London South Coast Activity

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:04 pm

Hi Everybody.

I am creating an activity for London South Coast that involves running the real life 07:16 Southern Service from Brighton - London Victoria.

I am also hoping to upload it to the UKTS website.

Does anybody have any extra info on the service, e.g. train type, train length, what platform it usually serves at all stations etc.

I am going to try and use default stock from the London South Coast CD and use as accurate AI times as possible.

I do have a few AI train questions:
1. How can i make an AI train use the same tracks as me, e.g. pulling into Brighton before your service leaves?
2. And how do i place AI trains so that they appear, e.g. at Brighton and London Victoria, but do not actually move. Like they are having stand time at a station terminus?

Thanks

Peter

Beetlejuice · Post by **Beetlejuice** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:58 pm

1. not compleltly sure but just try giving them a set path in front of you and set them off earlier than you. Works for me.
2. Loose stock?

Cheers,

Ross

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:12 pm

Sorry, wasn't too clear with the second question. I'll try and explain what i mean, erm...in other activities, when your start at a main terminus, e.g. Brighton or London Victoria, there are other trains at the station that do not move like they are going to do a later service after your train or at depots where trains are stabled.

Peter

Beetlejuice · Post by **Beetlejuice** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:16 pm

you could try setting them on the same path as you but delay them so they leave after you/ place reverse points. this will keep them in it. Whats wrong with loose stock though?

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:21 pm

I don't know what you mean by loose stock! And i wouldn't know how to put it in the activity!

Peter

Beetlejuice · Post by **Beetlejuice** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:28 pm

Ok well, you know you have the map of the route when you first start activity editor, when you're chosen you;re route? Right click on a peice of track and click on place consist (i think thats what it is). Now choose your conset or make one.

Also try the steam for me webpage, it's very helpful.

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:28 pm

Right - click on a siding / track, click 'Place Consist', choose one, click OK.

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:28 pm

Argh - beat me to it Ross

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:30 pm

And that's it, the consist will just sit there and not move?

Thanks for your help.

Peter

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:32 pm

Exactly

Unless you take it on a journey, of course.

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:42 pm

Ok, thanks for your help.

Also, when i go to upload this file, i do not understand the last part where you tick the tickboxes. The train you would be using would be one created by Europeanbahn so would i tick all the boxes or none?

This is the last question

Peter

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:44 pm

Just leave them blank, but say in the readme or in the discription that you use Europeanbahn stock.

Beetlejuice · Post by **Beetlejuice** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:46 pm

No i don't think so

Pyromaniac · Post by **Pyromaniac** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:51 pm

Ok thanks, expect to see this activity at some point in the future!

Now alls i want to know is does anybody have any extra info on the service, e.g. train type, train length, what platform it usually serves at all stations etc because i want to make this very realistic *hears laughter again*

Peter

Lad491 · Post by **Lad491** » Sun May 13, 2007 6:42 pm

London services usually start from Platforms 4 to 6 i think. Mostly they are 8 coaches long, but some rush hour services can be 12. Arrivals at Victoria are usually platform 19.

If you place a lot of static consists as described above you may take a big hit on frame rates as they use far more resources than AI trains. The latest idea is to create a very short path in each platform, place your consist and use a wait point of 10000 seconds which will hold it indefinitely, however the activity will only run then on machines using the Bin patch.

Remember also that AI trains do not keep to the timetable. They leave at the appointed time and, at intermediate stations, when the passenger loading time has elapsed. So if you build in a 5 minutes wait but only have 10 passengers the train will leave 15 seconds after arrival not 5 minutes. For that reason its better to have short AI paths, placing them just before you expect to see them and having them disappear just after you have gone past.

And now ive probably completely confused you