Work in progress - 73TS

Yep, M door on 73ts does indeed have a wiper...

Blimey, that's one hell of a wrong stick! ;D

quote: (trc666) --Blimey, that's one hell of a wrong stick! ;D

Ah yes - that's our secret R&D facility somewhere in the wilds of Dorset where the prototype units are tested far from prying eyes. The cabs are constructed in another top secret UK location -- so secret that I don't know where it is I just get mysterious email messages from the cab works saying things like "The package is read for pick up. The refurb package. Nudge nudge wink wink". All those components are then shipped in bits (literally) to the NE USA for assembly and the build/test of the sound and traction components and final testing on the virtual DL and Picc metals. The projects are so secret that neither the collaborators nor the expert LUL advisors on the team have ever met each other in person Somehow it all works.

Met -- thank you for the kind comments sir! We are fortunate to now have a current Picc 73TS I/Op on the team, who provided a shed-load of very details photos which Darren took great advantage of. I hope I do as well with the new sound set derived from in-cab recordings courtesy of the same I/Op.

/Jimi

Here's some videos to give you an idea how the 73TS looks and sounds. They're hosted on PhotoBucket and play as Flash videos. You may be prompted to install a newer version of Flash. Sorry they're only 320 size - I created them as 640 WMV files.

URL: s2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/DrJimi/Train%20Videos

Then click on either video.

We're about 1 week from release...

/Jimi

I'm really looking forward to this one. Richard and yourself have really made something good here, as is the case with the D-Stock

They were all still in the Depot I was inspired by Doc sending me a great cab video of him doing a early out of Northfields into ACT E Sidings. On passing ECMDT on the EB fast, one could see a shed-load of D78s slumbering in dawn's early light ;D

These videos are amazing. Very impressive. You guys have done a wonderful job. One small point. When the train arrives at ATE, if it is going into the sidings, the starter will be red as it runs in and will stay red when the dolly comes off.

I first drove a simulator at White City in 1970 when they had one of the Picc in the training centre. I have also flown in a "real" 747-400 simulator in the manufacturer's factory. That was scary as we simulated a landing at the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong. Years later I "cabbed" a landing at Kai Tak - it was even more scary!

Spooky - it does look that way, but the rear car lights are correct. I shot that pic early morning (in the sim) so the sunlight shining on the rear caused that effect. Mea culpa.

Tubeprune - thank you sir! I am an ex-Brit and longtime LT/LUL fan. I have spent many hours reading material on your site, and you (and laterly DD, SB et al) are thus in part responsible for my enthusiasm in trying to simulate the DL and the stocks. My attempts at writing code to convince the MSTS signal system to do what I want in regards the Shunt signal at the Starter have not yet succeeded (Starter won't go red). The MSTS signal system doesn't understand (support) several such concepts and I have had to write some complex code to simulate a number of situations prototypically. I will persevere to correct this error - it's highly possible I made a dumb logic error somewhere.

PRJB - we did add the LED tail lights on the refurb (larger, brighter and 'instant on'), and disabled the stabling light, but have not removed its 'unlit presence'. It is visible at close range, but we'd hoped no one would notice. There is, of course, no fooling the experts I'll see if I can further minimize its visiblity via graphical changes, rather than the 'cost' of creating a whole new car.

Thank you all for your observations. Constructive criticism and feedback, as you provided, is ALWAYS welcome!

If you do solve the problem, don't forget that the shunt signal won't clear until the train has stopped in the platform.

I don't know anything about these simulations so can you tell me if it is possible to simulate the approach if there is a train ahead of you in the platform? If that can be done, could you simulate the speed controlled outer home clearing as the train passes over the dummy conductor rail at the correct speed? Sounds very difficult to me.

Stabling lights have been removed from a number of stocks, including 73s and C stocks, with the introduction of LED tail lights. Since each LED array consists of about 18 LEDs, the chances of a complete set failing is vastly reduced, so the extra light at the rear of an OPO train is no longer necessary. In addition, the reduced power consumption of the LEDs compared to standard bulbs means they are suitable for use as a stabling light when the current is off.
The 73s stabling lights were removed as part of their refurbishment, but the C stocks were removed when the LED tail lights were fitted about 2 years ago.

Tubeprune, the MSTS signals system implementation is woefully lacking in the ability to simulate many signals operations that are common to LUL. It appears to be to have been modeled more on the simpler North American systems (especially freight lines). Without going into excruciating detail...
MSTS considers 'blocks' (or track circuit sections) to be represented by track 'nodes' Some of these are automatically defined by certain trackwork. Switches/points and X-overs are the obvious ones, as these rely on route clearing for a train (player or AI) to negotiate the path safely - any conflicting train being held. This works without any signals being placed. Placing a signal object creates a new node at that location on the related track, thus creating a new 'block'. Signal code can test for block occupancy (block ahead) and for a route being set, and can test the state (aspect) of other signals - a signal can thus be made to display an appropriate aspect (semi, auto, repeater, shunt, theater, etc.). Almost any signal type can be represented by appropriate code (and graphical appearance).
However, MSTS did not include any 'remote triggers' that could affect a signal state - thus a train departing a platform (clearing successive track circuits) can not affect a multi-home signal set (as the state of those circuits can not be tested). Each signal can only display an aspect pertaining to the 'block', or another signal, ahead of it. *sigh* Similarly, no provision for speed sensing is available.
I have campaigned with Kuju (authors of the expected MSTS follow-on product) to include such capabilities in the new product. What they have included in the current MSTS isn't bad, and can (with sufficiently ingenious code) produce desired results. There's just a few key capabilities missing to do what I need for LUL signals.

Dr JImi,

Thank you for the information. Very interesting. I wish you luck.

If Kuju create a tool for porting MSTS routes and stock into the new sim will you be doing so?

Around this time last year they were advertising for a Subject Matter Expert. Whether they took on a real railway or a train sim SME who knows?