Operating more than two trains in Trainz...

Lots of routes generally have this figured out through AI, but I am still at the caveman stage of doing it myself. I ran an op session yesterday in the eastern section of the route with three trains in conflict of each other.

The story went that Q452 was going closer to being on the law, and E109 empty coal was in the way. E109 tucked into Winter Haven Siding to let Q452 pass so that it would hit Lakeland first.

A SB on the A-line, an R741 in game but in the place of Q187, was fast approaching once this train went past Auburndale. So I slid it into Carters... a perfect but close fit. The 4,800 foot siding can barely hold it.

Eventually the all business R741 overtook 452 on its run to Tampa.

After that, the two Miami trains went on happy and jolly.

This was a generally successful operation. One easy part was no one was in opposite directions to the train but overall it was a priority fight. I could just slam the drive button on all three but didn't choose to do so since the route was incomplete and signal information could be off.

Running three or more trains manually is pretty easy but you need to know all the lengths, locations, distances, and what siding can take them. Automatically it's all boring as you don't have control of the throttle and boy do I like to man it. One challenge is you may lose coordination so your train may end up doing a 60 in a 30.

This multiple train run is the baby step to future operations sessions. Lots of trains meet in the Tampa area, mainly around Tampa proper and along the S-line. When I went to CFL three trains met around Winston within 30 minutes and another was just east of the wye. Tucking trains in, dispatching them to pass each other, and other grueling tasks makes this fun. Expect more in the future.

FECKWE Coming Back to Life

The Central Florida rail area is and will always be my main area of work, but in other exciting news, I am glad to announce that the Key West Extension will be retrofitted and will receive some attention.

Mainly (95%) an FEC route, I contract CSX freights to share trackage. Oleander will be redesigned as a funneling interchange and wye so both CSX trains for the Lehigh Spur and FEC trains from Hialeah down have fairly direct trackage. Also Homestead proper will allow CSX rock trains to be interchanged to FEC for shipment to the Keys (inspired off of the old K712/K711 to Tampa).

The main exploration with this route is commuter rail options for Homestead to West Palm. The idea can be -- simpler than you think. If the State or some agency to run commuter rail could get the busway plus the former FEC ROW between Kendall proper and Oleander, commuter rail can happen. And the big bucks can come from riders in Dadeland and South Miami. The best kicker is... for sure, the part between Oleander and Kendall is a no brainer to do, as long as you throw in a quiet zone.

I will be making a video series to explain this whole idea that I have in the future. Most of it will be narrative or a surveyor overview, but op sessions will also be a good part of it.

This does not mean I am leaving the Keys out. I should be retrofitting the trackage there much like has been done in Kendall but I will also be doing new areas at a good pace. Kendall was damn well retrofitted... Lots of CAB grass has been switched for higher res texture and the ballast... OH the ballast.... switched for the JR + TS2009 arrangement you see in many of my works.

The last time I shared updates to Auran was February 2010, so I guess that's why so much had to be brought up to date.

Video coming soon!