Columbia Gorge Phase 2?

I am giving serious consideration to puting Phase 2 on the shelf indefinitely. I will backup my current work to CD and pick it up at a later time. I am kind of waiting to see what comes out of Trainmaster and whether their simulator is compatible with MSTS routes, scenery, etc.I haven't even looked at Columbia Gorge for several months. I got started puting in siding names and correcting the non-standard siding geometry. I have scanned the topographic maps for Phase 2, added the necessary tiles, and DEMd those tiles.I am not totally quitting MSTS, just going into a standby, wait and see mode. I'll still be around the forums and make postings occasionally. Things have really changed around here since MS announced it was dropping MSTS. Most of the more knowledgable peopls are gone or sitting back and watching. My premium file library membership expired and I see no change in performance!!Good luck to all and lets hope the future is brighter.Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- On Hold)

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RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, Hawk, Aug-03-04, 03:30 PM, (1) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, tryagin, Aug-03-04, 04:56 PM, (2) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, Tree Frog, Aug-03-04, 05:09 PM, (3) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, DRGWK36, Aug-03-04, 06:36 PM, (4) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, landnrailroader, Aug-03-04, 08:32 PM, (5) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, pvoxland, Aug-03-04, 10:03 PM, (6) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, robertreedy, Aug-03-04, 10:27 PM, (7) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, lfriddle, Aug-03-04, 10:51 PM, (8) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, MRRextreme, Aug-04-04, 00:25 AM, (9) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, Coonskin, Aug-04-04, 00:35 AM, (10) RE: Columbia Gorge Phase 2???, brooksy, Aug-04-04, 02:18 AM, (11)

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Hey Cal,
I haven't fired up Train Sim in quite a while. I, too, am on wait and see.
In the meantime, I've been really enjoying Railroad Tycoon 3, even with it's bugs, and I hear-tell, Bill's building ships now.

Hawk

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Hi Cal,
Me too. I only played MSTS a couple times to see some new stuff, and because I won a copy of Cascade Crossing. But I haven't fired up TSM in a coon's age, except to make a few signs. But that's about it. I dusted off my old B-17 sim and have been getting my 50 bucks' worth out of that ( what I paid for it 4 years ago.) and doing some research on the web on recent middle east history.So, yes, good luck and hope for a brighter future. Tim

Street and Interurban Electric Railway Models
Sumpter Valley B&B Gang
Willamette Valley Route
(No timetable for release)
Turn Off your TVs.

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Hi Cal,As you know, I'm also taking a break. Sea View 5 is on the shelf indefinately since I am busy with another hobby right now. However, route building was so much fun that I suspect we will both be back at it in the future.Bill Burnett

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>Most of the more knowledgable peopls are gone or sitting back and
>watching. ...leaving the rest of us poor fools to muddle along as best we can The hesitance is understandable, Cal. I suspect that it's at least partly due to the simple fact that after a major effort, it's harder to crank up the enthusiasm. I know that's my problem in many ways. Although there's nothing guaranteed, the TA TS has claimed to be working toward importing current MSTS routes. And I suspect that TMTS will be trying to do the same thing. So I'm bravely (foolishly? ) forging ahead, although slowly.I'm an incurable optimist - I have no doubt the future will be brighter, and we'll be able to import our current routes into it as well! OK, maybe I'm a bit nuts, but I do think we'll see progress in the train-sim universe, and I don't think my efforts on my current route will be wasted. Maybe not 100% importable, but useful.Hang in there, guys!Andy

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Folks,I'm still forging ahead on the RMD-4. I have been in communication with three different historians of the Milwaukee Road, two of whom are former employees, and they are helping me get colors as near correct as possible etc. For example, in B&W images, which abound, of the Adair Loop, there are numerous light areas in the cuts. Turns out that the soil is sort of a yellowish clay and there is considerable granite as well, so the rock outcroppings will be granite, more or less, while the cuts will be shaded yellowish clay color. One supplied me with a 1973 aerial of Alberton, and he also sent images of the main street.I too acquired a copy of Cascade Crossing, and it is great. I am a passenger enthusiast, so the first thing I did was put together a Coast StarLight. Then I noticed something interesting about the tunnels, and tried it on the RMD-4. When I create a portal, I put a short berm like appendage on each side, beveled at the outside end. Although the portals are all the same, with a few exceptions, the snow sheds vary, and the distance from the tunnel to the sidehill varies, so I adjust these dimensions in TSM. The result is that most tunnels will not use transfers.If you download the two videos that are on the PI Engr. site, there is a comment that they use imported objects, presumably the locomotive and 1 car that are involved, so I believe that most anything will be importable, massageable, or whatever. Possibly, PI may have to supply some kind of translator like we see occasionally between different versions of FSim.J. H. Sullivan

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-03-04 AT 10:26 PM (EST)

Hello Cal, I've noticed that you have been in the background recently too. I too have been taking my time at serious editing. I've been watching some of the discussion about using the gantry tool to add forestry, and have started to create a "PVClump" to try out in some currently treeless areas. However, as it is summer, I've been doing even more exploring of abandoned track, taking some photos here and there. On Sunday I was again out with my mountain bike, struggling along the loose ballast and gravel left behind where the tracks were. Attached is a picture of what a deer "hazard" really does look like. This doe really kept her eye on me as I came closer and closer. Actually I was walking my bike since the ballast was so coarse and loose here. While I'm waiting and wondering about how current routes can be imported into future simulators, I'm also very much enjoying getting out into areas where before MSTS I wouldn't have even thought about expriencing. A wonderful unexpected side-benefit.

--- Phil Voxland

Attachments

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/411051bc7002c8b3.jpg

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"I'm an incurable optimist - I have no doubt the future will be brighter, and we'll be able to import our current routes into it as well! OK, maybe I'm a bit nuts, but I do think we'll see progress in the train-sim universe, and I don't think my efforts on my current route will be wasted. Maybe not 100% importable, but useful."Andy, some of us just never learn I'm not particularly worried about tomorrow, but just enjoying it for today. If they are not importable in the future, I can't honestly say it was wasted time, since I've enjoyed every minute of it .. RE, AE, Sim .. warts and all. I've had quite a few hobbies in the past, but this one has by far given the largest return for the smallest investment - of course not counting time. Cal, not sure if it is 'burnout' or just getting tired, but the thing I've found to be the most help is to just occasionally let it sit for a couple of days, weeks and just do something else for awhile. It seems when you do come back, everything falls together much easier and seems to lessen the intensity of it all.At any rate, I'm appreciative of the efforts that everyone has put into it to get us where we are. Sure wouldn't have been much if left as it was.RobertR .. ADF-M&RM at http://www.adfrr.com

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I know how you feel.
I'm still trying to get my route done. The beta testers are driving a lot of changes, but I too am really, really, burnt out. I'm seriously thinking about just releasing it as is and going on to other things. I still haven't had a chance to download and run any routes (except PO&N and Seaview of course!) because building this route takes up all my time.I still am very interested in MSTS and hope it stays alive a while longer, but when this route is out it is going to be a long time before I start another one. And that is for sure.Larry

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It is definitely difficult to plot out a modeling strategy these days. I was definitely pushing ahead with the Port of Baltimore route with the expectation of MSTS2 down the pike. The RE crashed and destroyed my TDB near the end of the project and that really took the wind out of my sails. At least you completed your route. Good luck with your efforts.

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Hi Cal:I understand. It's hard work developing routes. Kick back and enjoy someone else's work or some other hobby.Larry: Get that sucker out the door and have some fun for a change.As for me: It's full steam ahead. (No pun intended. ) Things are hopping over at my forums with lots of interaction, add-ons, etc, and I'm well underway with the current route project. As a confirmed work-a-holic my available evenings consist of RE, TSM, PSP7, iPhoto Plus, DEMEX, etc, etc, etc, etc!Perhaps the interaction/content of TS.com has changed a bit, but MSTS is still very much alive and kicking on several forums.
Andre MingVisit VSC's temporary web page at: http://www.vscalecreations.comVisit VSC's Forum at: http://www.3DTrains.com

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Interesting to read what you guy's are up to, or not, over the big pond.
The route forum sure is quiet these days, nothing much in the way of new routes but I guess that is understandable.
I am hanging my hat on the TMTS team and hoping for the ability to import routes and really get into fine detail from previous efforts.
I am still working away at another frame rate buster but not at any particular pace.
Doing more dabbling this time round, playing with terrain textures and building a combined tramway/rail route. Also wrestling with TSM and snipers sound files. Things I put to one side while concentrating on the RE.
Having a lot of fun running the tram built for me by Tim Muir but doubt that I will be able to do justice to both areas due to the limitations of MSTS and fps.I agree with the sentiments expressed here and particularly with the ref to the enjoyment this hobby has provided. I never found the time or space to develop a model railway so train simming filled the gap more than adequately.I still enjoy pottering away in the RE, keeps me off the streets
and intend finishing my latest project.
It still amazes me that MSTS generates so much interest after all this time and often wonder if that would have been different without all the bugs.
I just hope the next sim forum community proves as good as this one.
Regards to you all.

Nocturnal Flightless Bird

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