IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 4761 - 4780
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: India Rails
Date: 18 Dec 1998 22:02:54 -0500
Gang,
I want to know if there is a loco simulator software available, where
the
player is the driver himself, he has to watch the speed limits, fuel
balance
and signals. I know that there is hardly a challenge for a serious
gamer, but
there are thousands (millions ?) like me who do not want to drive a
virtual
car/plane/speedboat etc but would gladly spend many many hours working
trains. Give a choice of say a steam loco (press the F1 ten times to
tend and
coal the firebox, press F2 to open the injector, should you forget to
open
the cylinder steam cocks before you start - you end up with a cracked
barrel
and the end of your driving career {the real steam walahs had to to do
this -
remove the condesate from the cold cylinder at startup - there were many
areas in the steam loco operation that you had to remember, there was no
way
to prevent a mistake being made) , keep speed under control on the down
gradient or you would derail the goods rake. One more choice (much less
demanding ) is driving a diesel or electric.
I am not looking for a layout simulator like Cat train or a planning
game
like Empire builder but a noisy and fast loco simulator.
Apurva
Shanku Niyogi wrote:
> Is this going to be just another variant extension (that come in one
of
> those tube shaped packages) to the Empire Builder game? No offense,
but I
> find the "freight-only" theme of Empire Builder to be somewhat dull -
at
> some point, it becomes something of a Monopoly on rails - and the
variant
> model seems to do little but change maps, names, currency, and
commodity
> types.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anne Ogborn [mailto:anniepoo@netmagic.email
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 1998 11:21 PM
> To: irfca@cs.email
> Subject: India Rails
>
> Mayfair games next release is going to be a game called
> "India Rails", about building RRs in India.
>
> these are the folks that make the "Empire Builder" series of
> games.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: India Rails
Date: 18 Dec 1998 22:02:54 -0500
Gang,
I want to know if there is a loco simulator software available, where
the
player is the driver himself, he has to watch the speed limits, fuel
balance
and signals. I know that there is hardly a challenge for a serious
gamer, but
there are thousands (millions ?) like me who do not want to drive a
virtual
car/plane/speedboat etc but would gladly spend many many hours working
trains. Give a choice of say a steam loco (press the F1 ten times to
tend and
coal the firebox, press F2 to open the injector, should you forget to
open
the cylinder steam cocks before you start - you end up with a cracked
barrel
and the end of your driving career {the real steam walahs had to to do
this -
remove the condesate from the cold cylinder at startup - there were many
areas in the steam loco operation that you had to remember, there was no
way
to prevent a mistake being made) , keep speed under control on the down
gradient or you would derail the goods rake. One more choice (much less
demanding ) is driving a diesel or electric.
I am not looking for a layout simulator like Cat train or a planning
game
like Empire builder but a noisy and fast loco simulator.
Apurva
Shanku Niyogi wrote:
> Is this going to be just another variant extension (that come in one
of
> those tube shaped packages) to the Empire Builder game? No offense,
but I
> find the "freight-only" theme of Empire Builder to be somewhat dull -
at
> some point, it becomes something of a Monopoly on rails - and the
variant
> model seems to do little but change maps, names, currency, and
commodity
> types.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anne Ogborn [mailto:anniepoo@netmagic.email
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 1998 11:21 PM
> To: irfca@cs.email
> Subject: India Rails
>
> Mayfair games next release is going to be a game called
> "India Rails", about building RRs in India.
>
> these are the folks that make the "Empire Builder" series of
> games.
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
Date: 19 Dec 1998 00:14:26 -0500
<A HREF="http://www.monorails.org/">http://www.monorails.org/</A>
Interesting pro-monorail site,
for those interested. What, then,
is the best form of urban rapid
transit ?
Jayant S
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
Date: 19 Dec 1998 03:48:45 -0500
As much as I like all forms of railways (is that true ??) I cannot help
thinking that the biggest monorail in the world would carry as many
passengers as ONE coach of a Mumbai EMU in the peak hours. Actually the
reason for developing pneumatic suspension for EMU rakes is not to give
better ride comfort, but to reduce the bottoming of packed coaches'
suspension. Monorail is does not have any scope in India. Maybe Santa
Cruz domestic terminal / Sahar airport - Santa Cruz station type of
runs at the most. I prefer trams.
Jayant S wrote:
> <A HREF="http://www.monorails.org/">http://www.monorails.org/</A>
>
> Interesting pro-monorail site,
> for those interested. What, then,
> is the best form of urban rapid
> transit ?
>
> Jayant S
From: Bharat Vohra <>
Subject: New page on passing trains.....
Date: 19 Dec 1998 05:13:51 -0500
Hi All!
Please check out another addition to 'railinindia' at-
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/pass.html">http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/pass.html</A>
Do get back to me with any feedback,
Thanks and regards
Bharat Vohra
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: prakash <>
Subject: Re: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
Date: 19 Dec 1998 09:09:29 -0500
Apurva,
You are correct from every aspect. Mono-rail may be suitable in
India where traffic is light and there is no space to lay surface
lines. The mighty BART with 5'6" track and 70-75 feet long
coaches and 8-9 coaches rakes, carries only a fraction of load
compared to Mumbai EMUs. EMUs in Mumbai exceed their capacity
limit during peak hours by a factor of at least 3 times or more
during peak hours.
With 4 aspect signalling system and 4 signals a mile, the track
capacity is fully saturated compared to any other part in the
world. The only option is to establish new routes and add more
lines by granting special right of way but that may amount to
political suicide.
Several years back, WR had one standee train, 701-702 (with 703
in the middle) with 4 motor coaches, heavy duty suspension and
larger wheels. Is it still running or has become extinct? Can
anyone from Mumbai shed light on this? This train carried as
many passengers as of 12 coaches rake today. When it was
introduced in early 70s, it was not permitted to operate beyond
Borivali citing two reasons, one, the substations between BVI-VR
did not have enough capacity, two, it would be unstable in the
winds at Bassein bridge.
After new substations were added, the rake was permitted to
travel upto VR with speed restriction to 75 Kms. (Those days,
old Bassein bridge was 100 kms zone). I never saw any motorman
to abide by this limit, they just ran it in parallel mode leaving
it upto the motors to determine the speed at which they can run.
Sarosh and Viraf, you may wish to drop by MI/DI office at
Churchgate over the weekend and ask SK Tiwari, a DI about the
fate of this rake. This office is located on first floor.
Prakash
Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email on 12/19/98 03:48:45 AM
To: sank@telco.email
cc: IR List <irfca@cs.email (bcc: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa
Teresa/IBM)
Subject: Re: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
As much as I like all forms of railways (is that true ??) I cannot help
thinking that the biggest monorail in the world would carry as many
passengers as ONE coach of a Mumbai EMU in the peak hours. Actually the
reason for developing pneumatic suspension for EMU rakes is not to give
better ride comfort, but to reduce the bottoming of packed coaches'
suspension. Monorail is does not have any scope in India. Maybe Santa
Cruz domestic terminal / Sahar airport - Santa Cruz station type of
runs at the most. I prefer trams.
From: Vdate <>
Subject: Re: Railways charging Amartya Sen for Special Coach.
Date: 19 Dec 1998 14:15:19 -0500
Just saw a news article in India Journal, The Southern California
Leading
Indo-American Journal. Gives a refreshing insight how railways can
honor
people. Metrolink, the commuter train system in Los Angeles and four
surrounding counties just named their San Clemente Station. SHAH
STATION in
the honor of Jitendra Shah, a native of India who is in charge of their
station design and construction. Now I am not saying that IR should
name a
station or a division after Amartya Sen but a common decency would have
demanded not charging him!
From: GOODWIN ALCO <>
Subject: Re: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
Date: 19 Dec 1998 18:06:36 -0500
Have to fully agree with Apurva. Our monorail here in Sydney is
something I avoid like the plague.
I have had around ten trips since its inception and always it is
packed. When the decision was made to have monorail for this trip
instead of light rail, I believe the wrong decision was made.
Ironic though, quite a few years later and we have got the light rail
anyway and it, more usefully, starts from Sydney Terminal station before
heading to Darling Harbour.
Brad
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> As much as I like all forms of railways (is that true ??) I cannot
help
> thinking that the biggest monorail in the world would carry as many
> passengers as ONE coach of a Mumbai EMU in the peak hours. Actually
the
> reason for developing pneumatic suspension for EMU rakes is not to
give
> better ride comfort, but to reduce the bottoming of packed coaches'
> suspension. Monorail is does not have any scope in India. Maybe Santa
> Cruz domestic terminal / Sahar airport - Santa Cruz station type of
> runs at the most. I prefer trams.
>
> Jayant S wrote:
>
> > <A HREF="http://www.monorails.org/">http://www.monorails.org/</A>
> >
> > Interesting pro-monorail site,
> > for those interested. What, then,
> > is the best form of urban rapid
> > transit ?
> >
> > Jayant S
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Re: India Rails
Date: 20 Dec 1998 00:27:37 -0500
Shanku Niyogi wrote:
>
> Is this going to be just another variant extension (that come in one
of
> those tube shaped packages) to the Empire Builder game? No offense,
but I
> find the "freight-only" theme of Empire Builder to be somewhat dull -
at
> some point, it becomes something of a Monopoly on rails - and the
variant
> model seems to do little but change maps, names, currency, and
commodity
> types.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anne Ogborn [mailto:anniepoo@netmagic.email
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 1998 11:21 PM
> To: irfca@cs.email
> Subject: India Rails
>
> Mayfair games next release is going to be a game called
> "India Rails", about building RRs in India.
>
> these are the folks that make the "Empire Builder" series of
> games.
Shanku -
I suspect it will be.
I found this browsing a web site devoted to such games, and apparently
subtleties such as map shape and commodity mix are crucial to playing,
if one is serious about the game.
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Re: India Rails
Date: 20 Dec 1998 00:50:29 -0500
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> Gang,
>
> I want to know if there is a loco simulator software available, where
the
> player is the driver himself, he has to watch the speed limits, fuel
balance
> and signals. I know that there is hardly a challenge for a serious
gamer, but
> there are thousands (millions ?) like me who do not want to drive a
virtual
> car/plane/speedboat etc but would gladly spend many many hours working
> trains. Give a choice of say a steam loco (press the F1 ten times to
tend and
> coal the firebox, press F2 to open the injector, should you forget to
open
> the cylinder steam cocks before you start - you end up with a cracked
barrel
> and the end of your driving career {the real steam walahs had to to do
this -
> remove the condesate from the cold cylinder at startup - there were
many
> areas in the steam loco operation that you had to remember, there was
no way
> to prevent a mistake being made) , keep speed under control on the
down
> gradient or you would derail the goods rake. One more choice (much
less
> demanding ) is driving a diesel or electric.
> I am not looking for a layout simulator like Cat train or a planning
game
> like Empire builder but a noisy and fast loco simulator.
Strange you should ask, Apurva -
the reason I was browsing the train game web site wasn't idle
curiosity.
I'm a software contractor, and I've worked for game companies before.
I currently have a 60% time contract with a little startup, and I'm
looking for something to do with the other 40%. I'm thinking of just
such a simulator as a little business.
You're riding 6000 HP of screaming AC power, now in dynamic braking. The
whine is
barely muted by the supposedly sound isolating cab. Behind you is
another 14000 HP
in the form of 3 convertible 90MAC's.
Behind that, though you can't see much of it on these tight mountain
curves, is
114 aluminum gondolas of bituminous. Somewhere back there are 5 more
units in DP mode.
YOu've struggled up Tennesee pass. Now all you have to do is get this
12,000 ton machine back down in one piece. Watch your slack action!
Your assistant driver leans out the cab window to relay signals from the
man on
the ground. Carefully, don't want to jostle the passengers, you gently
back your
WP onto the point of the Rajhdani. But you've got the easy part - it's
the
assistant driver who'se worried about the bad water, and watching the
glass for
the first sign of foaming.
8^)
If anybody knows of any programs even vaguely like this, good or bad,
I'd like
to know about them.
Annie
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Ramadan
Date: 20 Dec 1998 01:01:57 -0500
Felicitations on the beginning of Ramadan.
Annie
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Re: Website for Sarosh & Viraf
Date: 20 Dec 1998 01:46:29 -0500
Prakash Tendulkar wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> I am pleased to announce a web site for Sarosh and
> Viraf. Their latest pictures that bogged down many
> of us, can be viewed comfortably now as they have
> been converted to JPEG from BMP. The URL is:
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/irfca/">http://members.tripod.com/irfca/</A>
>
> If anyone has any concern for using "irfca", please
> let me know and I'll change it to something else.
> I could not get "visa" that is an abbreviation of
> VIraf and SArosh.
>
> Prakash
The website's wonderful. Viraf, your written travelogue is
really exquisite, just wonderful writing.
Annie
From: clzeni <>
Subject: US prototype model photos
Date: 20 Dec 1998 07:16:41 -0500
Hello friends,
Please have a look at the URL below. It is my page of photographs of
models of my local model railway group, the League Of Non Aligned
Modelers. The page contains 15 thumbnails of photos of our modeling
work.
The page is <A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/leaguemodels.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/leaguemodels.html</A>
--
Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com
<A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html</A>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: MONORAIL society WEBSITE homepage
Date: 20 Dec 1998 07:20:20 -0500
It is better to run the monorail along the Western Express highway and
then enter the
Western Rail corridor at Bandra. At Bandra both the Central rail trains
via Mahim Jn
and harbour lines as well as Western lines can be easily connected.
Maybe there is a
similar plan when the proposed Kurla Bandra corridor would be developed
in a few years
time. I have also read the Mumbai and Delhi both are getting Metro
subways. It would
be silly to use any other special rakes but the normal EMUs for the
metros to cater
for the density. Are there any metros in the world which use a OHE
rather than 3rd
rail ?
Our Mumbai / Godrej gang should give us more details about what is in
future.
Apurva
Vdate@aol.email wrote:
> Here is an insane idea which might just work. As many NRIs and many
other
> visitors to India suffer delays in reaching train terminals after
landing at
> Sahar, they might be interested in funding (with decent return on the
> investment ofcourse) a rail link between the airport and VT. Or
should it
> connect to Dadar where both WR and CR trains would be available. Any
comments
> on feasibility and distances, etc.?
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Railways charging Amartya Sen for Special Coach.
Date: 20 Dec 1998 07:21:43 -0500
Let us also have faith in the Indian sense of morality (particularly
that of the
Calcutta junta) who would easily rally against the railway's judgement
and even
collect money from the ordinary folks to pay for the expenses. The fact
that Calcutta
has produced 2 out of 3 Indian Nobel Laureates is a very strong source
of pride for
the Calcutta dweller and they would not take it lying down. But I think
even the
railways would relent, maybe the initial statements were from railwaymen
who were
possibly not aware of who Dr. Sen was.
The railways arrange special trains for their own purposes at hardly a
moment's
notice. I know of two instances: there was a very sick railway official
(DRM level, I
think) and he was rushed from a smaller town to the Byculla railway
hospital by a
single loco and one inspection coach. My cousin (who is a doctor with
the railways)
was in the team who had gone from Byculla to fetch the man, hence the
train was sent
from Mumbai and brought back to Mumbai. The train arrived in the peak
morning rush
hour at Dadar and the man was rushed to the railway hospital nearby
amongst the
milling crowds. My cousin feared a minor riot for having disrupted the
peak traffic
but apart from dirty stares from commuters, nothing else happened.
I also know one instance where an ordinary civilian with severe head
injury had to be
evacuated from Singrauli to Varanasi. The mighty Coal India Ltd. (which
operates the
mines in Singrauli) called on the railways and a train was arranged
within two hours
to carry the injured man to Varanasi.
The Railways officials can easily arrange a free train for Dr. Sen, only
they have to
be convinced properly.
Apurva
Vdate@aol.email wrote:
> Just saw a news article in India Journal, The Southern California
Leading
> Indo-American Journal. Gives a refreshing insight how railways can
honor
> people. Metrolink, the commuter train system in Los Angeles and four
> surrounding counties just named their San Clemente Station. SHAH
STATION in
> the honor of Jitendra Shah, a native of India who is in charge of
their
> station design and construction. Now I am not saying that IR should
name a
> station or a division after Amartya Sen but a common decency would
have
> demanded not charging him!
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: New page on passing trains.....
Date: 20 Dec 1998 07:42:57 -0500
Bharat,
This is a great site. The first four pics amaze me. It is almost as if
the loco has
accelerated from the first pic to the second pic. The fourth pic where
the AK is
getting into a curve is my favourite on this page. Please let me know
what camera you
use. I must complement you for getting pics without much bystanders in
the frame
(except the WDM 2 hauled Rajdhani).
Apurva
Bharat Vohra wrote:
> Hi All!
> Please check out another addition to 'railinindia' at-
>
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/pass.html">http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/pass.html</A>
>
> Do get back to me with any feedback,
>
> Thanks and regards
> Bharat Vohra
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: India Rails
Date: 20 Dec 1998 07:59:31 -0500
Anne, I am excited already - YOU should know the software market and
since you are so near
to the software mecca - post the game makers this idea.
Apurva
Anne Ogborn wrote:
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> >
> > Gang,
> >
> > I want to know if there is a loco simulator software available,
where the
> > player is the driver himself, he has to watch the speed limits, fuel
balance
> > and signals. I know that there is hardly a challenge for a serious
gamer, but
> > there are thousands (millions ?) like me who do not want to drive a
virtual
> > car/plane/speedboat etc but would gladly spend many many hours
working
> > trains. Give a choice of say a steam loco (press the F1 ten times to
tend and
> > coal the firebox, press F2 to open the injector, should you forget
to open
> > the cylinder steam cocks before you start - you end up with a
cracked barrel
> > and the end of your driving career {the real steam walahs had to to
do this -
> > remove the condesate from the cold cylinder at startup - there were
many
> > areas in the steam loco operation that you had to remember, there
was no way
> > to prevent a mistake being made) , keep speed under control on the
down
> > gradient or you would derail the goods rake. One more choice (much
less
> > demanding ) is driving a diesel or electric.
> > I am not looking for a layout simulator like Cat train or a planning
game
> > like Empire builder but a noisy and fast loco simulator.
>
> Strange you should ask, Apurva -
> the reason I was browsing the train game web site wasn't idle
curiosity.
>
> I'm a software contractor, and I've worked for game companies before.
> I currently have a 60% time contract with a little startup, and I'm
> looking for something to do with the other 40%. I'm thinking of just
> such a simulator as a little business.
>
> You're riding 6000 HP of screaming AC power, now in dynamic braking.
The whine is
> barely muted by the supposedly sound isolating cab. Behind you is
another 14000 HP
> in the form of 3 convertible 90MAC's.
> Behind that, though you can't see much of it on these tight mountain
curves, is
> 114 aluminum gondolas of bituminous. Somewhere back there are 5 more
units in DP mode.
> YOu've struggled up Tennesee pass. Now all you have to do is get this
> 12,000 ton machine back down in one piece. Watch your slack action!
>
> Your assistant driver leans out the cab window to relay signals from
the man on
> the ground. Carefully, don't want to jostle the passengers, you gently
back your
> WP onto the point of the Rajhdani. But you've got the easy part -
it's the
> assistant driver who'se worried about the bad water, and watching the
glass for
> the first sign of foaming.
>
> 8^)
>
> If anybody knows of any programs even vaguely like this, good or bad,
I'd like
> to know about them.
>
> Annie
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: Website on DHR.
Date: 20 Dec 1998 08:25:55 -0500
Mysore-Banglore has been long converted to BG.
HARSH
-----Original Message-----
From: Rajan Mathew <rajanmathew@usa.email
To: Harsh Vardhan <champa@del3.email Shankar
<shankie@emirates.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: Website on DHR.
>Is SBC Bangalore City one such station
>with NG - Bangalore City - Yelahanka Jn.
>and MG to Mysore / Hubli / Salem ???
>
>
>Rajan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Harsh Vardhan <champa@del3.email
>To: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
>Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>Date: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 3:01 PM
>Subject: Re: Website on DHR.
>
>
>>
>>
>>>>i) To the best of my information, New Jalpaiguri is the only station
in
>>the
>>>>world to have 3 gauges!
>>>>
>>
>>>I BEG TO DIFFER. MIRAJ TOO WAS ANOTHER STATION WITH THREE GAUGES:
>>>BG TO POONA, MG TO GOA AND BANGALORE, AND NG TO KURDUWADI.
>>> I THINK ALL THE MG HAS NOW BEEN REGAUGED TO BG AND THE NG IS SLATED
FOR
>>CONVERSION.
>>
>>
>>There were many other `was' like Ujjain for one. But as far as I know,
NJP
>>is the only one left now. Can anyone throw more light on the 3 gauge
>>stations on IR in past and present?
>>
>>HARSH
>>
>
>
>
From: prakash <>
Subject: Mumbai Rail should adopt Chicago model
Date: 20 Dec 1998 09:43:44 -0500
Folks,
I believe Mumbai should adopt Chicago model for subway. In
most part, it runs on the bridge over the existing roads
becoming underground where such construction was possible.
Due to this nature, they have the shortest (48 feet long)
coaches in US. Some of their curves align exactly with
surface street below, including 90 degrees turns. It
certainly is a better alternative to monorail considering
the volume of traffic.
Prakash
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Re: US prototype model photos
Date: 20 Dec 1998 14:42:45 -0500
clzeni wrote:
>
> Hello friends,
>
> Please have a look at the URL below. It is my page of photographs of
> models of my local model railway group, the League Of Non Aligned
> Modelers. The page contains 15 thumbnails of photos of our modeling
> work.
>
> The page is <A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/leaguemodels.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/leaguemodels.html</A>
>
> --
> Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com
>
> <A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html</A>
Beautiful models. I was impressed with the trackwork shot - two dual
gage
tracks and a std gage all crossing at the same point! =8^O
The "BLT" was fun too.
But, I'm most intrigued - how'd you get the name "League of nonaligned
modellers"?