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Operations at Grand River Junction, Continued

By Alfred Barten

Setting Up AI Trains

The session includes 4 trains to be chosen randomly for emission at Portal WB at 13-minute intervals. All trains are set to go to Portal EB. Here is the program sequence for the AI train:

Command Selection Comment
Drive To: Multiple Industry basic 1 This section has been set up to load lumber onto empty flatcars
Load   Loads flatcars
Drive Via Trackmark: By-EB Tells train which track to take
Drive To Trackmark: Wait-EB Takes train to specified location
Wait for: 1 minute This gives you a chance to take control of train
Drive Via Trackmark: Station WB-1 Tells train which track to take
Drive To Trackmark: Station EB-1A Takes train to specified location
Wait for: This gives you a chance to take control of train
Drive To: Portal EB Takes train to specified location
Drive Via Trackmark: By-WB Tells train which track to take
Drive To Trackmark: Wait-WB Takes train to specified location
Wait for: 1 minute This gives you a chance to take control of train
Drive Via Trackmark: Station EB-1A Tells train which track to take
Drive To Trackmark: Station WB-1 Takes train to specified location
THIS COMPLETES THE AI; THE TRAIN IS NOW UNDER YOUR CONTROL

You can now have the new train pick up the cars set out by the switcher. When you are finished, just send the train on its way and it will disappear into Portal WB and be gone forever.

Keep an eye on the clock. Before long another new train will arrive from Portal WB and you will have another round of drop-offs and pick-ups. Meanwhile, your switcher will be kept more than busy.

If you keep the session going long enough, you will see a surprise train at around minute 46.

Modifying the Session

You can modify any of the settings in the portals or interactive industries or multiple-industry basic sectors. Portal WB, which is being used exclusively to receive all trains and issue new trains, looks like the following. Only the first train is shown (in part). You can modify the frequency of trains and consists of individual trains. You can also add new trains and delete existing ones.


Portal WB properties sheet showing first part of first train.

Portal EB is shown below. It returns trains after a 2-minute wait and loads unloaded cars and unloads loaded cars. You can change the wait time and load/unload rule.


Portal EB properties sheet showing train consumption rules.

Multiple-Industry basic 1 is used to load lumber on trains right after they have been emitted from Portal WB. You can change the load settings, such as including coal.


Multiple Industry basic 1 properties sheet showing production rate (left) and on-hand quantities of lumber stacks.

That’s it for now. There are plenty of other things you can do with GRJ by creating different sessions and by adding another module and putting the iPortals to use.

Cheers till then,

Al

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Article and screen shots �2007 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved.

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