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"Realistic running on the NEC"

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TrainFreak (278 posts)
May-30-02, 01:17 PM (EDT) "Realistic running on the NEC" I see that in the default NEC activities, all trains run on the outer tracks, and the middle tracks are usually unused. How realistic is this? I'd expect the most realistic would be either:
1) Local passenger trains (MARC, SEPTA, MBTA, Metroliner) and freight (Conrail) on the outer tracks, fast passenger (Acela Express, Acela Regional) on the middle
or
2) All passenger trains on the outer tracks, freight on the middleHow do Amtrak do it in real-life? And isn't there a lot of crossover-possibilites lacking compared to real-life? (i.e. the ability to swith to the middle track at Wilmington from both of the outer tracks). Also, the flyover north of Wilmington seems a little strange... Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Realistic running on the NEC SharkNose May-30-02 1 RE: Realistic running on the NEC gxm149 May-31-02 2 RE: Realistic running on the NEC biggg1fan May-31-02 3 RE: Realistic running on the NEC ajp31 Jun-02-02 4 RE: Realistic running on the NEC TrainFreak Jun-03-02 5

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SharkNose (140 posts)
May-30-02, 04:25 PM (EDT) 1. "RE: Realistic running on the NEC" From what I've noticed on the NEC here in Princeton Junction, NJ, the Acela and Amtrak's other express trains fly by on the 2 inner tracks of the 4 going between Trenton and Newark. The local NJT and Amtrak trains use the outer 2 and stop at the station. I live within hearing distance of the Princeton Junction station and have heard frieghts go through at night, but don't know what tracks they were on. - Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed Line Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
gxm149 (286 posts)
May-31-02, 08:26 AM (EDT) 2. "RE: Realistic running on the NEC" SharkNose is right. From what I have seen driving along the NEC here in Philadelphia on I-95 the Acela express trains seem to use the inner tracks and the outer tracks are used by the local traffic (SEPTA, NJT, MARC, Metroliners, etc.) Hopefully this answers your question. Also by the way, that fly over north of Wilmington Delaware is there in real life. I drove past it a couple weeks ago while returning from my vacation in Williamsburg Virginia. I agree that it doesn't seem like it belongs, but it is there in real life. Microsoft did a poor job of representing the large Du Pont plant that is by it though and the Commodore Barry suspension bridge in the distance and the docks near there aren't even represented. They got that flyover right though. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
biggg1fan (51 posts)
May-31-02, 08:31 PM (EDT) 3. "RE: Realistic running on the NEC" The problem with doing realistic running in the NEC on MSTS is that the track layout isn't very realistic. You would have to have a complete 4-track main to be able to do this, especially given the tendency/need to slow down for switches.You can start on an inner track before New Carollton, but have to go to the outside for the Baltimore Harbor tunnel(s). Ditto at Edgewood where the track goes from 4 to 2, etc.It's a little annoying at times when I want to make an interesting NEC activity, and can't because I'm forced to have traffic on the same track.Derek
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ajp31 (27 posts)
Jun-02-02, 09:04 PM (EDT) 4. "RE: Realistic running on the NEC" LAST EDITED ON Jun-02-02 AT 09:09 PM (EDT)Actually, the track layout in the default MSTS route is pretty much right on, with one major exception: there is an interesting interlocking called "Holly" that is just north of Wilmington (near the "flyover" spot, just to the north...the same flyover you guys have been discussing). This interlocking routes Amtrak trains to the inner tracks for the run into Philly. I added this interlocking to my own revision of the NEC (which I never figured out how to release), and Vince Cockeram is adding it to his NEC 4.0.The two- and three-track sections between Wilmington and Washington really are correct; balancing Amtrak and commuter operations on these stretches is just a trickier puzzle for a dispatcher (or Activity writer!) than on the four-track main between Philly and New York. One congestion-easing factor is that there is very minimal commuter traffic between Baltimore and Wilmington; some peak-period MARC trains travel to/from Perryville and some peak SEPTA trains get as far south as Newark , but that's it. And of course, always remember that Amtrak owns and dispatches the corridor, so you'll hardly ever see a commuter train get track priority over an Amtrak, and certainly never over an Acela Express!Andy Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
TrainFreak (278 posts)
Jun-03-02, 03:31 AM (EDT) 5. "RE: Realistic running on the NEC" How about Conrail (or now CSX) - which tracks would most prototypically be used by them? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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