What makes a route interesting instead of boring?

LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-04 AT 09:48 AM (EST)

Hello!In your personal opinion, what makes a route "interesting" so you don't find it "boring"?For my is how much it can be used in order to build interesting activities ... so I prefer routes where I can find some industries
and stations with sidings.Roberto

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RE: What makes a route, BeaverMon, Aug-08-04, 09:37 AM, (1) RE: What makes a route, rsitaly, Aug-08-04, 09:47 AM, (2) RE: What makes a route, BeaverMon, Aug-08-04, 09:59 AM, (3) RE: What makes a route, SVTS, Aug-08-04, 11:07 AM, (4) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, ups, Aug-08-04, 11:39 AM, (5) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, runaway_b_unit, Aug-08-04, 11:58 AM, (6) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, BeaverMon, Aug-08-04, 01:31 PM, (8) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, rsitaly, Aug-08-04, 01:38 PM, (9) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, johninchicago, Aug-08-04, 12:23 PM, (7) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, oldiedaddy, Aug-08-04, 03:07 PM, (10) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, BeaverMon, Aug-08-04, 03:37 PM, (11) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, runaway_b_unit, Aug-08-04, 03:54 PM, (12) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, LRC_lover_9th, Aug-08-04, 06:02 PM, (13) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, philskene, Aug-08-04, 06:49 PM, (15) RE: What makes a route interesting instead of boring?, thenudehamster, Aug-08-04, 06:44 PM, (14)

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-04 AT 09:43 AM (EST)

What makes a route "interesting" instead of "boring";Hmm...I usually "judge" if a route will stay on my hard drive by the level of detail of the route, well-placed mountains, detailed sidings...I don't really know. I guess of how.... "cool" it is. If it doesn't feel like your going in a circle with nothing but constant mountains and trees.All route makers are "pros" in my book...because I can't build a route.
The only route I built was for Trainz, which was a medium-sized island-hopping route with small islands and lots of tight, derailing corners (I haven't mastered how to make them where they won't derail the train). I've gotten rid of it though cause I don't think anyone would want such a lame, fictional route that goes nowhere.

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A fictional route that goes nowhere can be interesting, there are really great routes that are fictional ... takes the PO&N8 for example ... it is "as unreal as it gets", but it is a fantastic route for sure!Roberto

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-04 AT 10:13 AM (EST)

I basically like routes that don't feel so "closed in" with mountains and trees and stuff, I like wide, open space maps (like Sea View for example).Maybe perhaps I've never visited nor lived in that area to really understand why is there this and that in the route (it reminds me of the Monon route, with it's constant mountains and trees, and all I wanted to see was Louisville).Upsetting to me, Louisville looked like a ghost town in this route, and where's the Kennedy and 2nd Street Bridges? Wheren't they made in the 60's if that's the era of the map?It's not that I'm "bashing" the route makers. We all have the right to our opinions. It's called "constructive critizisim".If a map has cool features like huge valleys where a bridge is needed to cross, and cool scenery, then it's a good one (I always look for attention to detail).
I basically look for a route, that I know by heart, that I have seen or know some of the stations (or heard alot of good reviews about).I do like Whitefish 5. It's got great attention to detail and I'd imagine it went through some lengths to get it perfect and close to RL as possiable.
I've never been to this area (even in FS 2000 I've never been in this area) so I don't really know anything about it, it's history.I'm JUST saying, as my final remarks (and as my 2 cents), that if a route WOWs me, it's a keeper, if it makes me fall asleep at the controls looking at the constant scenery I just saw 5 miles ago...I don't know.
Whitefish 5 is still a keeper, and I'm going to get off and continue where I left off.

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For me, I think it all comes down to scenery. I love looking at details along the route. The M&M Route is one such example. There is much detail put in along the route, that keeps you looking around for hours, always seeing something different.Towns...the more, the better.And grade crossings, once again, the more the better. Nothing like having a great sounding horn and not having anything to blow it at.I also would have to say that a flat route bores me, but routes like M&M, Illinois Northern 2, and Conrail Indy are exceptions. While flat, they all have lots of detail, towns, scenery, and grade crossings. Could I run them everyday?? No, but once in a while yes.Probally my favorite route is Tehachapi. It is a challenging route, coming or going, and it too has some fine trackside detail.To sum it up.....Detail, Towns / Cities, and grade crossings.Chris Bogley
Syracuse New Yorkwww.msnusers.com/cnytrains
www.msnusers.com/ashleyphotography

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Like BeaverMon said, all route builders are hero's...i've never created a route but im sure it takes hours and hours of hard work for even the simplest of routes...And doing so just for the love of the game without charging money for it...simply FANTASTIC!!!However two things which makes a route a lil more interesting than the others,in my opinion, are1. trackside detail2. challenging terrain. I love to see trains struggling uphill or fighting to stay in control downhill.upamanyu

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I like routes that are detailed, with interesting trackage situations, bridges, lots of places to go. Here is one I've been watching.......www.cloggsville.com/cutLooks like a fun route!

C h r i s

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Looks very interesting, I like the bridge track crossings and the Winter touch looks nice.Is this gonna be Freeware?

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I agree!It seems great also to me ... I hope we can see it finished one day.Roberto

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Hmmm... let's see now. My favorite route thus far is TP II. It has:- Beautiful scenery
- Smooth running tracks
- Attention to detail
- A variety of landscape (flat to mountainous)
- Unique but realistic points of interest (e.g., the loop)
- Little surprises (some of the billboards and their clever ads)
- Some areas where the route gets complicated with multiple crossing tracks
- A basis in lots of painstaking researchI just can't wait for Donner Pass, as I expect Brad and his team will even surpass their brilliant work on TP II, and it's <salivating now> a steam era route.

John in Chicago

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-04 AT 03:38 PM (EST)

A very subjective Thread !Not easy to build on, it's all about FEELINGS and LIKINGS.I'm just testreporting the new Payware Addon GR4 (Moseltalbahn/Moselle Valley, Trier/Trèves noththwards 120km to Koblenz/Coblence Germany, on the River Rhine).It is not that detailed, not very very prototypical, not perfect, but it just strikes.
It renders an Atmosphere, not a Prototype.
And features superb track/activity layouts.
When you run an Act, no time to bugmoan around, you are in the Game !
Your eyes are nailed to your steam pressure gauge, the signals ahead, your next switch for fulfilling your engineer job...
Still, many Freewares offer better features...Hmmm, impressions and opinions...After thoughts, sharp/exciting/humorous activities bring life to Routes.My first activity enthusiasm grew from Carlo Santucci, with his Gotthard2 traffic...
Got what I mean ?Love and Peace

OldieDaddy from Alsace

Visit also www.the-train.de !

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-04 AT 03:37 PM (EST)

Best payware route I've seen is those ads of the Cajon Pass route from 3DTrains. Those ads that show up every now and then on this site.

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A great route MUST have good trackwork! Curves aren't too sharp for the type of railroad, grades change gradually, switches, yards, sidings, etc are easy to run on. I have gotten bored with some routes with poor trackwork (old school Marias, for example). Sandpatch has great trackwork and is a relaxing route to run.

C h r i s

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I like multi-purpose routes. Like Marias Pass v1.2, i think it is or something like that. You can run a 100-car loaded freight on it one day and a 15-car Amtrak the next day because there're Amtrak as well as BNSF stations on it.

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Hi Roberto -There are just five things that make a route a "keeper" for me:Interesting and varied scenery.
Reasonable frame rates.
An attention to detail where it counts.
Interactions with AI traffic (the more the better).
Reasons for the route's existence (railroads as a logistical exercise instead of just moving trains).Which is, of course, why my favorite MSTS route is my own "Austral Bay".Phil

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A bit of everything. My personal favourite is MidEast UK - 150 odd miles of mainline with up to 125mph possible, (including the World Steam Speed Record stretch - and an activity to let you try to beat it!) several country branches, collieries and industrial plant; and from track level, enough scenery to make it 'feel' right without compromising performance too much.
US routes I only have a couple - and I'm stil ltrying to acquire the right stock, so I can't pontificate on them.

Barry
Certified Old Fart
=========================
Any opinion expressed above is hereby warranted to be worth exactly what you paid for it.

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