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Line news February, 2003• <28-Feb-03>: Don't think web•TrainSim has not been keeping a close eye on what's in the Train-sim.com library because he hasn't listed that many downloads from there lately. Rather, the list of available rolling stock has been steadily increasing, as it always has, and the library is now becoming a delight for fans of particular North American railway companies of all sizes, not just the large ones such as BNSF and UP. After some reading of the history of rail in North America, you'll probably make two or three railway companies your favourites; combine this interest with the rolling stock in the Train-sim.com library and you're in hobbyist's heaven. After some thinking about how Train Store might work, web•TrainSim thought he'd see what his Activity Editor was up to. He's only got Marias Pass 3.1 in use at present (double-heading an intermodal with DDA40Xs is serious business!) but he thought he'd see if he could create a player path for a junk activity. For some reason, up to this point, AE has only wanted to post a message to home. Well, would you believe AE behaved! As Tony Formoso points out in the Train Store manual, the app is not a diagnostic tool for MSTS problems. However, it could come in handy when trying to chase down problems with badly-behaving consists, activities, or even routes. By putting one route in use and seeing what the MSTS editors think, a problem could be narrowed down more easily than what's been possible in the past. • <27-Feb-03>: The F.U.D.E. (Fairly Up to Date English Route) has been updated to version 1.2; it's available at UK Trainsim in friendly-sized downloadable chunks (an intro, files 1-6 and an upgrade file). At the Train-sim.com library, Tristan Garrett has provided a Kiha 31 ENGine physics update kihaphys.zip (6kb, 26-Feb-03); it includes the provision for a 10-notch throttle and brake application is better. • <26-Feb-03>: At the Train-sim.com library, Astorg Bruno's Z6100 SNCF electric trainset has been updated, z6100_s2.zip (2Mb, 24-Feb-03); his Z6300 set is there too, z6300idf.zip (2.3Mb, 20-Feb-03); both trainsets have a virtual cab. If you're wondering about installing one of the many freeware routes, use Train-sim.com's Route Specification Forum to get all the details about a route's history context, length, type (freight or passenger), and more. Because the full manual isn't available until installation, here are a few words on what to expect when you install Train Store. By the way, web•TrainSim hasn't had any problems in its use with the Raildriver control. • <25-Feb-03>: Ribbit, ribbit. Ribbit, ribbit. This was a sound that web•TrainSim hadn't heard for many, many months. After an inch or so of rain, the frogs were back! That wasn't only amazing thing to happen late yesterday evening. What about MSTS loading (after the splash screen) in about ten seconds instead of normally in the time to go and make a cuppa? After a bit more reading of the manual, it was time to put Train Store to work. After letting it sort out the aliased folders, such as Common.Cab, Common.Snd and some others to denote the Fixed Objects in web•TrainSim's MSTS setup, a click on Routes in the left-hand pane, a click on Store Selected Routes in the right-hand pane, select Marias Pass 3.1 from all the routes now in store, and finally a click on Unstore Selected Route(s) to bring MP3.1 into use. Start MSTS and... would you believe, there it was - all ready to go with Marias Pass 3.1 before you could say web•TrainSim. • <24-Feb-03>: web•TrainSim is perusing the operating manual for Train Store, Tony Formoso's MSTS utility by which we can assign a route as being in use and other routes as in store. MSTS only sees the one route as being available so takes much less time to load than it otherwise would. Of course, reading the manual is mandatory before using Train Store. During installation, Train Store will detect your MSTS default folder, unless you have multi-installations of MSTS. The other part of the installation is to denote the default folder which Train Store will use for in store routes. Thirdly, the full manual will be installed so the next steps in Train Store's use can be followed. Those of you who have created multi-installations of MSTS to achieve lower loading times should note it's unwise to use Train Store. There's a thread on the general MSTS Train-sim.com forum with plenty of posts by those who are already happily using Tony's app (there's a solution to a potential problem for users of Route Control, by the way). While at this forum, take a look at some screenshots of the soon-to-be-released version 3 of the Seaveiw route; once again, spectacular and imaginative work by author, Bill Burnett. • <23-Feb-03>: The Raildriver control software has been updated to V1.3.0.3, rdsetup1303 (3.8Mb, 20-Feb-03); included are RDCabMaker V1.0.1.7 (from V1.0.1.4), RDCalibration V1.0.1.7 (from V1.0.1.4), and a default key legend for printing and cutting up to fit on the control (you'll find this doc in both PDF and HTML format in the Raildriver folder under PI Engineering in the Program Files folder). Some have been disappointed with the Raildriver control but while there may be some small problems, driving a TGV on the LGV Med with the control is far more satisfying, especially when you're daydreaming about somebody giving you a holiday in the region, and suddenly realise you should be cutting the throttle and reducing speed to 270 kmh: pull the throttle lever back, move the brake lever for a few bar of air pressure with blended dynamic braking and you're slowing. Saw that Luc is working towards LGV Med V2.1, mainly to bring the signalling to full compliance with SNCF practice and smoothing out variations between land gradients.
• <22-Feb-03>: web•TrainSim is slowly getting back into the harness to put together some items each day. Firstly, note that the Roussillon Line download site is now at http://t.vaillant.free.fr. From the screenshot above you can see the detail in Mike Karlik's SD90 cab, sd90cab2.zip (4.5Mb, 19-Feb-03). web•TrainSim has begun reading through Philip Chesters' Trainsimming Modern French Railways part 1, and, as with Trainsimming German Railways, it's full of succint detail and information. And talking of French railways, Barrallon Florian has two of his SNCF locos in the Train-sim.com library: SNCF 67210, 67210.zip (841kb, 21-Feb-03) and SNCF 67354, 67300.zip (5Mb, 21-Feb-03). And did web•TrainSim see a MSTS model of a BB 37000 somewhere? • <21-Feb-03>: Looking on the bright side that web•TrainSim's phone line is back to coping with an Internet connection, here goes with some line news, both new and old. So hold your breath that the connection is good enough... web•TrainSim couldn't cope with not being able to set up the Raildriver control for the TGV Duplex, the Speedworks TGVs and the Eurostar. Following Raildriver's lead by adapting the Series 7000, web•TrainSim has modified the TGV ENGine files so they use blended brakes, in the same way the default Acela Express & AceleaHHP do (blended braking means dynamic braking is applied in conjunction with the application of the air brakes). Being in a braking mood, the F59PHI's brakes have had a tune up too. Finally, web•TrainSim is becoming a big fan of the UK Modern coach sounds - they're a very clever implementation of MSTS sounds and show what's possible in the simulation. These are some downloads from the Train-sim.com library that web•TrainSim has added to his list of must-haves:
• <09-Feb-03>: A couple of weeks ago web•TrainSim mentioned he'd installed the UK Modern Track - Modern Coach Sounds, UKMT_MCS_v1-0.zip (14-Nov-02, 1.7Mb) from UK Trainsim. He had to adjust down the volume to his liking but he's now finding these sounds add more and more to MSTS. For example last night while driving the Virgin Pendolino from King's Cross to Manchester in one of his own activities (yes, activity creators do run their own activities from time to time), while stopped at a station an AI train pulled in at the other platform. From the Pendolino's cab web•TrainSim could hear the gentle squeal of the AI's train's brakes as it came to a stop. The sounds of passing trains also varies according to type; crossing another Pendolino does sound like a 200 mph meet, whereas crossing a suburban electric set is quite realistic with appropriate sound for the slower suburban train. Keep an eye out for Philip Chesters' next work, Trainsimming French Railways; part 1 should be available soon. Philip's Trainsimming German Railways (3 parts) is a compulsory reference for your MSTS document library. The more time spent with the Raildriver control, the better it gets. With the keyboard out of the way, the feeling of using a computer is replaced by a more realistic experience of driving a train. • <07-Feb-03>: At UK Trainsim there are a couple of updates to the Fairly Up-to-Date England Route: FUDE Patch 1, FUDE_Patch1.zip (27kb, 05-Feb-03) and a modified file 2 of 6 FUDE1_1_2a.zip (9.3Mb, 05-Feb-03); and a graffiti-covered S313, AU_S313_Grafitti.zip (3Mb, 05-Feb-03). Clem Tillier is working on TGV Pack 2 of five different versions of the famous TGV Paris Sud-Est trainsets - but don't expect a release much before mid-2003. In the Train-sim.com library, web•TrainSim noticed a dog house, doghous1.zip (77kb, 04-Feb-03) (for over-zealous Trainsimmers?), and narrow gauge Denver South Park & Pacific RR Mogul #71 loco, dspprr_m.zip (442kb, 05-Feb-03). Finally, Irfanview is now at version 3.80 so that's a worthwhile download (if you use any of the plugins, download updated versions of these as well). • <06-Feb-03>: It was just a matter of following the instructions and web•TrainSim's Raildriver control is up and running. He's only had time to do a short late night test thus far but it works well and brings a whole new sense of realism to train driving. As other reviewers have noted, notching the throttle for diesels is a little ambiguous at first but practice will make perfect. At the Train-sim.com library, Bill Hemb has added his Rio Grande California Zephyr trainset (led by F-units), rgczephyr.zip (20.7Mb, 04-Feb-03). • <05-Feb-03>: FUDE can be downloaded from UK Trainsim. FUDE? FUDE is the Fairly Up-to-Date England Route and is available as six archives, FUDE_info.zip to FUDE_1_1_6.zip, each about 10Mb. Those looking for SD75 or SD70 locos which feature 3D Trainstuff's cab and sounds will be pleased with two CN models, cn5768.zip (7Mb, 03-Feb-03) and cn5600_2.zip (8Mb, 03-Feb-03) from Train-sim.com. To save some disk space and make it more convenient to use the SD70 cab and sounds with other locos, extract the cab to Common.Cab and the sounds to Common.Snd. See Aliasing an SD70M for some help if you need it. web•TrainSim's Raildriver controller turned up yesterday (So how come he's got time to write up today's line news? - Ed.) and is yet to hook it all up. First impressions: a solid, well-made product and once it's set up and calibrated, there'll be more news. If you're waiting for yours to arrive, prepare by downloading the latest software at Raildriver's tech page.
• <04-Feb-03>: web•TrainSim immediately saw one of his favourite locos and a favourite trainset in the Train-sim.com libary today: the EMD F59PHI, f59phiv1.zip (1Mb, 02-Feb-03), and the Santa Fe Super Chief trainset, schief.zip (17.7Mb, 02-Feb-03); an adaptation of Christine Sweetnam's F7 cab is required, funitcab.zip (6.3Mb, 02-Feb-03). He had time to download the F59PHI and has put together some changes to tune it.
• <01-Feb-03>: Besides the Z6300 Ile de France electric suburban trainset z6300idf.zip (2.3Mb, 28-Jan-03) in the Train-sim.com libary, Astorg Bruno, the author, has another Z6300 trainset in Picardie et Lorraine livery z6300reg.zip (2.3Mb, 28-Jan-03) for download at his site, MicroRail. Yesterday the Acela Express bistro car by Adam Wojcieszyk was mentioned - here are Adam's other highly-detailed Acela power cars and carriages, all well worth downloading: power cars #2009 & #2020 aclahsel.zip (2.6Mb, 29-May-02), business class coach with passenger view acelaca2.zip (1.9Mb, 18-Jul-02), business class end coach aclaendb.zip (808kb, 22-Jul-02), and first class coach aclafrst.zip (645kb, 24-Jul-02). For those looking for some definitions of terms such as CTE, adhesion and Starting Tractive Effort, try the Glossary at the GE Loco Analyser site. Mike Simpson continues to add more to Route Riter and having installed V3.8.27 (rrit3827.zip 5.4Mb, 29-Jan-03 from the Train-sim.com libary), web•TrainSim has noticed one feature which may be helpful for those who have installed lots of extra routes, the Setting up Common Files tool. Along with ConBuilder and Route Control Lite, Route Riter is an essential tool for keeping track of your consists, activities, locos and wagons and to help resolve any problems.
About | Contactweb•Train Sim was, until recently, part of my web•Wiz Online site at http://webdotwiz.tripod.com. Due to a reduction in free web space by Tripod, these pages have had to be posted at their own site, http://webDotTrainSim.tripod.com. Not such a bad thing because there's now 20Mb for Train Sim! • 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. |
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