Model Railroad stats for myproject

[SBX]

I am starting a project at the UK Open University soon and I need some statistics to back up the idea. I am currently completing a B.SC in Computing and am proposing a project to model car routing from the layout through to an iPhone (somewhat like JMRI Operations but using a smart back end to drive a phone app).

What I need is some simple numbers for your railroad - nothing else - no details or anything. I need numbers for:

No. of Locos, Freight Cars, Passenger Cars, Cabooses. Also, I need the numbers for towns and industries. As an example, on my small railroad in my hobby rooms I have:

Industries (including staging and freight yards (counting as 1)): 15
Towns: 4
Locos: 4
Freight Cars: 2
Passenger Cars: 0
Cabooses: 4.

Thanks very much in advance.
David
Main man on the Sunset & North Eastern - in Ipswich UK
www.gmrblog.co.uk

[Bering]

i cant add to your survey as my layout isnt to that stage yet.  What i can offer is the idea of making a making a survey via google.  Might improve responces and would make data interpretation far easier.

https://support.google.com/docs/answer/87809?hl=en

 

 

[hon30critter]

Hi David:

Interesting school project.

As requested, I have:

- 34 locomotives. 

- 239 freight cars

- 10 passenger cars

- 18 cabooses

- 16 industries on 12 spurs

- 2 passenger stations

- 1 service area with about a dozen possible destinations within it

- 1 yard, partially double ended

- 1 double ended staging yard with 6 tracks and a run around

Regards,

Dave

[ndbprr]

You are asking for too much specific information. Won't each of those facts have an algorithm with the only variation being the total number? Why not just set the totals rediculously high or put in an algorithm that will allow the user to expand the category when completely filled? Problem solved.

[SBX]

To get the project approved, I have to make some comments about the requirement. This means that I have to explain how the problem domain varies depending upon the user. To achieve this, I want to give a spread of sizes/quantities to highlight that the finished poject has to handle.

The course team won't accept that my little railroad presents difficulty but the other statistic that I have above would create quite a serious piece of computing to manage a whole day's operation, for instance.

On other forums, people have been keener to discuss the requirement, and to talk it down, when that is not what I asked for. If you have a railroad, could you not just list the items as requested?

Thanks in advance.

David

[BigDaddy]

I don't consider 6 numbers too much data too ask for.  I would be happy to help but my layout is barely out of the benchwork stage and so far there is only one module.

In other threads people freely mention they have dozens or even hundreds of locos.  Maybe adding it all up is a bit daunting, people don't want to admit, even to themselves, how carried away they are by the hobby.  Maybe they would be willing to pm you if they are self conscious about their empire.

[Guy Papillon]

I sent you a PM.

[ROBERT PETRICK]

Here are the raw numbers:

Locos - 26

Freight cars - 250 (plus or minus)

Passenger cars - 36 (three eras)

Industries - 7

Loading docks - 4 (not counted as industries)

Towns - 1

Yards - 4

Hopes this helps. I don't think raw numbers tell the whole story. For example, six of the locos are always run as A-A consists. Always. Three are run as A-B-A. Always. Thirty-two of the freight cars are coal porters and are always run as a unit train. Always. Except when they're not. Or when some are hobbled on the RIP track. Or get lost and become orphans.

I hope you can generate some pretty complex algorithms to cover the varied operating scenarios.

Good luck.

Robert 

[SBX]

Great. The whole point is that it isn't an easy task - and the random engine needs to be complex for the project to get approval.

David

[SBX]

I have created an on line Survey - which is probably easier to manage. It is only live for about a week.

http://bit.ly/2fX0mHH

Thanks in advance.

David

[trainnut1250]

David,

Here is the info. I am giving you numbers based on the way the layout is operated, not every possible permutation..

Railroad Name: Willoughby Line

Freight cars - 180

Passenger cars -10

Locos - 16

Cabooses - 14

Towns - 12 (including staging)

Industries - 30

 

Hope this helps,

 

Guy