Dispatching Techniques

[graham]

Hi Everyone,

I am curious as to know what technique people use for this sim as far as the level crossings go when three or more trains are sent in quick succession from the neighboring area. The way I see it there are the following:-

Manually manipulate the crossings (cancel signals and open crossings to road users in order to avoid alarm state)

Ring neighbour and tell them to call before each train is dispatched enabling the chance to refuse them. (just means there will be a greater back log coming down the line)

Allow crossings to go into alarm state and issue orders for each crossing (creates a lot of work as orders have to be issued for both directions)

Other?

Would be intersted to know how others do it, or even how it is done in the real world.

Thanks,

Graham

[Nopileos]

Hi,

so far i never call Roisdorf. If freighttrains coming in front of an IC i send the freighttrains to KBBG cause the IC has to stop in Bonn and before the IC starts in Bonn the freight trains are leaving to KBBG. KBBG has enough options to set the freighttrain aside.

If a personaltrain stands at 404 and a freighttrain comes in front of the IC i take the freighttrain through 401 to KBBG cause the freight has not to drive through 403, all other are possible. After leaving 401 the freight drives the normal track to KBBG.

And if this all is not possible there are enough chance to take them aside at Bonn Vorbahnhof.

If you use the right rheinside is closed it is hard to play but the rest period between the thrust allowed you to clear the overhaultracks.

Greetings

Nopileos

[TjoeTjoe]

Manually manipulate the crossings (cancel signals and open crossings to road users in order to avoid alarm state)

I can be totally wrong, but as far as I remember, the type of level crossings on the Bonn panel should not get into alarm state. In theory, these level crossings can be closed endless. (this is different compared to level crossing in the Dutch NX simulations. In the Netherlands level crossing go into alarm when closed for more then 5 minutes)

Cancelling signals would not be my first option, but if it is really needed, I personnaly would only do it when the closing procedure of a level crossing is not active yet. As far as I have seen, the closing procedure will only get activated when the automatic signal sets its route over the level crossig AND when the block section behind the signal is free of preceeding traffic.

Ring neighbour and tell them to call before each train is dispatched enabling the chance to refuse them. (just means there will be a greater back log coming down the line)

That would be the way that I would do it myself. If I am not able to process more trains in my dispatching area, then I would certainly ask my neighbour to hold back his trains, or like you suggest ask him to offer each train individually.

When participating in Line Operations and being on the KBBG panel, I always monitor the exit paths towards Bonn and Remagen. In the event that I see that trains are being queued in front of i.e. Bonn's entry signals, I do the following:

1. stop the upcoming trains at Bad Godesberg Nord and further back down the line

(note: I am not doing this by revoking routes or signals. If I notice the neighbour's situation to late, then back luck, next train upcoming will be the first to hold then. Second reason for this is that it is also the neighbour's (i.e. Bonn) responsibility to notify his neighbour (i.e. Me) that he can't have any trains )

2. Call the neighbour i.e. Bonn, and ask him what is going on. If he says he is fine, then ok, I will continue sending trains again.

If he is not ok, then hold the trains within the KBBG area. Of course, I ask him if he wants to receive my trains by applying bi-directional running on the track Bonn -> Bonn-Bad Godesberg. Anyway, in the meanwhile track Bonn-Bad Godesberg -> Bonn is considered out of service.

3. "Sit and wait" Well, for me as KBBG dispatcher it can get hectic now. Like where am I going to "stable" all these trains that Bonn can not handle yet

4. As soon as Bonn solved the problem, I expect that he will notify me that I can start sending trains to him again

It has happend to me that it was the dispatcher Bonn who notified me that the track Bonn - Bonn-bad Godesberg was out of service. I think that is indeed the normal procedure (instead of me as KBBG dispatcher deciding not to send trains). Then only items 3 and 4 remained to be done. Worked pretty well.

Allow crossings to go into alarm state and issue orders for each crossing (creates a lot of work as orders have to be issued for both directions)

Sometimes there is just no other option then start sweating even more

Well, these are my 2 cents

Erwin

[graham]

Thanks for the responses, certainly something to think about there.

I suppose what I meant Erwin was not the crossings going into alarm state as such but rather having collisions if left closed too long (I like to have it turned on to get the most realism out of the sim). I just hate receiving those phone calls that "an incident has occurred and emergency services have been called...." Oops!

Thanks again,

Graham

[TjoeTjoe]

... as such but rather having collisions if left closed too long (I like to have it turned on to get the most realism out of the sim).

Ah ok. Well I thought that this functionallity was disabled in the Sp Dr S 60 simulations, at least that was my conclusion reading several topics in the German forums. What I understood is that incidents at level crossings should not occur, as the simulation logic for operational procedures like written orders to pass level crossings in such conditions is not available yet (yes, it is there, but based on the Dutch operational procedures)

I just hate receiving those phone calls that "an incident has occurred and emergency services have been called...." Oops!

I do not like that either. had it on this weekend in the Hengelo simulation, and went about crazy. Apart from the nasty taste you get when receiving such messages, you are really in trouble as a dispatcher. Extremely high work-load in such situations, but realistic though

Erwin

[graham]

That makes sense Erwin, I didn't realise it had been disabled in recent releases. I thought I had the barriers closed for some time and may have been lucky to get away with it.

Have to remember they are sims after all...it is easy to get caught up in trying to keep them moving.. As always, thanks for your input.

Graham