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They have Virtual Airlines, but do they have Virtual railroads?

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RE: Virtual Railroad, andrewpickell, Dec-16-02, 11:49 AM, (1) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-16-02, 02:52 PM, (2) RE: Virtual Railroad, Franklin, Dec-16-02, 03:44 PM, (3) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-16-02, 09:21 PM, (4) RE: Virtual Railroad, GeneV, Dec-22-02, 03:15 PM, (5) RE: Virtual Railroad, Kip, Dec-22-02, 04:43 PM, (6) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-22-02, 06:27 PM, (7) RE: Virtual Railroad, Kip, Dec-22-02, 06:34 PM, (8) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-22-02, 06:51 PM, (9) RE: Virtual Railroad, Kip, Dec-22-02, 08:20 PM, (10) RE: Virtual Railroad, AM_ROAD, Dec-22-02, 11:21 PM, (11) RE: Virtual Railroad, CSX_Jim, Dec-27-02, 00:34 AM, (23) RE: Virtual Railroad, BN_9402, Dec-23-02, 11:29 PM, (12) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-23-02, 11:31 PM, (13) RE: Virtual Railroad, BN_9402, Dec-23-02, 11:32 PM, (14) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-25-02, 11:19 AM, (15) RE: Virtual Railroad, BN_9402, Dec-26-02, 00:10 AM, (16) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-26-02, 00:23 AM, (17) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-26-02, 00:28 AM, (18) RE: Virtual Railroad, BN_9402, Dec-26-02, 00:55 AM, (19) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-26-02, 12:06 PM, (20) RE: Virtual Railroad, BN_9402, Dec-26-02, 09:50 PM, (21) RE: Virtual Railroad, CSX_Jim, Dec-27-02, 00:31 AM, (22) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-27-02, 07:54 AM, (24) RE: Virtual Railroad, CSX_Jim, Dec-27-02, 06:16 PM, (25) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Dec-28-02, 12:02 PM, (26) RE: Virtual Railroad, ozace50, Dec-29-02, 09:27 PM, (27) RE: Virtual Railroad, AlphaMaster, Dec-30-02, 10:37 AM, (28) RE: Virtual Railroad, artimrj, Jan-01-03, 12:39 PM, (29)

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They sure do. Check out the Microsoft Train Simulator Insider page for link to a few.http://microsoftgamesinsider.com/TrainSimulator/Links/default.htm- Andrew

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Heres a few worth-your-time ones...www.vnerr.com
www.atlanicrail.com
www.vnerr.com/northeastrail
www.atlanticsystem.tk

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Don't forget about http://gnrr.atlanticrail.com

One of ACR's Acela Express trains, courtesy of Alex Stroshane

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Several more are going through birth pains right now, I expect to see 5-7 more shortly after the new year.I own North Eastern Railroad
www.vnerr.comIt is a functioning virtual railroad with over 150 active members. We have over 200 pieces of equipment painted to our paint scheme, and with physics and lighting completely redone to be as "real as it gets", including empty & loaded models. At this point we have developed over 75 activites spanning 15 routes. Our activites, which we call Work Orders, have continuity, where in if you drive to Kalispell to drop off a load, in part 2 you start at Kalispell and where ever you end up, you start the next activity. SOme of them continue across several routes.We have developed a Training Division, which has tests based on NORAC study guides, after taking the test you get activities designed to go with the test. At present there are 8 tests with over 40 hours of activities to go with them. It takes virtually 2 months for you to graduate from the class, 1 test a week.Our engineers download a work order, run it and then go back to the web site to turn in a time slip. These are tallied up on a Callboard. To stay active 2 runs are required per month, allthough very few only drive 2.NERR has collected quite a group of hard core train simmers. We have been barely in operation 4 months and the majority of these guys have run all 75 activities plus did the training.Our team is producing on average 4 new activites per week. We have a beta team that checks them all before we release them to make sure all the glitches are out.In 4 months our forums have close to 7,000 posts. No bickering, incredible as it may seem. Only freindly helpful TS conversation with some everyday life thrown in. Everyone helps everyone, no matter what race, creed or religion. We have engineers from all over the world, from Chili to Taiwan. NERR is truly an international experience.I guess you can tell I am quite proud of our operation. It has grown above and beyond what I ever expected.Bob Artim
Operations Director
North Eastern Railroad
www.vnerr.com

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Yes there are VR's. some better than others. I am a member of three at the present time.I would reccomend www.vnerr.com as the best.They have a great attitude.A training program that you can participate in although not required. A large number of routes, activities, and equipment. Most of the activities coordinated to go with one another and make you feel like you are really getting somewhere.A message board that offers friendly, knowledgable advice on a great deal of subjects, without talking down to rookies.A chance to be as involved as you care to, whether writing routes or activities, or just running trains.A ranking system to show your progress and acknowledge your accomplishments.Did I mention they have a great attitude?

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I am indirectly involved with NERR because they use Hoodoo Pass 1.5 for their activities and work orders. I have tried to get involved with past VRR's that just plain failed. VNERR, in my opinion, is highly maintained and it works. Many members that run that VRR keep things up to par and therefore let's the Virtual Railroading be fun, like it was intended. Many members and several routes are used. It is probably the only VRR that I know of that works like it should. Very well designed and building slowly to work out the "kinks". It's membership is growing steadily. If VRR is something folks are interested in, then VNERR is a good place to go. Kip
3DTS
The Priest River Railroad "...it's so fictional, it's almost real"
PRRR Wesite Now released: PRRR's Hoodoo Pass Route 1.5 "beta"
Coming soon: Hoodoo Pass v.2.0 "Cascadia Edition"

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Yes, VNERR is the best place you can go now. But if you can, take a look at mine. www.atlanticsystem.tkPS Kip - Did brian talk to you about me modeling for v2.0 of hoodoo pass?

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Nope. Haven't heard a word. Modeling what?Kip
3DTS
The Priest River Railroad "...it's so fictional, it's almost real"
PRRR Wesite Now released: PRRR's Hoodoo Pass Route 1.5 "beta"
Coming soon: Hoodoo Pass v.2.0 "Cascadia Edition"

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I was showing him what i was working on in 3ds max, and he asked if i could make a few houses for v2.0 and he said he would talk to you about it. And thats the last i heard

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Hmmmm...I for one have no problem with that. Make your models. Let me know when your done.Kip
3DTS
The Priest River Railroad "...it's so fictional, it's almost real"
PRRR Wesite Now released: PRRR's Hoodoo Pass Route 1.5 "beta"
Coming soon: Hoodoo Pass v.2.0 "Cascadia Edition"

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Check out the lin ks here.

_____________________________
I am committed to restoring the existing system to a state of good repair as a first priority. I am committed to an efficient, high-quality service. I will ask that all of us review processes, work methods and procedures to increase efficiency. We will not be self-sufficient, but we must increase our cost recovery.
-David Gunn CEO Amtrak

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So Danny, do you plan on basing your VR around UTC? Based on your comments about Auran's latest release, you were saying you don't think you will have MSTS on your computer much longer.

Jim

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Here's a new one for ya I spent most of today working on:
The Virtual Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company: http://www.freewebz.com/vbnsf/home.htmMost of the website is still under construction, but feel free to join and I'll get you on the roster.Austin S.
austin_seely@yahoo.com
-Virtual BNSF
-http://www.freewebz.com/vbnsf/home.htm

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Austin,
At one time that was a VRR, wit the exact same name and initials. They have since fell apart, and are no longer in existance.

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Hehe, I know, I was Co-CEO until the other Co-CEO ventured off elsewhere and took the website with him.Austin S.
austin_seely@yahoo.com
Located at milepost 113.1
BNSF's Emporia Sub
Chicago to Los Angeles Freeway.

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There is nothing there but an empty frames page. Whats up? Sure wish you guys would check things before you started posting about them. This is the kind of thing that has given VRs a bad rep as it is. Vapor VRs do not get it guys. Get your railroad working then tell us about it.

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-02 AT 00:20 AM (EST)

>There is nothing there but an empty frames page. Whats up?
>Sure wish you guys would check things before you started
>posting about them. This is the kind of thing that has given
>VRs a bad rep as it is. Vapor VRs do not get it guys. Get
>your railroad working then tell us about it. It works in Internet Explorer 5.5, but for some reason I DO get a blank page in Netscape 6. Let me see what I can do. But trust me, I've viewed the website on 5 different computers, all in IE 5.5, without any errors. Oh, BTW, this isn't vaporware, look at the attachment, ok?!Austin S.
austin_seely@yahoo.com
-Virtual BNSF
-http://www.freewebz.com/vbnsf/home.htm

Attachments

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/3e0a90ee3a4c5ad2.jpg

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Hate to tell ya, I am using IE 6, still empty frames page, with error 404 in the contents and same in main.

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Here's why<frameset cols="140,*" frameborder="NO" border="0" framespacing="0" rows="*">
<frame name="leftFrame" scrolling="NO" noresize src="file:///C|/Program%20Files/VBNSF%20Webpage/Homepage/menuframe.htm">
<frame name="mainFrame" src="file:///C|/Program%20Files/VBNSF%20Webpage/Homepage/mainframe.htm">Both your pages reference to your flippin hard drive, not your web site's domain.

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-02 AT 01:11 AM (EST)

Ok, that's my fault. I'll get everything fixed soon. Thanks for pointing that out! I've only been web designing for the past 2 days, I need to read the instructions before I do something, oh well.EDIT: I've updated the site and tested it in Netscape 6 and it now works!Thanks again!Austin S.
austin_seely@yahoo.com
-Virtual BNSF
-http://www.freewebz.com/vbnsf/home.htm

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Ok now that we got that all straightened out, you have nothing at the site. No trains, no activities, no routes, half your graphics are missing and your the only engineer.I thought this was a functioning VR? not a vapor VR?Looks like vapor to me.

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>Ok now that we got that all straightened out, you have
>nothing at the site. No trains, no activities, no routes,
>half your graphics are missing and your the only engineer.
>
>I thought this was a functioning VR? not a vapor VR?
>
>Looks like vapor to me. Boy, what a friendly welcome to virtual railroading. May I point out that the original VBNSF shut down many months ago and I have just recreated the VR in the last week. I was just spreading the word about the VR so if anyone would like to help out they may, but your making me sound like some scam artist. I'm working on a route, some activites for MP and will be starting repaints of a few units into BNSF colors. Since I believe you have been in virtual railroading since the beginning, you should know it takes time for a virtual railroad to get going, even though my VR may never get to "your standards".Austin S.
austin_seely@yahoo.com
-Virtual BNSF
-http://www.freewebz.com/vbnsf/home.htm

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Austin,I think Bob's point is that there have been a number of VR's that have done what you have done so far: setup a website, posted a message that they were starting up in several locations, and then flounder about trying to get things moving. Six months after they post their startup message there is still nothing.The question seems to be: Why another Virtual Railroad?Right now there are three (3) active North America-based VR's, three (3) claiming they are starting up in the next month or so, and a half dozen or so that never made it off the ground but still have their website sitting there stagnant.After the three (3) active ones (North Eastern Railroad, Atlantic Coast Railway plus subsidiary GNRR, and North East Railroad), there's nothing left to really waste your time on. Of the three above, NERR has definitely taken the lead on what a VR should be like and has the other VR's trying to figure out a way to copy what they are doing.So, I ask you again, why another VR, what do you and your VR plan to bring to the table that isn't already there? Why not join one of the existing VR's and work to make it more successful?Another point to consider is why does a VR like ACR, that has been around the longest, have so many spin-offs that can attributed to them? The answer: immaturity. Fighting amongst the management over who does what, how it is done, etc. Now I ask you, do you think you can do this on your own? Of course not. You need help. Have any idea how many people are working to make NERR what it is? Fifteen (15), that's right and that number will be increasing over the next month as their services are expanded. Do you have any idea on the cost of running a VR as successful as NERR? Normally more than one person can afford. While NERR is free and doesn't require anything be purchased there are several folks who have made donations to help offset the costs of maintaining the website, mailing CD's of the equipment we use, etc.In addition, there is a mirror site that is maintained to offset the bandwidth issues and improve accessibility just in case the website goes off line.Since May 2002, when things really went into full swing to bring NERR online, over 6000 messages have been posted in the forums. We have folks that just sign up for the forums in order to benefit from the support that is provided on MSTS. We have 140+ Engineers with more operating hours in the last 4 months than the other VR's have in a year. Read through our forums and you will not find one message that was rude in responding to another poster. In the chat sessions you never find arguments amongst the staff. Everyone's opinion is valued and appreciated. Majority rules, we agree to disagree if necessary, and move on.Some of the same folks that you see posting here in these forums and being trashed for their behavior, participate in our forums and are very productive members. Treat people with respect and you will get their respect, it's that simple.So, I ask you again, one last time: Why another Virtual Railroad? What are you looking for that the existing VR's don't provide? If you feel you have something special to bring to the table, then contact Bob and help out at NERR. You know the old saying, "Why reinvent the wheel?"Whatever you decide, let me wish you the best in your endeavors....Jim Vaughan
Director, Training
North Eastern Railroad

Jim

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You can almost say the same thing about my VRR too, but I got the idea when VBNSF was there and only ACR had a passenger department. I didnt do anything with it for 3-5 months, only because I had no time. Right now I llike the challenge of getting it started up, and providing what VRR's like - Realism, Fun, and a Good Environment. I have no problem knowing my VRR might never be as big and robust as vNERR.(/Thought)

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Austin,Tried to access your site a few minutes ago and got a '404 - Page Not Found' error.

Jim

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That is exactly my point. Now his site is gone. It didnt last a week. But I bet it will be back with new people and new colors, maybe even readable this time.This may sound like I am being sarcastic, well I am a little, but the crew at NERR worked for over 10 months to get things ready to open the doors. We put our web site together, painted the trains, modified the physics, established which routes we were going to use and started making activities. Then we told everyone we were in business. Not while we were still figuring things out.Our web site is a real domain which does not bombard you with popups that give you the gator virus. I am currently paying $30 a month for a gig of storage and 20 gig of BW. The first lesson I learned, you can make a web site on a free domain. They have no services for you. No PHP, no MYSQL, no storage space, and probably no FP extensions.I think it is great that you kids wouldl ike to have another functioning vr, then maybe we could have some sort of itermural competitions.But you gotta make more than a web site to do it.Bob Artim
www.vnerr.com

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I joined a few VRs when I first started using MSTS in about June 2002. I was looking for a group of people who could help me with problems that I was having - the usual ones that would now not cause me to go into panic mode - like missing consists, errors in wag and eng files. Problems like these can cause newbies like I was to give up on MSTS quite easily.I have to say that the one VR which made me feel welcome and which looked well-organised was the North Eastern RailRoad. And I have now been a member of the NERR for about 4 months - and I am still getting great assistance with problems. There is substance behind the web site - activities, locos, wagons, cabs, and a great set of forums (some even for specific routes).For me, the existence of this particular VR has kep up my interest in MSTS long after I would otherwise have deleted it from my hard drive. And it is great to feel part of a close-knit group of people who share a common interest!ozace50

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>That is exactly my point. Now his site is gone. It didnt
>last a week. But I bet it will be back with new people and
>new colors, maybe even readable this time.
>
>This may sound like I am being sarcastic, well I am a
>little, but the crew at NERR worked for over 10 months to
>get things ready to open the doors. We put our web site
>together, painted the trains, modified the physics,
>established which routes we were going to use and started
>making activities. Then we told everyone we were in
>business. Not while we were still figuring things out.
>
>Our web site is a real domain which does not bombard you
>with popups that give you the gator virus. I am currently
>paying $30 a month for a gig of storage and 20 gig of BW.
>The first lesson I learned, you can make a web site on a
>free domain. They have no services for you. No PHP, no
>MYSQL, no storage space, and probably no FP extensions.
>
>I think it is great that you kids wouldl ike to have another
>functioning vr, then maybe we could have some sort of
>itermural competitions.
>
>But you gotta make more than a web site to do it.
>
>Bob Artim
>www.vnerr.com I completely agree with you. I have aready made some mistakes,but everything is coming together as planned. (except for our president getting very sick:-() We are currently painting trains, and if I could post screen shots, I would show you we are getting things done. I simply cannot update the site because the server's password will not re-set for my HRD, and the server company has still not responded. Bob, I'm gonna PM you later on today.

Danny - Pittsburgh
Hi! I'm a signature virus. Copy me into your signature to help me spread.

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Here are the monthly statistics for the North Eastern Virtual Railroad for December 02.91 active engineers completed 764 work orders totalling 980 hours at an average time for each activity of 1 hour 17 minutes. Each active engineer completed an average of over 8 activities. 980 hours of good friendly fun.Bob Artim
www.vnerr.com

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