05-24-2010, 11:53 AM
I still lack some details on types of traffic expected for some of the industries, but I will get back to that.
Next step is to try my hand at generating traffic. I intend to use a concept described by Linda Sand - pick a random scenario from a list of possible scenarios for a "destination" (a destination is either one specific car spot, or a track or group of car spots, if it doesn't matter which specific spot in the group a specific car is spotted at).
We will take the Burma Vita Co as an example (see the first post in this thread for spot diagram and special instructions for this customer).
I will make 16 scenarios for each spot
Spot 1:
Scenario 1 through 5: No change
Scenario 6 through 9: Pull car(s) at near and far spot, spot tank car
Scenario 10 through 12: Pull car, spot new boxcar
Scenario 13: Pull car (if boxcar at far spot, re-spot to near spot, as per special instructions for customer)
Scenario 14 through 16: Spot boxcar (may spot at far spot if near spot taken by boxcar, try again if no available spot)
Spot 2:
Scenario 1 through 8: No change
Scenario 9: Pull car (if boxcar at far spot, re-spot to near spot, as per special instructions for customer)
Scenario 10: Spot boxcar (may spot at far spot if near spot taken by boxcar, try again if no available spot)
Scenario 12 through 15: Pull car, spot new boxcar
Scenario 16: Pull car(s) at near and far spot, spot flatcar
I throw dice or have the computer pick a random number between 1 and 16 for each spot. Say I get a 7 for spot 1 and a 3 for spot 2. That means "pull car(s) from spot 1, spot tank car at spot 2, leave spot 2 unchanged". Depending on whether I have one or two cars spotted at spot 1, it means one inbound car (a tank car) and either one or two outbound cars (of whichever types were spotted at the industry).
If I get too many inbound or outbound cars generated relative to how many I can handle (max three inbound trains - about 20-22 inbound cars, plus a few left in sidings during the night), I can change the mix of scenarios, to have more "no change" scenarios.
Needs some more work. But what do you guys think - will it work?
Smile,
Stein
Next step is to try my hand at generating traffic. I intend to use a concept described by Linda Sand - pick a random scenario from a list of possible scenarios for a "destination" (a destination is either one specific car spot, or a track or group of car spots, if it doesn't matter which specific spot in the group a specific car is spotted at).
We will take the Burma Vita Co as an example (see the first post in this thread for spot diagram and special instructions for this customer).
I will make 16 scenarios for each spot
Spot 1:
Scenario 1 through 5: No change
Scenario 6 through 9: Pull car(s) at near and far spot, spot tank car
Scenario 10 through 12: Pull car, spot new boxcar
Scenario 13: Pull car (if boxcar at far spot, re-spot to near spot, as per special instructions for customer)
Scenario 14 through 16: Spot boxcar (may spot at far spot if near spot taken by boxcar, try again if no available spot)
Spot 2:
Scenario 1 through 8: No change
Scenario 9: Pull car (if boxcar at far spot, re-spot to near spot, as per special instructions for customer)
Scenario 10: Spot boxcar (may spot at far spot if near spot taken by boxcar, try again if no available spot)
Scenario 12 through 15: Pull car, spot new boxcar
Scenario 16: Pull car(s) at near and far spot, spot flatcar
I throw dice or have the computer pick a random number between 1 and 16 for each spot. Say I get a 7 for spot 1 and a 3 for spot 2. That means "pull car(s) from spot 1, spot tank car at spot 2, leave spot 2 unchanged". Depending on whether I have one or two cars spotted at spot 1, it means one inbound car (a tank car) and either one or two outbound cars (of whichever types were spotted at the industry).
If I get too many inbound or outbound cars generated relative to how many I can handle (max three inbound trains - about 20-22 inbound cars, plus a few left in sidings during the night), I can change the mix of scenarios, to have more "no change" scenarios.
Needs some more work. But what do you guys think - will it work?
Smile,
Stein