Tehachapi revisited

Last night I finished a run across the Tehachapi Route from Bakersfield to Mojave. I'm using a preview version of the 3DTS Modern Tehachapi route with a track database dated August 8, 2001.My first impressions of this route from testing its beta version remain the same. This is an incredible duplication of the true route grade and physics. John and John did something that the MSTS/Kujo folks could never do with Marias Pass. They actually did their best to replicate the actual route with their track database.On Marias Pass, it is very difficult to hold a constant speed. On Tehachapi, I was able to stay within two mph (under the limit) of the 25 mph speed limit nearly the entire route. If you have listened to Tehachapi track detectors as much as I have, you know this is how actual operation is.With duplication of the true grade, 3DTS puts reality into the cab operation unlike that found on the Marias Route.My version has no scenery and some of the trackside geography and geometry is not true to detail, but in the cab it really felt like actual train operation. Good job, guys!If the Tehachapi II version fills out some of the scenery, it will be a memorable release.Ron Angle
Chico CA
(not a 3DTS employee)

Grumpy Old Man

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RE: Tehachapi revisited, IcyFire, Dec-01-02, 04:55 PM, (1) RE: Tehachapi revisited, SVTS, Dec-01-02, 06:44 PM, (2) RE: Tehachapi revisited, shoskins, Dec-01-02, 08:15 PM, (3) RE: Tehachapi revisited, SVTS, Dec-01-02, 08:56 PM, (4) RE: Tehachapi revisited, dgauci, Dec-01-02, 09:43 PM, (5) RE: Tehachapi revisited, Kip, Dec-02-02, 01:09 AM, (9) RE: Tehachapi revisited, SVTS, Dec-02-02, 09:51 AM, (10) RE: Tehachapi revisited, frcanyonsub, Dec-01-02, 10:51 PM, (6) RE: Tehachapi revisited, dgauci, Dec-01-02, 11:12 PM, (7) RE: Tehachapi revisited, brucek, Dec-02-02, 00:05 AM, (8)

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Just FYI, someone here has redone marias pass with realistic grades, check the file library for marias pass 3.0 and you'll find a much nicer version
Building a New rig for MSTS

Shawn "Icy-Fire" Kenselaar
ShawnSSK@Yahoo.com
You're friendly screen shot forum mod, Have you had your shot today?

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I like your disclaimer at the end of your post, "not a 3DTS employee." So many people here get the idea that becasue someone sticks up for a company like 3DTS, that they must work for them.I have had the pleasure of meeting Brad and spending 3 days with him at the loop, in October, and here is someone that loves trains, and takes great pride in what he and his company does. Remember when people were complaining about delays in the shipping of Cajon? Thats becasue the route, was not up to Brad's standards, and wanted things to be as close to perfect as possible. The result was just that, near perfection.I am lucky enough to have been able to Aplha test Tehachapi Pass II, and so far, without most of the scenery added, it is incredible. If you thought the track work was nice on the original version, just wait till you see what they did with TP II. They nailed this route almost perfectly, and I should know after sveral trips to the area, and owning 2 very good books on the route.Those that own the original version are probally thinking they should get a discount if they buy TP II. Well, think again. You are getting a entirely different route, with new textures, track alignment, scnery complete, new trainsets, and activites. A route made from scratch, with thousands of countless hours put in by Brad and his team. I hope people will take this into consideration before they lash out at 3DTS when TP II is released, as some people will.If you own TP I, than keep enjoying it, until TP II is released sometime in the late winter / early spring. The wait will be well worth your time. Chris...also not a 3DTS emplyee!Festival of Trains, NRHS 2003 Convention, June 2003, Baltimore Md. www.borail.org www.nrhs.com

Visit my website for lots of great photos and info on trains. http://groups.msn.com/tehachapi

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I will second what SVTS says -- I joined the guys at The Loop one of those days in October. The Cajon Pass route is done very well, and was well worth the delays in shipping. Of course, *I* don't worry about hwo fast something ships -- I learned to be patient a LONG time ago. Once the new updated Tehachapi route is made available, I won't hesitate to send $$$ to 3DTS for it.....and it can take as long as it wants to ship! I know it will be well worth it.Now to get the Tagamet, went to The Loop again yesterday and the Loop Burger is having disastrous results on my gastrointestinal system......

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Yes, the loop burger is does that....but it was good, wasn't it? I'll be back to the loop in late March and one of the first things I'll do, is buy a loop burger. Man those are good. Hope to see you there in March Steve. I think Brad might be returning, and Curt and me have already started making plans.ChrisFestival of Trains, NRHS 2003 Convention, June 2003, Baltimore Md. www.borail.org www.nrhs.com

Visit my website for lots of great photos and info on trains. http://groups.msn.com/tehachapi

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-01-02 AT 09:47 PM (EST)

"If you own TP I, than keep enjoying it, until TP II is released sometime in the late winter / early spring. The wait will be well worth your time.""The Cajon Pass route is done very well, and was well worth the delays in shipping. Of course, *I* don't worry about how fast something ships -- I learned to be patient a LONG time ago. Once the new updated Tehachapi route is made available, I won't hesitate to send $$$ to 3DTS for it.....and it can take as long as it wants to ship! I know it will be well worth it." Not to be overly critical, but with quotes like the above I don't think your doing 3DTrainsStuff any favors by constantly emphasizing future shipment delays and waits. The product isn't even out of testing yet, let alone shipping!!!I'm sure their TP II will be great, I like their TP I and Cajon Pass. Customer service would be better served with a positive attitude towards the new release instead of constantly defending a negative aspect that hasn't even materialized yet.

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The shipping delays were basically out of 3DTS's control concerning Cajon Pass. Some unforseeable things happened during production of the CD's that had nothing to do with 3DTS as a whole. Unfortunately, delays landed in their lap and they dealt with it as best as they could. Tehachapi II is being tested and tested and tested...then some more.Also, to build routes for 3DTS is a complex job that requires a team that have their "specialties". A lot of research goes into making a route and we go sloooooow...Tehachapi II and Cambrian (British) have been evolving into masterpieces of work that I'm totally convinced people will enjoy....soon enough.Kip
3DTS Sr. Route Developer
3dtrainstuff.com

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I think you need to read the forums more closely. Nobody is talking about dealy in TPII, becasue the route is not even ready yet. Brad himself has posted that it could be ready by the end of February, and the only reason I, and others are not using that date is becasue we don't work for 3DTS, and don't want to say something on this forum and then have people bitching when it is not ready.Read before you post please.ChrisFestival of Trains, NRHS 2003 Convention, June 2003, Baltimore Md. www.borail.org www.nrhs.com

Visit my website for lots of great photos and info on trains. http://groups.msn.com/tehachapi

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>I like your disclaimer at the end of your post, "not a 3DTS
>employee." So many people here get the idea that becasue
>someone sticks up for a company like 3DTS, that they must
>work for them. To be honest, I was one of the early 3DTS 'non-partners' in the summer of 2001 although I have never met Brad in person. Brad was gracious enough to give me a monthly column on the 3DTS web page until illness and train-sim burnout put me on the wrecker siding.There is one thing to remember about all of these commercial train-sim ventures like 3DTS: it is all a labor of love. 3D sims are so labor intensive to produce that no one will ever get rich before the next fad moves onto the big screen. Whatever compensation Brad and his crew receive would never get past any cost benefit analysis as profitable.I will speculate here...and challenge the audience to correct me...but I suspect that Microsoft will never make a penny of profit on MSTS. It is specialty software for a very small (but obsessive) market. Likewise for Trainz.

Grumpy Old Man

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>I will speculate here...and challenge the audience to
>correct me...but I suspect that Microsoft will never make a
>penny of profit on MSTS. It is specialty software for a very
>small (but obsessive) market. Likewise for Trainz. I don't know about MS never making a profit on MSTS, but I do agree that it will never be a serious profit center for them. Their real business is the business sector. I agree with your observation about the market niche and competing products.

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-02-02 AT 00:06 AM (EST)

Quote:-"...but I suspect that Microsoft will never make a
penny of profit on MSTS.........Likewise for Trainz."I'm not correcting you but if Trainz isn't a money-maker for Auran, then they are up sh*t creek without a paddle.Why?Because, unlike Microsoft, they do not have a "business division". Apart from Auran Jet(R), Trainz is just about all they've got in the marketplace.Bruce.

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