Notice to all visitors and members of the Train-Sim.Com message forums: If you plan on using a signature banner in your posts, we would like to remind you that there is a maximum size for banners. That maximum is 450 pixels wide by 120 pixels high, and not to exceed 25k. Your compliance is appreciated. FORUM RULES Problems? There are two common reasons for problems with logging in and posting messages. The first is that you are running a firewall that prevents your messages from being sent to the server. The other is that you have cookies disabled; the DCForum software requires cookies to work properly.
OK - I know this is rather ambitious going from asking about what BVE is to discussing creating routes in less than a 24-hour period. But I'm curious. And even though curiosity killed the cat, I'm just trying to absorb as much as I can.1)What is the easiest way to transfer real world, prototypical track data to Route Builder? IE: How do I accurately get information about the shape, distance, etc into RB?2)How do folks create subways? As far as I know, most aren't depicted on maps with geographical accuracy, and my GPS doesn't work underground.Jim
To answer #2, When I started routebuilding, I would ride the intended train, and make observations from the railfan window (at the front end of the train), taking notes as I go. I later received official TA diagrams which show the alignment of the tracks (including curve radii, and grades). I now use the diagrams as my primary method because the physical data doesn't change much. It's true that "regular" subway maps are rarely drawn to scale, and, even in the rare occasion that they are, it usually doesn't show the track alignments.I'm not too familiar with RouteBuilder. I make the routes the "old-fashioned way."Just to illustrate how long the route-building process can be, I started work on the E line in Early- to mid-2001, and didn't finish it until January 2002. By then, of course, the tragic events of 9/11 were still fresh in the minds of many New Yorkers, so I had a WTC memorial built at the end of the WTC station on the E line, just before where the fare control area is.Attached is a screenshot of the article for the E line which appeared on the CroTrainz web site. (2002/01/28)-Robert Marrero
The one I built (still working on it) is a rural trolley line. Fortunately the line followed the present highway and I was able to get all I needed from the geodetic survey maps. They're available online (have to search -- I don't have the URL). Track elements are 25 meters long, so it's good to lay out your benchmarks points (stations, bridges, river crossings, etc.). Since I was using Rude's premade switches, and built matching smooth curve sections, I began placing curves at key points and tracking the change in direction. I kept a running tab and peridically checked against the real thing to make sure distance and orientation were correct.-- Al --------------------- Alfred Barten, Editor Virtual Railroader
There is a special route builder forum at http://routebuilder.bve-routes.com/forums.php What you can do is make your ground map a background image in tne map window, scaled correctly and just mactch the lines. Other way is that RB shows the cord of each point in relative terms, and you can keep track.
On underground lines, it's useful to have a driver's eye view DVD / VHS, and if possible some sort of diagrams - for the Piccadilly, I used the Quail track maps up to version 3, and then for 4 and 5 am using the real LU diagrams.-- Tom Beevers http://tombeevers2000.free-hosting.org.uk/piccadillybve/
>I'm not too familiar with RouteBuilder. I make the routes the "old- >fashioned way."Well, and that's what I'm kinda thinking. Would collecting route data on a GPS and downloading the coordinates to my computer be of any use? Is there any sort of translator between waypoints and route points?Jim
