PC-Rail Simulations: Additional Notes

Motive Power data

Motive Power master files

• The master files are intended to be shared between all installed PC-Rail simulations.
• There are 2 data files, class.dbf and unit.dbf.
• When the simulation is run via PC-Rail Plus (or the Data Builder), the motive power directory is the Shared subdirectory of the directory to which the Builder software is installed.
• When the simulation has been installed using its distribution setup file, the motive power directory is the Shared subdirectory of the PC-Rail installation directory.

Timetable motive power files

• These contain only the data for motive power which has been assigned to trains in the timetable.
• There are 2 data files, class_#.dbf and unit_#.dbf, where # = the timetable identifier.

Use of motive power data in the timetable editor

• When a timetable is opened, the timetable's own MP data is merged with the master MP data, into the "working" files, wclass.dbf and wunit.dbf. (proc wmpfiles)
• When the timetable is saved, the timetable MP files are regenerated, by extracting the used records from the working files. (proc mpextract)
• When the user exits from the editor, the MP master files are updated to include any changes made in the working files. (proc wmpupdate)

Loco shed allocations for a specific timetable

(New feature added June 2008)

File structure changes:

• progsource\unit00.dbf:
• new field alloc, C(4)
• Holds current allocation of a loco (or unit) which is assigned to a train in the timetable

• data0\wtt_hdr.dbf:
• new field wmpalloc, N(1)
• values (1=off, 2=on)

The value of wmpalloc for a timetable is set in Properties/MP Setup in the Editor.

If wmpalloc>1:

• The motive power selection window (for one train) displays an additional input box for each loco/unit, for the alloc field.
• If no value has yet been defined for alloc, it is initially assigned the value (if any) held in the alloc1 field in the master unit data file.
• When the value of alloc is entered, the value is copied to alloc1 in the master unit data file only if alloc1 is empty,

N.B. If the same loco/unit is used more than once in a timetable, there is no check that it has been given the same alloc.

Display of allocation data:

• When the motive power description is generated for a train, if its motive power is defined and there is a value in the alloc field, this value is added in square brackets after the loco/unit number, e.g. [35A].