Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA

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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 05/05/2015 at 23:09 #71743
maxand
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1637 posts 		I am playing Derby, default TT, and at 3AM I get a request from Swannington LC for permission for a flock of geese to cross!

Although geese and other waterfowl (incl. ducks) are nocturnally active and the wilder breeds are known to migrate at night, it seems unlikely that their human owner would be at 3AM unless he/she deliberately chose this non-busy time to move them to fresh grass by this means.

I'm suggesting that the core code for such LC calls include a filter to allow them only during daylight hours, e.g., 6 AM - 6 PM, otherwise it sounds a bit nonsensical. The same could be said for other livestock crossing in herds or flocks rather than on the backs of trucks (lorries to you guys). The word "load" covers all situations.

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I don't know what real life practice is, but if I was a signaller, I'd also be asking the caller "how long d'you think it'll take?" before granting permission. This could be simulated by adding a duration parameter to the caller's message, e.g., "estimated time: 10 mins" which would help us all.

Naturally, more comprehensive coding might also produce incident reports such as "truck breakdown on ABCD Level Crossing" without waiting for signaller to lower booms to find this out.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 05/05/2015 at 23:34 #71747
flabberdacks
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580 posts 		My friend, your constant battle with level crossings is easily one of my favourite parts of these forums.

A signaller should always ask how long an activity that obstructs the line will take. However, any code for this kind of realism should also include the realism that the estimate could be horribly off. So, I'm okay with it as-is.

Obviously I won't grant the request while I've got trains closely approaching, but if it's clear, I just whack some reminders on to protect the crossing and go do something else for the few moments until they call clear.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 02:17 #71752
maxand
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1637 posts 		Glad you take such a keen interest in my posts! :)

What do you think of my filter suggestion? 'Twould add only one extra parameter to the list of possible calls and prevent ridiculous sitations like the one above.

Returning to the second part of my OP, I suppose reminders are the signaller's best defence against goose or veal schnitzel. I generally allow 10 mins for loads to cross - don't know what SimSig has built into it. If others agree that r/l estimates are unreliable, well then omitting them is justifiable.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 02:30 #71753
Muzer
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718 posts 		To be honest, I think the comedy of a flock of geese crossing at midnight is part of SimSig's charm. I think it has been suggested in the past that it's actually a flock of wild geese who happen to know how to use the telephone ;)


But yeah, estimates in real life can be way off, but I still think including them would be a good idea (it was also suggested to include the possibility of more vagueness or inaccurate estimates for train delays, and I think that suggestion was well-received, so including a similar logic for this would make sense). And I think one additional problem that you face in real life but not in SimSig (though I'm not a signaller so I can't comment on how common this is!) is people crossing and neglecting to phone back afterwards...
Last edited: 06/05/2015 at 02:32 by Muzer
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 03:41 #71755
Hawk777
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386 posts 		" said:
To be honest, I think the comedy of a flock of geese crossing at midnight is part of SimSig's charm. I think it has been suggested in the past that it's actually a flock of wild geese who happen to know how to use the telephone ;)
… and are also too lazy to fly over the track? :laugh:

I like it for the same reason I like the wrong kind of food trolley on a freight train.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 04:54 #71761
Mattyq
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259 posts 		........ awaiting the day (and ensuing complaint) when Maxand has a light Engine delayed due police attendance.

Maxand, there are some comical aspects of Simsig that have been left as-is for that specific purpose - to be comical. A bit of light-hearted fun (as documented here). These include (but not limited to):-

- Your 0300hrs flock of wild geese who know how to speak, use a telephone and are too lazy to fly over,
- The aforementioned light engine being detained due police attendance,
- (as Hawk777 mentioned) the wrong type of food trolley being delivered to a freight train, or
- Passenger disturbance on empty coaching stock.....

[Applies Joker face makeup then asks] "Why ... so ... SERIOUS"? At the end of the day, Simsig is a game and, for what you get, a moderately priced one too. It doesn't replicate the real world perfectly, nor will it ever. My fear is, the more realism that is added, the more prices go up. There has to be a tolerance for Simsigs foibles such as these. I, for one, am happy to keep these giggly little incidents.

Lighten up mate, it's just a game.
Not fat ..... fluffy!! (G Iglesias)
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The following users said thank you: kaiwhara, BarryM
Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 05:00 #71762
kaiwhara
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584 posts 		" said:
........ awaiting the day (and ensuing complaint) when Maxand has a light Engine delayed due police attendance.
Don't laugh to hard at that. I have actually had that happen before as a real signaller. I kid you not!
Sorry guys, I am in the business of making people wait!
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 06:27 #71765
Peter Bennet
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5362 posts
Online 		" said:

Lighten up mate, it's just a game.
Ahhhhg don't open that can of worms.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 06:39 #71766
Danny252
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1461 posts 		" said:
" said:
........ awaiting the day (and ensuing complaint) when Maxand has a light Engine delayed due police attendance.
Don't laugh to hard at that. I have actually had that happen before as a real signaller. I kid you not!
I assume it went something like this?
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The following users said thank you: BarryM, GeoffM, LucasLCC
Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 08:00 #71768
kaiwhara
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584 posts 		" said:
" said:
" said:
........ awaiting the day (and ensuing complaint) when Maxand has a light Engine delayed due police attendance.
Don't laugh to hard at that. I have actually had that happen before as a real signaller. I kid you not!
I assume it went something like this?
Hehe, I wish, and as a Driver I have actually done that next to the Southern Motorway. Had a few funny looks.

I won't go into details as to why, but let's just say I had to have a "Points Failure" to hold the Light Loco somewhere convenient.
Sorry guys, I am in the business of making people wait!
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 09:44 #71773
uboat
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219 posts 		I had Police attendance at a mail terminal and thought another train robbery
but the mail was not on the train.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 09:55 #71777
jc92
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3630 posts 		A herd of Cows at Westbury Barrow Crossing springs to mind (What are these country Folk like?) Although it does remind me of the horse waiting for an ATW service in Shropshire.

to pull something useful from Maxands OP, some crossings do see regular use only at certain times of day. eg Occupation crossings for a factory or thats open 9-5. equally some crossings (tyna Morfa springs to mind) will see use at one particular time, but not others, in this case the familys who live the wrong side of the crossing leave for work and come back.

The only way to get it authentic would be to check the occurances book for each box in question to ensure accuracy.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 11:15 #71782
TimTamToe
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656 posts 		" said:
A herd of Cows at Westbury Barrow Crossing springs to mind (What are these country Folk like?) Although it does remind me of the horse waiting for an ATW service in Shropshire.
Something for Karl to add for his Shrewsbury sim then
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 11:35 #71783
headshot119
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4869 posts 		" said:
" said:
A herd of Cows at Westbury Barrow Crossing springs to mind (What are these country Folk like?) Although it does remind me of the horse waiting for an ATW service in Shropshire.
Something for Karl to add for his Shrewsbury sim then ;)
My lips are sealed
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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The following user said thank you: LucasLCC
Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 12:39 #71786
clive
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2738 posts 		" said:

I'm suggesting that the core code for such LC calls include a filter to allow them only during daylight hours, e.g., 6 AM - 6 PM, otherwise it sounds a bit nonsensical.
Don't forget that daylight is a lot more variable up here than down there. Where I live sunset varies between 15:47 and 21:25 and civil twilight runs to 22:14. There are simulated locations where sunset is at 22:08 (and twilight ends 23:18) and others where sunrise can be as late as 08:48. So "6 to 6" just doesn't cut it.


Quote:

I don't know what real life practice is, but if I was a signaller, I'd also be asking the caller "how long d'you think it'll take?" before granting permission. This could be simulated by adding a duration parameter to the caller's message, e.g., "estimated time: 10 mins" which would help us all.
That's something for me to think about.

Mantis 13135 raised for both of these.


Quote:

Naturally, more comprehensive coding might also produce incident reports such as "truck breakdown on ABCD Level Crossing" without waiting for signaller to lower booms to find this out.
Um, that's controlled crossings. They often don't have phones.
Last edited: 06/05/2015 at 12:47 by clive
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The following user said thank you: maxand
Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 12:56 #71787
Steamer
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3923 posts
Online 		" said:

Naturally, more comprehensive coding might also produce incident reports such as "truck breakdown on ABCD Level Crossing" without waiting for signaller to lower booms to find this out.
Are you asking for advance notice of the 'Crossing Blocked by Road Vehicle' message? If so, that situation is highly unlikely. The more probable scenario is that they've tried to dodge the barriers and failed, were queuing over the crossing or something of that nature. Naturally, that only becomes apparent when the barriers have gone down.
"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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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 20:07 #71846
Forest Pines
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525 posts 		" said:

Are you asking for advance notice of the 'Crossing Blocked by Road Vehicle' message? If so, that situation is highly unlikely. The more probable scenario is that they've tried to dodge the barriers and failed, were queuing over the crossing or something of that nature. Naturally, that only becomes apparent when the barriers have gone down.
I can't remember if I've mentioned it here before, but I have seen someone park on a level crossing in order to pop into an off-licence. Of course, just as they nipped into the shop, the barriers needed to come down!

However - as I understand it - in most cases with a CCTV crossing the signaller won't have a picture on the monitor unless the barriers are actually lowering, which does limit the crossings at which you would get foreknowledge of the situation. The crossing with the off-licence next to it was locally controlled in the 80s era, true, but is CCTV in the modern world.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 06/05/2015 at 20:12 #71847
KymriskaDraken
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963 posts 		" said:
" said:

Are you asking for advance notice of the 'Crossing Blocked by Road Vehicle' message? If so, that situation is highly unlikely. The more probable scenario is that they've tried to dodge the barriers and failed, were queuing over the crossing or something of that nature. Naturally, that only becomes apparent when the barriers have gone down.
I can't remember if I've mentioned it here before, but I have seen someone park on a level crossing in order to pop into an off-licence. Of course, just as they nipped into the shop, the barriers needed to come down!

However - as I understand it - in most cases with a CCTV crossing the signaller won't have a picture on the monitor unless the barriers are actually lowering, which does limit the crossings at which you would get foreknowledge of the situation. The crossing with the off-licence next to it was locally controlled in the 80s era, true, but is CCTV in the modern world.
From what I remember from the one CCTV Crossing that I worked at Puxton (it was Huish LC) the monitor came on automatically when the lowering sequence was started, but the Crossing Keeper could turn on the monitors any time he wanted by flicking the switch. I remember the monitor going off as soon as the "Clear" button was pressed, but sometimes I used to turn it back on again to watch certain trains going past (tampers for instance).

Kev
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The following user said thank you: Forest Pines
Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 07/05/2015 at 02:09 #71864
maxand
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1637 posts 		Thanks for all your replies. Even though I personally regard SimSig as a game, I now try to refer to gamers as simmers in order not to offend those such as BarryM who are even more serious than me.

As we can all see, to get the precise details of these phone messages and their interactions correct would require a lot more code than is justified. We all need to pretend something when we sim here. For example, if the message eventually includes "Estimated time (of crossing): 10 minutes" we must pretend this will be more or less accurate and base or permission or denial around this regardless of whether we add Reminders to the crossing (a good idea, thanks again flabberdacks). After all, when a train is delayed, we tend to assume the delay duration given is realistic.

The average SimSig newbie probably does not expect these little Easter eggs so should be warned to expect some frivolity after all the attention up front to the sims and TTs being made as realistic as possible. It's just as well we are all amateurs here and that costs of sims range from very modest to unbeatable!

Thanks Clive in post #15 for offering to improve the code when time permits.
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 07/05/2015 at 10:37 #71880
sunocske
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113 posts 		We had a similar here in Hungary, a man wanted to board with his horse to get to Budapest. He also stated he would happily buy a full-price ticket to his mate too, but (I don't know, why...) the conductor didn't allow to board him...

Aaand, there is a photo about that!

http://player.hu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/11061211_957740520925965_1635553022974364819_n.jpg
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Filter level crossing requests by time of day, also add ETA 08/05/2015 at 04:59 #71931
Hawk777
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386 posts 		" said:
Passenger disturbance on empty coaching stock
That one sounds pretty realistic to me: napping passenger who didn’t wake up and disembark at the last station. I could see some people causing a bit of a disturbance if they learn they have to walk home all the way from the depot, because no, the driver isn’t going to take them back to the station.
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