Line news November, 2003

• <30-Nov-03>: At the Train-sim.com library Pete Abrams and The Keystone Works have packs of container wagons, TTX bibside, ttxrib.zip (3.0Mb, 28-Nov-03), TTX articulated, ttx5art.zip (5.0Mb, 28-Nov-03), and Burlington Northern single stack, bnsingle.zip (3.2Mb, 28-Nov-03). Jeff Rice has added his textures to a couple of Dick Cowen's locos to give us A-B-B-A sets of Western Pacific, wp_fts.zip (2.7Mb, 29-Nov-03), and Great Northern, gn_fts.zip (1.2Mb, 29-Nov-03), FT locos. Paul Gausden's latest graphics utility for MSTS is a Shape Files Viewer with image rotater and zoomer and can be downloaded here.

• <29-Nov-03>: Catching up! Time didn't allow for a few snippets of news after web•TrainSim had finished fitting a new drive and graphics card and installing XP. MSTS is re-installed and now all that's left is to copy back routes, locos, consists and so on to bring everything back as it was. Then it will be time to go for a drive and see how the GeForce 4 MX440 performs. More news later in the day.

• <28-Nov-03>: Just a snippet of news today. Edouard Staniczek and team have their SNCF RTG (Rame à Turbine à Gaz) trainset (full version) available from Train-sim.com library in download, sncf_rtg.zip (27Mb, 27-Nov-03). web•TrainSim is going to give himself a bit of anxiety by fitting a larger C: drive and new graphics card in his machine so that means a re-install of XP - just think of all the "fun" he's going to have (luckily he's got a second hard drive to backup everuthing to, especially MSTS!).

The webdotTrainSim hotshot freight, headed by BNSF Dash-9s #4732, #4663, #4576 and #4341, about to depart Shelby.

• <27-Nov-03>: Amicitreni.net has a some new locos for download, including FS GR625 and FS 245 packs. At UK Trainsim you can find a tutorial on British signalling practice, tutbritsig.zip (1.48Mb, 26-Nov-03). David Fischer has repainted some F59PHI locos into North Carolina DOT livery, f59_nc.zip (6.3Mb, 26-Nov-03) at At Train-sim.com.

• <26-Nov-03>: The Simtrain-fr.org download area has a number of new French Railways rolling stock: DEV Inox carriages, SNCF_DEV_INOX_B9-B7D.exe.zip (2.2Mb, 24-Nov-03) in the Voitures - France download section; on the Automoteurs diesel de France - RTG page there's the RTG version 1.1 in either full, light or update patch download form; and in the Automotrices Electriques - France section, there are the Motrice Z3400 de la ligne de Sceaux and Pack de Z 20900 corrigé trainsets, z3400.zip (1.3Mb, 24-Nov-03) and PackZ20900_V2.1.exe (15.8Mb, 24-Nov-03) resepectively. At Train-sim.com, Dick Cowen has a set of replacement cabviews with better left views for the GP60, SW1500, MP15 and MP15AC locos, mpswgpca.zip (2.8Mb, 25-Nov-03), and an upgrade for the Canton Railroad flat car And gondola, cnflcaug.zip (41kb, 25-Nov-03).

• <25-Nov-03>: At the Train-sim.com library, Chris Bogley has one of his guides for Robert Reedy's ADFRR version 3 route, adfgde_3.zip (117kb, 24-Nov-03) and Tim Corbett has repainted a set of Amtrak Heritage carriages into Phase III and IV livery, amtkhtpk.zip (7.9Mb, 24-Nov-03). Those who are trying to get the "All aboard" sounds, allabrd.zip (97kb, 21-Nov-03), to work will need to look at this thread on the Train-sim.com forums. Finding missing brackets in ENGine, WAGon or sound SMS files can be a real chore - you should get some guidance from this Brackets Train-sim forum thread which suggests using Derek Morton's EngMod tool, engmod151.zip (2Mb, 08-Apr-03), and an editor such as the ConTEXT Programmer's Editor.

• <24-Nov-03>: The SNCF RTG (Rame à Turbine à Gaz) trainset has had some improvements made and is now at version 1.1, sncf_rtg_1_1_full.exe (25.7Mb, 23-Nov-03). It can be downloaded from either Trainsimfrance.net or Edouard Staniczek's site. Robert Reedy has added some more trackage to his A Dual Fantasy Railraod route and adfv3p1.zip (22.2Mb, 23-Nov-03) and adfv3p2.zip (23.6Mb, 23-Nov-03) are in the Train-sim.com library so you can update your version 2 installed copy. Dick Cowen has another loco for the Canton Railroad, this one an MP15AC, ctmp15ac.zip (4.2Mb, 23-Nov-03). web•TrainSim has added a bit more traffic to his Glacier Park Airport to Glacier Park GN Empire Builder activity so pack an extra sandwich with your thermos.

• <23-Nov-03>: Michael Barthels' Milwaukee F7 Hudson 4-6-4 steam loco is now available from the Train-sim.com library in archive, f7100f10.zip (3.3Mb, 22-Nov-03). Chris Bogley has produced more of his route guides, one being for the Marias Pass, mpguide.zip (2kb, 22-Nov-03). Or you can download all those he's produced so far in a megapack, gdepack.zip (44kb, 22-Nov-03). All Chris' files are simple TXT files so there's no need for any special software to browse them but they certainly will help you find particular industries, sidings, crossovers, and so on, at particular mileposts. Finally, there's a new activity pack for the Canton Railway, ctnap4_v1.zip (235kb, 21-Nov-03), available from the Canton Railway site.

• <22-Nov-03>: If you already have Route Riter version 4.2.00 or above, you can update to version 4.2.36 by downloading the updated EXE (1.8Mb, 08-Nov-03) from Mike Simpson's Route Riter page; this update enables the MyZipp option to correctly unzip multi-part spanned zips. At the Train-sim.com library, Bill Cline has several of his repainted freight cars, such as a Union Pacific 50 foot boxcar, up500390.zip (1.7Mb, 21-Nov-03); Stephen Shoemaker has a revised and much more realistic set of "Ok to proceed" sounds, allabrd.zip (97kb, 21-Nov-03); and Pacific Traction Works and Port City Car Company have a couple of fixes for their Oregon Electric steeplecabs numbers 22 and 24, 22&24fix.zip (681kb, 22-Nov-03).

• <21-Nov-03>: A quieter day with just a couple of downloads from the Train-sim.com library: TSNZ Workshops have their D 140 Heritage Trainset, heritage.zip (4.5Mb, 20-Nov-03), featuring the D 140 2-4-0T steam loco and wooden carriages; and Chris Denbow has some texture updates for his CSXT CW40-8 and CSXT CW44AC locos, csxd8fix.zip (1.6Mb, 20-Nov-03) and csxacfix.zip (960kb, 20-Nov-03).

• <20-Nov-03>: Swift of foot was Hiawatha, He could shoot an arrow from him, And run forward with such swiftness, That the arrow fell behind him! Stop what you're doing and head over to Michael Barthels' site and start downloading his model of one of the most famous steam locos, the F7 4-6-4 Hudson #100, F7100B12.zip (3Mb, 19-Nov-03). Those who have the Spring 2002 edition of the Classic Trains magazine will have a good record of number 102's history, otherwise visit Milwaukee Road F7 Hudson Hiawatha with links to other sites. It's sort of back to the mundane after that piece of news... Life goes on and there are some interesting additions to Train-sim.com: patches for both the Dzialdowo-Brodnica and Rio Grande Southern routes, track.zip (17kb, 19-Nov-03) and rgsfix.zip (2.8Mb, 19-Nov-03) respectively; Jim England's pack of Amtrak SDP40F locos, amtsdppk.zip (2.6Mb, 20-Nov-03); and Sean Lim's and Jon Champ's UK Class 60 #60014 Alexander Fleming, rf60014.zip (4.1Mb, 20-Nov-03). Other news: Australian Add-ons for MSTS is alive and well again, and route builders will be interested in the availability of DEM data for Europe and Asia.

• <19-Nov-03>: Some of the new additions to the Train-sim.com library include Sea View Railway #58 1912 gas-electric motorcar, svr58.zip (4Mb, 18-Nov-03); General Electric Sea View #57 motorcar, svr57.zip (3.3Mb, 18-Nov-03); Tony Calorel has more repainted freight cars, such as the Spam Box Car, spam.zip (592kb, 18-Nov-03); and Port City Car Company's Oregon Electric Railway Motor No.22, oenm22.zip (5.1Mb, 18-Nov-03). Pek317 has a new cabview for the E656 loco with detailed left- and right-hand views, CabinaFS-e-656-v2.zip (15Nov-03). Finally, there's another update to the North West England route, NWE_V1.2_Patch.zip (922kb, 18-Nov-03), at UKTrainsim.com.

• <18-Nov-03>: Some of the new additions to the Train-sim.com library include Jonathan Lewis's Rio Grande Southern route, the first of nine files being rgs1.zip (11Mb, 17-Nov-03); the Rio Grande Southern rolling stock pack, rgsset.zip (3.7Mb, 17-Nov-03); Philadelphia to Wilmington Commuter activity on the default NEC route, philwilm.zip (182kb, 17-Nov-03); and the Dzialdowo-Brodnica route, dziabrod.zip (26Mb, 17-Nov-03), but read through this thread firstly about some problems. The Tales from Al Krug, Al being a practising BNSF loco driver, are always interesting reading - see his latest, and spend a few minutes looking at his photos of the SD70MAC screens.

• <17-Nov-03>: TSNZ Workshops' have another of their locos, a Tranzrail DC4012 in "bumble-bee" livery, tzrdc_v2.zip (1.9Mb, 16-Nov-03), at Train-sim.com. Some new trams, including B80D aus Düsseldorf, Aufgaben zur Stadtbahn U79 and Bistrowagen der Rheinbahn, have been added to Transimulator.de. Finally, there are more steam locos at Amicitreni.net, including a FS GR 728 pack and FS GR 479-001.

• <16-Nov-03>: At Train-sim.com, there are a couple of U.S. loco packs, Illinois Northern SD70Ms and AC4400s in phase two livery, insprpk2.zip (12.9Mb, 15-Nov-03), and Southern Pacific SD45T-2s, spsd45pk.zip (8.2Mb, 15-Nov-03). Roje Schumacher has contributed another interesting German Railways loco, the DB V188, first built by the Krupp company in 1936, db_v188.zip (2.6Mb, 15-Nov-03).

• <15-Nov-03>: Plenty of variety in the Train-sim.com library: TSNZ Workshops' Tranzscenic DCP4761 loco, tzsdcpv2.zip (2.2Mb, 14-Nov-03), Bill Bzak's Penn Central ALCO Century 630 loco pack, pc_c630.zip (11.3Mb, 14-Nov-03), Jim England's repaint of an F7 A-B-B-A set into Full Bucket Line grey freight livery, fblf7ab4.zip (6.5Mb, 14-Nov-03), and Dick Cowen's Canton Railroad SW1500, ctsw1500.zip (4.6Mb, 14-Nov-03), and Canton Railroad MP15, ctn-mp15.zip (4.6Mb, 14-Nov-03). There have been a few posts on the UKTrainSim.com forum in relation to the North West England route. You need Winzip version 8.1 to unpack the zips, the version 1.1 patch fixes some small problems and there are a couple of errors with the map. Those fortunate enough to be able to download this route appear to be enjoying it.

• <14-Nov-03>: Just a snippet of news today from the Train-sim.com library: Tony Calorel has contributed a number of repainted box cars and wagons over the past few days, the latest being a Pyrodex Gunpowder 3-bay covered hopper, pyro.zip (534kb, 13-Nov-03). At UKTrainsim.com there's version 1.1 of a patch for the North West England route, NWE_V1.1_Patch.zip.zip (2.4Mb, 12-Nov-03).

• <13-Nov-03> More: Continuing with new contributions to Train-sim.com: Chris Knight has further repaints of Amtrak Superliner Phase V Sleeper coaches, phvslspx.zip (2.9Mb, 11-Nov-03), and Amtrak Superliner Phase V Coaches, phvslcoa.zip (12.7Mb, 11-Nov-03); there are a number of European pieces of rolling stock, such as the CityNightLine carriages, cnl10.zip (4.4Mb, 11-Nov-03), and French Railways VB2N Orange carriages, vb2nor11.zip (5.6Mb, 10-Nov-03), and VB2N Blue carriages, vb2nbl11.zip (5.1Mb, 10-Nov-03) (the VB2N are used in push-pull consists so include a driving trailer with cab but you'll also need SNCF loco BB25524). As well, you'll find a set of Great Northern Railroad "Bulldogs", AU_GNRBulldogs_MSTS1_Setup.exe (10Mb, 12-Nov-03), at Australian Add-ons for MSTS, as well as a New South Wales Government Railways 73 class diesel-hydraulic shunting loco, AU_nsw73_MSTS1_Setup.exe (3.9Mb, 12-Nov-03).

• <13-Nov-03>: With exam supervision nearly completed, web•TrainSim will be getting back to his normal routine in a day or two. A quick browse of the Train-sim.com library shows Chris Jennings has his CityRail Millennium trainset, mset10.zip (3.6Mb, 10-Nov-03), and John Young has repainted a couple of NR-class diesel-electric locos, NR75 in The Ghan livery, au_nr75.zip (251kb, 10-Nov-03), and NR29 into Pacific National livery, au_nr29.zip (275kb, 10-Nov-03). More later.

• <10-Nov-03>: Alco enthusiasts are certainly being catered for lately and the Train-sim.com library this time has a pack of ALCO C-628 locos in Chicago & North Western livery modelled by Jan Henning Gettkant, cnw_c628.zip (5.4Mb, 09-Nov-03). John Blazer has more Hungarian Railways rolling stock, for example the MAV BZMOT motor, bzmot.zip (7.9Mb, 09-Nov-03), used on short, steep lines.

• <09-Nov-03>: Stew Winston has some Queensland Railways rolling stock in the Train-sim.com library, a QR VO coal hopper pack, vohopper.zip (2.0Mb, 08-Nov-03), and QR 2800 Class diesel locos #2803 and #2850, qr_2800.zip (1.0Mb, 08-Nov-03). Andrew Taylor has repainted Chris Jennings' CityRail S-Sets so they now have the yellow-highlighted doors, ausset.zip (6.5Mb, 08-Nov-03). Henry Triplett has a pack of renumbered Burlington Northern SD70MACs to add variety in activities, bnmacpac.zip (8.9Mb, 08-Nov-03). Peter Gaut has had a bit of rest from working on his West Coast route (Melbourne to Warnambool) but is currently as far as Colac and continuing his research.

• <08-Nov-03>: At Train-sim.com, Phil Skene has his Generic_Diesel_s3 sound scheme, g_d_3_4.zip (3.4Mb, 07-Nov-03), especially suitable for use in Australian V/Line C and G-class locos, but good for other locos equipped with 2-stroke motors as well. For more information, follow Phil's thread in the Train-sim forum. Port City Car Company have a fictional Willamette Valley Railway #2100 trollery, wv2100.zip (3.9Mb, 07-Nov-03), John Blazer has more Hungarian Railways rolling stock, such as electric loco, MAV V43-2300, v43_2300.zip (6.3Mb, 06-Nov-03), and the TSNZ Workshops have contributed their Tranzscenic servery carriage, tzsasov1.zip (1.7Mb, 07-Nov-03). If web•TrainSim's memory serves him correctly (Could be on shaky ground. Ed.), Terry Cunliffe's North West England route is a further development of James Hunt's Modern England route which had a great deal of potential for activities, so hopefully it will become available from other download sites such as Train-sim.com.

• <07-Nov-03>: Just a snippet of news regarding Terry Cunliffe's North West England route which is now available from UKTrainsim.com. The route has 800 miles of track and 100 stations. If you're not sure of your geography, locations on the route include Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street and Preston. A couple of threads running with some information, particularly pointing out the need to have Winzip version 8.1 so as to successfully unpack the zip files. For more information, you'll need to download Terry's readme zip but that raises another question: you have to be out of bed early in Australia (on the east coast), not to mention the other problem with downloading from UKTrainsim.

• <06-Nov-03>: A quiter day but still some interesting Hungarian Railways rolling stock has been contributed to the Train-sim.com library, for example, MAV diesel loco M41, m41.zip (9.7Mb, 05-Nov-03). web•TrainSim noticed some new additions to the Locomotiva section of AmiciTreni.it.

A weathered Eurostar stands at Avignon TGV.

• <05-Nov-03>: You'll find all the BNSF timetable and rule books have been renamed and put together in one download from Train-sim.com, bnsfrule.zip (30Mb, 04-Nov-03). Note that installing the Eurostar trainset with textures by Gabriel Celeste will over-write all files of your previous version. So if you've carried out the Eurostar refinement to make the R1 carriage into an ENGine (the bogie on R1 nearest the power car has two motors), back up your files to another folder and copy them back later (Ahem, web•TrainSim has some re-engineering to do!).

From the version 3 Eurostar cab at Triangle des Angles.

• <04-Nov-03>: At the Train-sim.com library, Peter Harvey has updated his LNER A3 Flying Scotsman (so the wheels are on the rails), a34472s.zip (398kb, 03-Nov-03), or you can download the full version 1.01, 4472v101.zip (1.6Mb, 03-Nov-03). Port City Car Company with help from Pacific Traction Works have more Trolley Mesaba models, a Trolley Mesaba Railway Express Motor, mesae101.zip (3.7Mb, 03-Nov-03), and Trolley Mesaba Railway Coach #10, mesaco10.zip (4.2Mb, 03-Nov-03). The Eurostar trainset, eurostar.exe (7.79Mb), with redesigned textures by Gabriel Celeste (it appears more weathered), needs Kenji Kimura's new Eurostar cab, Estarcab_V3.zip (2.48Mb, 31-Oct-03), to be downloaded and installed as well - both are available from TrainsimFrance.net. It was on Melbourne Cup Day last year that webDotTrainSim.com launched with its own domain name and a higher bandwidth hosting service. Back towards the end of September web•TrainSim noticed the statistics saying two million hits had been made on the site in the past 10-11 months. Impressive as the numbers may be, it's your continuous support and kind words that keep webDotTrainSim.com on the tracks (and web•TrainSim out of mischief).

• <03-Nov-03>: Australian Peter Harvey has produced an LNER A3 Flying Scotsman, 4472a3v1.zip (1.7Mb, 02-Nov-03), to replace the MSTS one. Mike Simpson has released version 4.2.35 of Route Riter, rrit4235.zip (6.5Mb, 02-Nov-03), with new graphics options and a couple of small bug fixes. The Port City Car Company with help from Pacific Traction Works has produced another of its detailed historic models, Trolley Mesaba Railway Coach #14, mesaco14.zip (4.0Mb, 02-Nov-03). Those interested in narrow gauage historic lines should consider Charlie Leveritt's Silverton Branch D&RGW route, now the the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (4 files, each about 18Mb). That takes care of some of the new files in the Train-sim.com library. At TrainsimFrance.net, Gabriel Celeste has repainted Chris Longhurst's Eurostar trainset, eurostar.exe (7.79Mb), which has sounds by Belphegor and a new cab by Kenji Kimura. The redesigned cab is available separately as Estarcab_V3.zip (2.48Mb, 31-Oct-03).

• <02-Nov-03>: web•TrainSim visited the BNSF Tech Training Centre site today - he hasn't checked it for a while - and saw that a couple of relevant documents for the Marias Pass route have been updated. The latest Timetable & Rule Books is dated 13th July 2003. When you download this doc (in PDF format), browse through to the Hi Line Subdivision section for information on speed limits (including through switches and turnouts), work train instructions, mountain grade operation, and a grade chart. A shorter doc also worth downloading is that detailing signal aspects and indications. Other documents worth browsing are General Code of Operating Rules and Air Brake and Train Handling Rules.

• <01-Nov-03>: Just a couple of news snippets today. Ben Johnson has a new address for his SydWest route at users.on.net/wincom/sydwestproject/. At the Train-sim.com library, Canadian National fans are being looked after with a pack of three SD60F locos, cnsd60pk.zip (4.9Mb, 31-Oct-03) and at UK Trainsim there's a night cab for the Class 50 loco, Class 50 'night' cabview.zip (2.4Mb, 31-Oct-03).

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• Email me at info@webDotTrainsim.com if you have questions or comments. I'll try to answer as best I can. Certainly post me if any step-by-step instructions on various how-to pages need clarification.