Elvas Tower: Operational turntables in timetable mode - Elvas Tower

Jump to content

Posting Rules

All new threads will be started by members of the Open Rails team, Staff, and/or Admins. Existing threads started in other forums may get moved here when it makes sense to do so.

Once a thread is started any member may post replies to it.
Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

Operational turntables in timetable mode Fully automatic timetables to be used by both player and AI Rate Topic: -----

#1 User is offline   roeter 

  • Vice President
  • Group: Status: Elite Member
  • Posts: 2,420
  • Joined: 25-October 11
  • Gender:Male
  • Country:

Posted 27 April 2019 - 04:04 AM

By now we probably are all familiar with Carlo's great addition to OR of the working turntables and transfertables.
However, the restriction on the use of these moving tables is that they can only be used by the player train and only in manual mode. That makes them unsuitable for use in timetable mode.
I have been working on an extention which will allow full use of these tables in timetable mode, for both AI and player train.
This is a (short) description of how this can be done.

Pool concept
Turntables are often used for access to storage areas (roundhouse), so it made sense to look at the pool concept to see if that could be extended to include turntables. It also made sense from a programming point of view as pools already have the logic to alter the train's path to get access to the pool area.
What has now been created is a special type of pool named Turntable Pool. It has its own definition file (extention .turntable-or), which defines all details. Reference to the required turntable is through the worldfile and UID details, similar as in the turntable.dat file. The definition must also define all storage paths and access paths, similar as for pools.
In the timetable itself, trains can be started in the roundhouse, taken out from the roundhouse or send back in exactly the same way as for pools, using the same pool commands. An additional feature for turntables is that it is also possible to set the direction in which the train must leave the turntable (backward or forward), to ensure it is facing the right way.

A turntable can be included in more than one pool, to ensure different types of engines can be stored. Storage paths, however, can only be allocated to a single pool. This means that different types of engines using the turntable each have there own storage tracks.
The turntable is fully automatic, not only for AI trains but also for the player train. For the player train, it is not needed to change to manual mode, nor is there any need to control the turntable using control keys. When a train is stored, the program will work out which track is to be used, similar as for pools.

Using the turntable obviously is not restricted to those which are visible on the display. Turntables will also operate during prerun, and can be anywhere on the route.

Restrictions
In this mode, it is not possible to have multiple trains on the turntable, neither is it possible to store a wagon on the table, move off the engine and rotate only the wagon. It is also not possible to detach or attach trains on the storage tracks.

Progress
The basic principle is now working. There are however still some rough edges which need to be polished. It will probably take a few weeks yet before the first version can be released.

Future
A possible future extention is the option to use a turntable for turning only, i.e. not for storage.
Another option could be that storage paths could be allocated to more than one pool, such that all type of engines can use all tracks. That, however, is quite a bit more complicated and will take some more time to work out.
When turntables are properly working, I will also look at transfertables and see if the same setup can be used there as well.

Regards,
Rob Roeterdink

PS. A few things I forgot to mention.
  • A basic principle of the present setup is that the turntable itself must be defined as a single track vector, placed (almost) symmetrical.
    Does anyone know of turntables (or transfertables) which have the track section defined as multiple vectors? If not, perhaps it can be made a requirement for moving tables if they are be used in timetables.
  • Can anyone point me to a route with a working transfertable (including the required .dat file)?


#2 User is offline   darwins 

  • Superintendant
  • Group: Status: Elite Member
  • Posts: 1,222
  • Joined: 25-September 17
  • Gender:Male
  • Simulator:Open Rails
  • Country:

Posted 28 April 2019 - 05:00 AM

Sounds wonderful. So glad someone is working on this.

Thinking about timetable mode with steam then:

Quote

A possible future extension is the option to use a turntable for turning only, i.e. not for storage.


Seems to be needed.

Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users