TrainTrafX

Train TrafX is a PC application that you can use with your Model Rail Road.  It is designed to allow you to enjoy your layout more by creating traffic on your layout. 

Overview: 

This is really meant for people that have small -medium (maybe large)  layouts and want to get more out of the layout without all the complexity of cards or other methods to generate traffic. 

Details:

Train TrafX will generate traffic for your layout. To do this it needs to know about your setup, how many rolling stock cars you have, industries, locomotives, and routes. Once you enter this info, you can then generate traffic for your layout. When you start a run Train TrafX will assign a locomotive and will randomly select a pickup and drop-off location and pick a route to get you there.  

When completed you select drop-off Complete.  

Opening Screen: 

Start by creating your own DB of industries, passenger stations, locomotives and rolling stock as well as route to take on your layout.  

 Click the Icon on the left to add each type. For industries (stops of any kind) you add the name and the car capacity for the stop. You can include things like maintenance shops, or Yards anyplace you stop to pick up or drop-off cars.  

Locomotives 

 For each Locomotive identify the Name and the car number. There are short cut buttons for common railroads in the US and Canada.  

 Industry 

 Route 

 Enter the route on your layout. If you have only 1 loop you can call it whatever you like. If your layout is point to point you can also just Identity the routes you can take.  

RollingStock 

 Enter the number of cars you have in your rolling stock inventory. This is used to help calculate the number of loops the train will take to get to its destination. You can make up a number if you like.  

You need at least 1 of each type to generate traffic. The Maint. icon allows you to view your data and remove items you do not want. You can also delete the DB and start over if you like.  

When you are done you click Finish.  

Operating: 

The main menu will now have the option to operate and view stats.  

 Select Operate 

 Click Go To generate Traffic. If you have not added at least 1 type of each category (Industry, Locomotive, Route, and Rollingstock) you will see an error. Return to the main menu and then Manage to add what is missing. If you need to view what is missing use the Maint. button then edit DB to see what you have in your inventory. 

 When you click generate, you will see the 1st task which will be a pickup with a location and the power to use. (right now its only 1 locomotive)  

When this move is completed click pickup compete. 

 

 Pickup complete will be indicated and the deliver to will be set. Complete the task using the routing defined. When you are done click Drop-off Compete. That will complete this turn.  

When you are done, you can click exit which will return you to the main menu.  

 You can now View Data to get some stats on what you have been doing.  

 This will allow you to see the car count moved by pickup drop off locations, the Name, or the Power used to deliver it.  

By power 

 That is about it. The idea of this is to keep it very simple. I have built a much more complex version of this app on Android called Train Traffix. However, I realized that it was too difficult to use and took too long to populate so I created a very simple version to allow you to just Pick up cars and drop them off.  

If you like it or want new features just let me know.  

Enjoy.