Abermule Railway Station: Agent-Oriented Task-Centric Empirical Modelling

This paper presents and discusses an approach to modelling the situation at the Abermule Train Station immediately leading up to the train disaster of 1921. The incident itself is summarised and a modelling approach introduced and presented that is based on the principles behind Empirical Modelling (EM) and yet also around the notion of tasks. A corresponding model, built with EM software tools, is introduced and referenced throughout. The model itself, and the overall approach are evaluated and some comparisons with previous work in the field are included. Significantly, the appropriateness and position of such a task-centric modelling approach within the seemingly non goal-oriented empirical mindset is addressed. Finally, the suitability of current EM tools for such an approach is assessed and some suggestions proposed.