Virtual Scale Layout

Here is your chance to run Dawson Station from the comfort of your own computer! To complete the puzzle, you need to drop off the empty center beam (yellow) at the shed and the empty wood chip car (orange) at the chip loader (compare it to the picture in the banner above!)  The game ends when you pick the empties up and head for Alpine Junction. To get started, click on the image below . . .

[Update, March 2014] If you are getting a "Java applications are blocked by your security settings", please follow Java's instructions here (I had to add exceptions for http://openprocessing.org and http://c0419648.cdn2.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com). Alternatively, you could download Processing and my sketch and run it directly on your computer. I'm disappointing that Java has made this so difficult.

[Update, June 2015] Looks like Java is getting stricter. I think now the only way to run it is to:

  1. Download my code from http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/9754 (you will need to sign up to access it).
  2. Download Processing from https://processing.org/download/.
  3. Run my "shunting.pde" file in Processing. If you get an error about "displays", try  -> [preferences] -> "Run sketches on display " to "1".

If you enjoyed that, head on over and see some other virtual puzzles layouts I've put together.

Interestingly, the Processing software used to produce this Java applet is almost identical to the Arduino software used to program the microcrontrollers. If you click on the link, you can actually read the source code, should you be so inclined. Here is a quick screen shot:
The nice part is that it will run on ANY computer running a java-enabled browser, including Chrome running on Linux! Gotta love open source software! I plan to do a Timesaver version, and then use it to plan my next switching layout. Perhaps a complimentary module like a paper mill for Dawson Station to send loads to?

24 comments:

  1. Well that was fun!
    I've run a couple of missions and it works like a charm. Thanks :)

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  2. That's very nice indeed. Could you say something about how you made this demo?

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  3. Don, that was fun, and you did a great job. Like some others I'd like to know how you made that, it would be fun to design my own layout and run trains on it.
    For a small alyout that would be fun to build and operate on. Thanks,

    Brian

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  4. And now, the timesaver!

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  5. I flunked the test! You don't wanna hire me. :)
    Linda W.

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  6. just what the wife needs, me to find another way to waste time on the computer. great fun
    Glenno from footscray

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  7. Cool simulation, thanks! My best score is 287 points in 233 secons, with the easy throttle

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  8. hello. thank you very much for letting me comment. very good article I would like more information on this item

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  9. This is simply wonderful... micro layouts (3D and virtual) are the best!

    JP
    Crofton, MD

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  10. Not quite as easy as it looks at first, but you soon get the hang of it. Now I'll go build a real one!

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  11. I'm a engineer and this blog is one of my favorites, because last edition I've learned, JavaScript's used applications outside web pages—for example in PDF-documents, site-specific browsers and desktop widgets—is also important to know it. Newer and faster Javascript VMs, particularly Node. 23jj

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  12. And I thought that a Inglenook will be uninteresting...
    Now I know thats a lot of fun!
    Thank's a lot!

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  13. One of the reasons why I like visiting your blog so much is because it has become a daily reference I can use in order to learn new nice stuff. It's like a curiosities box that surprises you over and over again.

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  14. Addictive to say the least! LOL

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  15. I like it!, can't wait for the timesaver code.

    Thanks for posting the code too, maybe I will try writing some jave too :-)

    Brian

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  16. Awesome stuff you guys got here. I read few articles on this web site and I believe that your web blog is really interesting and holds sets off great info. Thank you for the post, really useful data.

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  17. Could I have this virtual railway game on my smartphone? Thanks a lot.

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  18. I have an updated Java. When I click on the shunting puzzle I get a message that my computer does not have a Java plug-in. I verified the download I have and it is the current plug-in. What do I need to do to get tarted with the puzzle?

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    1. This is a workaround:
      1) Download the code from http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/9754 (you will need to sign up or send me an email).
      2) Download Processing from https://processing.org/download/
      3) Run the "shunting.pde" file in Processing.

      I did have to set [File] -> [preferences] -> "Run sketches on display " to "1". to avoid a java error.

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  19. I have downloaded the sources as your describe. All execute without error, but the shunting and time-saver puzzles start is about a 1" sq window unable to see complete puzzle. How do I increase the window size to see the complete puzzle.

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