Unnamed Route Update

Heh. I finished the route. (yeah, only took two days.)Been messing with it some and I've come to the decision to rip things up, and start over.First things first, I plan to use X tracks. It's an aesthetic thing really. Though, I will have the original tracks available for players who don't have X tracks.Seecond, I'll use some of the techniques i've learned, and add some more trackage. The route is hard to explain. There aren't any grades, but that doesn't mean I won't add some later. As it stands now, it's a shortline. Maybe a mile and a half long total.I'm actually working off of some track plans, so when I decide what I'm going to do...well, I'll post updates.Right now, I'm looking for some of the following things:Roundhouse (preferably 4 stall), Coaling Tower (concrete modern), Interlocking tower, assorted houses from the 60's-70's, 70's era automobiles, a good crane (better than the stock one), assorted factory buildings, and one broken down locomotive (just a scenery object).Ok, I know I can find most of that here. Can y'all bounce me places I can find the cars, the crane, and the locomotive?

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RE: Unnamed Route Update:, griffinmt, Sep-29-02, 10:02 PM, (1) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, Coonskin, Sep-29-02, 11:19 PM, (2) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, griffinmt, Sep-30-02, 09:39 AM, (3) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, Coonskin, Sep-30-02, 10:23 AM, (4) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, griffinmt, Sep-30-02, 12:29 PM, (5) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, Coonskin, Sep-30-02, 12:50 PM, (6) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, griffinmt, Sep-30-02, 01:48 PM, (7) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, Coonskin, Sep-30-02, 04:46 PM, (8) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, sn00py, Sep-30-02, 06:03 PM, (9) RE: Unnamed Route Update:, davidbeach, Oct-01-02, 02:10 AM, (10)

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-02 AT 10:02 PM (EDT)

Can't you just 'glue' some singles together like this?Martyn T. Griffin
griffinmt@mindspring.com

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Cool looking Martyn!Where are you guys finding that nice looking roundhouse??I've searched the library using Round House, Roundhouse, Engine House, Enginehouse, Engine stall, etc, and NOTHING.Also, that table, are you able to run an engine across the bridge and into the stall it's aligned for? (I understand there are no working turntables, so was just wondering if you can at least run across the bridge.)Andre "Coonskin" Ming

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Both objects are from that indispensible Xtracks package created by Okrasa Ghia. Actially, the turntable is part of the standard package, but Okrasa has embellished the track capability for it.The table is obviously a static object (it doesn't move) but otherwiise has 18 tracks (20 degrees apart) defined for it. I just have one path lined up.The roundhouse is made by laying individual objects beside each other, forming the curve needed to match the table. In my case, I modified the house (cloned it into another object) and put a rear entryway on it. I also extended the tracksection to 30.3 meters to help in placing attached track at the rear.Martyn T. Griffin
griffinmt@mindspring.com

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Thanks for the reply Martyn.At this point, I'm not ready to take the X-Tracks plunge... so guess I'm POL. (Poop Outta' Luck.)Andre "Coonskin" Ming

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Guess I have never understood the concern about Xtracks. It has never given me an problems, just results. I think that initially, a few folks had trouble installing it and posted their concerns. Since then, it seems that everyone that installed it, then has a problem with a route seems to 'imply' that it might have been caused by Xtracks. More often than not, it seems, that was not the cause. I think it gets a bum rap.Anyway, the biggest and most important part is already on your system if you have been using David Beach's standard tsection.dat. All you need to do is extract the roundhouse shape files and related textures.Martyn T. Griffin
griffinmt@mindspring.com

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"concern about X-Tracks"...In my case, it's simple: Confusion and ignorance. I'm confused as to what exactly X-Tracks does to the sim. I'm confused about what it does to existing non X-Tracks routes on one's hardrive, confused about backwards compatibility, confused about editing a non-X-Track route once X-Tracks is installed. Confused about sharing a route using X-Tracks with a non X-Track user, etc. As to the ignorance: I'm so totally new to RE that I have no clue in regards to some of the issues X-Tracks addresses or raises.In some ways, being confused and ignorant isn't so bad. But in other ways, it's a bummer. Andre "Cornfused" Ming

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Granted, there can be some issues with distributing routes with xtracks to those not using it, but the same goes for uploaded engines, all those static objects and so forth. Non track items may not cause your route to fail, but still be wrong.All it takes is a disclaimer up front that states what the route constraints are which should include any 'non-standard' stuff. The same goes for the version of tsection.dat that is required (the one you tested with).I am sure that Okrasa is much better equipped to steer you from confusion to satisfied, although there are lots of folks with varying 'opinions' about these matters (thats what I have, only an opinion).Discuss with Okrasa the possibility of only using part of his kit with permission to distribute the parts with it.Martyn T. Griffin
griffinmt@mindspring.com

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First off, thanks for taking the time to share these exchanges with me. My exposure to X-tracks has been via bits and pieces (both negative and positive posts).Like I said, seeing as I don't fully understand what I'd be getting into, I've left it alone. I'm certainly not "negative" toward X-Tracks, just thought sticking with default track this early in my MSTS "life" might be the best thing for now.I like some of the things I've seen on routes using X-Tracks. Curved turnouts being one of them. True narrow gauge (with stub switches no less) being another.Perhaps it would help if there was an X-Tracks "FAQ" somewhere for me, and others like me, to read? Maybe such would help us to understand what the new possibilities with X-Tracks would be, as well as understanding the new parameters (i.e. interchangability, route sharing, editing non X-Track routes concerns, etc) we would have to understand?Just a thought.Andre "Coonskin" Ming

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Hadn't thought of that.The sad thing is, I'm going to be doing two versions of this railroad. (using the test model as a template) The first version will be planted squarely in the late sixties, early seventies.The second version will be steam based, and set some time in the fourties. That way it'll allow for steam and diesel units.It may. (Key word there is may) evolve into a long railroad with a few passenger stations, but as it stands now, it's only geared for freight switching.

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Xtracks "FAQ" - Extrememly short version:Xtracks is one, probably the best known on this forum, package of extended track sections included in the standardized \global\tsection.dat file.Extended track sections add very useful track sections to the limited number of available default sections.The use of ANY extended track section requires the use of a customized \global\tsection.dat file.Customized \global\tsection.dat files introduce certain incompatibilities with routes based on other \global\tsection.dat files, whether default or customized.The incompatibilities can express them selves in one of three ways:
1. The incompatibility may keep MSTS from fully starting. Surprisingly, this is can actually the easiest to deal with in many
ways.
2. The incompatibility may only show up as weird train behavior on certain sections of dynamic track.
3. Dynamic track can not be safely edited in the RE.It is possible to construct a customized \global\tsection.dat file to deal with the first two, the third is a given unless the route is modified to work with the customized \global\tsection.dat file in question. The standardized \global\tsection.dat file does not exhibit either of the first two if it is installed on a computer that has only had the default \global\tsection.dat file.To allow editing of dynamic track after the installation of any customized \global\tsection.dat file that was existing prior to the installation of the customized \global\tsection.dat file, the route must be modified through the use of a program designed for that purpose. The program Horace, which is available separately and with Xtracks, is the only known program to accomplish this.So, if you are still using the default \global\tsection.dat file, and you are willing to never do anything with dynamic track in the RE on any route already in existance, you can install the standardized \global\tsection.dat file and never look back. To touch any dynamic track, including adding new dynamic track, in any route existing at the time the standardized \global\tsection.dat file is first installed, the route will have to be Horace'ed.Of course, when doing anything of any complexity with MSTS, and this would certainly qualify, Backup, Backup, and Backup.A route created using the standardized \global\tsection.dat file, and using any, even just one, track or road shape not included in the default \global\tsection.dat file, the route will not be usable by someone still using the default \global\tsection.dat file. Even if a route created using the standardized \global\tsection.dat file does not use any non-default sections, the problems with editing dynamic track will exist if the route is edited while the default \global\tsection.dat file is installed.Install it, use it, and don't look back.David Beach.Palouse & Lewiston

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