Ramblings October 02

It’s been a busy couple of weeks around NERR HQ, and I’m sure that you are all having a great time going through the training process and getting into the cab. The purpose of this newsletter is to help you get the most out of NERR, whether it’s tips from our great board of directors, an algebra lesson from MR Roberts, a little insight into things to come, or you’re just waiting for that fourth pot of coffee of the night to brew before setting out to destinations unknown.

It’s been great to see a lot of you on the forums. Your support of NERR never ceases to amaze me. Just ten days after opening the gates, we found ourselves with a roster of more than fifty engineers! You have all been extremely patient with us, and that is a great incentive for everyone here to remain motivated and for us to keep going full steam ahead.

I’d like to offer up yet another means of communication with us. Starting with the next newsletter, we’re planning a Letters to the Editor section. Be it cheers, jeers, or just letting us know what’s on your mind, feel free to e-mail me at eic@vnerr.com. In addition, if any of you are interested in writing a regular column, by all means get in touch. You’re a great bunch and I’d like to showcase some of the diversity of the group. Go on then, get writing!

Usually you get stuck on a section of track that goes from 2 to 1 tracks, with an oncoming train sitting at a red light, and you sitting at a red light. You will wait forever unless you put it in reverse and back up just enough to change direction. This will force the AI train to move. Once it passes your light will turn green most of the time. If it doesn't now you have to inch forward and it will. If it doesn't then make sure you stopped at 0.0 of the red signal on your track. MSTS is funny stuff. Sometimes you have to rock it back and forth.

NOTE: If another AI train is scheduled to come through there with priority you will have to wait for it also. This all depends on who wrote the activity.

It's been just three weeks since the launch of NERR and we're well underway to becoming the largest and best VR yet.

Nine routes were adopted to make a virtual North America. Activities are designed in several ways. Divisional - Span several routes, Local - Stay in 1 route and Extra board - For 1 time run special activities. Other activities are designed in parts, to simulate an entire work day. Each starting where the other left off.

Over 130 pieces of equipment have been repainted in North Eastern colours. Each piece of equipment has been thoroughly overhauled to have correct physics, operating lights, braking forces, dimensions & power. Plus couplers are fixed for the dreaded Marias Pass coupler breaking.

A training division has been set up with special training equipment and activities. It has been designed to follow NORAC standards. Although it is not required, it is fun and Award Certificates are given out for those completing training and/or recertification.

North Eastern is run by a bunch of old guys who love trains and computers. One of us even works for CSX as an engineer. We are all over 40 but still like to play with trains. It's great to have you on board!

Due to the overwhelming response from the community, our bandwidth allocation has once again been used much more quickly than expected. All equipment downloads have been temporarily moved to mirror servers. Check the Announcements forum for the latest details.

When operating in the yards of any route you will encounter a red signal even if there is no other traffic around. Request permission from the Dispatcher when encountering a Red Signal in the yards. Stop when 0.0, ([F4] Track Monitor shows this), from signal. Press [TAB] to request permission to proceed. The light will still be red but you can proceed as normal.

Although it may seem that the pace of change has begun to slow down, NERR has been working diligently over the past couple of weeks on a few new initiatives for our engineers to enjoy. Several ideas have recently been considered by the board of directors and are in various stages of maturity. Among them:

Tip #3: Fuelling Hint

Press [F5] twice to see the fuel gauge HUD display. Line up your fuel tank with the pump. Press [T] and the pump will swivel out. With the pump swivelled out, move your engine until you see a new PINK line in the display telling you your position from the fuel tank. (Move engine with breaks on to just nudge it in either direction.) When the PINK LINE reads 0% you will see the fuel gauge value increase while you continue pressing [T].

You have to line up the T pump's spout with what would be the filler cap on the engines gas tank. These are all in different places. A little practice is required and can be very frustrating. Practice makes perfect.

The Rambling Interview

Each issue, we'll talk to a valued member of the NERR community. For our first edition, we've selected someone that has been instrumental to the development of the railroad: Trainmaster MR Roberts.

Q. Let's start out with some of the basic stats. What's your full name, age, and place of birth?

A. Martin R. (you don't want to know what R is for) Roberts. Age 51. Birthdate: 11/08/51. Born in Oklahoma City, OK.

Q. Have you any related formal higher education? Either way, tell us a little about what you studied.

A. B.S. degree in Beancounting.

Q. What's your favourite kind of beer?

A. Without a doubt. AKE (that's Andreas Klosterbrau Eschwege for those of you not familiar with Germany's finest). However, it's been almost 30 years since I had any.

If you can't have the best, why drink anything less?

Q. Tell us about your family.

A. Well, there's my wife of 27 years, MaryBeth a school teacher. I also have a son of 26 years, John, currently attending Seminary in San Francisco, and a son of 24 years, Jacob, currently working for Sprint and eating my groceries.

Q. Where do you currently work?

A. Work as assistant controller for large retail furniture company.

Q. Where are some of the places that you have worked in the past? Any incident stand out in your mind?

A. U.S Army for 3 years. Tours of duty in Vietnam and Germany as a Morse Intercept Operator. I was too stupid for the Infantry (That is really true. I failed the Infantry written exam twice.), so they gave me a Top Secret security clearance and put me in the Army's branch of NSA. Go figure.

Q. What's your favourite movie? Why?

A. Grand Prix with James Garner. Because I love auto racing and its the best movie ever made about it.

Q. Let's switch gears now and talk about railroading. What has attracted you to this hobby?

A. I've always been interested in trains since early childhood. I can't explain it except to say that my grandfather used to take me down to the Rock Island yards with him before he retired. I'd spend the weekend in El Reno with them and then he'd use his pass to bring me back home to OKC on the old Choctaw Rocket.

Q. Do you have any other hobbies?

A. I've dabbled in local stock car racing on 2 different occasions. Engine builder for a couple of friends that had a car for a while. I have a unique pickup truck that I occasionally wax up and take to car shows. I call it a `49 El Camino.

Q. At the same moment, two trains leave Chicago and New York. They move towards each other with constant speeds. The train from Chicago is moving at a speed of 40 miles per hour, and the train from New York is moving at speed of 60 miles per hour. The distance between Chicago and New York is 1000 miles. How long after their departure will they meet?

A. Geez, I hate word problems. I'm an accountant, not a mathematician.

Q. Seriously, what attracted you to NERR?

A. I liked what Bob had done with ACR, and was intrigued with his vision for his own VR. Bob gave me the opportunity to help make NERR what I had hoped to find with other VRs. I wanted something that would function reasonably like a real railroad where members could learn what its like to work for a real railroad company. Many people don't realize how many rules and regulations that railroad employees are subject to. I think we're giving NERR members a taste of what it takes to become an engineer. I like the fact that there are requirements to be met by members other than just showing up to run a few activities.

Q. What would you like to see change?

A. I want to see us get the Virtual Extra Board off the ground once we get settled in and have our Training Division fully in place. So far my main focus has been on making the NERR equipment work and look more realistic. Once that is basically out of the way, I want to start writing some activities that will test the certified engineers' skills and knowledge. That is where I see the VEB going, but perhaps using prototypical routes and equipment with prototype scenarios.

Q. Look ahead to October 2003. Where do you see the railway?

A. I see NERR as the leader in the VR movement. If we offer a consistently expanding experience that continues to challenge the membership to improve their knowledge and skills, then we will probably begin to see an increased interest and awareness of what VRs can offer to MSTS users. I think alot of people have soured on VRs because there has not been one available that keeps their interest for more than a few weeks. I see NERR as one of the leading peripheral MSTS experiences once word gets around that we're more than just another web page.

Q. Does it smell funny in here or is it just me?

A. Oh its definitely you. I took my bath last Saturday.

Q. What sacrifices have you made in order to devote the amount of time that you do to NERR?

A. I never just sit around and watch TV anymore, except for some auto races or football games.

Thanks Martin!

Atlantic Coastal Announces Commuter Scheduling Initiative. ACR has announced an initiative to "hammer out a definite schedule for Commuter Service on both legs of their (at the current moment) sketchy commuter service." A timeline for the new schedule has not been released.