Suggestion/Idea: Overhead Track

Griff · Post by **Griff** » 31 Dec 2006 15:58

(See enclosed picture)

The blue in the picture represents the track suspended in the air, the red then represents the supports holding the track in the air. The support columns are along the sides of the road allowing trucks and buses to still use the road whilst trains travel overhead.

The only practical use is just like a tramway but without traffic obstruction.

In essence: http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/exhibitio ... 293_Br.jpg

CMircea · Post by **CMircea** » 31 Dec 2006 18:25

Excellent idea for a tram service!

Bad Hair Day · Post by **Bad Hair Day** » 31 Dec 2006 21:46

In other words, a suspended monorail? I like the idea, but I assume it would be passenger and mail only so as to not make trucks useless. I'd say it would also have to be fairly expensive, so buses are still used.

czerty · Post by **czerty** » 01 Jan 2007 12:24

Yes, very nice idea, needing research about building/runing cost, but this can be very good for town with heavy trafic.
And of course only for pasangers (and mayby mail, if transported IRL).

Ameecher · Post by **Ameecher** » 01 Jan 2007 12:53

So you are talking about something very similar, if not identical to the Schweberbahn in Wuppertal, Germany. It does exactly this. Here is the Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppertal_monorail

and a picture above a road in Wuppertal, it also runs above the river...

CMircea · Post by **CMircea** » 01 Jan 2007 14:49

Got it!

But it should be only for passengers, because transporting mail with a medium (or high) speed suspended monorail sounds odd.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » 01 Jan 2007 19:33

The question is though..is it possible.
In theory its rather no different to a bridge, except that the train is hanging rather than running across. We would however need the ability to curve the track.

The suspension railway is a monorail suspended from a steel supporting frame with a rail built underneath it. It hangs on wheels which are driven by electric motor.

The supporting frame and tracks are made out of 486 pillars and bridgework sections. At the ends of the route there are turning points and parking spaces for the trains, which turn around so as to carry passengers there and back one after the other. This method of transport, without crossings, is similar to an overground metro system.

One carriage can carry about 200 passengers. The top speed is 60 km/h and the average speed is 26.6 km/h.

This is useful..showing that we'd need curves because the tracks do not 'cross' in an conventional railway, and it also gives the stats of the trains which is useful.

If you are running short of space you can also have the overhead running over normal railway tracks which you mean you can create customisable stations with lower and upper levels.

Connum · Post by **Connum** » 01 Jan 2007 20:30

Awesome!!! That could be a new type let's say in the year 2050 or something!

Post by **Dave** » 02 Jan 2007 00:56

Since the point of it being like that is because it doesn't have any effect on roads, it's a non-runner from the start.

Especially when you're playing OTTD and thus haven't got the problem of congestion which is probably why that place was built.

Brianetta · Post by **Brianetta** » 02 Jan 2007 09:00

The Schweberbahn is over 100 years old - waiting until 2050 for that would be silly. Modern overhead monorails (not all of which are suspended) block less of the sky, allow switches and crossovers, etc, none of which had been solved when the Wuppertal system was constructed.

I think that the current monorail system should be elevated (as almost all monorails in the world are) and should be buildable on the course of roads as easily as they can be built over countryside. Local authority permission pending, of course.

SM9T8 · Post by **SM9T8** » 02 Jan 2007 22:36

Dave Worley wrote:Since the point of it being like that is because it doesn't have any effect on roads, it's a non-runner from the start.

Especially when you're playing OTTD and thus haven't got the problem of congestion which is probably why that place was built.

Railway lines congest roads, thats the excuse for stopping the trains running along the Weymouth tramway. Cars now park in the station, right on top of the tracks!

I like the overhead track idea, it would not only allow commuter services but, high speed services to run right into city centres, with the only bulldozing required where the stations would go.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » 03 Jan 2007 18:43

It's a good method if you want a train service, that acts as a tram service 'stopping frequently' that isnt heavy rail and takes a lot of bulldozing. The only space it would take is the small amount of square for the 'stairs' up to the platforms..

Mchl · Post by **Mchl** » 11 Jan 2007 19:32

I think this is something current monorail system should evolve into. It just doesn't seem reallistic to me to haul cargos like iron ore by monorail, yet it seems perfect for passenger transport.

Oh yeah, and let me build it along my beloved canals ;D

czerty · Post by **czerty** » 11 Jan 2007 21:39

Ok, we all agree, this will be very nice in game. Anyone try to work on this ?

Ameecher · Post by **Ameecher** » 11 Jan 2007 22:14

czerty wrote:Ok, we all agree, this will be very nice in game. Anyone try to work on this ?

Well perhaps you could start drawing some graphics so that someone with the know how could implement it?

SM9T8 · Post by **SM9T8** » 12 Jan 2007 19:50

Is there some sort of guide somewhere on how to produce graphics for ttd, I'm intrested in helping, but i have no idea how to.

I'm 16 and unskilled you see, enthusiasm and GCSEs are all i have...

.

Ameecher · Post by **Ameecher** » 12 Jan 2007 20:20

Emohawk wrote:Is there some sort of guide somewhere on how to produce graphics for ttd, I'm intrested in helping, but i have no idea how to.

I'm 16 and unskilled you see, enthusiasm and GCSEs are all i have... .

I'm 16 too! Try both the OTTD wiki and TTDP wiki, the TTDP wiki definitely has sprite drawing guides, also Purno's drawing tutorials will give you the basics.

TTDP Wiki
OTTD Wiki
Purno's Drawing Tutorials

Hope they help

SM9T8 · Post by **SM9T8** » 12 Jan 2007 20:53

Haha, i'll check out those links, thanks.

One more thing though:

Brianetta wrote:I think that the current monorail system should be elevated (as almost all monorails in the world are) and should be buildable on the course of roads as easily as they can be built over countryside. Local authority permission pending, of course.

The problem with that is we would then be limited to single track above roads, we should replace the current monorail with overhead monorail that can take double track on one tile, and mirror the curves on roads (as i think jpmaster suggested), as well as the diagonals of railway track, that is if it's possible.

SM9T8 · Post by **SM9T8** » 14 Jan 2007 13:01

I've been playing with ms paint, trying differant forms of supporting overhead track and even experimenting with what stations might look like.

I have two questions:

Is double track on one tile actually possible? - I have no idea how much work this would involve but I guess A LOT.
And if so would it then be possible to spit the track onto two tiles for stations? - Again i expect this would be A LOT of work.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » 14 Jan 2007 16:24

I dont think you can have two tracks on one tile..

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Suggestion/Idea: Overhead Track

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