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| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 06:55 #82231 | |
flabberdacks
583 posts |
On busy sims, especially New Street or the many sims with terminal stations, what method do you use (if any) to stay aware of timetabled departures? Short of having a sheet of paper in front of you, I've heard of: 1) Keeping the Timetable List (F4) open, set to Departure/Entry Time and scrolling regularly to keep up 2) Using the Simplifier or exporting from it to create a list 3) Using the TD - interposing the departure time into the buffer-end berth (frowned on sometimes) 4) Do nothing and wait for TRTS only Interested to learn more about the different ways people keep track of what's about to happen. Personally I use the first one in solo play and the third in MP, might use the second if the simplifier search could be refined further (such as, show only departures by time with columns rearranged accordingly). I know that could probably be done in Excel but uhh :dry: effort Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 07:45 #82232 | |
lazzer
606 posts |
I use method four mostly - just wait for them to call. But of course that means that any incoming movements can't have their routes set too early, or you'll suddenly find you've blocked a departing one. So what I tend to do is just continually click on the TDs of departing trains to remember and compare their departure times with those of trains coming in, so I know which order to set routes for them. I can usually keep on top of it. 
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| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 07:58 #82233 | |
jc92
3631 posts |
Mostly 2. Depending on traffic its sometimes possible to just remember whats due out.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Last edited: 10/05/2016 at 09:53 by jc92 Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 08:00 #82234 | |
AndyG
1835 posts |
In the past I've had a sticky with 'Next' on it, moving it to whichever is the next due departure to save repetitive clicking on the TDs. It helps to show which routes to keep clear until TRTS is given. A variation is to REM the next expected departure signal, but this entails more finger that simply sliding a sticky around. Another trick I've found (in mplay especially) is to open F2 train list and sort by 'Status', quite useful with the likes of KX or New St. I'll leave it to you to see how that works. I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either. Last edited: 10/05/2016 at 18:26 by AndyG Reason: typo Log in to reply The following user said thank you: flabberdacks |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 08:17 #82235 | |
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Aurora
183 posts |
Stickies for the win! I put a sticky next to each train with just the departure time. I usually do it with delayed trains too if the delay is longer than ten minutes which reminds me to not set its route or route right behind it. It's also more professional, in my opinion, than using the TD berths. Nil. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 12:12 #82236 | |
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flabberdacks
583 posts |
" said:I will definitely try this, thankyou " said: I agree, especially when platform indicator information is pulled directly from the TD berth in the real world. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 12:29 #82238 | |
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y10g9
895 posts |
I use 2 different methods generally. If I know the timetable, or there is a regular pattern in the departure times, I do nothing. If I'm unsure then I'll use stickies to out the time of departure on (and also hold subsequent train ids aswell) If a train phones in delayed, will always sticky the estimated departure time (if I get one) I do that at large stations, but at like Bristol parkway and Weston I just leave them unnoticed unless delayed Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 15:26 #82239 | |
Dick
386 posts |
I'm with lazzer, just keep checking and memory. Serves me well even for the London sims.
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| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 16:07 #82240 | |
northroad
870 posts |
" said:Stickies for the win!Glad to see you use the sticky method. maxand down in Aussie would be proud of you. Just as an aside and sorry to hijack the thread but has anyone heard how he is? Geoff Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 18:05 #82242 | |
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lazzer
606 posts |
" said:I'm with lazzer, just keep checking and memory. Serves me well even for the London sims.I did once use stickies myself, to be honest. But I found as time went by that I wasn't updating them, and could remember most of it. So now I don't bother. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 19:35 #82244 | |
Gwasanaethau
509 posts |
" said:Stickies for the win!I do this too! Glad I’m not alone. If I have time, and where it’s not obvious, I’ll also add a line or obvious via point too (such as “Stewarts Lane”, “Fast” or “Reversible” on Victoria SE). " said:
Ditto; I’ve been wondering myself. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 10/05/2016 at 22:53 #82248 | |
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AndyG
1835 posts |
{Mod note} I've split off the posts ref Max to a new thread here.
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 following users said thank you: postal, Gwasanaethau, flabberdacks |
| Timetable awareness 11/05/2016 at 07:10 #82255 | |
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Hawk777
386 posts |
I generally keep a simplifier window open with the big terminus in All Platforms mode. I never set departing routes until TRTS, though, in case of delays; I will, however, at least in areas with comprehensive approach locking, set every route except the first ahead of time. I often go quite a long time between clicking the Update button, finding it easier to keep track of where in the timeline I have gotten to by just scrolling down in the simplifier window.
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| Timetable awareness 11/05/2016 at 20:33 #82277 | |
Red For Danger
169 posts |
On busy sims where there are several route options, I keep a stock of blank but different coloured stickies at the side of the Sim which I then drag infront of the train depending which route it will take on departure. Each colour signifies a different route option, so as soon as the TRTS shows, I can set the route without worrying about looking at the time table. When the route is set, I drag the stickie back to the stock. That way, I don't need to keep the train list or simplifier open, save screen space, and not worry about constantly checking departure times to figure out which will be the next train to depart. I also don't keep track of estimated departure times when delays are notified. I find it makes it more realistic to not know when to expect a delay to clear, and provides more enjoyment working round a problem rather than falling into the 'it will only be a few more minutes before it moves' mentality of not doing anything. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 13/05/2016 at 00:22 #82303 | |
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Gwasanaethau
509 posts |
" said:On busy sims where there are several route options, I keep a stock of blank but different coloured stickies at the side of the Sim which I then drag infront of the train depending which route it will take on departure. Each colour signifies a different route option, so as soon as the TRTS shows, I can set the route without worrying about looking at the time table. When the route is set, I drag the stickie back to the stock. That way, I don't need to keep the train list or simplifier open, save screen space, and not worry about constantly checking departure times to figure out which will be the next train to depart.Max…is that you? :blink: :laugh: In all seriousness, I like this. Hadn’t thought of doing that and might actually start doing it myself. I can imagine someone on a real panel doing this with a stack of those narrow, neon-coloured post-its. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 13/05/2016 at 08:37 #82305 | |
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kbarber
1712 posts |
Of course a real bobby, doing the job every day, will very quickly get used to both the details of the timetable and the little wrinkles and likely minor upsets, rendering a large number of these expedients superfluous. (Real signalmen are often working smaller areas too, quite a few sims are multi-panel boxes, and that again means there's time to be focused on fewer of these issues simultaneously.) Having said which, things like post-its and noticies stuck to panels seem to have become commonplace nowadays; in my time the very best you'd have had was a collar with something stuck on it giving a reason, and even that would have been extremely rare. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 13/05/2016 at 10:45 #82306 | |
BarryM
2158 posts |
Didn't you have a boy looking after the train Register? Barry Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 10:10 #82401 | |
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kbarber
1712 posts |
" said:Didn't you have a boy looking after the train Register? Some of the bigger/busier jobs did, but I was never in such a box. Not legally anyway. Finchley Road Midland had a train recorder early & late turns (the signalman kept his own book on nights); So did St Pancras & Cricklewood (and Engine Shed Junction after the abolition of Carlton Rd and Mortimer St). Carlton Road, West Hampstead and Watling Street didn't keep a book at all (just signing on/off and unusual occurrences). The busiest job I worked was Acton Wells Junction; the requirement there was 'skeleton booking' - passing times of freight trains only (which meant that on Sundays, twelve hours graft - the 'motor' still ran every 20 minutes all through the day - was recorded with just the bobby signing on & off). I'm pretty certain that was a money saving measure. No booking boy is an obvious saving, but the grading scheme for signalboxes gave extra marks for full booking and that would undoubtedly have made the box a class 'C', whereas keeping it to skeleton booking allowed them to hold it down to a 'B'. And a very hard B it was too, with some long pulls (and the Webb frames were always heavy to work) in addition to the very heavy traffic. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: BarryM |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 11:09 #82403 | |
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jc92
3631 posts |
Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 11:13 #82404 | |
KymriskaDraken
963 posts |
" said:Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.At Bristol we used to have one of the CIS screens, and the station panel Signalman would often work off that rather than the printed simplifier. Kev Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 11:59 #82405 | |
Andrew G
550 posts 
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" said:" said:It was still there when I visited.Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.At Bristol we used to have one of the CIS screens, and the station panel Signalman would often work off that rather than the printed simplifier. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 12:02 #82406 | |
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Andrew G
550 posts
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" said:" said:It was still there when I visited.Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.At Bristol we used to have one of the CIS screens, and the station panel Signalman would often work off that rather than the printed simplifier. https://www.flickr.com/photos/llangollen_signalman/14164461079/in/album-72157644611533477/ Last edited: 16/05/2016 at 12:03 by Andrew G Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 12:26 #82407 | |
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JamesN
1580 posts
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" said:" said:And from my discussions with the AOMs and Station Coordinators they still work off it today!" said:It was still there when I visited.Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.At Bristol we used to have one of the CIS screens, and the station panel Signalman would often work off that rather than the printed simplifier. Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 12:28 #82408 | |
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KymriskaDraken
963 posts |
" said:" said:Indeed. It is much easier to put the trains where the passengers are expecting them :)" said:And from my discussions with the AOMs and Station Coordinators they still work off it today!" said:It was still there when I visited.Its worth adding that most busy panels will have a simplifier printed out showing the order of planned movements (similar to the F8 function but with bespoke notes) or a station working book and this is now signallers keep track of whats MEANT to be happening.At Bristol we used to have one of the CIS screens, and the station panel Signalman would often work off that rather than the printed simplifier. Kev Log in to reply |
| Timetable awareness 16/05/2016 at 21:58 #82440 | |
DriverCurran
683 posts |
Kev Where is the fun in that.... In this day of healthy living we should be encouraging exercise by advertising the train on the furthest away platform until 40 seconds before the booked departure..... I will now get my coat :) Paul You have to get a red before you can get any other colour Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Gwasanaethau |