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West Anglia V1.5

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West Anglia V1.5 13/02/2019 at 18:19 #115690
GeoffM
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6274 posts
Updates to West Anglia are listed here.

One improvement idea I've implemented is that crossings can now be on or off for each of the three workstations upon startup. This helps the solo player take full control of one workstation while the other two workstations work automatically, without distractions from crossings. However, please note that saved games with crossings enabled will lose the raise/lower type of labels upon re-loading, but the crossings will be enabled still.

Click "Check for updates" in the Loader to get the latest version.

Thanks to Mark, Andrew, and Jan for testing.

SimSig Boss
Last edited: 13/02/2019 at 19:01 by GeoffM
Reason: None given

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West Anglia V1.5 13/02/2019 at 19:27 #115691
Jan
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889 posts
I think it might be possible to fix old save files by editing SavedSimulation.xml (open the .ssg as a ZIP-file) as follows:
1. In <Layouts>, replace <Layout>LX</Layout> with
Quote:
<Layout>LXB</Layout>
<Layout>LXH</Layout>
<Layout>LXW</Layout>

2. Search for
Quote:
<TFLG ID="LLX">
<State>1</State>
</TFLG>

and replace it with
Quote:
<TFLG ID="LLX"/>
<TFLG ID="LLXB">
<State>1</State>
</TFLG>
<TFLG ID="LLXH">
<State>1</State>
</TFLG>
<TFLG ID="LLXW">
<State>1</State>
</TFLG>

3. Search for
Quote:
<TNSC ID="NLX">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXON">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXOFF"/>

and replace with
Quote:
<TNSC ID="NLXB">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXH">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXW">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXONB">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXOFFB"/>
<TNSC ID="NLXONW">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXOFFW"/>
<TNSC ID="NLXONH">
<Marked>-1</Marked>
</TNSC>
<TNSC ID="NLXOFFH"/>

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: 13/02/2019 at 19:28 by Jan
Reason: None given

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West Anglia V1.5 18/02/2019 at 16:48 #115841
ajax103
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1103 posts
Just wondering but with regards to what the user can do with the level crossings now in West Anglia, is this just going to be for this sim or is it possible for other sims on the loader to do this as well?

Not sure if it's sim dependable or loader dependable?

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West Anglia V1.5 19/02/2019 at 16:04 #115869
clive
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2736 posts
Online
ajax103 in post 115841 said:
Just wondering but with regards to what the user can do with the level crossings now in West Anglia, is this just going to be for this sim or is it possible for other sims on the loader to do this as well?

Not sure if it's sim dependable or loader dependable?
If I'm reading correctly between Geoff's lines, it's a change to the simulation data using existing features in the core code. So it could be added to other sims *if* the sim author wants to.

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West Anglia V1.5 23/02/2019 at 15:42 #115924
markymark2000
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36 posts
Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark

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West Anglia V1.5 23/02/2019 at 16:10 #115925
Steamer
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3913 posts
markymark2000 in post 115924 said:
Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark
Can't answer the timetable question, however bear in mind that ARS is provided on West Anglia. If you turn level crossings off, this can run 95% of the simulation for you- you just need to keep an eye on it, and set any manual routes required (usually related to sidings and joining moves). You can then turn off one or more sub-areas until you've got a workload you're comfortable with.

"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: 23/02/2019 at 16:10 by Steamer
Reason: None given

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West Anglia V1.5 24/02/2019 at 11:50 #115934
markymark2000
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36 posts
Steamer in post 115925 said:
markymark2000 in post 115924 said:
Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark
Can't answer the timetable question, however bear in mind that ARS is provided on West Anglia. If you turn level crossings off, this can run 95% of the simulation for you- you just need to keep an eye on it, and set any manual routes required (usually related to sidings and joining moves). You can then turn off one or more sub-areas until you've got a workload you're comfortable with.
I like to make the most of the sims though where possible and use as little auto as possible (blue dot auto signals are ok but the pink overall auto I don't like as much). I can manage Birmingham New Street and LTS reasonably well. How do they compare to West Anglia with the number of trains and difficulty?

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West Anglia V1.5 24/02/2019 at 12:02 #115935
Meld
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1098 posts
markymark2000 in post 115924 said:
Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark
A 1400 start has been done for West Anglia and Mark C has done a matching Liverpool Street (thanks) They should be out in a couple of days

Passed the age to be doing 'Spoon Feeding' !!!
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West Anglia V1.5 24/02/2019 at 12:55 #115937
TUT
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505 posts
markymark2000 in post 115934 said:
Steamer in post 115925 said:
markymark2000 in post 115924 said:
Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark
Can't answer the timetable question, however bear in mind that ARS is provided on West Anglia. If you turn level crossings off, this can run 95% of the simulation for you- you just need to keep an eye on it, and set any manual routes required (usually related to sidings and joining moves). You can then turn off one or more sub-areas until you've got a workload you're comfortable with.
I like to make the most of the sims though where possible and use as little auto as possible (blue dot auto signals are ok but the pink overall auto I don't like as much). I can manage Birmingham New Street and LTS reasonably well. How do they compare to West Anglia with the number of trains and difficulty?
I agree with you in many ways and, hey, it's your money and your leisure time, but ...

Well surely not buying a sim at all because you're not sure you can handle the whole area on your own is the very definition of not making the most of it?

I mean, presumably if a sim like West Anglia were to be divided into two (in the way Rugby SCC is divided into three), you would happily buy and play both of them, because both of them would be manageable. So why not just use the ARS to effectively divide the sim into two for you, or to take the place of a slightly inept friend who occasionally needs a bit of help? What I tend to do with ARS sims is put an entire workstation into manual and play one workstation at a time. In ARS world workstations are usually a little too large to be run on manual by one person, at least in the peaks, they're designed to be used with ARS, so it's usually a fairly satisfying challenge. But you can take as much into manual as you like, and just leave ARS to handle either one particularly busy area and just pretend it's on a different sim, or to handle a couple of trivial locations you don't care about. You know, you can keep switching ARS sub areas off until you have the right amount to make the most out of the sim. You can probably switch more and more off outside the peaks and as you get more competent.

I know it's not perfect and I personally feel like a lot of sims (ARS and non-ARS (I'm looking at you Manchester Piccadilly!)) could be improved by being split, like Rugby SCC has been, but looked at in the right way, ARS is a really good way to make the most out of sims that would otherwise be borderline unplayable (or at least unenjoyable) for a lot of people.

Last edited: 24/02/2019 at 12:55 by TUT
Reason: None given

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West Anglia V1.5 24/02/2019 at 14:01 #115938
markymark2000
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36 posts
Quote:

I agree with you in many ways and, hey, it's your money and your leisure time, but ...

Well surely not buying a sim at all because you're not sure you can handle the whole area on your own is the very definition of not making the most of it?

I mean, presumably if a sim like West Anglia were to be divided into two (in the way Rugby SCC is divided into three), you would happily buy and play both of them, because both of them would be manageable. So why not just use the ARS to effectively divide the sim into two for you, or to take the place of a slightly inept friend who occasionally needs a bit of help? What I tend to do with ARS sims is put an entire workstation into manual and play one workstation at a time. In ARS world workstations are usually a little too large to be run on manual by one person, at least in the peaks, they're designed to be used with ARS, so it's usually a fairly satisfying challenge. But you can take as much into manual as you like, and just leave ARS to handle either one particularly busy area and just pretend it's on a different sim, or to handle a couple of trivial locations you don't care about. You know, you can keep switching ARS sub areas off until you have the right amount to make the most out of the sim. You can probably switch more and more off outside the peaks and as you get more competent.

I know it's not perfect and I personally feel like a lot of sims (ARS and non-ARS (I'm looking at you Manchester Piccadilly!)) could be improved by being split, like Rugby SCC has been, but looked at in the right way, ARS is a really good way to make the most out of sims that would otherwise be borderline unplayable (or at least unenjoyable) for a lot of people.

I suppose it's all down to how we as individuals play the game. I find ARS a good back up but where possibly, I prefer to signal myself. I will test it out when the 14:00 timetable comes out and see how much is playable and go from there. There is no point in buying a sim if you need 50% of it to be ARS. We all have different ways we like to play SimSig.

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West Anglia V1.5 24/02/2019 at 15:02 #115939
TUT
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505 posts
markymark2000 in post 115938 said:
Quote:

I agree with you in many ways and, hey, it's your money and your leisure time, but ...

Well surely not buying a sim at all because you're not sure you can handle the whole area on your own is the very definition of not making the most of it?

I mean, presumably if a sim like West Anglia were to be divided into two (in the way Rugby SCC is divided into three), you would happily buy and play both of them, because both of them would be manageable. So why not just use the ARS to effectively divide the sim into two for you, or to take the place of a slightly inept friend who occasionally needs a bit of help? What I tend to do with ARS sims is put an entire workstation into manual and play one workstation at a time. In ARS world workstations are usually a little too large to be run on manual by one person, at least in the peaks, they're designed to be used with ARS, so it's usually a fairly satisfying challenge. But you can take as much into manual as you like, and just leave ARS to handle either one particularly busy area and just pretend it's on a different sim, or to handle a couple of trivial locations you don't care about. You know, you can keep switching ARS sub areas off until you have the right amount to make the most out of the sim. You can probably switch more and more off outside the peaks and as you get more competent.

I know it's not perfect and I personally feel like a lot of sims (ARS and non-ARS (I'm looking at you Manchester Piccadilly!)) could be improved by being split, like Rugby SCC has been, but looked at in the right way, ARS is a really good way to make the most out of sims that would otherwise be borderline unplayable (or at least unenjoyable) for a lot of people.

I suppose it's all down to how we as individuals play the game. I find ARS a good back up but where possibly, I prefer to signal myself. I will test it out when the 14:00 timetable comes out and see how much is playable and go from there. There is no point in buying a sim if you need 50% of it to be ARS. We all have different ways we like to play SimSig.
Yep and you don't have to justify your choices to anyone else, we all play in our own way.

I, for example, have a slightly OCD thing where I always play sims on 1x speed regardless. Even if it means waiting four hours in real time for a lonely train at the end of the timetable to bugger off.

If it doesn't feel right to you, it doesn't feel right to you.

I just thought it might be helpful to you if, instead of thinking that you're only playing 50% of the sim you've paid for, you could think of ARS as letting you tailor the size of the sim so that you're always playing 100% of the sim you want to play. It might be helpful to play the sim twice maybe, the first time operating Hackney and Brimsdown panels and the second time Brimsdown and Harlow panels?

If that ain't your style, that ain't your style and I'll say no more on the subject.

But if thinking of it like that allows you to enjoy what is a great sim, then hey I reckon that's my good deed for the day, because there are an awful lot of really nice big ARS sims that I probably never would have played if I'd had to tackle them with no ARS.

Last edited: 24/02/2019 at 15:02 by TUT
Reason: None given

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West Anglia V1.5 25/02/2019 at 17:26 #115965
markymark2000
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36 posts
Sorry, I took it the wrong way. I might buy it and see how I go. I seem to edge towards going for it. I would go for Manchester Picc if it had ARS as the backup so perhaps it won't be as bad.

I couldn't sit for 4 hours in game waiting for a train. I have to fast forward. I tend to play big sims so they are generally busy but about x2 normally until it gets busy. Like you say, we all have our own way of playing.

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