Standard Fills & Cuts
Colleagues,
Just my opinion, but the fills and cuts method in TSRE SUCKS! The main problem I notice is that it is very difficult to set a reasonable width for either the top of a fill, or the bottom of a cut, and I accept Eric's explanation that we do not know the algorithm that was used in MSTS to handle this which in many ways is superior. So I wonder if some of us that are so inclined, along with Eric, could come up with some standards for cut/fill parameters so that while not perfect, are at least reasonably accurate. In a deep cut, like some of those around Kings Mtn., KY on the CNO&TP, the bottom is about 50 feet or 15 meters wide. Fills are about the same, and the slopes of a fill usually do not exceed 45 degrees. Cut walls can be almost vertical, but ones done in the last 50 years are probably staircased, and likely the best way to handle that is to use shapes for the cut sides. I have raised this subject a few times and I see other remarks about it too, so there seems to be no lack of interest.
Jerry Sullivan (retired from CSX & Southern)
Just my opinion, but the fills and cuts method in TSRE SUCKS! The main problem I notice is that it is very difficult to set a reasonable width for either the top of a fill, or the bottom of a cut, and I accept Eric's explanation that we do not know the algorithm that was used in MSTS to handle this which in many ways is superior. So I wonder if some of us that are so inclined, along with Eric, could come up with some standards for cut/fill parameters so that while not perfect, are at least reasonably accurate. In a deep cut, like some of those around Kings Mtn., KY on the CNO&TP, the bottom is about 50 feet or 15 meters wide. Fills are about the same, and the slopes of a fill usually do not exceed 45 degrees. Cut walls can be almost vertical, but ones done in the last 50 years are probably staircased, and likely the best way to handle that is to use shapes for the cut sides. I have raised this subject a few times and I see other remarks about it too, so there seems to be no lack of interest.
Jerry Sullivan (retired from CSX & Southern)