Line news October, 2004

Our RE5 service only has a short distance to the Koln Hbf. The skyline is dominated by the Koln Cathedral. View is from the BR 143 cab.

• <31-Oct-04>: For those who are trying version 6 of Route Riter, it's now at version 6.1.26 with the latest EXE update, RRit_6_1_26exe.zip (3.07Mb, 29-Oct-04), from its page at Australian Add-ons for MSTS. web•TrainSim's first Wupper 8 activity, Morning RE5 service Oberhausen Hbf to Koln Hbf, is ready for you to try. The driver's loco is DB's latest passenger loco, the BR 146, and if you want to use this, see Small fixes - E146 electric loco for help with installing a cab and sounds, otherwise test your skill by substituting a loco such as the BR 143.

• <30-Oct-04>: The Train-sim.com library has some new New Zealand Railways DX locos by Nigel Booth of TS New Zealand, nzr_dxv4.zip (2.7Mb, 29-Oct-04) and nzr_dxv3.zip (3.4Mb, 29-Oct-04). And new freight boxcars continue to become available! There are new electric locos at Amicitreni.Net, one a classic, FS E.646-164 V1.1, FS_E646_164_v1.1.zip (14.2Mb, 29-Oct-04), and in the current era, FS E.402B PACK V2.0, FS_E402B_pack.zip (15.7Mb, 29-Oct-04). MSTrainstop's latest addition is a NMBS-SNCB M4 EMU and from a couple of weeks ago, NMBS-SNCB Am'86 Snorkel EMU. The RENFE 447 EMU is the latest trainset available from Trensim.com. (Now I'm going to sit web•TrainSim at his computer so he'll finish a couple of Wupper 8 activities. Ed.)

• <29-Oct-04>: Robert Fontaine, the Genesis Man, has released version 2 of his VIA Rail Canada Genesis P42DC locos, numbered No. 900 thru to No. 920, the latter being download viaca920.zip (, 28-Oct-04). All these locos use Robert's LightFx, lightfx.zip (74kb, 21-Oct-04), as well has his P42TAN cab and MLT's GESounds. And web•TrainSim is on the way to completing his first activity for Wupper 8. Arriving at Koln is a great experience!

• <28-Oct-04>: The latest release of ConBuilder is version 2.8.8, cbfull.zip (6Mb, 26-Oct-04), and it's available from its home page and from Australian Add-ons for MSTS. As a bonus, we get a nifty CBLite which is ConBuilder without all the testing functionality. Train-sim.com has more generic WAGon files, Generic Tank Car .Wag Files, tnk_base.zip (82kb, 26-Oct-04), and Generic Cattle Car .Wag Files, stk_base.zip (22kb, 26-Oct-04), being the latest - take note of the instructions in the readmes so you don't get yourself into trouble when using them.

• <27-Oct-04>: Pascal Grando's models are always worthy of note and his latest creation is a set of SNCF aerodynamic Saucissons carriages of 1936, saucisson.zip (1.7Mb, 25-Oct-04). Other French rolling stock released in the past few days include more Z 5300 trainsets from Bruno Astorg, Z 5300 SNCF EAS and Z 5300 SNCF TER. Finally, TrainClaudius has version 2 of his BB36000 loco in two versions, BB36002+436250FRET.exe (8Mb). ConBuilder, cbfull.zip (6Mb, 26-Oct-04), is now at version 2.8.8 and can be downloaded from its page at 3DTrains.

• <26-Oct-04>: Just when you think everything is a bit quiet, along comes an update to Okrasa Ghia's TK_Utils, tk_utils.zip (372kb, 25-Oct-04), to the Train-sim.comlibrary. TK_Utils contains something for all of us: the Archibald editor for MSTS files, Horace the route converter, Mapper to produce route maps and profiles, and Zipper, the compression tool. For more info and some screenshots, see the New Mapping utility and updates of others thread in the Train-sim.com forums.

• <25-Oct-04>: There are more freight boxcars by the Larry Goss - Bill Cline combination at Train-sim.com to add to your freight yard. Amicitreni.net has another of Mauro Ciociola's cabs, Cabina Pilota MDVC TE, CabPilotaMDVC-R.zip (3.87Mb, 24-Oct-04).

• <24-Oct-04>: At UKTrainsim.com you'll find LNER A3 Scotsman No. 4472, 2004_LNER_A3_Scotsman.zip (2.9Mb, 23-Oct-04) by Jonathon Gourlay (with permission of Peter Harvey) in it's present guise so even if you can only run it on the default Settle & Carlisle, you can enjoy running it at 100 mph. As well, there are two Class 170 DMUs, Qjump Class 170 Turbostar DMU, 170.zip (6.3Mb, 23-Oct-04), and One Anglia Class 170 DMU, 170270.zip (3.2Mb, 23-Oct-04). For good, brief outline of all the services in the Rhein-Ruhr region, that is most of Wupper 8, see the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr-Sieg navigation link, especially the Liniennetz sub-link, at www.indusi.de.

• <23-Oct-04>: A quieter day (web•TrainSim hasn't any excuses for getting to work on more paths for Wupper 8 activities. Ed.) but there's a patch at Train-sim.com to fix some textures on the Marias Kootenai route, mp3kfix1.zip (14.1Mb, 22-Oct-04). For those considering creating some prototypical activities for Wupper 8, web•TrainSim is convinced you won't get the job done properly without help from the DB timetables (especially for those of us on the other side of the Equator!) - see web•TrainSim's Activities for Wupper 8 page for links.

• <22-Oct-04>: All the files for the MBTA (Massachusettes Bay Transportation Authority) route are now available from Train-sim.com. For help, see this thread at Train-sim.com and there's the MBTA fan page with lots of information. Also at Train-sim.com, The Genesis Man has a lights fix, lightfx.zip (74kb, 21-Oct-04), which might be handy for loco modellers. There's a patch for the Verona-Brennero route, to bring it to version 2.01, at Amicitreni.net.

• <21-Oct-04>: The Train-sim.com library has the new version of the MBTA route in sixteen files (not all were uploaded when web•TrainSim browsed the libary) and there are several more freight boxcars from modellers such as Ted Curphey, Gary Costa and Bill Cline. As well, there's an updated texture for New Roads, rdspatch.zip (1Mb, 20-Oct-04). There are some new steam locos and Class 90s at UKTrainsim.com and Trenomania.it has a new electric loco, E464 in livrea TILO, and two new cabs by Mauro Ciociola, Cabina per pilota MDVC v2 and Versione 2 della cab per E444.

• <20-Oct-04>: It's that time of the year when web•TrainSim does some supervision of senior student exams so he gets behind - even misses a day of line news! From a couple of days ago at Train-sim.com, Michael Hansen has some new sounds for the F40PH loco (no, earplugs aren't included), f40phsnd.zip (3.2Mb, 17-Oct-04), and Bob Pickering has consists for the Bay Colony CF-7, bclr.zip (211kb, 17-Oct-04), and UK EWS Class 37, ews37.zip (320kb, 17-Oct-04). There are some new activities appearing for Wupper 8, such as Haraldh Fahlberg's Round Trip Actvity For Wupper Express, we8round.zip (21kb, 18-Oct-04), at Train-sim.com. Route builders might like to consider using Otto Wipfel's Trackbeds And Rails Textures, tracks.zip (27Mb, 18-Oct-04); for some discussion on these textures, see the first post in the MARIAS-KOOTENAI Route Available Now thread on the Train-sim.com forums. At TheTrain.de Hawk Pettersson has his Hawk Upgrade for WE8 which greens up the vegetation on Wupper 8, WupperExpress8_update_Hawk.rar (3.4Mb, 19-Oct-04).

• <18-Oct-04>: Another of Peter Harvey's creations is now in the Train-sim.com library, a South African Railways 4-8-4 25nc with cab and sounds, 25nc_v1.zip (10Mb, 17-Oct-04). As well there's version 1 of the Marias Kootenai route, an extra 210 miles added to Marias Pass 3.1. It's in five files, starting with mp3k-1.zip (36Mb, 17-Oct-04), and each about 35-40Mb. Also see the MARIAS-KOOTENAI Route Available Now thread at Train-sim.com for more details, including improved rolling stock downloads. This link will bring up a schematic map (JPG) of Marias Kootenai.

• <17-Oct-04>: TheTrain.de has a set of sounds modified for Wupper 8 by Frank Guder (Textman) which includes station ambient noise and departure sounds that can be heard outside the cab: Route sound for WE8, Streckensound_Wupper_Express_8.zip (9.6Mb, 16-Oct-04). Sean Lim has redesigned his 25 ton diesel shunters with new textures and a 3D virutal cab - they're available from Train-sim.com: Laurinburg & Southern GE 25 ton diesel shunter No. 150, lrs150.zip (2.5Mb, 16-Oct-04), and a generic model, ge25t.zip (2.5Mb, 16-Oct-04). Well, web•TrainSim is off to put some more time into creating paths on Wupper 8 - not the most exciting job but it's got to be done. By the way, to move the route around in the Activity Editor with the mouse, web•TrainSim has had to turn off Platform Names (that might be a bit hard for a while if you haven't had time to familiarise yourself with the geography of the region).

• <16-Oct-04>: There are several more freight boxcars in various liveries at Train-sim.com. Pascal Grando's RENFE 062-0401 steam loco, (5.9Mb, 02-Oct-04), has been at Trensim.com for a few days; his other models are at Railatelier.free.fr. web•TrainSim started preparatory work on building paths for Wupper 8 and it seems he'll have enough track to keep him busy for several months of Sundays.

• <15-Oct-04>: There are some new contributions in the Amicitreni.net libary, including diesel loco D146 2002 with cab, FS_D146_2002.zip (3.69Mb, 15-Oct-04), Cabina Pilota MDVC, CabPilotaMDVC.zip (3.58Mb, 14-Oct-04), and a version 2 cab for E444 electric locos, CabE444_v2.zip (3.54Mb, 04-Oct-04). At UKTrainsim there's a new Class 156 DMU cab, 156cabV1.zip (2.5Mb, 15-Oct-04), and new sounds for the Class 43, Class 43 Sounds.zip (5.2Mb, 15-Oct-04). Train-sim.com has the Optional Wupper Express 8 sound set by Wespe, wp8strck.zip (2.1Mb, 14-Oct-04), an update to the update for Wupper 8, we8fix1.zip (1.2Mb, 14-Oct-04), a Bay Colony CF7 loco, bc_cf7.zip (1.6Mb, 13-Oct-04), and a pack of Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge boxcars, rgngbox1.zip (3Mb, 13-Oct-04).

• <14-Oct-04>: The small fix for Wupper 8 at TheTrain.de, WE8FIX1.zip (1.159Mb, 13-Oct-04), has been updated (note the later date) to include a better route schematic map and diagrams of signal aspects (see the readme for English notations for each signal). While we're talking about maps, see web•TrainSim's Activities on Wupper 8 for links to more maps of the area and timetables for various routes and services. Wespe has contributed an optional set of Wupper 8 track and departure sounds, WP8Strck.zip (2Mb, 14-Oct-04); install instructions are in his readme.

• <13-Oct-04>: Yesterday disappeared into the ether or somewhere. However there are some new models and downloads. There's a small fix for Wupper 8 at TheTrain.de, WE8FIX1.zip (101kb, 12-Oct-04). While there, you'll find some new activities for Wupper 8 but some require payware Protrain rolling stock. Train-sim members are finding out how good Wupper 8 is (visitors here already know it) so have a look at this thread in the Train-sim.com forum. The Train-sim.com library has many new freight box cars contributed over the past few days so you should be able to find something in the company livery of your choice - look for works by names such as Bill Cline and Larry Goss for starters. Australian Add-ons for MSTS has version 2 of Brendan Robinson's Endeavour DMU Set (Cityrail), AU_nswEndeavour_v2_MSTS1_Setup.exe (4Mb, 12-Oct-04), and Xplorer DMU Set (Countrylink), AU_nswXplorer_v2_MSTS1_Setup.exe (4Mb, 12-Oct-04), as well as a South Australian Railways P class 2-4-0T steam tank locomotive AU_sarP_MSTS1_Setup.exe, (2.6Mb, 10-Oct-04) by Joe Spinella.

• <11-Oct-04>: The Train-sim.com library now has all you need for Wupper Express 8: the route, we81rte.zip (25Mb, 10-Oct-04) and we82rte.zip (25Mb, 10-Oct-04), and a pack of ten activities, we8acts.zip (1.1Mb, 10-Oct-04), which also includes a route map and patches for a couple of locos in the stock pack, we8tra.zip (12Mb, 08-Oct-04). Peter Harvey has produced another unique steam loco model, the Gresley Class D49 4-4-0 in two models, LNER D49-1 Derbyshire, d49_2701.zip (1.7Mb, 10-Oct-04), and LNER D49-2 The Albrighton, d49_2751.zip (1.7Mb, 10-Oct-04).

The Koln-Dortmund InterCity Express is about to cross Koln's famous six-track bridge, the Hohenzollernbrucke.

• <10-Oct-04>: The Wupper Express 8 route is now available from TheTrain.de in two parts, WE81RTE.zip (24Mb, 10-Oct-04) and WE82RTE.zip (24.5Mb, 10-Oct-04), and there's an activity pack of ten basic activities, WE8ACTS.zip (1Mb, 10-Oct-04). To install, extract and run the EXE from each zip then run the Installme.bat. Wupper 8 installs into its own folder, WupperExpress8, so you can keep Wupper 7. Remember you'll need to have the six default routes available for the Installme.bat. Rolling stock for Wupper 8 is listed on web•TrainSim's Activities on Wupper 8 page and in the docs in WE8ACTS.zip. The activity pack archive has been packed with Route Riter so you can see where things go and WE8ACTS.zip also includes some extra files to fix a couple of small problems with the rolling stock in we8tra.zip. web•TrainSim has added some more small fixes to various pieces of German Railways rolling stock in preparation for Wupper 8 so check Small Fixes 16 and Small Fixes 17.

• <09-Oct-04>: The Train-sim.com libary has the Wupper 8 rolling stock pack by the Graphics15 team, we8tra.zip (12.1Mb, 08-Oct-04), and a significant patch for NALW's UP Steam Pack by Jan van der Reijden, bbpatch.zip (228kb, 08-Oct-04), to improve behaviour and fix some minor bugs (see the author's readme for changes he's made within the limitations of MSTS). The Graphics15 team have news that the Wupper 8 route will be available on 10-Oct-04 from TheTrain.de, Train-sim.com, Kim Trains, and graphics15.elchzwei.com (although with limited bandwidth on the latter site).

• <08-Oct-04>: The stock set for the Wupper 8 by the Graphics 15 team is available from TheTrain.de in download we8TRA.rar (10.7Mb, 08-Oct-04). This pack includes two diesel shunters, double-deck carriages, coaches and carriages (note you'll need WinRAR to unpack the compressed file). At Train-sim.com Dick Cowen has his NS Mini Pak, ctnnspak.zip (12.3Mb, 07-Oct-04), comprising three locos, and Anton Sebestian has a number of Conrail GP20s to choose from, such as No. 2112, cr2112.zip (2.3Mb, 07-Oct-04).

• <07-Oct-04>: Train-sim.com has two patches for NewRoads version 3.1 to bring it to version 3.1.1, New Roads V3.1.1 Patch, nrdspat.zip (113kb, 06-Oct-04), and New Roads V3.1.1 With Shadows Patch, nsrdspat.zip (113kb, 06-Oct-04). As well, you'll find the West Coast Railways (Australia) T385 loco by Matthew Davis and Matt Julian, wcr_t385.zip (1.6Mb, 06-Oct-04). OldieDaddy has posted more details about availability of rolling stock for Wupper 8 on this thread in the Train-sim.com forums. Footnote: NewRoads version 3.1 can be downloaded from various sites including Australian Add-ons for MSTS.

• <06-Oct-04>: Michael Hansen has added his enhanced fan sounds for F40PH-2 locos (they're the locos for which real-world engineers/drivers were supplied with ear plugs), f40phnew.zip (1.1Mb, 05-Oct-04), and a set of K5LA horn sounds for Amtrak P40 and P42 locos (they're the locos with awful brakes), amtk5la.zip (192kb, 05-Oct-04). Those with the Severn Valley Railway add-on can take advantage of Gerhard Wiesner's repaints to have the Hogwarts Express in their roundhouse, hogw5972.zip (3.8Mb, 05-Oct-04). Check out this thread on the Train-sim.com forum for details and screenshots of the rolling stock to be included as part of the Wupper 8 route. Pierre Gauriat (Ajouts a Train Simulator) has just released his SNCB-NMBS AM Classic EMU Types 66, 73 and 74 version 1.2, SNCB_AM73.zip (5.2Mb, 04-Oct-04), trainsets (look for SNCB AM Classiques - 04/10/2004 on the site's opening page).

• <05-Oct-04>: Yuri Kurowski has contributed a number of activities to the Train-sim.com library, one for the Hisatsu Line and others for the French LGV Atlantique route available from TrainClaudius (the LGV-A author's site, 62Mb); check Yuri's readmes for rolling stock requirements before downloading. Dennis Mutulo has repainted a range of locos into Santa Fe livery, one model being Santa Fe SD45 No. 5394, sf5394.zip (1.5Mb, 04-Oct-04); you need KLW's EMD GP40X sounds from the KLW site.

• <04-Oct-04>: At UKTrainsim.com Bob Pickering has two activity packs, Settle - Carlisle, scap.zip (413kb, 03-Oct-04), and Swansea Route, srap.zip (310kb, 04-Oct-04). See Bob's readme scap.txt for a list of required prototypical rolling stock from UKTrainsim.com for his Settle - Carlisle activities. John Bauckman has provided a patch for some missing files on his Cape Cod - The Bay Colony route, capefix1.zip (1.2Mb, 03-Oct-04). Bruno Astorg has another R.I.O. 80 set, this one in S.N.C.F. INOX livery, rio80_sncf.exe (19Mb, 03-Oct-04). Freight wagon packs are always handy and DB Gbs-Wagen 1 and Gbs_Post The-Train-Edition are two new ones at TheTrain.de.

• <03-Oct-04>: A quieter day but always on the look out for new cabs or sounds, web•TrainSim noticed that there's a Kenji Kimura Class 37 cab, 37cabV1.zip (2.74Mb, 02-Oct-04), at UKTrainsim.com. With the Wupper 8 route expected next weekend, web•TrainSim has added a few more notes to his German Railways small fixes and Wupper 8 pre-activities pages.

• <02-Oct-04>: At Train-sim.com Ted Curphey has a re-designed tunnel portal, rp_tunl1.zip (1.0Mb, 01-Oct-04), this one specifically to replace those on the Rollins Pass route - see this thread for some screenshots and ideas for route builders to use on their own routes. Over at UKTrainsim.com there's an update for the Train Sim Consist Manager, TSCM1075.zip (2.7Mb, 01-Oct-04), and patch, TSCM1075Upgrade.zip (99kb, 01-Oct-04) - there's more information about the TSCM project on this page.

• <01-Oct-04>: Chris Jennings has completed his MSTS model of the Sydney CityRail Red Rattlers trainset - it's in download bset10.zip (9.8Mb, 30-Sep-04) from Train-sim.com. The Historic Electric Traction site has plenty of background information and photos of New South Wales preserved rolling stock.

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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.