Figure 10: This is the control board of a Russian-made engine, known as the SR 1. A full control board will be included in the simulation.
This project was started at the initiative of the Finnish Railways (VR) in 1996. The purpose of this project was to analyze the requirements for a modern locomotive simulator to be used in training of new locomotive engineers. During summer 1996, a preliminary research was conducted, and a final requirements document was delivered at the end of January 1997.
The analysis didn't just cover technical details; it also extended to general questions, such as the layout and properties of the class room, and how the simulator should be integrated into the curriculum to produce a maximum learning effect. The analysis was completed in close co-operation with the VR Training Center, and was fully financed by VR.
The project employed two people, M.Sc Sari A. Laakso, and Stud. Tech. Janne Jalkanen (who made his Master's Thesis during the project). The project was supervised by Prof. Tapio Takala, and the project utilized also the students of the "User Interface Design" -course, who produced a functional prototype of the teacher's interface to the simulator.
As a curious sidenote, this project was finished a month ahead of the schedule and the cost was less than what was anticipated.