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PIKEPLAN.DOC
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1992-09-18
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PIKEPLAN.DOC by: Ira F. Kavaler - May, 1986
Version 8.77 - 9/18/92
This program allows you to design model railroad track plans
on the computer screen. The computer thinks it is using a
compass. X and Y locate the point of the compass, while D and R
position the pencil of the compass.
The visible board (screen) area is approximately 150 inches
by 90 inches; however, you may run tracks off the screen edges and
reenter the screen at a different point without a problem except
being able to see that portion of the track.
I. Video Screen Mode.
------------------
This is used to change the lettering size, not the track
size. Screen mode 1 is used to display 40 horizontal wide
characters. Screen mode 2 is used to display 80 horizontal narrow
characters.
The demo mode can be selected as option 9. During the demo
mode pressing any key will exit the demo mode and return to the
opening banner screen; this will allow you to continue with your
own design or terminate the program.
Pressing the enter key without an option will terminate the
program.
II. Model Railroad Gauge / Scale.
-----------------------------
Each manufacturer has decided upon a standard for their track
sections. Fortunately the track characteristics can be broken
down into three specifications:
1. the length of a section of full straight track in
inches,
2. the angle in degrees of the arc of the circle that a
full section of curved track occupies, and
3. the radius of the curved track sections in inches.
Gauge Scale Manufacturer S (in.) C (deg.) R (in.)
----- ----- ------------ ------- -------- -------
S 1:64 American Flyer * 10 30 20
O27 1:48 Lionel 9 45 13.5
O " Lionel 10 45 15
O72 " Lionel 10 22.5 36
Super O " Lionel 10 30 20
HO 1:87 Atlas Snap Track 9 30 18
N 1:160 Atlas Snap Track 6 30 12
* = A.C. Gilbert
Pressing the enter key without selecting an option will
terminate the program.
III. TK? - Track Commands.
---------------------
The TK (track) commands are used to place or remove track
sections, or to reposition the compass on the screen. Switches
and crossings are constructed by manually overlaying sections of
full straight and/or curved track; switches and crossings are not
counted in the track totals, nor are the totals corrected for the
creation of switches and crossings.
1 * Place full straight track -1 * Remove same
2 " half " " -2 " "
3 * " full curved " -3 * " "
4 " half " " -4 " "
5 Change direction of curved tracks, swing the compass point 180
degrees (D and R altered automatically)
6 Move area of placing tracks, move the compass to a new location
(X,Y,D and R new values asked)
7 Remember location of this track end point, the location of the
compass point
8 Recall last remembered location, move the compass to the
remembered point (D and R new values asked)
9 Place tie at this point -9 Remove same
0 Quit program, track plan erased, track is erased (confirmed
before erased!)
IV. Subcommands.
------------
When the program starts, or when track command 6 is requested:
X? - Horizontal location of compass point, 0 is 1/4 circle
from left of screen.
Y? - Vertical location of compass point, 0 is 1/4 circle from
top of screen. (X? and Y? are coordinates of center of
circle to be drawn by compass, if both X=0 and Y=0, a
1/4 circle of track can be placed in the upper left
corner of video screen.)
When the program starts, or when track commands 6 or 8 are
requested:
D? - Direction (angle in degrees, mathematical notation) that
compass pencil is initially placed.
(0 is towards the right, 90 is towards the top, 180 is
towards the left, and 270 is towards the bottom of the
screen.)
R? - Rotation that the compass pencil will make, CCW (counter
clockwise) to increase angle, CW (clockwise) to decrease
angle.
When track commands 1, -1, 3 or -3 are requested:
#S? and or #C? - The number of straight or curved tracks to
be placed or removed.
V. Track Totals.
-------------
FS - full straight, HS - half straight
FC - full curved, HC - half curved
S (for example) - the gauge being used.
VI. Printing.
---------
Since the track plan (also called a layout or pike) requires
printer graphics you must first execute under DOS your DOS utility
GRAPHICS.COM before you execute this program. When you are ready
to print the layout use the computer's screen print function
(pressing the keys [SHIFT] and [PRT SC] simultaneously.
VII. Here's the small print.
-----------------------
This is a demonstration/trial version of the program. All
features of the program are available; howeverr, when in the demo
mode several simple S gauge (American Flyer) track plans will
automatically be drawn, these include: a circle, a square
partially off-screen, an oval, a figure 8, etc.
All versions of this program including its related files are
being distributed on an "AS IS" basis. There is absolutely no
stated or implied guarantee or warrantee of usability for any
purpose or correctness of the formulas and procedures contained in
any file.
If you happen to discover an error in the program I will make
every attempt to correct the error as quickly as possible. I am
under no obligation to replace nor make refunds for defective full
versions or demonstration/trial versions of the program. I have
to take this posture as my cost to make even the simplest of
corrections far outweighs any monetary compensation received for
the full version of the program.
If you happened to own a special gauge such as: Z, G, Lionel
O42, Lionel O54, etc., I will add these gauges to the full version
of the program at no additional charge. If you require any other
special modifications to the program I will be happy to discuss on
an individual basis the cost of supplying modified programs and
documentation.
The program was tested on a Tandy model 1000 using MS-DOS
3.2 and 3.3, a Tandy model 1000SX using MS-DOS 3.2 and 3.3, and an
IBM PS/2 model 50Z and 80, using PC-DOS 3.3. All computers had
either CGA or VGA color graphics. If your system has a Hercules
graphics adaptor, I suggest you obtain a color simulation program
such as SIMCGA.
VIII. And now a word from our sponsor.
--------------------------------
You can purchase the latest full unprotected version of this
program together with any other demonstration/trail programs that
I have available. Please send $10.00 for one of the following:
1. IBM compatible 5-1/4 inch 360 kilobyte or 3-1/2 inch 720
kilobyte disk, your choice,
2. TRS-80 Model I or III 5-1/4 inch disk, or
3. TRS-80 Model 100/102 laptop cassette tape (only $5.00 for
a single gauge, but instructions will be included to
changes gauges.)
to:
IRA F. KAVALER
671 East 78 Street
Brooklyn, New York 11236
I reserve the right to discontinue support for, change the
terms, or withdraw any part or all of this offer including but not
limited to the programs and its associated files at any time
without giving prior notice.
No form of this program may be used in commercial,
educational, nor governmental applications without written
authorization from the author; such authorization may require
that a fee be paid to the author.
IX. Some History.
-------------
As I approached my eighth birthday I finally realized that if
I broke my train sets, as I had done in the past, I would not have
one. The Sunday afternoon just before the week of my birthday in
December, 1950, my parents, my younger sister and I went to Ray's
Hobbies on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, and bought me my first A.C.
Gilbert Co., American Flyer S gauge train set.
Over the years I expanded the my train system, which had
become known as the Empire Railroad. When space became a problem
and college interfered, I switched to HO gauge, and later to N
gauge.
But as a child back in the years 1951 to 1955, I dreamed
about the largest American Flyer model railroad I could design.
Day and night, mostly during school, I would quietly sit at my
desk with sheets of manilla drawing paper, a pencil, a pencil
sharpener, an eraser, and my favorite clear plastic protractor
that was just the right size for drawing track sections. I guess
my teachers left me alone because they had never had a second
grader through fifth grader who knew how to use a protractor, much
less geometry and trigonometry.
Both of my cousins and a friend who lived a block away had
Lionel train sets. In those years there was a strong loyalty to
your train manufacturer. My friend and I would always have heated
discussions on which gauge was better, two-rail American Flyer or
three-rail Lionel.
My favorite Sunday trip was to ride in my father's 1947
Chrysler Windsor and stop and spend a few minutes in the "Gilbert
Hall of Science" on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 25th Street in
Manhattan, where there was a large window layout capable of
running three train simultaneously. Inside the building were
display cases of visitor/pushbutton-operated American Flyer
accessories; the one I remember most was the talking railroad
station:
"New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and all points West!
Cho-o-o cho-o-o American Flyer through train!
Hiss-s-s-s All aboard! Chug-Chug"
I developed this program because of my love for model trains,
real trains and real trolley cars (but that's another story).
While running this program I relive my youth, that precious thing
that left me years ago, or has it? You've probably heard the
saying, "It's a shame youth has to be wasted on the young"; it's
true.
Both the Gilbert Hall of Science and my American Flyer
railroad are gone now; I do have a few momentos of both. I never
asked my father to take photographs or movie pictures of my
various railroads; I'm sorry about that. Years later I would get
into photography, and now into video taping.
I did have an idea about mounting my father's 8mm movie
camera on a flatcar couple ahead of my locomotive, and filming
what the engineer would see as the train navigated the pike; but
I never followed through. I was surprised to see last year that
Lionel now makes locomotives for various gauges, HO through G,
that have a miniature black & white video camera mounted in the
nose; it's call "Rail Scope".
My other idea to build a small trolley car layout and have
two trolleys riding on the same track at different speed, without
using blocks nor the trolley wires to separate the motive currents
remains to be fulfilled; I have all the circuitry designed. I
just haven't found a trolley car that pleases me; I loved the
real PCC cars that I used to ride on during the late 1940's and
early 1950's.
I welcome your suggestions and comments about this product
and others. I won't promise that good suggestions will be added
to the program, but they will be considered. I'd also be
interested in your recollections of your model railroad
adventures.
Thank you.
Appendix.
---------
The operating systems, programs and companies mentioned in this
file: MS-DOS, PC-DOS, LIST, BROWSE, SIMCGA, Hercules, Tandy and
IBM are all copyrights, trademarks, and/or service marks of other
individuals or other corporations.
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