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Getting And Keeping Their Attention:
A Good Use For iPortals
By Alfred Barten
There's no better way to sell a train simulator than by demonstrating it. When at a train show I make sure at least one of our laptop computers is being used to properly convey the concept of what a simulator is all about. That requires keeping personal or tight control over the activity on that computer.
Scene from the 2007 NMRA Convention Train Show in Detroit.
Of course it's great advertising to have a 7-year-old manipulating trains and even building a layout, but most people don't learn much from watching kids run trains off the edge of the layout or up the side of a mountain or down a ski jump or across the bottom of a lake. Once a youngster gets started, it's hard to pull him away, and parents often yield to the youngster's plea of "I have to have this." So having kids work the terminals can be good.
However, for the older members of the audience, the ones who are seeing a simulator for the first time, the immediate question is "What is this? Is it a video?" That's where my going about the business of operating the railroad, especially shunting cars, makes it clear: THIS IS NOT A VIDEO. This is a full 3D rendering of a railroad, or portion thereof, in which I control the trains, direct the switching of cars, and determine the routing. Also, just having a train run unattended through scenery, even in camera tracking mode, does not retain people's interest for long. After all, this is a train show and there are lots of model layouts in operation competing for attention. The on-screen train manipulations provide the interest that keeps people watching.
Lately I've found two routes of mine to be successful in demonstrating the workings of a simulator, in this case, Trainz TRS2006. At the NMRA Convention in Detroit last July I used the Bearpaw Lumber Company, which is a switching layout with an interactive industry. Flatcars loaded with logs and strings of empty hoppers are brought in by Portal-generated trains. There is constant action for the operator switching cars to and from the interactive lumber mill.
More recently, at the Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland, Maine, I used the Wisconset Module. It's a natural for a Maine narrow gauge gathering, but lacks the portals. The result is that if I get distracted a train can run off the module, which then requires restarting the module.
Dock scene in Wisconset Module.
Time for iPortals
I decided this was a good time to try iPortals, since I have plans for adding them to the Bearpaw in time. The iPortal was created to allow one user to send a train to another user via the Internet. You can also send a train to another iPortal on your own computer. The only limitation in both cases is that it is always THE SAME LAYOUT. If there are two operators/computers involved, there must also be an Internet connection between the two.
iPortals are similar to Portals only different. Portals receive (and thereby remove) existing trains and issue new trains. A newly issued train can already have been given a set of driver commands to execute. An iPortal receives an existing train and relocates it to another iPortal. It DOES NOT issue new trains, but DOES re-issue existing trains. Once a train has been moved to a new iPortal, it is no longer in the control of the previous user, even if that’s you. The first user CANNOT give the train a list of commands that carry over to the next user. The second iPortal can be set to stop the train in anticipation of instructions from or control by the new user or it can be set to have the train continue running.
This is where things get interesting. If a train leaves the second iPortal with permission to keep running, it will follow whatever path is set for it via switches. It WILL obey certain good behavior by not rear-ending a train that it might overtake and it will stop short of running off the edge of the layout. Otherwise, it is basically a train without control. The new user can take control just as you can take control of any train running on auto. Simply hold down the Control key and right-click the loco. Then select Abandon schedule from the pop-up menu. The train will stop and become all yours.
Here's a portal summary:
| Function |
Portal |
iPortal |
| Receive and dissipate trains |
Yes |
No |
| Receive and transport trains |
No |
Yes |
| Issue new trains |
Yes |
No |
| Re-issue existing train |
No |
Yes |
| Issue trains with commands |
Yes |
No |
Let's have a look at the characteristics of different types of trains. I'm not referring to steam or diesel or passenger or freight. I'm referring to trains defined by their origins and instructions. These are:
- AI (artificial intelligence) – a train given one or more driver commands (can be issued by a Portal)
- Free running – a train you start and leave running
- iPortal issued – a train issued by an iPortal and directed to keep running
An AI train obeys signals and stops for incorrectly thrown switches and obstructing trains. The AI train, if given a destination, seeks out the most expedient route, throwing switches as needed and even reversing directions if the route is blocked. For best control of an AI train, consider including the Drive via command, which restricts the route the AI train will take.
A free running train is one you set in motion and allow to keep running. It does not obey signals or speed limits and ignores obstructing trains or incorrectly thrown switches. The free running train runs until you stop it or it crashes into something or runs off the layout or derails.
An iPortal issued train is more like an AI train except that it cannot be given driver commands until it has left the iPortal. You have to take control of the train to give it driver commands.
Here's a train summary:
| Function |
AI Train |
Free Running Train |
iPortal Issued Train |
| Throw switches as needed to reach destination |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Take most expedient route |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Stop for incorrectly thrown switch |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Run off end of track |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Run into train occupying track |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Obey signals |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Obey speed limits |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Bear in mind that a free running train and an iPortal issued train becomes an AI train as soon as you give it driver commands. Continued
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Article and screen shots �2007 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved.
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