MESSAGE
| DATE | 2015-09-16 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] Controlling the Subway with Free Software
|
On 09/16/2015 12:38 AM, Ruben Safir wrote:
> http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/NXSYS,_Signalling_and_Interlocking_Simulator
>
>
> NXSYS, Signalling and Interlocking Simulator
>
> nxsys.gif
>
>
> Contents
>
> * 1 NXSYS
>
> * 2 NXSYS OpenGL Cab View Feature (Windows Version)
>
> * 3 Download, Version 1 for Microsoft Windows
>
> * 4 NXSYS for the Macintosh (Mac OS X)
>
> * 5 Download, Version 2 for Mac OS X
>
> * 6 Legal Disclaimer
>
> * 7 Copyright
>
>
>
> NXSYS
>
> New!!! NXSYS, much improved, is now available for the Macintosh. Click
> here.
>
>
> *NXSYS, New York City Subway Signalling and Interlocking Simulator for
> Microsoft Windows®*
>
> A tool and toy and labor of love by Bernard S. Greenberg (contact
> Bernard ).
>
> *NXSYS* is an application for modern versions of Microsoft® Windows®
> (and now Macintosh Mac OS X - see below) that recreates for you the
> experience of controlling switches, signals, and trains in the New York
> City Subway system. Rather than conventional menus and toolbars, *NXSYS*
> presents to you the exact same user interface as so-called
> "Entrance-Exit" "pushbutton interlockings" present to New York City
> subway towerpersons, except that instead of pressing buttons with your
> finger, you click with the mouse. And instead of commanding real trains
> full of people, *NXSYS* simulates them cybernetically. You see the same
> display, get the same options and responses, must learn the same skills,
> and may enjoy the same pleasures as a towerperson at an "entrance-exit"
> interlocking.
>
> There is no more comprehensive, detailed information source on New York
> Subway Signalling publicly available, or perhaps even to insiders. This
> is *THE* way to learn about New York City Subway signalling. And it's
> for free, fun, interactive, extensible, and assumes /no prior
> knowledge./ (If you wish to learn about NY City signalling right now on
> the web, and aren't interested in trying NXSYS, or don't have a Windows®
> machine, *please visit NYC Subway Signals
> *, written by the author
> of this program and its documentation.)
>
> Signal photo by D. Pirmann
>
> The trains and tracks are imaginary, but the control panel, the
> extensive relay logic circuitry, and the real-time behavior and
> interaction of you and the imaginary trains and tracks are not. You
> press buttons and establish and cancel routings, control signals and
> switches, and interact with moving trains. You are limited by the
> circuitry to safe moves -- you are prevented from sending trains
> crashing at each other, setting routes that conflict with each other,
> moving switches while trains are on them, or executing any other invalid
> or dangerous action. Learning to control the switches and signals under
> these constraints is by no means trivial, and this is wherein the fun of
> *NXSYS* lies. *NXSYS* is supplied with two sample interlockings, a
> (fairly complex) 4-track layout, and a full-spec detailed three-track
> layout, an automatic demo that shows you what to do and comments on it,
> and a comprehensive help file in standard Windows® hypertext help format
> that explains not only all the functions of the program and supplied
> interlockings, but all of the railroad signalling, switching, and New
> York-specific concepts involved.
>
> *NXSYS* actually simulates relay wiring and logic designed according to
> New York City Transit Authority models and standards that have changed
> little in forty years. For the electrically-inclined, *NXSYS* allows the
> actual relay circuits to be shown in standard NYCTA notation, printed
> out /en masse/ to a system printer, and /actually observed in
> operation!/ Information is available for designing your own layouts. Not
> insignificantly, *NXSYS* can also be used as a powerful tool for
> interactive relay-logic design and simulation.
>
> A lifelike three-dimensional "flight simulator" view, showing the
> interlocking as you operate it, as a train operator would see it, is
> available. *NXSYS* is also an OLE Automation Server, and can be scripted
> by OLE Automation clients such as Microsoft Visual Basic®, or its own
> supplied client.
>
> If you find what you think are bugs, or even if you don't, please check
> this page and the release notes (see Downloads). Do not hesitate to
> contact the developer if
> you think you've identified a new bug.
>
> *NXSYS* can be viewed, utilized, or enjoyed at any of four levels:
>
> * An entertaining *rapid-transit video game* for those who love the
> subways and wish to recreate the experience of navigating the
> tracks, and learn more about the subways and their signals.
> * A comprehensive, *interactive learning tool* for the operation of
> rapid transit signalling and NX/UR control towers sufficiently
> detailed and accurate to be of value to those actually responsible
> for operating such equipment.
> * A detailed guide to the *sample implementation* of such systems in
> electrical relay logic, observable in action down to the relay level.
> * An interactive *computer-aided design (CAD) tool* for designing and
> debugging your own interlockings and signal circuitry.
>
>
> NXSYS OpenGL Cab View Feature (Windows Version)
>
> nxgl2.gif
>
> /NXSYS/OpenGL Screen Snapshot./
>
> (OpenGL Cab View not available on Mac version). If you need the special
> Windows 95/98 DLL's (if you use Windows NT(tm), you already have what
> you need) to run the 3-D Cab View software please read the following:
>
> *NXSYS*' 3-D track view feature exploits the massive power of the OpenGL
> Graphics interface developed by Silicon
> Graphics®, Inc. (in its implementation on 32-bit versions of
> Microsoft® 32-bit Windows) to display a "virtual reality", flight
> simulator-like window showing the tracks and signals of interlockings as
> they actually appear to eye of the train operator (previously
> "motorman"), in full perspective with lighting, shading, etc. If your
> machine is fast enough, realistic animation is achievable.
>
> This /cab view window/ appears in addition to the interlocking control
> panel, and, running semi-autonomously in a separate thread, has its own
> menu and keyboard commands. When you control the signals in *NXSYS* via
> the standard means, the "real signals" in the cab view window change
> aspect dynamically. You can move the viewpoint up and down the tracks
> and turn around. Self-documentation is supplied. *Press F1 for
> documentation/help when in the Cab View Window.*
>
> You can use the cab view window in conjuction with the "train system",
> and actually see out the front window of a train as it moves over the
> interlocking, as with a flight simulator.
>
> In order to try it, you need three components:
>
> * The *NXSYS* OpenGL DLL *NXGLVIEW.DLL*, which is distributed with the
> current version of NXSYS (see Downloads).
> * The current version of *NXSYS* (see Downloads).
> * The OpenGL system. If you are running *Windows 2000*, or *Windows
> NT* 3.51 or better, you already have OpenGL as part of the operating
> system. If you are running *Windows '95*, you may or may not have
> the necessary components. If you have *OPENGL.DLL* and *GLU32.DLL*
> already, great. If not, you can get them (Windows '95 only: they are
> Microsoft Redistributables) at this link
> . Unzip them into
> NXSYS' directory, or your windows System directory.
>
> If you have the OpenGL components available, and you place
> *NXGLVIEW.DLL* where *NXSYS* can find it (for example, in the same
> directory), *NXSYS* will display the new window at the time you load an
> interlocking. If you do not have the DLL, or fail to place it where
> *NXSYS* can find it, or you are missing OpenGL, *NXSYS* /will not
> diagnose an error, but will proceed to operate as it had in the past,
> without them./
>
> You need a reasonably fast processor for this to perform acceptably.
> Performance on a 90MHz Pentium(tm) is acceptable; performance on a 33MHz
> 486 is unacceptable; floating point hardware is a *must.* Intermediate
> data points are not available yet. It should look like the image above
> -- if it does not, please notify the developer
> , and be sure to describe
> your video card, processor, and operating system.
>
> *NXGLVIEW.DLL* and the *NXSYS* main app "know about" the insides of each
> other, so you must have compatible versions to use the former. Thus,
> when *NXSYS* loads the DLL, they will negotiate and make a check that
> the versions you have are compatible, and if they are not, you will get
> a message to that effect advising you to obtain a pair which are. If
> that occurs, please fetch the latest *NXSYS* and *NXGLVIEW.DLL* (see
> Downloads).
>
>
> Download, Version 1 for Microsoft Windows
>
> *NXSYS* requires a 32-bit version of the Microsoft Windows® operating
> system, meaning Windows 95®, Windows 98®, Windows NT®, Windows 2000®, or
> Windows XP® on the Intel® architecture (386, 486, Pentium®, etc., i.e.,
> any "PC") only. It is not supported on Win32s®. To download it, click
> below, and unzip in a new directory of your choosing, and be sure to
> read readme.txt.
>
> For those deeply enough involved with the concepts at hand to attempt to
> design their own scenarios (track layouts) in *NXSYS'* "relay language",
> which is a subset of Lisp, the "relay compiler" (a 32-bit command line
> application) and its associated tools and documentation such as it is
> are available. Be forewarned, however, that to create your own operative
> interlockings, you have to design and implement all the relay circuitry
> -- the tools do not design the interlocking for you.
>
> For those *NXSYS* experts who are also Windows experts who wish to write
> OLE Automation Controllers for NXSYS, the OLE automation tools are
> useful and necessary. If you don't know what this means, you don't need it.
>
> * NXSYS zip file (500K) -- Click here to download
>
> * NXSYS Relay Compiler zip file (117K) -- Click here to download
>
> * NXSYS OLE Automation client tools zip file (31K) -- Click here to
> download
> * Release notes.
>
>
> NXSYS for the Macintosh (Mac OS X)
>
> sm_nxmac20.png
>
> At long last, here is a complete implementation of NXSYS, the New York
> City interlocking and signalling simulator, for the Apple Macintosh.
> NXSYS/Mac is a port of NXSYS Version 2, which, as you can see from the
> screenshot above, allows for unrestricted two-dimensional track and
> panel layouts (the Microsoft Windows release of NXSYS Version 2 is not
> ready yet). NXSYS/Mac is distributed with four sample interlockings: in
> addition to Version 2 ports of Progman St. and Islington from Version 1,
> full implementations of two actual fairly complex New York City
> interlockings, Atlantic Avenue on the IRT (Division A) and
> Broadway-Myrtle on the BMT (Division B) are supplied. Full HTML
> documentation of the new Macintosh features as well as a thorough
> upgrading of the extensive Version 1 helpfile are included.
>
> Version 2 NXSYS (including NXSYS/Mac) does not support the OpenGL "Cab
> View" feature of Version 1. NXSYS/Mac also does not support (Windows
> COM/OLE-based) NXScript. Otherwise, it's all there, including TLEdit,
> the Version 2 track layout editor (see the documentation inside).
>
> Developed mainly under Mavericks (OS/X 10.9), NXSYS/Mac has been tested
> against Yosemite (OS/X 10.10), and continues to support Mavericks, but
> not earlier. NXSYS/Mac is distributed as a .dmg disk-image file system,
> in whose top directory you will find a README with further instructions.
>
>
> Download, Version 2 for Mac OS X
>
> * NXSYS Mac version 2, DMG file (5 Mb.) -- Click here to download
>
>
>
> Legal Disclaimer
>
> *Legal Disclaimer*. If you want to use these ideas and software tools
> for your own model railroad, have fun, but please be aware that the
> design of safe, reliable signal circuitry for real railroads and other
> life-critical missions is a highly-skilled specialty requiring years of
> training, apprenticeship, and certification. Any principles gathered
> from the documentation and circuitry of this program, even though they
> often reflect standard practice, are not to be construed as a substitute
> for circuit design by certified persons and organizations under legal
> contract. In specific, the author disavows any responsibility for any
> harm, damage, or injury resulting from use of these circuits or schemes
> for any purpose whatsoever. These circuits and documentation are
> provided for educational, demonstrative, and entertainment purposes
> only, and are not to be used for control of life-critical missions. What
> is more, if you nonetheless attempt to use these circuits or schemes to
> construct and offer for sale any device or system, you alone are
> responsible for ensuring that no patents, copyrights, or other
> applicable rights are being violated thereby. Download of this software
> constitutes acceptance of these terms.
>
> Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98 Windows NT, Windows 2000,
> Win32, Win32s, and Visual Basic, are a trademarks of the Microsoft
> Corporation . Apple, Macintosh, Mac, and OS X
> are trademarks of Apple, Inc. , registered in the
> US and other countries. Pentium and Intel are trademarks of the Intel
> Corporation .
>
> "NX" refers to a scheme of railroad switch and signal control offered by
> General Railway Signal, Inc. (a unit of SASIB Railway Group). Neither
> this software nor its documentation has been authorized, approved, or
> verified by them or any other railroad signal concern or the New York
> City Transit Authority or its successors.
>
> This software is offered without charge, "as is", by the author, Bernard
> S. Greenberg . It is
> thought to be relatively bug-free, although bug reports will be fielded
> using this form , but no
> response in any given time promised. No representations, warranties,
> guarantees, or claims about operability or suitability for any purpose
> are made. This software is intended for educational, demonstrative, and
> entertainment purposes only, and is not suitable for use for control of
> actual railroads or other life-critical missions. The author assumes no
> responsibility for any damage, harm, injury or loss resulting from use
> or misuse of either the software or the relay circuit designs therein.
> The author assumes no responsibility for errors resulting from
> corruption of the distribution media or files or inadvertent or
> deliberate corruption in transmission. You may use and share this
> program as you wish, but are not permitted to incorporate this program
> or its parts in any distribution, collection, or commercial product
> without the consent of the author. If you redistribute it, you must
> redistribute the zipfiles as you received them, intact, with all their
> components as posted. Download of this data constitutes acceptance of
> these terms.
>
> *This software is intended for personal use and personal education, and
> offered free of charge under those conditions. Business concerns and
> governmental organizations, rapid transit and engineering in particular,
> seeking to use this software for other than entertainment or personal
> education should contact the author at the address below about licensing
> arrangements and possible future development.*
>
>
> Copyright
>
> *NXSYS, NXSYS32, NXSYS for Macintosh,* software, documentation, and
> interlockings Copyright ©1994-2001, 2014 Bernard S. Greenberg.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
actually it is NOT free software
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