Just noticed a new feature in RailWorks...

[RyanT001]

When you pass a speed post, the current speed limit don't change until the rear of the train has passed the sign, I was surprised, I thaught my WIP route (not HSCL) had developed a bug. When did they implement this?

[Darpor]

From the one before this one, the 108 one I think. It's been around a couple of months anyway.

[USRailFan]

I think this one came even before the 'German' update.

[RyanT001]

Cool, thanks for the info, that just goes to show how much I pay attention.....

[ightenhill]

Think it was introduced when the overspeed, warning icons were introduced..

I'm curious though..

How does this work in real life.. Does the driver have to fix/guess on a point after the speed marker and adjust.. You would think logical the speed markers in real life would simply be at the longest possible length a consist could be for the line..

[USRailFan]

Guess it has to do with knowledge of the line plus knowing how long your trainset/consist is? Then of course in many cases there are also advance speed limits, telling you to start accelerating/decelerating.

[paulz6]

Small improvements like this are starting to turn RW step by step into a decent sim.
It is a very pleasing and welcome update.

[RyanT001]

Think it was introduced when the overspeed, warning icons were introduced..

I'm curious though..

How does this work in real life.. Does the driver have to fix/guess on a point after the speed marker and adjust.. You would think logical the speed markers in real life would simply be at the longest possible length a consist could be for the line..

The driver would guess when the rear has passed the sign or look for something memorable to use as a marker like a signal post number or have a quick look out the window.

[malkymackay]

I've spotted a couple of other new features. First is when you edit the scenario properties. There are now a few more fields in the RH Flyout, including one for Author. Also I tested one of my scenarios just after the update to see if there had been any effect on it. It didn't appear to so I left it, having failed it When I looked at the scenario list today, it now displays a red cross next to it.

[USRailFan]

I think the Red X pops up if you start a scenario but does not completely fulfill it? Ie there are still uncompleted tasks in the scenario.

[transadelaide]

The speed limit stuff is a much bigger issue here in Australia where trains on the interstate mainline system can be up to 1800m long (too far to just look through the back window or out the side) and run on the same tracks as regional DMU services. While having separate speed limit signs for short/long trains may be possible, using the longest consist length as a guide doesn't account for freight trains being of different length. While UK rail operations are centred around timetables, over here once you get out of the major city areas the only reason timekeeping is considered for freight transport is in relation to meeting other trains or holding in a siding for a relatively rare passenger service to pass at higher speed. I have a couple of theories on how this works for the longest mainline trains, and there is a guy I know who drives for Pacific National that I might be able to ask soon about what really happens in practice.

Theory 1: Distance markers are placed on the fast side of the limit sign. Placing them every 200m after the speed increase point would only need nine markers for the longest trains we have here.

Theory 2: An end of train transponder device is used for various things, mainly making sure it is travelling at the same speed as the front rather than stopping independently, so maybe this is one of the things they do? Some of the locos still used here are GM Class bulldog-nosed diesel-electrics over 50 years old, but that doesn't mean they can't have electronic gizmos installed in the cab.

Theory 3: The driving cab has either a plain odometer/tripmeter like a car that the driver could look at. This could even be a marginally more sophisticated device that would measure a specific distance (i.e. the length of the train, set before starting the journey) from when a button is pushed and then make some kind of noise to alert the driver that distance has passed.

Theory 4: Drivers just learn over time how long it takes to travel a certain distance at various speeds.

Theory 5: Given that speed and timekeeping is generally not rated that high a priority outside of a few rare exceptions, they could just go with the longest consist method despite the inefficiency.

Anybody with some more concrete knowledge than me?

[Ooveecouk]

Think it was introduced when the overspeed, warning icons were introduced..

I'm curious though..

How does this work in real life.. Does the driver have to fix/guess on a point after the speed marker and adjust.. You would think logical the speed markers in real life would simply be at the longest possible length a consist could be for the line..

In the Class 57 (maybe other trains too, I don't know) there is a button called "Train length" and the driver will enter the length of the train in the operators control interface keypad. Once he/she passes a speed sign he/she will press the "Train length" button and once the rear wagon has passed the sign it will beep to let the driver know.

[pacerpilot]

Its the same setup for the Class 60 and 66 too Zane.

[davveb]

Its the same setup for the Class 60 and 66 too Zane.

and I believe on at least some of the class 58s. I think it relates to "FRED" functionality that was developed in the US for long train handling. It is possible to model it with RailWorks scripting.

[ightenhill]

Thx for the answers.. very informative