EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example

[RudyB]

 

EEP is a (model) railway simulator program on PC. It contains Lua software, via which users can add their own code to accomplish tasks. I thought it a challenge to try if automatic train control, like on a real layout can be done with TrainController, would be possible inside this sim.

 

This is the first video in a series to demonstrate how automatic train traffic can be generated on any EEP (model) railway simulator layout, using a Lua script. The user doesn't have to (re)write any code, all that is needed is to define the layout by entering data on trains, signals and routes in a set of tables. 

 

This is the link to the YouTube video EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 1.

 

Click this link to download the files, including examples and a user manual, from Github. Click the 'Code' button followed by 'Download ZIP'.

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by RudyB

[RudyB]

EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 2

 

In this second video on how we can have automatic train traffic on any EEP (model) railway simulator layout, using a Lua script, we have four blocks and we add a second train. The video shows how this layout is specified in Lua.

 

Link to the YouTube video EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 2.

 

Click this link to download the files, including examples and a user manual, from Github. Click the 'Code' button followed by 'Download ZIP'.

 

[RudyB]

EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 3

 

In this third video on how to create automatic train traffic on any EEP model railway simulator layout, using Lua but without the need to write any code yourself, we'll add a two way block to the layout and see how to configure this block in the Lua data.

 

Link to the YouTube video..

 

Click this link to download the files, including examples and a user manual, from Github. Click the 'Code' button followed by 'Download ZIP'.

 

[RudyB]

EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 4

 

In this fourth video on how to create automatic train traffic on any EEP model railway simulator layout, using Lua but without the need to write any code yourself, we'll add some dead end blocks to the layout and we’ll place a third train. After we configured the layout in Lua we have a couple of minutes of happily driving around … without collisions.

 

Link to the YouTube video..

 

Click this link to download the files, including examples and a user manual, from Github. Click the 'Code' button followed by 'Download ZIP'.

 

[RudyB]

EEP Lua Automatic Train Control Example 5

 

Video 5 is online. It shows automatic traffic on a real model railway layout (the one I had at home before my move) with 7 trains on 27 blocks and 43 routes.

 

You can have similar automatic train traffic on your own EEP layout by configuring your layout as shown in videos 1-5.

 

Link to the video.

 

Link to Github for download of the complete package.

 

[njee20]

I imagine unless you have played with EEP this makes little sense. I can't quite get how you can automate a virtual railway. Or indeed how you can not automate it. Still, well done to you for making it open source!

[RudyB]

In the meantime a lot has happened. Frank Buchholz has joined and in a mutual cooperation new functionality has gradually been added, thanks to his programming skills.

 

The latest version 2.3.2 can be downloaded here.

 

Some of the new features are:

- an installer that automatically places all necessary files in the appropriate EEP folders.

- automatic train find mode, which shows which trains are missing if it can’t find them all

- reverse trains without the need for additional speed change contacts

- reverse train in any block, not only dead end blocks

- random wait times, between a configurable min and max value, per train per block

- a collection of demo layouts

- an extensive user manual that shows all the steps needed to create automatic train traffic on any EEP layout

 

And then there’s this wonderful tool: the Lua code generator. It creates the Lua control software for any layout. The user only has to add the tables that specify the allowed blocks for the different trains. The tool is web based. These are the tools to generate the Lua code for any layout:

The EEP Layout Tool

The Lua Code Generator (Open this in a new tab)

 

Link to video EEP Lua ATC 2.3.2.

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by RudyB