<<< Loop: >>>

In rail terminology, a loop can mean one of two configurations:

1- A stretch of rail track that provides a place for a train to halt temporarily while other trains pass on an adjacent main line . This configuration allows the sequence of trains along a track to change. The feature is common on single-track and busy double track railways throughout Britain and Ireland. In the US this sort of track is called a siding: in Britain, a passing loop.

2- A railway line which describes a loop, or part thereof, sometimes allowing trains to return to the start point by a different route. Examples in England are the Dartford Loop in south east London and the Hounslow Loop in west London.

The same term is used in Australia: examples there being the City Loop in Melbourne or the Ekka Loop in Brisbane. Sydney's underground system is known as the City Circle. Similarly, in US terminology, a loop is a section of track which curves back onto itself to allow trains to change direction. This is less common than a wye track.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_(rail)

<<< Release: >>>

There are three types of trains. The station logic is different depending on the type of the train:

1- Through trains have crew change, locomotive change, pick-up, set-out,refueling, and inspection.

2- Originating trains acquire departure track, build train, acquire locomotive(s), acquire crew, and depart to mainline.

3- Terminating trains acquire receiving track, *** release locomotive *** and crew. They can either switch to hump lead or classification track, and release receiving track.

PDF http://www.informs-cs.org/wsc98papers/154.PDF

HTML http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:SxYFXn_EYqYJ:www.inform...



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Note added at 20 hrs 42 mins (2005-08-14 17:23:06 GMT)
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