Departure signal

[AndiS]

There is some potential for improvement in the ceremony of passenger boarding and signalling. Before making a suggestion to RSC, I would like to know if any expert sees a case not covered by the following design.

In the following, I use the term departure signal to make clear that I refer to a whole family of signals. Members of the family are UK contemporary ready-to-start and "station work complete", German Zp9, French "Plaque mi-blanche, mi-verte", etc.

Conditions to show the departure signal are

• passenger exchange complete (end of "loading activity")
• departure time arrived
• next signal is clear

Only the first one is mandatory. The other two may or may not be required, depending on country, era and type of railway.

Forms/aspects of the departure signal are

• a whistle or similar blown by the guard
• a buzzer and/or a light in the cab remotely actuated by the guard
• a figure showing a hand signal
• a stationary signal, occasionally repeated

Combinations are possible. At long trains, you may see two guards cooperating, the rear one showing the signal to the one in the middle, who forwards it if nothing objects.

To implement these variations, I guess the best way would be to build up on the framework for signals. Such a "signal" would have one link between platform and next signal. It can be linked to any animation and shape. To implement the buzzer inside the cab, it would have to send a message to the train (which is possible, too). Sounding the buzzer would require a bit of engine scripting, but it would allow for perfect customisation, which is certainly required if you look at the diversity of such installations in modern trains around the world.

To make it possible, two new functions must be introduced (by RSC):
LoadingComplete -- called when the loading is complete, and
DepartureTimeArrived -- called when the departure time arrived.

The state of the next signal can be checked using the existing getNextSignalState function. Making the DepartureTimeArrived function available to all signals will also benefit cases where the signal is not pulled before departure time.

Although not demanded as much, this feature could also help to beef up the freight loading gameplay. Instead of "ready for departure", the guard will show "pull back", or "push on". Unfortunately, making him show "stop" when the next wagon is in the right position will require another, more complex, expansion of the system not to be discussed here. As a stop-gap solution, signals can be dedicated to a certain type (length) of wagon, which would not be all that bad given the small set of hopper wagons available. Once the signal gets informed about the TAB press, the driver could switch between wagon types.

[bigvern]

I take it then RW still hasn't fixed the issue of not getting the buzzer/whistle "right away" from the origin station?

[JasonM]

AndiS I agree 100% with what you have said, I think this is something which I miss in RW and hope to see it implemented soon.

[JasonM]

I take it then RW still hasn't fixed the issue of not getting the buzzer/whistle "right away" from the origin station?

Correct Vern, Simudrive/TD3 had it I am sure RW could have it.

[TheTazman]

Glad to see that an email is going to be sent to the suggestions box. However my rail knowledge is limited. Hopefully what you have typed is logical and makes sense. Would like to see the reply you get.

Thanks

SImon

[bigvern]

I take it then RW still hasn't fixed the issue of not getting the buzzer/whistle "right away" from the origin station?

Correct Vern, Simudrive/TD3 had it I am sure RW could have it.

And Densha de Go, including on train announcements! How I regret selling up my imported PS2 and the discs particularly Ryohojen. I was doing a feasibility study yesterday about maybe trying to do one of the tram routes in Railworks when I get it - there is superb Google coverage in Japan including Street View all along the Enoshima line - but with no Japanese scenery items and not even a generic tram for RS/RW it's a non starter.

[AndiS]

I must say that with this initiative, I hope to find a solution for all, not just for some of the UK or Japanese contemporary prototype. I will have to accept the "added gameplay value" of having to open the doors for the passenger, which is only prototypical for driver-only trains -- I simply do not believe RSC will ever make that key press optional. But no buzzing in my steam engine, please! That would only worsen the situation. And I do want to run our beloved simulator game without staring at the F3 display. So simply crippling the buzzing by some XML hack would not cut it either.

[Brentingby]

Andis, I apologise to input in your thread but can I please state my tuppence worth on the good old days of running of trains.

The Guard role is to ensure safety of the train and its contents. Before departure from a station, he will whistle to the driver to attract the drivers attention, that with the green flag reports to the driver that train departure time has arrived and that all doors are closed, only then will the guard give the driver permission to leave the station.

The driver’s role then is, if the road is clear by a controlling or hand signal from the signalman, then and only then will the driver will proceed.

Therefore certain scenarios could apply.

The guard gives the driver the all clear to leave the station, but no signal is cleared for the driver to proceed. The train stops in the station.

The guard gives the driver the all clear to leave the station and the next signal is cleared for the right of way and the train departs.

The guard gives the driver the all clear to leave the station but no signal is cleared ahead for the driver, but the driver can leave the station to pull up to the next signal showing the red aspect.

What I am trying to say is unlike modern day stock the relationship between driver and guard have there own responsibilities. The signal from the guard does not override the drivers action to obey signals.

The signal from the guard states the train is ready and safe to leave the station, nothing else.

(normally it was the correct procedure for the signalman to clear the road before the departure time.)

Sorry for the simple explanation, but would this conflict with the way you are thinking with driver notifications.

[AndiS]

Brentingby, threads are not "owned" here by anyone and input is welcome, not something you have to excuse for.

I think that all the scenarios you describe will be possible with the solution I describe.

Concerning the question whether the guard must check the signal before giving his signal (assuming that one is visible from the platform), the answer really varies over time and space. I would just keep it at that both should be possible to implement. In the setup proposed above, one faction would place one "signal object" and the others would place the other, and all be happy in the end, I hope.