The Bidye Traction

Revision as of 11:02, 9 January 2015

The Bidye Traction Railroad is a short line electric traction railroad serving several inter-dependent industries. It is the last remnants of a once far more extensive traction system.

The industries served by the railroad include a lumber mill, a furniture factory, a grain mill, a commercial bakery, a paint and solvent factory, a metal can and container factory, and a coal fired electricity plant.

The lumber mill, as an example, produces timber for the furniture works, and crates and pallets for the bakery, the metal can factory and the paint factory. Some of the metal cans are used by the paint factory. Milled grains are used by the bakery.

Box cars, gondolas, hoppers, flat cars, tank cars and other rolling stock arrive by a ferry barge.

A Class 1 railroad also has running rights over the main track.

The railroad is one of the few surviving reminders of the grim, grimy, decaying smoke stack USA.

General

Map of the layout, click for high resolution.

In the Map View, all interactive industries have the prefix “IND”.

Freight cars will load or unload when spotted between the yellow markers.

In some sessions AI trains may be circulating in both directions, generally at frequencies between 7 and 10 minutes.

At the crossing loops the AI trains will always take the right track.

It is assumed that the Player is competent in accessing the Map View (“Ctrl-M” in Driver), can pan and zoom the map view, and can use the map to monitor the position of AI trains.

It is assumed that the Player is competent in using the external 4-key view to scout ahead to set switches and to monitor the location of AI trains.

Sessions can be paused by pressing the P key. When paused switches can be set, the Map consulted and the external 4-key view used.

In the sessions Signal Link has been configured to help the Player transit the single track sections.

The usual duration for a session is between a half and one and a half hours, though this will depend on the skills of the player. Some of the more advanced sessions with AI trains running at short headways are not for the faint hearted.

In sessions “Help” (the red/green indicators at switches) has been set to off. To toggle “Help” on/off, press “Ctrl-H”.

There is nothing more frustrating than almost completing a session only to have a corn field meet with an oncoming AI train. Before attempting any heroic manoeuvre involving AI consider making a save session first.

In the sessions the Dispatcher sets you a task. The task can be completed in any order. Give some thought to how to best complete the task. Setting up the freight car cuts in the correct order can, for example, save considerable time later.

Points are awarded for completing individual tasks and for completing the session.

Popup screens may appear as the session progresses. These can be dismissed by pressing Esc.