RailWorks Processflow Tasks

RailWorks Processflow

RailWorks objects use some information provided by the user to work, trains need to know what their next destination is, Rail Control Points need to know when to trigger their related tasks. This control is given to the user via ProcessFlow custom activities, which are all part of the RailWorks library.

Via ProcessFlow the user can determine which tasks to perform as the tokens flow through the fluxogram, using not only the default FlexSim activities but also custom ones designed specifically for the RailWorks library.

ProcessFlow Tasks

Name and Icon Description

Create Train

Creates a train object on a target rail object.

Precreate Train

Creates locomotives and wagons on target RailControlPoint objects. This activity diverges from CreateTrain as it generates a locomotive before running the simulation, similar to the drag and drop creation of Task Executers on the model.

Destroy Train

Removes a train object (locomotive and wagons) from the model.

Move Train

Sets the next destination for the target train, this information is then used by the RailWorks path algorithm to determine the route used by the train to get to its destiny.

Create Wagon

Creates a group of Wagons on target Rail Control Point.

Couple Wagon

Connects the locomotive to a group of wagons. When the train is coupled with more wagons, the model will start to consider anyone of them as a Flowitem.

Decouple Wagon

Disconnects the locomotive to a group of wagons.

Load Wagon

The Load Wagon task starts the load method with the train object and the station connected to the current rail. This removes the content from the station and adds it to the train`s current load.

Unload Wagon

The Unload Wagon task starts the unload method with the train object and the station connected to the current rail. This adds content to the station and removes it from the train`s current load.

Fuel Train

This task activates the fuel method on the train and the station connected to the current rail. This adds fuel value to the train, until full, so that it can continue to move on the rail system.

Crane Load

This task loads an item from a Wagon into a Crane, making it so the Crane will hold the loaded item until a CraneUnload task is fired.

Crane Unload

This task unloads the item held by the crane in the destination of choice.

Configuration Panels

Create Train

Rail Object

The following properties are on the CreateTrain panel:

Source Train: Sets the Source that the Train will be created.
Locomotive Type: Sets the Locomotive Type created.
Train Color: Sets the train color.
Locomotive Uncoupled: Sets the speed of the Locomotive when it is not coupled to any Wagon.
Locomotive Coupled: Sets the speed of the Locomotive when it is coupled to any Wagon.
Locomotive Acceleration: Sets the acceleration of the Locomotive.
Locomotive Deceleration: Sets the deceleration of the Locomotive.
Assign To Label: Sets the label in token to save the train.
Reverse Create: Sets if the train will be created reversed.
Max Weight: Sets the max weight that the train will be able to carry.
Current Weight: Sets the initial weight for the train.
Max Fuel: Sets the max fuel that the train will have.
Current Fuel: Sets the initial fuel for the train.
Fuel Usage: Sets the fuel usage per unit.

Precreate Train

Rail Object

The following properties are on the CreateTrain panel:

Enabled: Sets the onReset creation to be enabled
Picklist: Creates a new locomotive or a new set of wagons.

The picklist options have the same configuration parameters as the CreateTrain and the CreateWagon activities.

Destroy Train

Rail Object

The following properties are on the DestroyTrain panel:

Object(s): Sets the objects to be destroyed.
Sink: Sets the Sink that will be used.
Destroy Wagons: Sets if the destruction of the train will destroy the wagons coupled to it.

Move Train

Rail Object

The following properties are on the MoveTrain panel:

Train: Sets the reference to the train to be moved.
Final Destiny: Sets the final destination to the train.
Wait Until Complete: Sets if the moving can be preempted.
Travel Offset: Sets the offset to be used when moving the train.

Create Wagon

Rail Object

The following properties are on the CreateWagon panel:

ControlPoint: Sets the reference to the ControlPoint that will hold the wagon.
Quantity: Sets the quantity to be created.
Wagon/Car Type: Sets the type of Wagon that will be created.
Reverse Create: Sets if the creation of the wagons will be reversed.
Wagon Color: Sets the Wagon color.
Assign To: Sets where the Wagon(s) will be stored in the token.
Max Weight: Sets the max weight for the Wagon(s).
Current Weight: Sets the initial weight for the Wagon(s).

Couple Wagon

Rail Object

The following properties are on the CoupleWagon panel:

Locomotive: Sets the reference to the Locomotive that will hold the Wagon(s).
Wagon(s): Sets the reference to the Wagon(s).
Couple Time: Sets the couple time.

Decouple Wagon

Rail Object

The following properties are on the DecoupleWagon panel:

Locomotive: Sets the reference to the Locomotive that holds the Wagon(s).
ControlPoint: Sets the ControlPoint that will receive the Wagon(s).
Decouple Time: Sets the decouple time.

Load Wagon

Rail Object

The following properties are on the LoadWagon panel:

Control Point: Sets the ControlPoint that have the load/unload operation.
Train Reference: Sets the reference to the Locomotive that holds the Wagon(s) that will be loaded/unloaded.
Keep Flowitem Object: Switches between keeping the Flowitem or not in the action of loading. If this is unchecked, the Flowitem will be destroyed and, in the Wagon, will only exist as a numeric reference.
Allow Fractionated Load: Switches between allowing fractionated load or not. If checked, the Wagon can load fractionated parts of the Flowitem, always filling up the max weight.
Load Type: Sets the type of load used by this Activity, which can be: Full Loaded Release Only, Load Time Constraint and Max Idle Timer.

  • Selecting Full Loaded Release only will load the Locomotive until it is full, then it will release it.
  • Selecting Load Time Constraint will load the Locomotive based on some time constraint, then it will release it.
  • Selecting Max Idle Timer will load the Locomotive until the specified max idle time, then it will release it.

  • Load Time: Sets the time to load the Locomotive. This value is only used when the Load Type is set to Load Time Constraint or Max Idle Timer.
    onFull Release Train: Sets if, when the Locomotive is full, the train will be released early or not.
    Mininum Load Time: Sets the minimum load time to load the Locomotive. This value is only used when the Load Type is set to Load Time Constraint or Max Idle Timer, and the onFull Release Train is set to true.
    Maximum Idle Time: Sets the max idle time to load the Locomotive. This value is only used when the Load Type is set to Max Idle Timer.

    Unload Wagon

    Rail Object

    The following properties are on the UnloadWagon panel:

    Control Point: Sets the ControlPoint that have the load/unload operation.
    Train Reference: Sets the reference to the Locomotive that holds the Wagon(s) that will be loaded/unloaded.
    Unload Time: Sets the time to unload the Locomotive.

    Fuel Train

    Rail Object

    The following properties are on the FuelTrain panel:

    Control Point: Sets the ControlPoint that have the fuel operation.
    Train Reference: Sets the reference to the Locomotive that will be fueled.
    Fuel Time: Sets the time to fuel the Locomotive.

    Crane Load

    Rail Object

    The following properties are on the CraneLoad panel:

    Wagon: Sets the reference to the Wagon
    Crane: Sets the reference to Crane.
    Item: Sets the reference to the item that will be loaded by the Crane.

    Crane Unload

    Rail Object

    The following properties are on the CraneUnload panel:

    Wagon: Sets the reference to the Wagon
    Crane: Sets the reference to Crane.
    Destination: Sets the reference to the destination of unloading.