This abridged translation by me (A.J.Flavell) has been done for my own amusement. I hope you find it useful, but I disclaim all responsibility. My command of technical terminology is inadequate, and occasionally I have resorted to literal translation of the original wording and/or added comments to explain what I think the original means.
Items {in curly braces} are literal translations.
Items in [square brackets] are comments added by myself.
Ellipses [...] denote sections that it did not seem to me
to be essential to translate.
[This page was originally written for version 3.56 beta 4,
before the English language program resource file had been
made available.
It still includes terms from the German language version,
and is certainly incompatible in places with the usage of
the English language resource BAHN_E.RTX.
In general I suggest that you now use this document only
for a general overview, and always refer to the online
HELP file for operational details.]
.
Status [of the original]: 20.11.1998
Current version: 3.58 beta8 11/1998
Notes to Beta-Test (see also section 11):
Have fun, let the trains run!
If you already know an older version of BAHN, then please pay attention to the file LIESMICH.TXT and NEUES.TXT, which contain update information and a list of changes.
This is a short documentation, that makes no claim to completeness. Further information comes from the online help system when the program is running. You can call up the help system at any point in the program by using F1. There is at this time no more-detailed documentation available.
Please observe the Conditions of Use and service announcements in Part 11 of this file.
MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft.
BAHN is a program for simulation of railway networks (especially trams, but also train lines).
Should you be a model rail enthusiast, but not have an installation at your disposal, then BAHN can help out. With this program you can fit several hundred kilometers of rail line and over 100 trains simultaneously in the PC, even in a Laptop!
[...]
The file "LIESMICH.TXT" informs you on these topics.
The program is started from the subdirectory (folder) \BAHN358, by executing the following file:
| If working under DOS: | BAHN358.EXE |
| If working under Windows 3.x: | BAHN358.PIF |
BAHN does not need much memory, if you are not going to load large files.
Running from MS-Windows (3.0 on) is possible in "Fullscreen" mode,
from OS/2 (2.0 on) also. In both cases the program probably runs
more slowly than under DOS and may have less memory available.
Start is done normally without parameters (e.g switches). With the parameters "/?" or "/H" the permissible variations are shown. If you start BAHN from the PIF file, then any desired parameters should be entered there (see Windows handbook under "PIF editor").
Should you have an EGA-card instead of a VGA-card and the program does not start, then supply the switch "/EGA" when starting. If you want to use higher resolutions than VGA (640x480) then observe the following advice: the use of graphics modes that your graphic card or monitor does not support can damage the hardware! Check first (for example in the handbook) whether your hardware is suitable for higher resolutions. If when you start BAHN the picture flickers, "runs" or is otherwise unstable in any way, then immediately restart your computer afresh! Usage of BAHN is at your own risk (see also section 11: conditions of use). Following resolutions can be given at the start:
| "/V8" | 800x600 | |
| "/V10" | 1024x768 |
In each case this does not increase the amount of detail seen, rather, it increases the visible area of the network.
On startup the program makes itself known with a title picture, which contains the version number. If you are not interested in the title picture, you can start the program with switch "/Q".
If the program finds any obstacles (e.g not enough memory), it aborts with an error report. A list of the possible error reports with advice is found in section 10. Should there be no communication between BAHN and the mouse driver, a warning appears, and BAHN starts nevertheless. In the event of problems with use of the mouse, then start BAHN with the switch "/M0". This will inactivate the mouse support.
To proceed from the title picture, use the Enter or Return key (denoted >ET< in what follows) or the left mouse button. The title picture is erased and the actual program begins.
On the large area of the screen there runs initially a little start example with one train. Also a white rectangle can be seen. This is called the cursor, and marks the spot at which you can undertake changes in the network. If the mouse and mouse driver are working, a mouse cursor in the form of a white mouse can also be seen.
If any error occurs, then an appropriate report is output. After pressing >ET< or >ESC< it continues.
At any point, by pressing the >F1< key you can get a help summary of the current actions. If a yellow field marked "Hilfe" [Help] can be seen, you can left-click this with the mouse and also get help. If your hard disk is slow or you started BAHN from diskette, you may have to be patient for a few seconds. By means of >ALT+F1< the most recently displayed Help is repeated.
If you don't yet know BAHN, then you can best get to know the program by looking at one of the accompanying networks. To load the layout file, press >F3< and give the name of the desired file. [Use the dialog to select it -transl.]
After a successful start of BAHN the program runs in so-called Standard mode. That means that you see only a rather small section of the available area, but can see all details and undertake modifications (edit).
In the upper part of the screen you find some status information and a menu bar [...]. The operation of menus and their functions are explained in section 7.
In the following, possible actions with the keyboard are explained, and then, the differences when the mouse is used are given. Naturally you can use both at the same time, this is also often effective and convenient.
The current position of the cursor is shown at the top as a co-ordinate pair.
The co-ordinates (x horizontal, y vertical) move in the range 0 to 8191.
The point (0,0) is at upper left.
As the entire space available for the network cannot be fitted all at once
onto the screen, only a section of the network is shown, such that the cursor
is always visible.
With the cursor keys (arrows) you can move the cursor by one position.
As you will soon find out, movement by 1 position is often too slow and tedious. Therefore you can move the cursor by a whole page, as follows
US keyboard German Function
============================================================
DEL Entf 1 page to the left
CTRL+LEFT Strg+Linkspfeil ditto
END Ende 1 page to the right
CTRL+RIGHT Strg+Rechtspfeil ditto
PG UP Bild hoch 1 page upwards
CTRL+UP ARROW Strg+Pfeil n.oben ditto
PG DOWN Bild ab 1 page down
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Strg+Pfeil n.unten ditto
ALT+ any ARROW ALT+irgendein Pfeil 1 step of main grid lines in
the respective direction
With this you can very quickly get lost. In such a case, you can use the key >HOME< or >POS1< to put the cursor to the middle of the layout where it was when the program started. Furthermore, you can revoke the last cursor movement in Window 1 by using the >BKSPC< key (Window 1 is the normally used window). With >CTRL+BKSPC< you can re-instate the movement, if you have revoked too much.
By pressing one of the digit keys 0 to 9, a graphic symbol is deposited at the cursor position and the cursor moved by one position in a direction dependent on the graphic symbol. In the event that the cursor cannot be moved, the symbol is deposited nevertheless.
Which symbol belongs to which key (from 0 to 9) is shown in the upper
screen area in a symbol bar. [...] Other graphic symbols can be reached by
using the function "Grafiksymbole" on the Edit menu, or by pressing
various keys (see 5.1.3).
The ordering of the graphic symbols in the block of 10 may seem somewhat
mysterious to you. Several symbols are present repeatedly, and one
behind the other they mostly don't seem to fit. If you turn on NUM LOCK and
use the digit keys on the numeric pad, then the graphic symbols are mostly
ordered for creating an anti-clockwise ring (i.e in right hand running).
As several graphic symbols are not so simple to recognize (several
turnouts and curves look very similar), the fundamental function of
the 10 current graphic symbols is given as text.
With >F10< you can instead inspect the exact geometry of track symbols,
in order to avoid confusion.
Depositing graphic symbols does not work in every case. You can for example fundamentally not overwrite trains (it would indeed be crazy).
For erasing there is no specific function. Instead you simply deposit the empty symbol (area of background colour, standard is green) at the respective spot.
By pressing >F1< the help system is activated and you get information on usage of the help system and on various further themes. With >ALT+F1< the most recently shown Help screen is repeated. The key combination SHIFT with F1 shows the list of all Help themes.
These keys allow changing the graphic symbols to which the digit keys refer[...]. The symbols are collected into groups of 10, between which F7 moves in one direction, and F8 in the other. The ten symbols of each group mostly belong together; some symbols appear in several different groups. The function of the different symbols is explained in section 9 "Graphic symbols". Moving serially between symbol groups with F7 or F8 takes much too long, so there's a division into Tracks, Roads, Landscape and Userdefined symbols. Switching between these groups is possible with the function "Graphic symbols" of the Graphics menu, with key combinations CTRL+F7, CTRL+F8, or various letters (below).
Whenever a track element can be seen, then with F9 you can switch to and fro between a roadway version, for tram sections or road crossings, and a version for private way. In the case of landscape features, F9 produces a mirror image of the symbol.
With F10 you select between a text description or a display of the exact track geometry.
When building a stretch on the road in 45° angle you need not only the relevant track but also the street edges. Switch between the two with SHIFT+F9. With several letter keys you can switch directly to specific groups of symbols. They are the following keys [named usually for their German designations]:
A Roads 90° N Nature symbols (trees) B Bridges/tunnels P Buffers/line terminations D Depots R Shunting points E Rail installations S Light signals (red) F Rivers/lakes/waters T Timing Points [formerly End points] G Tracks 90° U User defined symbols H Halts (stns./tramstops) W Turnouts 45° I Industrial objects X Houses, single K Crossings 45° Y Housing blocks L Speed restrictions
When a group is selected to which such a letter is assigned, the letter will be displayed to the left of the designation "F10:", in standard mode.
On pressing the key >ET< there are various possible reactions from the program. That depends on which graphic symbol is at the cursor position.
With trains, halts, turnouts (points:GB/switches:US), signal systems and similar objects, you can alter specific parameters or get information about their properties. With most symbols you can input or edit information texts.
Should you wish to access a symbol that is located under a train, then try >CTRL+ET<.
If you operate BAHN without a mouse, then the following section is irrelevant to you.
At program start, the mouse cursor is represented as a white mouse. This is the normal mouse cursor. In the function "Mouse-Optionen" (mouse options) of the Optionmenü this can be changed to an arrow. When you click with the left mouse button on a position in the graphics window, the cursor will be placed at this point. With a double-click the program proceeds as if you had [also] hit Enter, so if appropriate a user action will be carried out. For clicking on a train, a single press of the left mouse button suffices. When you move the mouse to the edge of the screen, the window will be scrolled in the appropriate direction. This can however be turned off with the function "Maus-Optionen". For fast scrolling, press additionally the CTRL key. Clicking on "F7", "F8", "F9" or "F10" produces the same effect as operating the key of the same name, but additionally the mouse cursor turns into a building machine, that looks like a digger or crane. Clicking on one of the symbols in the symbol bar also changes the mouse cursor, and the selected symbol is shown with a white frame. This framed symbol is denoted the active graphic symbol. When you click with the building machine cursor in the graphic window, the cursor is placed at the mouse position and the active graphic symbol is deposited there. So, you can also make network changes and extensions with the mouse. In doing that, pay attention to the same things as when using the keys 0 to 9. When you want to change the building cursor into the normal mouse cursor, for example to avoid accidentally building something, then simply click the right mouse button. Clicking on menus will also reinstate the normal mouse cursor in any case.
When the status area of the upper part of the screen is visible, you can click on the various infos and thereby activate an associated menu function (for example, by clicking on the telephone, the function appears for dealing with dispatcher messages).
The "hot spot" of the mouse is in its teeth, and that of the building machine is at the crane hook.
During some slow operations the mouse turns into a snail. This informs you that BAHN will not react to mouse clicks until the operation ends.
Communication between you and BAHN is performed generally via
dialog windows. These are grey windows of different sizes, whose function
is given in a title line (white on green). In such windows there are
various possible elements, between which you can move around by pressing
TAB or SHIFT+TAB or by clicking the left mouse button.
The currently active element of a dialog window can be recognized
by a white frame.
There are small windows in which you can enter or edit text, these are
denoted "Edit boxes" in what follows.
Then, there are boxes in which you can only view the text. These are
denoted "List boxes".
Additionally, there are buttons, which you can activate with the
key >ET< or with the mouse. These buttons are yellow and
contain a text describing their function.
Further, there are "radio buttons". These are vertical stacks of small
knobs, of which only one can be selected. This is lit red, and can be
switched up or down with the cursor keys.
Some dialog windows contain also "Check boxes". These are small
rectangles, in which a tick mark shows that the relevant option has
been turned on.
Turning on or off is done with the mouse or spacebar.
For setting colours there are also "colour elements". Within these
the respective colour is shown. These can be changed with the arrow
key up or down.
Each dialog window can be abandoned with the key >ESC< or the right
mouse button, even if you have already input something. Thus you can
easily correct errors. Equally, a mouse click outside of the dialog
window also quits the dialog.
There are 4 different cases for pressing >ET< in a dialog window:
Buttons customarily get a text in which one letter is underscored. These can be activated by holding down ALT and pressing this letter. In several dialog windows (e.g in menus) the letter without ALT is sufficent. Sometimes after the text there is also a key indicated (e.g "Entf" [Delete]), which can be used alternatively.
Most functions are called up via menus. The names of these menus are
in the upper part of the screen and all contain an underscored letter.
By holding down ALT and hitting the relevant letter, the corresponding
menu is activated. You can also deal with that by a left mouse click[...].
Menus themselves function just like dialog windows, but only
contain buttons. Unlike most dialog windows, you can move to and fro
between these buttons with the Cursor-Up and -Down keys.
Several functions can also be called up via so-called "hot-keys", thereby
avoiding the trip via the menus. Which functions and keys are involved, will
be mentioned under the function explanations. Furthermore, the hot-keys
will be shown in the buttons of the menus. But hot keys only work out of
the main program, and not out of the menus.
There are the following menus, which are detailed in the following
sections:
This menu offers functions for working on layout files.
The standard file extension is ".NT3", this extension does not need
to be given. Here, some English terms are used, when dealing with
customary standard concepts.
The individual functions:
This menu offers functions for editing various data, as well as for building longer stretches.
This menu offers functions for administration of "route codes" [transl. note: I avoided the obvious English word "Line", since this would be more suggestive of the trackage than of the service routes that operate over it!]. Each train is assigned a fixed route code ("Stammlinie"), under which it is registered and can be found. This route code is generally required for functions of the Zugmenü [train menu]. Furthermore there is per train also a current route code ("aktuelle Linie"), which is used for example for decisions at turnouts and at Timing Points. Mostly, both designations are the same, but the current route code is changeable underway. To each route code there can be many trains.
Names of max. 6 characters are allowed as route code designations. The letters A to Z, digits 0 to 9 and the signs "-", "/", "_" and "." can be used (no accented letters or special characters). Examples for route code designations:
1 12 407 E7 12E A U5 S75 6/9 500G 2-7 241.1 S1_A
This menu offers functions to search for various information.
This menu serves to switch the operating mode of the program. Apart from standard mode there is the fullscreen mode, various map modes, and modes with several windows. Map mode is mutually exclusive with multi window mode.
In this mode, all the information above the layout disappear
and the whole screen is used for depicting the layout.
All functions of standard mode, as described in section 5,
work equally in fullscreen mode, although there is no menu bar visible.
[Note that "fullscreen mode" refers to an internal program function of BAHN. It has nothing to do with the "fullscreen" mode of MS Windows etc. BAHN can only run in "fullscreen mode" as far as MS Win is concerned. In some graphics modes you may be able to see BAHN in a "Windows window", but program operation is then slow and jerky, and not to be recommended -transl.]
In this mode, BAHN works as a simple screen saver. Fullscreen mode is set and a train is automatically followed. If you choose a suitable train (see online help) then the picture changes continually and cannot burn into the CRT screen. Cursor and mouse cursor are turned off.
These modes divide the screen into 2 or 4 windows. In this way you can observe several positions of the current layout simultaneously. Inside a window the program works as in standard or fullscreen mode. Change between windows using F6, mouse click in the desired window, or ALT+digit (1-4). The cursor can only be seen in the current window. You can let train following run in one window while editing undisturbed in another. The window menu offers the following variations:
In Standard and Fullscreen modes, the view can be magnified and reduced. When reduced, a more abstract depiction is used, in which all details can no longer be seen (similar to the diagrams in railway signalling centres). There are altogether 8 sizes: 4 normal and 4 abstract.
For changing the view size there are the menu items:
These modes permit you to get an overview of the whole layout or at
least of a large section of it, by showing a much scaled down map.
Above the map appears the title from the file.
On account of the scaling down, the representation is crude.
All tracks including depots are shown red, all trains according to
their length shown as white dots or snakes.
Tracks on roadway are shown paler than tracks on private way.
Roads without tracks are shown grey, water as blue, trees green,
houses orange, industrial buildings dark grey and user-defined
symbols yellow.
When the map has been built up, which indeed takes a while, there
appears a white rectangle cursor. This is at the current position
of the input window and can be moved with the cursor keys or the
mouse just as in standard mode. In the event that train following is
active, the map cursor will follow the indicated train and you cannot
take it to a distant point by hand.
As long as the map is active, you cannot call up any menu or editing
functions. None of the hot-keys work either, except for >+<
or >-< for adjusting speed, as well as >HOME<, >CTRL+Z<
and >ALT+S<.
By means of >*< or >/< resp. you can adjust the map scale.
Leave map mode by means of >ESC< or the right mouse button.
Then the new position of the rectangle cursor will become the new
input window. In this way you can quickly reach a specific point in
the layout, without needing to know its co-ordinates.
The "Modusmenü" offers the following map variants:
Switching between the three map modes can be done with keys F4 to F6.
Each train in BAHN is uniquely identified by its Linie [route code]
(see 7.3.1) and its "Zugnummer" [train number].
The train number (equiv. "Kursnummer" in tram operation) is a number
in the range 1 to 99 and serves to distinguish between the separate
trains of a route. Train numbers don't have to be sequential, they
can certainly have gaps.
Additionally, to each train belongs a "Zuggarnitur" [make-up|consist] (sequence of vehicles), a Home depot, the current and top speed, the min. and max. waiting time, generally one to three sets of into- and out-of-service times and depot, a train type and a current route code. Most of these data can be corrected after deploying a train.
The make-up|consist specifies the vehicles and thus defines the kind and length of the train. Not all vehicles are available at all times, rather, you must first use the functions of the "Zugmenü" to install the ones you need. The program BAHN handles all vehicles the same, that means you can certainly drive a tram as an express train at 350km/h, run steam locos on tram tracks and suchlike.
The Home depot is of importance when you deploy a train and when it goes to depot. For trains that are not meant to go to depot, you can, after they have been put into service, erase the indication of their home depot.
Each train has a current state, made up of partial states which are determined and changed by the program. Some state changes can be commanded from the "Zugmenü" [Trains menu]. There are the following partial states:
The top speed (Vmax) is the speed with which the train moves when actually underway. Acceleration and braking are not specifically supported. Therefore you better select as Vmax an average speed, or extend the time at stops, or use speed limit sections. The current speed is the speed that the train really has (if moving). This can be lower than the top speed. Allowed values for speeds are 1 to 400 km/h.
The "Ausrückzeit" ["go on-duty" time] determines at what time the train automatically goes into the state "underway", and leaves the depot that is indicated against this time. Should the train not be in a depot at this time, it does not change its state. The same applies for the state "rückt ein" [going-to-depot], i.e a train heading for depot does not change its mind on the way.
The Einrückzeit ["go off-duty" time] determines at what time the train goes automatically into state "go-to-depot". When and whether the train actually goes into a depot depends on the stretch to be travelled. In the event of the train being at a Timing Point at this time, it heads off immediately.
There is no requirement to give Ein- and Ausrückzeit: such trains
never change their state by themselves.
As especially with tram operation
there are extras operated in peak periods, you can give up to three sets
of on-duty/off-duty times and depots. Thus the train/tram can
spend the middle of the day in a depot and be deployed again in the afternoon.
It can also be parked for an interval in a different depot.
Going on-duty/off-duty can be implemented as a special train
[empty or non-revenue movement] or as normal journeys.
By means of option "Kreuzungen freihalten" ("keep intersections clear") the trains try to avoid node points getting tied up. It is recommended to always have this option turned on. Otherwise you need to keep your sections problem-free by designing clever signal systems.
A train is a "Wendezug" (shuttle train) if it should never be split at shunting points. That is for example appropriate for powered cars. The "Rangierlänge" (shunting length) denotes where the train should normally be split at shunting points. That is normally the number of power vehicles, i.e 1. This number is often not needed at all, as the split position can often be fixed at the shunting points.
"Haltestellenwartezeit" (waiting time at stops) is given as Hst.min and Hst.max. BAHN selects a random value in this range [...]. To specify an exact value, set equal Hst.min and Hst.max values. Any values from 1 to 960 sec can be chosen. For train types "G" and "S", waiting time is only needed at compulsory stops, and set to (1..1) if none are input.
The train type determines which actions occur at stops and termini. Types and typical usage with reference to DB/DR train categories: [In the English resources, different letters are used - please refer to the online HELP -transl.]
'P' Personenzug = passenger [local] train (S, U, tram, RB, CB)
'B' beschleunigter Personenzug [accelerated service](SE)
'E' Eilzug, Regionalschnellbahn [regional fast train] (RSB, RE)
'D' D-Zug, InterRegio (IR), FD-Zug (long distance train)
'X' Expresszug, IC/EC, Städteexpress, ICE (Inter City etc.)
'G' Güterzug = goods train
'S' Sonderzug, Dienstfahrt, Überführungsfahrt, Betriebsfahrt
(special train, non-revenue movement, transfer, operational trip).
P-trains serve all stops and Timing Points. B, E-, D- and X-trains serve only specific stops, but all Timing Points. G-trains serve only Timing Points, and go right through stops. Specials do not serve stops or Timing Points. An exception are Zwangshaltestellen [compulsory stops]: all trains stop.
This menu offers functions for setting various parameters. Several of them can be stored in the option file BAHN.INI, so that they will be used again when BAHN is next started.
The scale depends on the size of the area that you want to depict. You need to choose the scale such that the depicted area lies within the available 8192x8192 elements. With a subsequent alteration of the scale, only the time behaviour will change: no extension or contraction of the trackage will be done. The "Statusinfos" in the "Hilfe-menu" shows the scale and the computed size of the network in km[...]
[explains how the program divides the speed per element on 45° lines by 1.4, approx SQRT(2), to match that on horizontal/vertical lines]
Vehicles and buildings are always depicted at the same size in elements, irrespective of the scale chosen[...]. At a scale of 2 el/km, trains of over 1km length can readily be created. If you are interested in a realistic simulation of traffic flow, then choose trains as short as possible. The vehicles correspond to an approximate scale of 60 to 70 elements per km.
[Transl.note: if you prefer to think in miles rather than km, you might want to just pretend that the program works in miles. The range of scale factors, vehicle speeds etc. available in the program seem to make this a feasible suggestion. Naturally, you can convert your distances and speeds into metric units if you prefer. You'd need to take this decision, and choose an appropriate scale in elements per (mile or km), before starting to build the network.]
To help orientation, grid lines can be shown, You can choose the origin and step size of the grid, which has main divisions and subdivisions. Display of grid lines can be turned on and off with the hot-key CTRL/G. By means of ALT and the appropriate arrow key, the cursor can be moved by one main division of the grid line in the relevant direction, even when the grid lines are turned off.
This menu offers functions for setting various colours. E.g useful when dealing with black-and-white screens. BAHN uses 16 colours, of which one is used as background colour. Only for this colour can the palette entry be freely chosen. The descriptions in this document and in the online help refer of course to the standard colours, i.e they are no longer correct if you re-assign the colours.
BAHN informs you about various operational problems via dispatcher messages. In the status area upper right is a telephone, whose appearance can change:
GREEN: No messages
YELLOW "ringing": At least one unseen message has arrived
YELLOW "silent": Only messages that you have already seen
RED: Too many messages (40), new ones will be ignored
There are various settings related to these messages, which you can change via the submenu "Nachrichten".
Hot-keys are available in Standard and Fullscreen mode. Indication of hot keys are repeated in the menu items after the name of the button. [...] Here a summary.
| ALT-X | Terminate program |
| F1 | Help |
| ALT+F1 | Repeat last help |
| SHIFT+F1 | Help-index |
| F2 | Save without filename dialog |
| F3 | Load a layout file |
| F4 | Switch a signal system to 0 or Max |
| F5 | Mark cursor position |
| F6 | Change to next window |
| F7 F8 | Choose graphic symbols with similar functions |
| CTRL+F7,F8 | Choose graphic symbols with different functions |
| F9 | Choose graphics track/road; mirror image |
| CTRL+F9 | As F9 but opposite sequence |
| SHIFT+F9 | Swap between private-way and street versions |
| F10 | Swap function display / graph.symb. |
| BKSPC | Undo cursor movement (Window 1 only) |
| CTRL+BKSPC | Redo cursor movement (Window 1 only) |
| SPACEBAR | Input/edit text at cursor position |
| + - | Simulation speed raise/lower |
| * / | Magnify/reduce display |
| ALT+S | Simulation stop/continue |
| ALT+N | Show current dispatcher messages |
| ALT+I | Set cursor to next information text |
| CTRL+L | Last search (text/graph) repeat from cursor |
| CTRL+I | Information text input/edit at cursor pos |
| CTRL+Z | Moving graphics off/on |
| CTRL+A | Animation on/off |
| CTRL+G | Grid lines on/off |
| CTRL+U | Overlapping symbols on/off |
| CTRL+R | Building cursor direction inverse |
BAHN uses a graphic repertoire that consists of free-standing graphic symbols and of vehicles.
The former can be divided into track symbols and landscape symbols. [...] Landscape symbols have only illustrative character. The "User defined" symbols are 144 graphic symbols without function, which you can create yourself with a suitable editor.
Track symbols comprise simple track, crossings, points|switches, halts [tram stops and rail stations], Timing Points, depots, signal systems, tunnel mouths, speed restriction sections, track terminations (buffers|bumpers / stop-blocks), shunting points and route change points. Almost all tracks exist in variants for street running and for own trackbed (private way).
Vehicles never occur alone, but only in conjunction with a track symbol.
Vehicles follow the tracks[...]. In the event of a track ending or not being correctly connected, an arriving train will stop and wait for you to build onwards. [not recommended to put incomplete tracks into service]
BAHN supports simple left and right points with 45° and some with 90° angles. There are also double-45° points and 3-way points. The types are "Stumpf" [lit: blunt, i.e trailing], "Feder-" [lit: spring], "Wechsel-" [lit: alternating] and Verzweigungs- [lit: junction] points, which are explained in detail in the help system with examples.
[Translator's summary here...
2 \ 1 -------- 3Points that are meant to be approached from directions 1 and 2 are called "Stumpf" (lit: blunt, obtuse) and trains always exit by direction 3, of course. These are properly called "trailing" points|switches.
All the other kinds of points can also be approached from the trailing direction and behave in the same way. They differ in their behaviour when approached from direction 3, called "Spitz" (lit: pointed, sharp, acute) in German - properly called the "facing" direction in English.
Approach from direction 3 - the "facing" direction - needs a decision whether to exit by 1 or 2. A "Federweiche" is sprung so that all trains leave by the one direction: when building a "Federweiche" you choose this direction to be either straight or turn. They would be appropriate for example where regular dual track changes to single track.
A "Verzweigungsweiche" is a junction: trains will select their route according to their route code (if under way) or depot (if heading for depot). You get to choose the primary direction, then you list the route codes that take the other direction. You also list the depots that are reached in each direction.
Finally, a "Wechselweiche" changes direction on a numerical basis, for example to distribute the traffic between a limited number of platforms at a station. You get to specify the number of trains that pass in each direction before the points change to the other direction: 1:1 would be the most usual.]
A yellow mast with a round yellow-green plate. [This is the uniform pattern for German tram or bus stops]. On own trackbed there are also variants with rectangular plates, black/white and blue, as usual for railways or metros [i.e like a station name-board].
An arriving train waits a while and then proceeds[...]. You may specify which train types stop, and in which direction the stop is valid.
These symbols are very similar to stops and additionally are denoted by a letter 'T'. Timing points are mostly located at termini [end stations] (which is why in BAHN versions to 3.20 they were called Endpoints). At these points you can lay down the times at which trains shall depart. A train arriving at a Timing Point does not leave until the next listed departure time is reached. You can operate a timetable by this means. It is possible to restrict the action to specific route-codes and time periods. Further, you can specify the direction in which the Timing Point is operative. It is possible to have trains change their route-code at a Timing Point. Trains for which the timing point is inoperative can optionally run through, or stop as at a normal Stop.
If you assign the same name to several timing points, then these are combined into a single timing point with multiple tracks. Then at each assigned time, just one train departs, chosen in the order in which they arrived (FIFO principle).
Have no function, they are only used for cosmetic effect.
[...] Depicted normally as a hall, out of which a track can lead on two sides. On private way there can be pseudo-depots, marked only by a working pit or the letter "D".
A depot must be assigned a name, before it can be used: put the cursor on the depot and hit >ET<. Now you can enter the name and further parameters. Use A-Z, 0-9 and "-", "/", "_", ".", i.e no accented letters or special characters.
You can rename or erase depots. [...]
Depots can be associated with signal systems, in order to avoid collisions when entering or leaving. Details in the online help.
Can be used for securing all sections that may only be used by "a specific number of trains (mostly one)" at a time, e.g single track sections, turning "triangles" [Wyes] or block sections. Furthermore, rail/road crossings [level crossings | grade crossings] can be protected, and timetables imposed (similar to Timing Points). A signal system consists of entry signals and Contacts - there must be at least one signal. Operation is controlled by a counter, that is changed by driving over the contacts.
Signals only take effect in the direction of travel in which they are to the right of the train. [This isn't quite true, as there is now a selection of signals provided for left-hand running -transl.] Off-contacts are denoted by the symbol "-" and an arrow denoting the direction in which it acts. On-contacts are marked "+". There are also Off contacts with two arrows, that work in both directions. Most signals can act also as On contacts.
Additionally, depots can be coupled with a signal system. These then work as a combined signal, "+" and "-" contact.
Operation and construction of signal system is explained in online help. [Transl.note - see supplementary explanation in English]
To avoid the frequent errors experienced in constructing new single track sections and signal systems, it is useful to have a test train run the new section and verify correct operation on the screen. Once a collision has occurred, it can only be relieved by reversing or even erasing a train.
Shown on street tracks as a straight section with a red plate; on own track bed as buffers. On reaching a track termination, the train proceeds backwards. That is appropriate for shuttle operation with power cars, for turnaround at terminal stations, or for tram turning "triangles". The section that is operated in both directions should be protected with a signal system.
Tunnels are marked with entry and exit, which must be on the straight. Within a tunnel, trains are not visible. Bridges are simply short tunnels. Precise operation and possible problems are in the online help.
[...] At the start of the section an orange triangle is displayed. The end is a white rectangle with black border. Both apply only when to the right of the direction of travel.
These are recognized by a blue sign with the letter 'H'. In contrast to track termination (see 9.9), not all trains turn here. You get to specify which routes turn and at which times - all other trains continue ahead.
According to the shunting options chosen, trains can also be split and re-coupled. Details of this in the online help.
Denoted by a green sign with the letter "L". At this point, trains can change their current route-code, train type and stopping interval. To be specified by route-code and time period.
The following list contains only errors that can occur at program start. Information about error reports during program execution must be gotten via the Help system [...]
After some of the following errors, the program can nevertheless start up, but be prepared for problems during execution.
[transl. note: this does NOT claim to be a legally watertight translation of the original text. No legal advice is intended or implied.]
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