Industry labels to help in switching and activities

I wanted to run this idea by everyone, particularly Jim. I had been thinking that it might make local industry switching more enjoyable and desirable (as opposed to just sending trains off the map as locals) if all of the industries at each unloading or loading track were labeled somehow, either with just a number or letter or with an actual name. One of the text types could be used for all industries and if you didn't want to see the text you could always turn it off. I know that some of you probably enjoy taking the local out from the yard and actually making the pick-ups and set-outs and that it must get boring not having a set place to put each car. Then you could create a car with a particular industry destination in mind. I think that the part of the car description set aside for reporting marks could double as a place to enter the industry destination couldn't it? I rarely look at the reporting marks anyway. There is enough room in the first block of the reporting marks for a simple code for each industry. For example the map number, then industry code and track. The next block has enough room for reporting marks and then you could just use the x, xx, xxx feature for car numbers. For example 1042 CEL 01, could indicate map 1042 (Forrestville), Celenese mill, track 01. All of this info fits in the first block of the reporting marks so you could still have full reporting marks following this. This would allow the very precise shipping of commodoties from one industry on a map to another. In other words, completely prototypical shipping! For example, grain from a particular silo in K.C. to a certain flour mill or industry track. Auto parts from a factory in Atlanta, shipped to the assembly plant in Chicago. etc. etc. I could envision the actual 'ordering' of a car via a Yahoo group database for someone to ship out. The possibilites are endless. Does this sound interesting to anyone? It might open up whole new possibilites as far as creating some switching challenges and prototypical activities. And if we use the reporting marks area it would not require Jim to make any changes to the game, other than labeling industries which of course we could do locally on the older maps. What does everyone else think?Alan

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, pwm33, Jan-10-03, 11:55 PM, (1) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, rginste, Jan-11-03, 01:14 AM, (2) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, KingJPW, Jan-11-03, 01:30 AM, (4) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, romanrails, Jan-11-03, 04:32 AM, (6) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, rginste, Jan-11-03, 11:10 AM, (12) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, KingJPW, Jan-11-03, 01:24 AM, (3) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, romanrails, Jan-11-03, 04:15 AM, (5) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, Davecr0, Jan-11-03, 08:45 AM, (7) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, pwm33, Jan-11-03, 09:28 AM, (8) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, rginste, Jan-11-03, 10:36 AM, (10) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, pwm33, Jan-11-03, 09:32 AM, (9) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, rginste, Jan-11-03, 11:05 AM, (11) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, pwm33, Jan-11-03, 12:36 PM, (13) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, KingJPW, Jan-11-03, 04:03 PM, (15) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, pwm33, Jan-11-03, 04:06 PM, (17) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, romanrails, Jan-11-03, 03:44 PM, (14) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, KingJPW, Jan-11-03, 04:06 PM, (16) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, rginste, Jan-11-03, 04:39 PM, (18) RE: Industry labels to help in switching and activities, KingJPW, Jan-11-03, 05:23 PM, (19)

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

I think this is a great idea. I generally follow this idea when I load a car. I usually don't take the default location, but send it to a location where I know there is an unloading track for that kind of car. This would be similar to the numbering from a CR ZTS map or a UP
(or is it BNSF?) SPINS chart.I for one do look at the reporting marks and numbers, so my only concern is that they don't get eliminated.Paul Metzger
NS Team
Northern Region

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I've been usuing something similar just for the area I've playing around with (Kranert, Forrestvile, Citico). I mapped (on paper) and labeled each industry in these areas and then I would put the industry label on each inbound car, arrived as load or empty and the date (kr-chm L 01/09) would mean Krannert chemical plant arrived as a load on Jan 09. After I pulled it off I would put back a regular random reporting number before putting it on a train and posting it to the server. By putting the date I would know how long it was there and would move it after a day or two or whatever seemed logical. (Waybill System) But to have every car on the map theoretically destined for specific industries would be great. I guess we would need a chart of all the industries and a standardized coding system. Could you also have a return empty code for certain cars to route cars back to original
industrial owners.Sounds like some work for all you young guys out there, I would offer to help but I'm too old and feeble although I do still workout 3
days a week (aerobics/weights), can do 50 pushups, and shoot golf in the 70's at age 61 and still drink beer like a fish whenever I get a chance. Do I like the smilie faces or what, first time I ever (over) used them)But seriously, as I am retired and have loads of time I'd be willing to do something to help this game in anyway I could if I was asked.This game offers many prototypically (I hate that word) realistic ideas for gameplay. I also hate when I get an Autorack car at a place like Krannert and this system would eliminate that if everyone stuck to it.
Future member
Rich GinstePS I don't know exactly what team I'd like to be on when I join
but it will probably be east of the Mississippi. How do or would
the teams work once you get more than a couple guys on each team?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

"...I'd be willing to do something to help this game in anyway I could if I was asked."
Send me money!!!
"..I also hate when I get an Autorack car at a place like Krannert and this system would eliminate that if everyone stuck to it."
Yes, nothing is worse that an Autorack destined for a coal mine. Who designed this game anyway? (this fix is on my list, but is kind of tricky)Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-03 AT 04:39 AM (EST)

>I've been usuing something similar just for the area I've
>playing around with (Kranert, Forrestvile, Citico). >PS I don't know exactly what team I'd like to be on when I
>join
> but it will probably be east of the Mississippi. Rich, I am swamped with cars at Forrestville (my real world home - Rome). If you like switching the industries out of Forrestville (sounds like you do), we would love to have you on the NS team. I need someone to send the Rome cars to: Forrestville/Krannert/GE/Flour Mill. I enjoy working the hump at Chattanooga and would prefer not to have to work all these trains at the local industries. If you are interested, let me know and I will start designating those trains for you on the server. Actually, I could send everything bound for south of Chattanooga to you and you could pick off the Rome cars and then post the remainder of the train, Florida bound cars, to the server or take it to Florida yourself.In case you are interested, I can forward you the details of how the NS handles Forrestville yard, the trains that drop-off/pick-up and the details of the Krannert branch locals. Could probably even get you some protoype consist info. I was hoping to find someone to start working south of Chattanooga as Florida traffic should start to increase soon (if I ever get these maps finished.)>How do
>or would
> the teams work once you get more than a couple guys on
>each team?
>
We have been just spliting it up and designating 'hand-off' points for each other. Paul works Chicago NS and Pennsylvania and hands-off southbounds to me at Faulkner. I hump them, if needed, at DeButts in Chattanooga and then work them south. I'm not sure what Chris is handling now as I have been away from the game for a couple of weeks.
If you are interested, I can hand the southbounds off to you after humping at Citco. AlanPS. I am only 40 and can't do any of the things you listed.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I could'nt do em at 40 either Rich

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I played around with this idea long ago, but decided against it thinking it would make things too complicated. I am willing to reconsider it now.Here's how I see it working:
1) Each loader/unloader line will have a number assigned to it (kind of like an exit number, but not necessarily unique). This number will be stored in the .yrd file, naturally. Default value will be zero.
2) When a car's destination is randomly assigned, the default siding number assigned for the car will be zero (e.g. 1027-0), meaning any siding on the map is acceptable, assuming it unloads that car type.
3) The originator of the car will be able to assign a specific siding (e.g. 1027-3 meaning map 1027, siding #3) The drawback is that the user may accidently assign a siding number that doesn't exist on the map or assign the car to a siding which doesn't unload the car type. There is no easy way to prevent this.
4) There will be a new feature to display the siding numbers or not (and in a unique color)
5) Cars with a specific siding assigned will not be eligible for local delivery (the easy wasy). That would be too 'easy'. In other words, this idea can be done but there are drawbacks. If there is enough interest I'll do it.Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I would definitely be interested in a feature like this and would be willing to help get all the yards updated with the needed changes. Just let me know. Also, just finished with 3 of the Florda maps. Going to recheck them tomorrow and try to get the last one done so that they can all go up together (if that makes it easier). Alan

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Put me down as a definite yes for this idea. Hate ending up with an intermodal at Chinook Mine How about adding goods for export/import to/from the ports to the rest of the world?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

These days most of the import/export business is going via containers, so that would be accomplished by the intermodal yards at Albany and ITCF/Carson, and possibly Simpson Yard in Jacksonville. (Not sure if they handle import/export out of the last one or not, though for game purposes, we could.)There is the Port of Albany, which loads/unloads ordinary boxcars as well. Rich, we would love to have you on NS to handle the south. Looking forward to working with you.btw, Chris is working the Allentown yard, so you'll see trains from him from the NE coming into Citico or Etowah.Paul Metzger
NS Team
Northern Region

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

PaulYes, sign me up, although I'm not a paying member yet (waiting till my
free 30 days are up, sorry Jim). Yes working between Debutts, Etowah and Forrestville would be OK with me. I currently run dailies from Etowah and Forrestvile into Debutts for pickups and deliveries to these stops, then run locals from Krannert to Forrestville for pickup to Debutts and Local from Copperville to Etowah for pickup/delivery to Debutts and East to NJ. Plus The GE plant, Krannert plant, Copperville switchers and also a Citico switcher that sets out on the mainline sidings (pretty tricky stuff). for the Forrestville and Etowah runs to Debutts.I also free lance around at the different yards just to see what they are like. Looaads of FUN. Looking forward to a team effort, like I said during the winter I'm
at home 90% of the day. Rich

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Jim, If someone loads a car to the wrong siding (i.e. siding number that doesn't exist on the map, or to a siding which doesn't unload that car type), how will that car get unloaded?I see there could be drawbacks, but I DEFINITELY am in favor of having this feature.Paul Metzger
NS Team
Northern Region

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

PaulI just downloaded your train but I'm wondering about my email setup.Have you or anybody received an email on any cars I've delivered?I have gotten 'delivered' messages back from you guys. I set up the Options screen just the way Jim said to but I continue to get an error message when I hit SEND. So I don't get a Verification Code to put in the screen.Is this Jim's way of getting me to pay sooner than later? Anyway
I notice that there are a lot of emails on your train and wonder if
I should go ahead and finish it or post it back on the server for NS
or anyone?I told Jim about my problem but have not heard from him. If your a paying member can he set me up with a workable email as I think I read that on an earlier post? I use MSN Outlook Express 6 which is usable and they just changed their security but I updated according to their instructions.My email is rginste1@msn.com. Rich

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Rich,I have not gotten any email confirmations of deliveries by you.The verification code is something that you should've received from Jim in a private email. You place that code into the box, and then hit send. If you need an email account, Alan can set you up with one. He set me up with one which I only use for YD.Just hang on to the train. Don't try to deliver anything (unless the car doesn't have email) until your SMTP gets straightened out. No hurry. Some of those cars were in Calumet for a week or more.

Paul Metzger
NS Team
Northern Region

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

"...the verification code is something that you should've received from Jim in a private email. You place that code into the box, and then hit send."This is false. A person sends a verification code to himself, the idea being that if YD can send an email to yourself, it can also send emails to other people.Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

My mistake about the verification code. I was thinking about the membership code.Paul Metzger
NS Team
Northern Region

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

>
>Have you or anybody received an email on any cars I've
>delivered?
?
Rich, I haven't recieved any delivery notifications from anyone in ages. I do recieve copies of the delivery notices that I send out though so I assume my email is working.
>
>If your a paying member can he set me up with a workable
>email as I think I read that on an earlier post
Right now, I am (generously) donating email (smtp) usage through one of my domains, but I could see this becoming a problem when YD really hits it's stride. Perhaps smtp usage would be a good benefit of being a paying member of YD. Basically, you only need a username and password for the smtp (sending) and not a receiving return email, you can still use your AOL or MSN to get mail. Perhaps Jim will consider adding this as a benefit and incentive for paying.Alan

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Rich,It seems odd that your MS Outlook can send/receive emails, but YD is unable to send emails using the same SMTP server. What is the server, by the way? Mine is mail.attbi.com. What is yours?Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Jim, Mine is SMTP.email.msn.com I get the error message-ERROR:61DC Description:(10051) Network is Unreadable IN:SendemailcodeRich

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

OK here is the problem. Your ISP (MSN) requires that you authenticate (provide a username and password) in order to send outgoing email, whereas most ISP do not require this. Yard Duty currently does not prompt for your password. I will have to add this for people with accounts like yours. Give me a few days...Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty

Alert | IP

[ Home | MSTS Forum | MSTS FAQ | File Library ] Copyright © 2002 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.