Line news August, 2005

• <31-Aug-05>: Tim Booth has an update to his MSTS Track Viewer tool for use by route builders and those wanting to find their way around a route - it's in the UKTrainsim library in download tsf_tv_setup.exe (190kb, 30-Aug-05). Mike Simpson's Route Riter is now at version 6.2.92 and this latest update provides a tool for those with MSTS mini-installs and an option for Raildriver users to modify ENGine files. The update file for those with Route Riter V6.2.55 or later is RRit6_2_92upd.zip (1.83Mb, 27-Aug-05). Those who want to see how the LGV Est route (the real one) is progressing can browse some photos in the LGV SE - BIF de Moisenay post on the Simtrain-fr forums; you can place the section between Lieusaint and Moisenay at MSN Maps & Directions.

• <29-Aug-05>: Davide Bianco has several re-liveried locos at Trenomania.it: E656 607 (8.29Mb, 28-Aug-05), E633 001 (10Mb, 28-Aug-05), E633 008 (10Mb, 28-Aug-05), E633 225 (8.6Mb, 28-Aug-05) and E632 011 (10Mb, 28-Aug-05). At UKTrainsim there's a set of generic EMU sounds for U.K. rolling stock, SR EMU Snd.zip (2.6Mb, 28-Aug-05), and the Cross Fell route by Richard Maxted, an imaginary route set in North Yorkshire: crossfell-1.zip (15Mb, 27-Aug-05), crossfell-2.zip (15Mb, 27-Aug-05), crossfell-3.zip (15Mb, 27-Aug-05) and crossfell-4.zip (12Mb, 27-Aug-05). At Train-sim.com Matt Doti has contributed more updated Amtrak Superliner carriages in Phase IV livery: Superliner I, amtksup1.zip (3.8Mb, 28-Aug-05), Superliner II, amtksup2.zip (4.3Mb, 28-Aug-05), and special Superliners (used on the Auto Train and Coast Starlight), amtksup3.zip (2.8Mb, 29-Aug-05).

• <28-Aug-05>: Version 3 of Graphics15 team's Stadtbahn U79 version 3 is available from The-Train's download library in two files, Stadtbahn U79 v3-Part1, U79-3-1.exe (26.9Mb, 25-Aug-05) and Stadtbahn U79 v3-Part2, U79-3-2.exe (24.3Mb, 25-Aug-05). Simply run both self-installers but take care that the self-installer is pointing correctly to your MSTS folder. That is, for English systems, you'll need to edit c:\programme\microsoft games\train simulator\routes\ to c:\program files\microsoft games\train simulator\routes\. As well you may need to edit the drive letter. Check you've got the six default MSTS routes unstored if you're a Train Store user. After the EXEs have unpacked all the files, you must run the Installme.bat file - you'll find it in a new Routes sub-folder named Stadtbahn U79 V3 (in other words, you can keep Stadtbahn U79 V2 if you want). Those with Microsoft Antispyware will need to Allow the batch file to run. Other news: Amicitreni.net has Salvatore Valese's FS ETR 500P trainset No. 43, Fs-Etr500P.rar (14.4Mb, 27-Aug-05), Mauro Ciociola's E404 ETR 500 PLT cab as a separate download, CabE404ETR500PLT.zip (4Mb, 27-Aug-05) and there's version 3 of the night cab for the E402b locos, Cabina E402B v3 Notte, CabE402b_v3-Notte.zip (1.4Mb, 27-Aug-05). Finally, keep an eye out for the latest version of Mike Simpson's Route Riter in which he's added some options for Raildriver users - see Mike's Route Riter and Raildriver post on the Train-sim.com forums.

• <24-Aug-05>: Australian Add-ons for MSTS now has a model of Victoria's (Australia) Puffing Billy narrow gauge 2-6-2T steam loco and carriages contributed by Matt Austin and Craig Walton. Download files are AU_vrNA_MSTS1_Setup.exe (9.15Mb, 23-Aug-05) and AU_vrNGPass_MSTS1_Setup.exe (2.09Mb, 23-Aug-05) from nA class 2-6-2T steam locomotive (Victorian Railways) and NAL & NBH Passenger Cars (VR narrow gauge) respectively. Note you'll need the Two cylinder steam sound set for Puffing Billy. You'll find plenty of information about Puffing Billy at the offical web site - in particular, have a look through the NA class photo gallery.

• <23-Aug-05>: Kevin Arceneaux has contributed several sets of revised WAGon files to the Train-sim.com library: tankers, rtankwag.zip (10kb, 22-Aug-05), gondolas, rgonwag.zip (6kb, 22-Aug-05), covered hoppers, rchopwag.zip (646kb, 22-Aug-05), cabooses, rcabwag.zip (105kb, 22-Aug-05), and box cars, rboxwags.zip (1.7Mb, 22-Aug-05). As well, there's a generic EMD SW cab by Dwight Mitchell and Ken Powers, genswcab.zip (2.9Mb, 21-Aug-05), a set of eight Amtrak Superliner Phase IV carriages with new lighting and details by Matt Doti, amtksup4.zip (3.3Mb, 22-Aug-05), and Dick Cowen has a FLC TR5 cow and calf loco set for Canton Suddenly, flc-tr5.zip (3.5Mb, 22-Aug-05).

• <21-Aug-05>: Train-sim.com has two texture file updates from Hugh Reilly for his CEFX AC4400CW pack of four locos, hrac442a.zip (2.1Mb, 20-Aug-05), and his CEFX Canadian Pacific AC4400CW pack of three locos, hrac441a.zip (8.6Mb, 20-Aug-05). Fred Barbieri and John Link have their new route, F1 IRT Subway, f1_irt.zip (102Mb, 20-Aug-05), which models the New York City subway and elevated sections to include the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Lexington Avenue and Broadway Lines. There's a map available at NYC Transit but the PDF formatted map is more readable to find locations. There's also plenty of info at NYCSubway.org. Or better, use Virtual Earth to find your way around. By the way, the map (oops, a bit too small but it's the technology web•TrainSim wants to demo) on web•TrainSim's Space for today's line news was obtained by blogging from the Location Blogger.

• <20-Aug-05>: Frank Musick's Babyface Baldwins now have their own unique set of sounds, contributed by Matthew Imbrogno, in download blwdiesl.zip (1.4Mb, 19-Aug-05) from the Train-sim.com library. There's more info about the straight-eight Baldwin 608sc motor at Arizona Railway Museum's restoration of DRS-6-6-15 and some pics from a Series 600 Sales Bulletin 349. There's a small patch for Conbuilder to eliminate a problem that's arisen with the Services folder being reported as not found, especially for some Seligman route activities. Projets ESK is currently working on modelling the TGV SE84 bogies.

• <19-Aug-05>: UKTrainsim has patches for the Dorset Coast Route, patch 1-3, Patch1-3.zip (490kb, 16-Aug-05), and the Thames-Mersey route (version 4), patch 4-1, Patch4-1.zip (3.3Mb, 18-Aug-05). As well there's a set of specialised announcement sounds for the London Brighton route, LBE_Sounder.zip (1.2Mb, 18-Aug-05) and if you need some help with these sounds, see the These new LBE sounds... thread on the UKTrainsim forums. At Train-sim.com there's a set of four CEFX-liveried AC4400s with V4.8 physics, hrac44_2.zip (21.4Mb, 18-Aug-05), by Hugh Reilly.

• <16-Aug-05>: There's an update for the London and Port Stanley route to bring it to version 1.07; you can download it from the L&PS Route Updates page. If you're having problems with LP&S or want to know more about installation, the troubleshooting page should help you out. The Denmark 2000 Elektric route has been updated to include more trackage; it's available from the TS-EF download page (note the download file is 178Mb and you need XTracks and New Roads 3.2). As an experiment to satisfy those who might be trying the new MSN Mobile service, web•TrainSim has set up his webDotTrainsim Space and each day's line news will be posted there as well as online here (Assuming he manages his time. Ed.). Finally, still no sign of Stadtbahn U79 version 3 (as at 1700 Australian Eastern Standard Time).

• <13-Aug-05>: Just a snippet of news... The Graphics15 team have completed Stadtbahn U79 version 3 and are organising sites from where it will be available for download in the next couple of days.

• <12-Aug-05>: Mike Simpson has fixed a couple of small bugs in Route Riter and it's now at version 6.2.88. See his Route-Riter update post in the Train-sim.com forums for more detail and remember to delete the TsUtils sub-folder before installing. At Train-sim.com Robert Reedy has an update to ADFRR version 4, ADFRR v4.1 Distant Mountain, adfv41dm.zip (860kb, 11-Aug-05). Installation instructions are in adfv41DM.txt in the download itself (do a View from the library listing). As well Robert has a pack of activities, adfact13.zip (179kb, 11-Aug-05). There's also a model of the West Japan Shinkansen Railstar, rssetup.zip (10.3Mb, 11-Aug-05) and Japan Guide has some basic information about Japanese high-speed trains. Trenomania has a new steam loco, Locomotiva a vapore FS Gr.835 (1.2Mb, 10-Aug-05) and a night-time cab for the E402B electric loco, Cabina E402b v3.0 notturna (1.4Mb, 10-Aug-05).

• <08-Aug-05>: Route Riter has been updated to version 6.2.82, RRit6_2_82upd.zip (1.68Mb, 07-Aug-05), with an accompanying update of the help file, RRit6_2_82hlp.zip (1.98Mb, 06-Aug-05). Version 6.2.82 fixes some small bugs and there are new versions of TK.MSTS.Tokens and TsUtils. Note Mike Simpson's warning on his Route Riter page and in the Readme that the old TsUtils sub-folder must be deleted before installation of this latest version. The night-time cabs for the E656 loco and ETR460 power car that were made available a few days ago at Trenomania are now also available at Amicitreni.net: Cab_E656_v4_Notte.zip (3.8Mb, 07-Aug-05) and Cab_ETR460_Notte.zip (1.42Mb, 07-Aug-05) respectively. And it's just six days (on this side of the international date line) until Graphics15 team's Stadtbahn U79 version 3 is available.

• <07-Aug-05>: The Train-sim.com library has Wayne Campbell's latest version (V1.6) of his London & Port Stanley Route in file lps-v106.zip (125Mb, 06-Aug-05). From a couple of days ago, there's a set of Canadian National MLW/BBD widecab locos by Jan Henning Gettkant, cnmlw_wc.zip (27Mb, 05-Aug-05), and an up-to-date ENGine file for the Santa Fe Doodlebug, doodlud.zip (15kb, 05-Aug-05), by Bob Boudoin. Have a look at the containers waiting at Oakland (San Francisco) to be loaded and trained to Eastern U.S. with Virtual Earth.

• <05-Aug-05>: Dennis Mutulo has touched up the original free Dekosoft SD-45T-2 with tunnel motor (i.e., radiators at the bottom of the body to get more air when in tunnels), sp9331.zip (4Mb, 03-Aug-05), at Train-sim.com. Hint: To really get the sound of the GM 645 V-20 in the SD45, turn up your sound to maximum volume (Sorry, but web•TrainSim can't take complaints from irate family members). UKTrainsim has a patch for the GWR Paddington to Penzance route, GWR246_Patch.zip (15.15 Mb, 04-Aug-05), to bring it from version 2.4.5 to 2.4.6 (install instructions are on the info page). Trenomania has two new night-time cabs by L. Lazzazzera, Cabina ETR460 notturna (1.4Mb, 04-Aug-05) and Cabina E656 v4.0 notturna (3.8Mb, 04-Aug-05) and B. Liali's D343 serie 1000 diesel loco (9.4Mb, 04-Aug-05). Finally, keep an eye on the Train-sim.com library for new Baldwin models from Frank Musick.

• <04-Aug-05>: Just a couple of snippets of news from Train-sim.com. Jan Kristensen's Norwegian route, Drammen to Kongsberg, is available in download drm-kong.zip (110Mb, 01-Aug-05) and Hugh Reilly has an updated texture file for his Canadian Pacific AC4400s, hrac441b.zip (4.6Mb, 01-Aug-05). For MSTS models for Norwegian railways, see Trainsim Norway. If you want to catch up on some geography and locate where MSTS routes are located in the U.S., do some exploring at MSN Virtual Earth. You'll need a broadband connection for best results and you'll just get by on ISDN (web•TrainSim, on ISDN, managed to follow the Marias Pass route but aerial photos of other MSTS locations were too much for his connection).

• <01-Aug-05>: The latest version of ConBuilder, version 2.3.33, is at Train-sim.com as either an update, cbup.zip (5.5Mb, 31-Jul-05), or a full install, cbfull.zip (8.6Mb, 31-Jul-05). Chris Reidl has a replacement MSTS startup video, startup.zip (9.4Mb, 31-Jul-05), and there are two repaints of Frank Musick's Baldwin DR-6-4-1500 locos in two different Seaboard liveries: sal2702.zip (910kb, 30-Jul-05) and sal2700.zip (900kb, 30-Jul-05).

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