCurran, Nutter, Sam Tugwell, guidomcc, officer dibble, UKTrainMan, GoochyB, crompton, Steam Buff
Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 00:51 #46673
JamesN
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1575 posts
I'd like to echo Andy's sentiments - Marylebone is a fantastic sim Geoff, and nice to see it come in under the radar, pleasant surprise to be sure!

Roadrunner I'm not quite sure how to respond, but I'm curious as to why you feel you need to know? Yes, SimSig runs as a secret society if that's how you want to describe it. So!? That's how it has always been run. Deal with it.

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 01:23 #46675
Gwasanaethau
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509 posts
" said:
Rubbish, Postal. Sims do not just magically appear out of the blue, overnight. (And stop using brain-washing type slogans such as "It will be ready, when it is ready." That sort of behaviour is below your level of intelligence. SimSig operates a secret society. The people that know, know all the details, well beforehand. The rest of us are kept in the dark. Why SimSig runs a hobby group in this way, defies explanation! (and is a hostile attitude to adopt towards your client group!)

Wait…what? This is sarcasm, isn’t it? Please tell me it is and the communication method has just stipped out all the signs…

If not, then where did this come from? I think what you’ve just said is outrageous! How dare you say something like that to a group of people that have put together a fine piece of work and released it at no charge for you and the rest of the community. I don’t think you realise at all how lucky you are to have such generous people as this!

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 01:31 #46676
njimiller
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138 posts
Getting this back on track.... Great sim and thanks for all the hard work in bringing this about. This is the line I travel every day so you can imagine my excitement when it was released and it's fascinating to be able to operate it myself. Just one late running train in the rush hour can cause many other delays although the timetable padding normally comes to the rescue in the end!

Marylebone will keep me occupied for many more hours - until we get refreshed or newly released Midland Mainline sims - if and when they appear that will be another happy surprise!!!

Thanks
Nick

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 01:31 #46677
Gwasanaethau
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509 posts
I should briefly correct myself, as I was in error: there is indeed a charge for this sim, but it is still being released ‘freely’. I believe it to be very small compared to what it could (or is that should?) be. I was thinking of the refreshed sims when I made the comment above. My apologies for the confusion.
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 06:14 #46679
John
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884 posts
I too would like to express my appreciation to all involved in the production of this terrific sim. A lovely surprise, particularly as it's always been on the "unable to do" list. I've absolutely no hesitation in splashing-out for a product of this quality - it's a small price to pay for the hours of enjoyment I have, and will have playing.
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 07:50 #46682
Peter Bennet
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5360 posts
Probably best if we calmed down a bit and lets not reopen old wounds. Things have been working out OK since last time so hopefully we can keep it that way.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 08:58 #46686
Haraubrad
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103 posts
Excellent sim
Brings back a few memories. I was senior signalling supervisor Banbury.(Retired 2002) So am familiar with the area.
Aubrey

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 09:06 #46687
moonraker
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353 posts
Ditto Andy. Fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyable sim to play and a real eye opener on an often overlooked bit of railway. Thanks to Geoff and everyone
Last edited: 07/07/2013 at 09:06 by moonraker
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 09:39 #46689
Ben86
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I haven't yet had chance to purchase the new sim, but I think it's testament to the work of the development team, and the quality of their output, that a commercial TOC would choose to work with SimSig. Well done and thanks to all involved.
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 09:57 #46690
outofsection
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149 posts
First of all, as I said in a different thread, being as both Chiltern & the Met Line are my "local" lines and I use them FAIRLY regularly, I am absolutely delighted (and TOTALLY gobsmacked) that Marylebone has been released - and up to date at that! As it was a fairly recent IECC, I was absolutely certain Marylebone would always be firmly on the list of "never-never's"; so imagine my surprise and delight at the news of its release!

Secondly, the sim has been superbly done! I haven't encountered any significant bugs yet, and the area covered is large, yet thanks to the ARS, it's just about manageable by one person (well as long as you keep a close eye on the WTT!). I'm thoroughly enjoying this sim as I've not enjoyed any previous Simsig sim release!

Very sincere thanks to all.

Suggestion: perhaps Geoff could consider passing our sincere thanks on to Chiltern Railways for agreeing to the sim's release - without whose agreement the Marylebone sim probably would never have been seen the light of day!

It's quite hard to get one's head round the fact that less than 30 years ago, the whole line was on the verge of closure: but thanks to an injection of Government money in the late 80s and Chiltern Railways, the line has since flourished! In fact, the line is now so busy that it's pretty difficult to obtain a path over the line: yet I can vividly remember that the line was so quiet in the mid 80s that nearly every Saturday & Sunday several steam charters were run! I haven't seen a steam charter on the line for ages now!

IMO, a fair amount of the credit for this has been down to the company sinking a large amount of its own expertise and money into (I think 3) "Evergreen" projects of line upgrades such as the building of Warwick & Aylesbury Vale Parkway stations, the Princes Risborough-Aynho Junction re-doubling, the reinstatement of (one of) the through line(s) at Princes Risborough as part of the line speed upgrade - which also included the upgrades to Aynho & Neasden junctions, and the new platforms 5 & 6 at Marylebone - even if one does need to take out an expedition from the ticket barriers to reach them! All that's needed now is a connection from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway into Platform 4 at Risborough! It's already been done a while back - well just for a weekend! Oh, and not forgetting the forthcoming addition of a chord from Bicester South to Bicester Town on the ex. Varsity Line - which I'm delighted to find is included in the sim.

Without wishing to throw a moggy into a pigeon loft, see what happens when a railway is allowed to be run by people who know what they're doing e.g. railwaymen such as the ex. CEO Adrian Shooter - instead of being run by the management of bus companies!

Last edited: 07/07/2013 at 10:12 by outofsection
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 10:08 #46691
DaveHarries
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I also am glad to see Marylebone released. Great stuff: well done and thanks to Geoff M for creating it and to Chiltern Railways for allowing its release.

Dave

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 10:50 #46693
Silverstar
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I'd just like to add my thanks to the developers and the whole SimSig team for an amazing simulation. The area covered is large and with the different options I expect it to provide long term enjoyment. I have only managed the first couple of hours so far, as the rush hour is starting to build, but as was said earlier already see the need to keep and eye on the WTT as stopping patterns and trains using the through lines can catch you out.

As regards Chiltern Railways, I'd say that the long franchise and support of the DfT together with it being a 'proper' railway company were instrumental for their expansion and success. While it is a line I have only used a few times it is very pleasing to see a line destined to be truncated and so run down flourish and provide a real alternative to the WCML for passengers for the west midlands.

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 16:39 #46718
guyh
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Thanks Andy for starting this thread. I should take this opportunity to publically thank Geoff for the immense detail - it's far better than I ever imagined when we started discussions about this (especially with regard to the extent of the LUL section covered and the detail!). Months of solid work on his part have led to this most superb tool for my team.

I should also thank Noel for the timetables - I didn't realise he was the creator of these until quite late in the development; the data quality is superb.

One other who deserves specific thanks is one of my Control Centre Managers, Greg Scott, who spent many hours of his spare time finding bugs and suggestions for tweaks in the development versions.

My involvement wasn't much more than a few chats with Geoff, a chat with my Ops Director, and a little pleading to get a signature from my Finance Director.

I know a few others were involved in the last few weeks to eek out as many other bugs as possible, so thank you to you chaps (I think you're all chaps) as well.

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 07/07/2013 at 18:03 #46729
Whiterider
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A huge thanks must go to Chiltern, GuyH, and Geoff for allowing this to be released! And another huge thanks to the people behind the scenes who designed, tested it and done everything else.

A truly great sim! Thanks to all involved!

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 04:26 #46757
Phil-jmw
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674 posts
I'd also like to add my thanks to Geoff and the team for the release of Marylebone IECC sim.

I was a controller for this route a few years ago and always hoped Marylebone would be released as a Simsig sim, so I was therefore disappointed when it appeared on the 'cannot be done' list. Imagine my surprise when I saw it had been released to the Simsig community, I felt like all my birthdays had come at once! I'm really looking forward to getting to grips with this sim in the coming days.

Thanks again to everyone concerned in making this sim possible.

Phil.

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 07:05 #46759
jc92
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3629 posts
" said:
Rubbish, Postal. Sims do not just magically appear out of the blue, overnight. (And stop using brain-washing type slogans such as "It will be ready, when it is ready." That sort of behaviour is below your level of intelligence. SimSig operates a secret society. The people that know, know all the details, well beforehand. The rest of us are kept in the dark. Why SimSig runs a hobby group in this way, defies explanation! (and is a hostile attitude to adopt towards your client group!)
but do you know the secret handshake ;)

on a serious note, ditto everyone else's comments, this is an excellent sim, with only a few minor bugs, which doubtless will be picked up soon enough. Heres hoping east coast approach Geoff for York and Tyneside....

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 09:41 #46765
kbarber
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Seconded. (Or twenty-firsted, if you want to be pedantic )

I was signalman at Marylebone in 1980/1, in the LMR box with a 60-lever mechanical frame that was installed after the destruction of the old GC route in 1967. Before that my uncle had been a driver at Woodford Halse. More recently my partner's nephew was signalman at Banbury South (he's now in the x-box at Machynlleth). So this route is rather meaningful to me.

Chiltern was the only successful Management Buy-Out at privatisation. I suspect I know why - I suspect Chiltern was reckoned to be a guaranteed loser, hence worth sacrificing to prove that privatisation was a 'good thing' and of course it would never have done for the old railway managers to have been seen doing so well when the bus bandits and 'private sector entrepreneurial talent' (paraphrase J Major) was making such a total hash of things. Which all just goes to show what the old railway was capable of when given its head. (Incidentally Adrian Shooter's first Operations Director retired after they all cashed in their shares, to be replaced by Stuart Griffin, a former Westbury driver, who is now busy picking up awards as the head of London Overground. The old railway can still do it - and frequently does!)

Seeing it available as a sim is magnificent. I haven't got it yet, but I surely will. Huge thanks to Geoff and to Guyh for this. As far as I'm concerned both sim and franchise are a monument to the much-derided old railway and what it's capable of; long may both continue!

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 12:11 #46785
outofsection
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" said:
As regards Chiltern Railways, I'd say that the long franchise and support of the DfT together with it being a 'proper' railway company were instrumental for their expansion and success. While it is a line I have only used a few times it is very pleasing to see a line destined to be truncated and so run down flourish and provide a real alternative to the WCML for passengers for the west midlands.
Yes, and for me and me better half, Chiltern's advance-book £12 return fares from Marylebone (or Risborough) to Brum provide a VERY welcome alternative to Virgin as well! :woohoo:

Oh, and you can get 33% Old Git's Railcard discount on that £12 too! Top that Beardy!

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 19:59 #46814
rodney30
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158 posts
many thanks to all involved in making this Sim and testing it. also many thanks to chiltern railways for allowing this to be released to the public.

rodney 30

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 08/07/2013 at 20:51 #46816
Underwood
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746 posts
Maybe all trains should leave 1-2 minutes late, to account for the platform allocation being given 1-2 minutes before departure ! Unsure if that's actually changed since, I know it seemed to happen on every train when I was there!

A big thank you for the surprise release, I actually find these surprises better than knowing beforehand

While the data is there, I'm working with Westbury/Marylebone on the Easter timetable!

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Marylebone Simulation Appreciation 16/03/2014 at 13:38 #57125
MarkC
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1089 posts
What can I say Marylebone Great sim, well worth the license fee :woohoo:

Already have Fenchurch as-well, will definitely buy more as time and money permit :cheer:

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