Message Areas - "Do the Speedometers work?"

Train-Sim.Com Message Areas

"Do the Speedometers work?"

Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
Previous Topic | Next Topic Conferences MSTS Route Design (Protected) Original message
rdamurphy (121 posts)
Nov-14-01, 05:12 PM (EST) "Do the Speedometers work?" OK, as I was working on the Moffat Tunnel Route, I started placing mileposts by using lon/lat information from MS Streets and Topo Maps. In the game however, if my speedo says 60mph, I'm hitting a milepost every 40 seconds! So, is the lon/lat off, or is it the Speedo, or should I just not be so anal about it?Rob Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Do the Speedometers work? C_130_Herc Nov-14-01 1 RE: Do the Speedometers work? rdamurphy Nov-14-01 2 RE: Do the Speedometers work? C_130_Herc Nov-15-01 3 RE: Do the Speedometers work? bobs Nov-16-01 4 RE: Do the Speedometers work? C_130_Herc Nov-16-01 5 RE: Do the Speedometers work? nw_fan Nov-17-01 6 RE: Do the Speedometers work? rdamurphy Nov-17-01 7 RE: Do the Speedometers work? bobs Nov-17-01 8 RE: Do the Speedometers work? TrainFreak Nov-17-01 9 RE: Do the Speedometers work? rdamurphy Nov-17-01 10

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
Messages in this topic
C_130_Herc (18 posts)
Nov-14-01, 05:45 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" well, the main thing you will need to say is, what train were you using to do the speed test? default or d/l'd, because alot of d/l'd trains use the horrible Dash 9 cab view, but with modded .eng files for speed, however, the speedo in the cab view will not be calibrated, the numbers will be in the worng position on the gauge etc. As far as i know, the default trainds are pretty accurate, try measuring the speed in a standard route, if it works out correctly, open the route in the Route Editor and see what the spacing for the markers are. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
rdamurphy (121 posts)
Nov-14-01, 06:07 PM (EST) 2. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" I actually used the Scotsman, simply because I haven't done anything at all to it, actually the first time I used it, then verified it with a GP38. I think what I'll do is extract a dozen or so tiles, and lay 100 meter track sections until I get the correct length, about 5 miles should do it, and set it up to measure over 2 or 3 miles. Actually, considering the inconsistancy in the mile posts on Marias, it probably doesn't matter anyway....Rob Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
C_130_Herc (18 posts)
Nov-15-01, 04:53 PM (EST) 3. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" i've got the distinct feeling that MS have not been entirely accurate with their representation of the routes, maybe they thought that the only ppl who would use the train sim are little kids who want to be train drivers and maybe a part time astronaught too! thats not to say that you can follow their example and place the mile-markers wherever you want, it's your route, so do what you want with it, if your happy, i'm sure that the other ppl (if you distribute the route) will be happy, even if they aren't, you can't please everyone, so place your mile-markers at 1/4 mile, put your buildings upside down, have a track run up a sheer cliff face, do what you want! it's just a shame that MS didn't really think that ppl would notice the subtle things they failed to model accuratly. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
bobs (228 posts)
Nov-16-01, 02:22 PM (EST) 4. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" If you want to be really accurate with this, one mile = 1609.344 meters. I found a neat conversion calculator on the web somewhere and this is what it came up with.As for the Marias MPs, yes they are off on the original. However, there are sections of the actual route that are too short, too long, or missing. The BNSF TT shows 3 long miles (one of 8886 feet!) and 9 short ones between Shelby and Whitefish. The official track charts say the mile between 1127 and 1128 doesn't exist...both MPs are at the same place. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
C_130_Herc (18 posts)
Nov-16-01, 05:05 PM (EST) 5. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" LOL, sounds like MS didn't do their homework properly, or if they did, then the measuring stick the route builders were using were all different lengths! unless some of the builders were using KM's and not miles hehe, but as usual, the final product went wrong somewhere, just look at the bugs in WIN 98! hehehe, one day *fingers crossed* they'll maybe manage to make something that is accurate and that works properly!, til then, it's gonna have to be "build yer own" time! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
nw_fan (115 posts)
Nov-17-01, 03:54 AM (EST) 6. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" This was just discussed on our N&W Historical Society Mailing List. The "Old Guys" (from Steam Times) say the variations in Mile markers has to do with mainline relocations over the years. For instance imagine a curve that gets straightened out... The actual track gets shorter. Or a new tunnel that goes through, rather than around. And then you'd have to adjust every mile marker from then on for the rest of the route. Not very cheap. Also, changing miles on track routes would change payrates for engineers and this was too much legal pain in the rear with unions protesting, so they just left them where they were, or as close as possible.Mike
Norfolk & Western
Precision Transportation Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
rdamurphy (121 posts)
Nov-17-01, 09:25 AM (EST) 7. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" I would agree with you on that, I know of places on Interstate Highways where this occurs, however, the original railroad was built over Corona Pass, and the mile markers were off when the Moffat Tunnel was completed. When The Moffat Road went under, and was purchased by the Denver and Rio Grande Western, the Mile Markers were readjusted to reflect the actual mileage. The entire line was relaid, and re-aligned, since the Moffat Road had neglegted maintenance for ten years or so trying to stay in business...Rob Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
bobs (228 posts)
Nov-17-01, 02:45 PM (EST) 8. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" True.There are also cases where a second, parallel track has been added to an original route, using a better allignment that is shorter, so the markers are different on the two tracks. At some point, they come back together, so there has to be a hole in the sequence. This might happen also if one RR acquired another with a parallel, competing track.One of the areas on MP where mileage is off has a highway overpass, and I'd bet the railroad was realligned with the construction of the highway at some point, reducing distance. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
TrainFreak (97 posts)
Nov-17-01, 06:01 PM (EST) 9. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" I also seem to recall that BNSF have added quite a bit of double track to the Hi Line over the past few years - I guess there may well have been som adjustments in connection to that as well (straightening of curves etc.) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
rdamurphy (121 posts)
Nov-17-01, 10:20 PM (EST) 10. "RE: Do the Speedometers work?" What's really interesting is the Joint Line between Denver and Pueblo, Colorado, The Southbound Line is owned and operated by the UP (previously D&RGW), the Northbound Line is owned and operated by BNSF. All northbound trains, UP or BNSF use the BNSF line, all southbound trains run the UP Line, and the lines are for the most part parallel, except for one place where they actually join into one track. HOWEVER, both railroads started numbering in different places, so the mile posts are way different. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Lock | Archive | Remove

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic