Reviving the shunting idea

[Jim_the_Chair]

Hi,
I play Open TTD a lot attempting to create realistic-looking stations and yards and such. With the countless numbers of GRF's available, I never have any problems with the looks. However, I also strive for realism in my routes as well. One such area that I strive to replicate is shunting or marshalling.

Currently, you can get a train to a station, unload all, and with some well placed waypoints and stations, move the train into sidings. But I always watch old train documentaries and play train simulator scenarios and I realised you will hardly ever see a A4 Pacific marshalling it's load into a sidings.

My proposition for shunting wouldn't be based of the Rail Road Tycoon of having shunting to be able to give the train any cargo hat needs to go on that route, but would be a bit more complicated. This way would make it a feature that isn't needed to run the game. Think of it like Timetabling, you don't need to use it, but its a feature. This way could work more like train simulator - uncoupling the coaches you want to uncouple. This is were it gets complicated. Say if a freight train stops at a station, the stations shunter could detect when that specific train has arrived and 'uncoupled'. It would then drive to the back of the train, couple, and reverse to wherever it has to go. Meanwhile, you could do whatever with the freight loco: service it, get another train to bring another freight job, or make it go back to the original station and use another load or even take back an already empty stock waiting at the station.

I believe that, for me who strives for realism, would make this game more, well, realistic. It probably isn't everybody's cups of tea, and it might be hard to code, but I think it would be cool. Oh, and you theoretically wouldn't have to buy as many trains.

I would love to hear any responses anyone has to this thought.

[Transportman]

I think it would be too much work without much benefit.

[Jim_the_Chair]

I think it would be too much work without much benefit.

Yeah, I just thought it would be a cool, unique feature.

[S-Transport]

Surely, it would be much work, but it would be nice!

[Pyoro]

The problem is simple - it's been discussed a lot of time, but ultimately all discussion is moot until someone is actually sitting there say "I'm coding this!" So - are you that person? ^^; Otherwise, whether anyone wants this or not, it's just not really productive.

[JacobD88]

SirOzlington did some work on such a feature; whilst I've not seen them around for years it may be worth dropping a PM to see if they'll release the code...

https://youtu.be/d9d7wfgMTMg