Help or Advice needed for Dorset Coast Activity!

[davejc64]

Hi

I'm in the process of doing an activity for Dorset Coast V5 using stock from V3 CD. I'm at the stage of player train only, I want to add some traffic but I really don't enjoy this part as I always struggle to get traffic to appear in the right place and right time. So any help or advice and I would be truly grateful. The activity is based in the 70s, starts at Weymouth driving a 4TC + Class 33 combo you drive to Bournmouth where you couple up to the rear of a 4REP + 4TC, swap cabs to the 4REP using Bin patch uncouple the Class 33 and then continue to Waterloo, I've tested this part driving the route and adjusting the timetable with activity changer and it works perfect. Just need help or advice adding traffic please.

Dave

[Lad491]

I find when adding traffic its best to add it in small sections rather than one huge batch. Dont try to set AI paths to run the whole line as its more difficult to control passing times. Better to break the activity down into sections, create short AI paths for that section, insert maybe 4 or 6 pieces of AI and test, then add other AI to fill gaps or provide variety. Once the first section is done, move on to the next and so on. I would use approximately 20 minute blocks for your AI paths but it can be variable and doesnt have to be cast into stone.

I think I would do Dorchester to Weymouth AI first since the single line section to Moreton can cause problems. Once youve got to Dorchester and are happy with the AI you can place an AI to run through the single line, giving you a red at Dorchester and making you wait for its arrival. Start that two signal blocks out of Moreton on the Bournemouth side and time its arrival into Dorchester. Once that sections is done and working you could then add Bournemouth to Moreton traffic as thats fairly straight forward. Finally add slow and fast services perhaps from Southampton, then from Basingstoke, and finally Waterloo. Testing by driving in the sim at each stage. Expect it to take a while Its taken me about a week of evenings to get the 15 minute sections from Waterloo to Clapham working right for a 3.5 activity to yeovil on V6

[davejc64]

Thanks for the advice, so far so good, but having a few activity editor related problems which I'm trying to resolve with advice given on other post's.