Hello from Germany

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Hello from Germany 08/05/2018 at 16:08 #107866
Lorenzwand
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Hello everyone,
I am from the Ruhr Area in Germany and my main interest within rail is signalling, especially traffic control on the rail. I came to SimSig because I heard it somewhere and wanted to check it out, but I did not really understand it, so I re-discovered it half a year ago and I started enjoying it, although the signalling systems seem weird to me in some places, because it is so different from the other European systems, same goes for headcodes and many more. But my signalling interest is not also limited to Germany and Britain, but also to other countries I have been to, such as Poland and the Netherlands, from which I also have simulations.
Additionally I am working with a team on a new German traffic control simulation, which is still in development.
Looking forward to many enjoyable sessions!

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Hello from Germany 08/05/2018 at 19:36 #107872
Jan
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Hello and welcome.

Lorenzwand in post 107866 said:
Additionally I am working with a team on a new German traffic control simulation, which is still in development.
That's not StellSi by any chance?

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.
Last edited: 08/05/2018 at 19:37 by Jan
Reason: None given

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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 02:43 #107896
whatlep
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Gruess aus England! Very interesting to read your note. Are there similar simulations to SimSig available for German signalling practice? I'd be very interested.
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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 06:45 #107898
sunocske
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whatlep in post 107896 said:
Are there similar simulations to SimSig available for German signalling practice? I'd be very interested.
I know one, which is free and has a multiplayer feature, the StellwerkSim.

http://www.stellwerksim.de

Slightly off topic, but I also know some Czech signalling simulations, too:

http://softikon.wz.cz - available only in Czech language, no multiplayer, nor chaining, but can be a great fun. Simple NX-style control (for shunting movements you have to press and hold the Ctrl button while clicking on any signals - even on main signals, too).

http://simulator.vypravci.com/ - simulation of the Czech railway station Liberec hlavní nádraží (main station). Available in Czech language only. Quite tricky to use, but has quite good graphics. No multiplayer, but you have to "communicate" the neighbouring signallers (AI) via the built-in telephone system for obtaining and giving permissions for a train, signing their actual departure and then their arrival - this method is quite common in Central Europe, and logically very similar to the absolute block working, just not with bells and block instruments but with telephone messages and logbooks.

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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 08:59 #107900
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Hallo Lorenzwand, und viele Gruessen aus England! Welcome to SimSig and I hope you will enjoy playing the games.

Dave

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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 18:21 #107905
Hap
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Und Schottland!
How to report an issue: www.SimSig.co.uk/Wiki/Show?page=usertrack:reportanissue
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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 18:31 #107906
broodje
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whatlep in post 107896 said:
Gruess aus England! Very interesting to read your note. Are there similar simulations to SimSig available for German signalling practice? I'd be very interested.
And don't forget signalsoft, with mostly nx panels simulated:https://shop3.signalsoft.nl/en/

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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 19:22 #107911
Lorenzwand
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Thanks for your friendly welcomes, I will now take the time to answer your replies:

Quote:
That's not StellSi by any chance?

I would lie to you, if it's not, so yes it is.

Quote:
Are there similar simulations to SimSig available for German signalling practice?

There are some signalling simulations avaiable which I will list for you. If this might be seen as advertising, please tell me so, I will delete it then:
ESTWsim is a simulation that simulates an electronic interlocking (computer) of the actual type according to the system contract II at DB. It is payware, but there are demo versions available, and I don't think so that there is an English explaination.

StellSi is still in development and has a kind of basic and early pre-version avaiable to download, so I do not think so that it would be the right simulation to practice German signalling at this moment. The aim of this simulation is to represent a plenty of different types of interlocking.

StellwerkSim is a simulation not aiming to represent an actual type of interlocking, while it is more a simulation going to cover most of Germany and other countries, so it is really nice to have a session in there, since it is always chained, but does not really simulate a certain panel or frame.

Signalsoft is a payware simulation with some demo-versions too and is avaiable in English language, so you can see many things for yourself there. They feature panel signal boxes of Germany mostly, and also some NX-Panels from the Netherlands.

For other countries:

ISDR - Poland: Features actually 3 fictive panels of the E1 type used at PKP and is in polish language actually, and is for my sense really realistic.

irespa: Netherlands: That simulation is of Dutch origin and represent the common and actual type of electronical interlockings used by ProRail (NS Infrastructure) and features a few panels with a really transparent, but time-based ARS-system. The interlocking system itself is called VPL as far as I know.

Quote:
Slightly off topic, but I also know some Czech signalling simulations, too:
Thank you, I think I am going to check them out lateron.

I hope I could help you with that,

Cheers

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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 23:09 #107913
Jan
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Lorenzwand in post 107911 said:
ESTWsim is a simulation that simulates an electronic interlocking (computer) of the actual type according to the system contract II at DB. It is payware, but there are demo versions available, and I don't think so that there is an English explaination.
They're also somewhat similar to Simsig in that a lot of the simulated areas are (or at least were at the time the simulation is set) in fact controlled by mechanical or panel signal boxes, so the sims are using the real track layout, signal positions etc., but the interface is a "what would a VDU workstation controlling that area look like" approximation, just as is the case for a lot of Simsig simulations.
There's no automated shunting, though - if trains need coupling/uncoupling/..., you manually have to command everything yourself.

Quote:
Signalsoft is a payware simulation with some demo-versions too and is avaiable in English language, so you can see many things for yourself there. They feature panel signal boxes of Germany mostly, and also some NX-Panels from the Netherlands.
They're a bit pricey, but other than that I can absolutely recommend them. Since they only cover signalling panels, they simulate both the real signalling as well as the look of the original panel itself. They also feature a shunting system similar to (or perhaps even a little more sophisticated than) Simsig's.

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.
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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 23:39 #107914
Lorenzwand
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One question that just arose from my mind: I heard about Swindon Panel Society a few months ago and created a really high interest into that. Is there any simulation that features such a panel interlocking like Swindon does? Or ist there any British panel simulation?

And to give people an idea how a German panel looks like:
You can see here a part of the Osnabrück panel. Osnabrück is a really special station since it is an interchange station with two railway lines crossing each other in 90 degrees.
This panel is of the SpDrS60 type and is from year 1966, so it is an early one. (The first SpDrS60 was put into service 1963). And until then, most panels were built as "tables" standing in the room just like a table, but for bigger stations, so called "walls" or "boards" were build such as in Osnabrück. And that the signaller can do his work while sitting, there was a way needed to operate the panel from the desk, so a few different types were developed.
Here in Osnabrück the panel was "schematized" and most important buttons for operation were put on that additional panel. And in Germany things like route cancellation are always on the panel itself, since you will overthink your choice while standing up. In Osnabrück panel you select the overlap and direction of the route and push the entry and exit buttons. There were other additonal panels without that directional stuff, and in other station were numerical panel placed. They just have a few berths for routes, that are numeric codes and every entry and exit has an own number. So you can type in your route, select the overlap and direction and you are good to go, and even have some berths for route memory. In the end is that numeric panel the thing that proved out due to its universality and simplicity and was installed in the major of panels. But sometimes the other additonal panels were placed in certain places for a high variety of reasons.
Back to Osnabrück:
Since Osnabrück has a "high level" station and a "low level" station, Osnabrück is kind of splitted:
The upper part has its on panel and the signaller looks down to the upper part, while the lower signaller has the same, just for his part. There are also several curves linking the upper and lower part, and also the freight yard with each other. This is done be so called "partial routes": When you want to use one of that curves, you offer the train to the next signaller, and you set your part of the route, while the other signaller sets his part of the route (the routes end half-way in the curves), and only then when both route-parts are set, the signal will show a clear aspect.
But Osnabrück is really special, there are more panels that are less complicated. Also there are a plenty of other panel interlockings here in Germany.

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Last edited: 10/05/2018 at 23:44 by Lorenzwand
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Hello from Germany 10/05/2018 at 23:51 #107915
Steamer
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Lorenzwand in post 107914 said:
One question that just arose from my mind: I heard about Swindon Panel Society a few months ago and created a really high interest into that. Is there any simulation that features such a panel interlocking like Swindon does? Or ist there any British panel simulation?
SimSig simulates the Swindon area, and numerous other panel areas. However, it uses IECC/VDU style graphics, like all SimSig simulations. There is no British signalling simulator where the graphics are in the style of a panel.

Swindon Panel Society have connected a modified version of the SimSig simulation of Swindon to the back-end of the preserved panel.

"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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Hello from Germany 11/05/2018 at 17:54 #107918
GeoffM
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Steamer in post 107915 said:
Swindon Panel Society have connected a modified version of the SimSig simulation of Swindon to the back-end of the preserved panel.
That was the plan but "issues" within SPS meant they went their own way.

However, there are one or two mini demo panels people have built for their own fun using the interface SimSig designed for the SPS setup - Raspberry Pi, Arduino kind of things.

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Hello from Germany 11/05/2018 at 18:07 #107920
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GeoffM in post 107918 said:
Steamer in post 107915 said:
Swindon Panel Society have connected a modified version of the SimSig simulation of Swindon to the back-end of the preserved panel.
That was the plan but "issues" within SPS meant they went their own way.

However, there are one or two mini demo panels people have built for their own fun using the interface SimSig designed for the SPS setup - Raspberry Pi, Arduino kind of things.
And the Hunts Cross panel project will be using SimSig as a back end.

"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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Hello from Germany 12/02/2019 at 21:19 #115673
Lorenzwand
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Sorry for digging out this topic again after one year, but since I got more into SimSig in the past time, I wanted to ask if there might have been some changes to the world of signalling simulation of UK and I wonder if there is any simulation that features actual panel signal boxes, with an actual NX-panel or similar. Thanks.
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Hello from Germany 12/02/2019 at 21:33 #115676
Steamer
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Lorenzwand in post 115673 said:
Sorry for digging out this topic again after one year, but since I got more into SimSig in the past time, I wanted to ask if there might have been some changes to the world of signalling simulation of UK and I wonder if there is any simulation that features actual panel signal boxes, with an actual NX-panel or similar. Thanks.
No- while SimSig does simulate NX panels, the simulation display always uses IECC graphics.

"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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Hello from Germany 12/02/2019 at 21:38 #115679
Muzer
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Lorenzwand in post 115673 said:
Sorry for digging out this topic again after one year, but since I got more into SimSig in the past time, I wanted to ask if there might have been some changes to the world of signalling simulation of UK and I wonder if there is any simulation that features actual panel signal boxes, with an actual NX-panel or similar. Thanks.
I don't believe anything has changed with regards to simulating actual panels. However, SimSig does in fact simulate many areas that in real life are controlled by panels, and in many cases they're simulated very accurately (in terms of the behaviour of the interlocking and extra functionality specific to that particular panel). It is only really the interface that is computer workstation-style. You can enable "panel signals" in the options to make the signals for most sims themselves look more realistic to how they're displayed on the panel (ie only red or not-red aspects are distinguished (not-red is displayed as green, but the signal in real life might not actually be green)).

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