SIMULATION: TUTORIAL

 

Step 4: SETTING INITIAL TRAIN LOCATIONS /
CREATE A SIMULATION CONTEXT

"PLACE TRAINS" MODE

PLACE A TRAIN ON A "PLAIN" SECTION

PLACE A TRAIN ON A SIDING

CREATE A SIMULATION CONTEXT

 

"PLACE TRAINS" MODE

The remaining step, before launching simulation, is to set all trains involved in the simulation on the layout.

More precisely, in this tutorial, we are going to place the three trains created in previous step (#3), on the three
routes created in step #2. With respect to our very small layout example, three trains imply a very heavy traffic:
this choice is deliberate, in order to explicitly show the performance of CDM-Rail security algorithm.

It is also possible to place trains on the layout without attaching them to any route. However, the more trains
on the layout, the more difficult it will be to control manually these "free" trains, due to the many lock conditions
implied by other trains.
The best way to control these "free" trains is to use "on-the-fly" routes: but this is beyond the scope of this
tutorial, ans will be describd in a specific user note.

 

To enter the "place trains" mode, select

Consists >> Place

from the main menu bar

 


Figure 4-1: selecting "place trains" mode.

 

The screen is modified as follows:

  • A "place" menu appears on left of screen

  • two windows now appear in the main drawing area:

    • the familiar layout window,

    • the train gallery, for trains selection.

  • The simulation window (with just one single button "SIMU", at this point, which will be used to launch
    simulation).


Figure 4-2: "Place train" menu (click to zoom)

 

The "place" menu, on left of screen, initially contains the following controls:

  • The train (consist) name, selectable from a "combo box" list.

  • The maximum speed allowed for the selected train, in this particular context.
    This parameter cannot greater than the absolute maximum speed specified for this train, when created.

  • A checkbox "initial speed = 0", which specifies whether the train should be halted (cruise speed set to 0)
    on simulation start.
    By default, any train starts with a specified cruise speed equal to the lowest of the maximum speed specified
    above, and of the maximum speed specified for the section where the train is.
    If this box is checked, the train will stay where it is, until its cruise speed is manually modified on its specific
    throttle controller (see next section: simulation).

  • A "route selection" combo box. The route to be assigned to current train can be selected from this list.
    The first item of this list (_NONE) means "no route assigned".
    Note that several trains may be attached to the same route.

  • A checkbox "Show route" allows to display the specified route (see figure 4-4).

  • The last button ("place") has no real added value, since by default, all clicks within the layout area will be
    translated to "place" commands.

  • The two last icons, at bottom of the "place" menu, are respectively:

    • The layer display option menu (for selecting viewable layers),

    • The route display mode menu (see step #2).


Figure 4-3: Selecting a route

 

 

 


Figure 4-4: route display

 

 

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PLACE A TRAIN ON A "PLAIN" SECTION

At this point, we have selected train "PASSENGER" and route ROUTE_1.

The software is now waiting for a mouse click on a section belonging to ROUTE_1.
Any click on a turnout will change the state of this turnout.
Any click outside all ROUTE_1 sections and outside all turnouts, will generate a warning, telling that there
is no valid section at this point.

We want the train to start from the pass track, as shown on figure below.
Notice that, the train automatically locates itself close the signal ending the section, even if you click at
another place within the section: this is general for trains attached to a route.

If you move the mouse on the placed train, its name will be displayed as well as its route.
See figure 4-6 for example.

 


Figure 4-5: set initial location for train "PASSENGER", on route "ROUTE_1" (click to zoom)

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PLACE A TRAINS ON A SIDING

Placing a train on a siding is a bit more difficult, because, when clicking on the siding, there are TWO possible sections:

  • the one terminated by the buffer stop,

  • the one starting from the buffer stop.

TRAIN "FREIGHT" ON ROUTE "SIDING_1"

For example, if we seleect train "FREIGHT" from the list, and route "SIDING_1", and if we click on the lower siding,
we get the following result.


Figure 4-6: Placing train FREIGHT on route "SIDING_1" (click to zoom)

 

It looks OK, BUT.... :

  • We would like the train to be in the opposite direction, in order to travel "loco ahead", on the main counterclockwise
    oval.

  • Here, the train is located on the section starting from buffer stop, whereas we want it to be located on the section
    arriving on the buffer stop. This can be seen by the yellow headlights (on loco) directed leftwards. Also notice the two
    red lights, on the opposite train end. These yellow and red "lights" indicate the travel direction of the train.

In order to be able to fix these points, we must first set the two turnouts giving access to the siding, to the correct states.

 


Figure 4-7: setting turnouts to correct states.

 

Then, we reverse the train by clicking on button "change direction". The train is now redrawn with the loco on the right
side. Notice however, that the yellow headlights are still on the left side, meaning that the train is going to start backwards.

 


Figure 4-8: reverse train direction.

 

The last operation is to move the train to the section arriving at the bumper stop.
The way to de that is to click button "Select previous".

The train is now shifted closer to buffer stop, with yellow headlights on the right side, which means that the train is
on the expected section.

 


Figure 4-9: select previous section (arrival at buffer stop) . click to zoom.

 

 

TRAIN "SHUTTLE" ON ROUTE "SIDING_2"

 

Now, we repeat the same procedure for train "SHUTTLE", on route "SIDING_2".

  • Select train "SHUTTLE" from the list,

  • Select route "SIDING_2",

  • click on upper siding.

 


Figure 4-10: placing train "SHUTTLE" on route "SIDING_2" (click to zoom)

 

Set turnout to correct state for access to siding.

 


Figure 4-11: setting turnout to correct state.

 

No need here to reverse train direction, since it will correspond to forward travelling on the main oval.

The only operation left is to click on "Select Previous", to bring the train on the arrival section: check headlights.

 


Figure 4-12: select previous section (arrival at buffer stop). click to zoom.

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SIMULATION CONTEXTS

This operation of placing trains is no so straightforward, even in our simple example involving merely three
trains.
But it may become very time consuming for bigger layout with more trains.

This is why simulation contexts have been created, in order to memorize any initial placement of trains.
Once a context is created, it can be restored instantly for another simulation, without any need for tedious
train placement.

Operations on simulation contexts are invoked from the main menu bar.

"Consists" >> "Save current Simu/Run context"

 


Figure 4-13: Saving simulation context

A capture window pops up, for entering the context name.

 


Figure 4-14: save context name capture

And that's it! But don't forget to save your layout, or it will be lost!

 

We are now ready for simulation

Download layout at the end of this step: TUTO_SIMU_04.lay

And now let's go the the next topic: start simulation. Don't forget to save your ".lay"
Click on rigtht arrow below

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