Hello Tom!
I haven't used a computer to do that, but I have used various combinations
of "theorized" car weights and tonnage ratings. Those do work in regards to
giving you a taste of limitations imposed by tonnage, but that was not
really what I was trying to go after back when I was applying myself to
this.
In my experimentations, I determined that when tonnage ratings are "real"
(as opposed to paper-induced) things get more "interesting" with the models.
That is, you begin to face the need to solve some problems similar to those
that the prototype has to deal with as well.
For example, on the prototype, just because I'm able to loft 5000 tons over
a familiar grade on a given day with a pair of GP38's, does NOT mean I can
do the same thing the next day. Something as simple as time of day (is dew
on the rails?) can make or break the effort.
Plus, not all cars (rolling stock) are the same. Some pull with more
resistance than others, a stiff truck, for example, or a slight drag of a
brake shoe, a slow releaser, etc. Throw in several cars with such handicaps
and you'll wonder why you laid down on the very same hill you have made with
an identical number of loads and the same engines! (Been there, done that,
too many times!)
IMHO, figuring out livable solutions for weight and mass that can bring some
of these elements to the layout could add a tremendous amount of new found
fun to modeling a mountain railroad, or any model railroad with grades.
Given momentum throttles in conjunction with contrivances to add mass and
inertia... the term "Ruling Grade" will take on an entirely new meaning for
the model pike. You just may learn to do some of the things we have to do
"out there"! (Like getting a good "run" at a hill... or having to double
over if you fail, etc!)
Have fun!
Andre
> Hi Andre,
>
> Have you given any thought to using bar codes? Your computer would be
> able
> to track the loads/empties and set limits on how a given loco would
> respond
> under those conditions.
>
> Well, just a thought anyway,
>
> Tom Stoltz
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