Line news July, 2004

• <31-Jul-04>: Joseph Realmuto's Friction Calculator (FCalc) program is now available at version 2, fcalc_20.zip (1.0Mb, 30-Jul-04). The reason for FCalc goes back to the early days of MSTS when it was discovered that values for rolling stock friction were not at all realistic and Joseph, with others, set about doing a lot of background work to determine values that would bring MSTS closer to reality. In its simplest use, Joseph's utility calculates realistic values for friction based on mass, frontal area and number of axles on the loco or wagon; these values can then be inserted into the appropriate ENGine or WAGon file. The archive for version 2 of FCalc not only includes the program itself but plenty of background information and several spreadsheets so we can see the equations which Joseph has used. While not for everybody, we should at least expect those who donate their time to building new rolling stock will make good use of FCalc to give us the most realist rolling stock possible.

• <30-Jul-04>: At Train-sim.com Piero Angeli has contributed some more Italian Railways freight wagons, including some readmes missing from his earlier contributions, missing2.zip (58kb, 29-Jul-04). Jim England has two Rock Island GP9 locos painted in brown and yellow livery, rigp9set.zip (2.6Mb, 29-Jul-04). There are some new additions to the Trenomania.it library, including a cab for the E636 (6.5Mb). (He thought nobody would notice he's late with his line news but somebody did. He's been confined to desk work for a week. Ed.).

• <29-Jul-04>: Ted Curphey has added some world and tiles files to the Train-sim.com library to make it easier for those who want to use his trestles on Marias Pass, mp-tres2.zip (1.3Mb, 28-Jul-04). There's a post on the Train-sim.com forum who have the experience for this sort of job so see Trestles of Marias. Jeff Shaw has a short movie (playable in Windows Media Player) of Challenger 3985 north of Denver, 3985chal.zip (6.9Mb, 28-Jul-04). Amicitreni.Net has some new rolling stock for Italian routes, including loco FS E.656 268 (11Mb).

• <28-Jul-04>: A quiet day but it seems the Graphics15 team are being continually deluged with emails enquiring as to when Wupper Express 8 will be ready: it'll be ready when it's ready (probably September). They're hoping the rolling stock will be finished at the end of August and the beta testers are currently hard at work checking the route. EUTrainsim.com has some new downloads, including version 2 of Bertrand Louet's fictional route, Ligne 1 - Moulinsard to Chavignole, ligne1.exe (82.19Mb, 27-Jul-04).

• <27-Jul-04>: The Train-sim.com library now has the Gulf Mobile and Ohio Northern route and Coal Road Experience activity packs, gmoactpk.zip (1.4Mb, 26-Jul-04) and crx.zip (435kb, 26-Jul-04) respectively. Tim Blythman has contributed a set of Sydney J- and K-class trams, ausydjk.zip (1.5Mb, 26-Jul-04); for some background on these, see Sydney's Tram History.

• <26-Jul-04>: Jim Duncan's Gulf Mobile and Ohio Northern route is now at version 1.75 and available from the Train-sim.com library in eleven files:gmonl175.zip (5.3Mb, 25-Jul-04) and gmonl175.z01 (40Mb, 25-Jul-04) to gmonl175.z10 (40Mb, 25-Jul-04). For details on new features and updates, see Jim's post, Re-packaged GM&O now uploaded..., on the Train-sim.com forums. Also see GM&O Activity Pack for V1.75 for news on the availability of activities. Bob Pickering has uploaded a set of activities for the New South Wales Coal Road route and they should be in the library in a day or two; for details of required rolling stock, see Bob's post on Train-sim.com forums. Finally, more Swiss rolling stock has appeared in the EUTrainsim.com library.

• <25-Jul-04>: There are a couple of interesting downloads at Train-sim.com, if only for reference: Trestles of Marias by Ted Curphey, mp_trest.zip (1.6Mb, 24-Jul-04), and another detailed guide from Chris Bogley, Guide To Cascades Route, casguide.zip (3kb, 24-Jul-04). Finally, Henri Patey has a pack of rolling stock required for SkyRat's Canton-Suddenly activities, cs1406rs.zip (8.5Mb, 24-Jul-04). A couple of people have tried SigView - a free download from Maple Leaf Tracks - on Australian routes and there are details on how to improve the sighting of signals on the Ballarat route on the Railpage Australia forums.

• <24-Jul-04>: The majority of the forty or so new contributions to the Train-sim.com library today come from Tony Calorel with more freight wagons - tankers, gondolas and boxcars - in various company liveries. Mike Simpson has updated Route Riter to version 5.2.43 (EXE only), RRit5_2_43exe.zip (1.6Mb, 22-Jul-04), to fix a few little bugs - see the Route Riter page at Steam4Me. EUTrainsim.com now has some Swiss rolling stock, such as electric loco Re 460.081, RE460_SBB.ZIP (4.5Mb, 23-Jul-04), and the French Morvan route (six files, five of 40Mb each, one of 20Mb); for a map of the line, type of traffic and some history, visit the author's site.

• <23-Jul-04>: An interesting addition to MSTS is the variety of vegetation contributed by Franco Caruso. For example, Pacchetto Vegetazione, vegetaii.zip (6.9Mb, 21-Jul-04), at Train-sim.com. Check MSTS Greenery for greater detail on the different types of vegetation. web•TrainSim forgot to mention the Route Hornbach -St. Georgen (Black Forest) post at Train-sim.com with some more detail on this famous route.

• <22-Jul-04>: At Train-sim.com there are several contributions for Guilford Rail fans from Shawn Kelley, including Guilford Rail GP40 No. 301 loco, grs301.zip (5.2Mb, 21-Jul-04), and Guilford Rail boxcar pack, nebcpk.zip (3Mb, 21-Jul-04). Maple Leaf Tracks have donated their SigView patch (13kb) to improve the visibility of signals from a long distance - there's a good range of discussion on the Signal Aspect Visibility thread at Train-sim.com. web•TrainSim can't be too sure but he noticed that signals on Wupper Express seem to be brighter at large distances compared to other routes so this feature may be on Wupper already (web•TrainSim tends to drive with his eyes half-closed sometimes. Ed.). Here's a couple of pages where you can see where the Hornberg - St Georgen route fits into the DB rail network: around Hornberg and around St Georgen in the Baden-Württemberg region.

• <21-Jul-04>: A little quiet today but EUTrainsim.com has several Austrian locos and version 2 of the Arlbergbahn route (click the info button for install instructions). For a more detailed view of Austrian rolling stock, see TrainSimAustria.

• <20-Jul-04>: The Hornberg - St Georgen route, horgeo5.zip (9.8Mb, 19-Jul-04), a twenty mile section of the famous Black Forest railway is now at Train-sim.com. The Hornberg and St Georgen sites give some idea of the terrain. UKTrainsim.com has news of a new utility, MSTSOrphan, to find rolling stock not being used in any activities (it's a beta release so take care).

• <19-Jul-04>: The Burgenland route (version 2) is now available from the Train-sim.com library in burg21.zip (24.8Mb, 18-Jul-04) and burg22.zip (25.4Mb, 18-Jul-04).

• <18-Jul-04>: A quieter day perhaps, however version 2 of the Burgenland route is available for download from TheTrain.de in two files (23Mb and 24Mb). Burgenland is an imaginary route based on the default Settle & Carlisle however it's environment has been changed to that of a European alpine setting. Version 1 of the route, with a later update, is at Train-sim.com as burglc.zip (43Mb, 11-Jun-04). The real Burgenland is promoted as Austria's sunniest province - read all about it here.

• <17-Jul-04>: Train-sim.com has two cabs for Italian electric locos, Cabina ETR 480, fsetr480.zip (4Mb, 16-Jul-04), and Cabina Locomotiva F.S. E 412, fse412cb.zip (2.8Mb, 16-Jul-04). Also there's a set of printable work orders for Canton-Suddenly activities, csrr_wo.zip (36kb, 16-Jul-04).

• <16-Jul-04>: Tony Calorel has done it again and has contributed a large number of boxcars and tankers in company liveries to the Train-sim.com library, just two examples being a Yale boxcar, yale.zip (418kb, 15-Jul-04) and a Getty tanker, getty.zip (415kb, 15-Jul-04). Michael Sinclair has another pictorial tutorial, this one for the Route Editor, preditor.zip (8.9Mb, 15-Jul-04), his earlier one being for the Activity Editor, aepict.zip (10.7Mb, 26-May-04). UKTrainsim has a collection of various tools and tips for MSTS, all in one package, MSTS_Basics.zip (5.2Mb, 15-Jul-04); you can review what's available on this page at UKTrainsim.com.

• <15-Jul-04>: There are two new cabs for Italian rolling stock at the Train-sim.com library: Nuova Cabina FS 2 Piani, nuovacab.zip (2.8Mb, 14-Jul-04), and Cabina Pilota Pianoribassato Delle F.S., fs_piano.zip (2.6Mb, 14-Jul-04). At UKTrainsim there is a video in DivX format of a cab ride in a LUAS tram, LUASDIVXLOW.zip (62Mb, 14-Jul-04) or high quality LUASDIVXHIGH.zip (250Mb, 14-Jul-04). You'll note on your next visit to UKTrainsim that the opening page has a Quick Picks section linking to the latest versions of XTRacks, ConBuilder, Route Riter and Train Store, the vital add-ons and tools for MSTS.

• <14-Jul-04>: The workhorse loco of country regional passenger services in Victoria, Australia, the N-class diesel-electric, is now at Train-sim.com in download vl_n455.zip (8.5Mb, 13-Jul-04); tech specs of the N-class are at Locopage and scroll down in this Railpage forums post for a large pic of the N-class cab. Amicitreni.net has some new freight wagons and the version 2 E402b cab by Mauro Ciociola.

• <13-Jul-04>: Some of Chris Longhurst's Dutch Railways models are making an appearance at EUTrainsim.com and UKTrainsim.com, two of which are the NS Koploper trainset, ns_koploper_v2.3_setup.exe (12.3Mb, 12-Jul-04), and NS Buffel trainset, ns_buffelv1.2setup.exe (7.9Mb, 12-Jul-04). The LGVMed LGV Storm and TGV Race have been updated for LGVMed 3 and can be downloaded from the LGVMed site.

• <12-Jul-04>: There are a couple more of Ernesto Imperato's works at Train-sim.com: Electric Light Loco Breda 152, fcu_152.zip (4.6Mb, 11-Jul-04), and Locomotive Diesel D341 Delle FS, d341.zip (13.2Mb, 11-Jul-04), with cabs by Kenji Kimura. Trenomania.it has a cab for the Carrozza Pilota MDVC serie TD (7.2Mb) and E402B loco (3.5Mb). You can find a number of contributions for your Australian MSTS roundhouse at Railpage Australia MSTS Downloads, one of the latest in the Multiple Units section being the South Australian Class 2000/2100 Jumbo railcar.

• <11-Jul-04>: A quieter day but Ernesto Imperato's railcars, fcal76nw.zip (8.1Mb, 10-Jul-04) and fcal76ol.zip (8.4Mb, 10-Jul-04) at Train-sim.com would be worthwhile additions for those with Italian Railways route. And talking of Italian routes, EUTrainsim has the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra route. web•TrainSim has updated his Hagen to Monchengladbach stop-all-stations activity with more traffic.

• <10-Jul-04>: Mark Smith and Gavin Mclaughlan have contributed two megapacks of New South Wales diesel-electric locos to the Train-sim.com library: New South Wales 442s Mega Pack, 442smega.zip (4.9Mb, 09-Jul-04), and New South Wales JL Mega Pack, jlmega.zip (2.6Mb, 09-Jul-04). There's also an activity theme pack for Canton Suddenly Railroad, cs070809.zip (600kb, 09-Jul-04), consisting of ten activities to keep you busy.

• <09-Jul-04>: Version 0.9 of David Phipps's BNSF Sweet Grass Subdivision route is now at Train-sim.com in nine spanned zip files, beginning sweet9.zip.zip (323kb, 08-Jul-04) and sweet9.z01 (26Mb, 08-Jul-04); check the Spanned zip files - how to install post on the Train-sim.com forum if needs be. Use BNSF's system and division maps page to get a detailed map of BNSF's lines in Montana to see where Sweet Grass is located on the border with Canada (as well as review the Shelby-Whitefish portion). EUTrainsim.com will have a revised version of the Rousillon route soon - apparently there have been some problems with the archive that was uploaded a few days ago.

• <08-Jul-04>: The Train-sim.com library now has the latest version of XTracks (version 3.11) and the download with the self-installer for most of us is xtracks.zip (5.1Mb, 07-Jul-04). Eduardo Urcola has a beta version of his route, Once to Bragado set in Argentina, fcdfs-01.zip (14.8Mb, 07-Jul-04). For those Spanish-speakers amongst us, the MSTS Fan Site in Spanish may be helpful with more info on Eduardo's route and the Simtrain-fr.net forum also has some screenshots and info.

• <07-Jul-04>: Several kits for route builders have been contributed by Bruce Bridges and team to Train-sim.com over the past couple of days: New Roads V3.1, newroads.zip (4Mb, 05-Jul-04) and newrds.zip (4.2Mb, 05-Jul-04), and Route Builders Kit V3.1, rdsrbkuk.zip (29.4Mb, 06-Jul-04) and rdsrbkna.zip (30.4Mb, 06-Jul-04). As well, Antonio Mancinelli has added some interesting trackwork machinery, such as the Draisina Keller K45 overhead line maitenance machine, keller.zip (3.2Mb, 06-Jul-04). UKTrainSim.com are setting up a separate site, www.eutrainsim.com, which will concentrate on European routes and rolling stock. Another well-known French route has recently been added, La Ligne du Grand Sud Ouest, Ligne_du_Grand_sud_Ouest_V1.1.exe (62Mb, 05-Jul-04).

• <06-Jul-04>: The Train-sim.com library has a number of downloads for the Canton Railroad, the Canton Extra Rolling Stock packs: ctnneqp1.zip (8.4Mb, 05-Jul-04), ctnneqp2.zip (7.6Mb, 05-Jul-04), ctnneqp3.zip (12.2Mb, 05-Jul-04) and ctnneqp4.zip (8.1Mb, 05-Jul-04). In the forums at UKTrainsim.com you'll find a write-up (in English and with screenshots) of four French routes which are being improved with newer versions as time goes by: Patrick Fabard's RER C, Thierry Vaillant's Roussillon, Claude Jousset's RER B and Claude Jousset's LGV-A. Graphics15 is back on air after changing servers and there's some more news and plenty of screenshots of Wupper Express 8.

• <05-Jul-04>: Several European routes are getting more exposure these days, one of which is a new one, the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra, available in six files from Train-sim.com, the first file being fcu2_1.zip (30Mb, 04-Jul-04). To set the scene for the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra route, visit the official site of the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra s.r.l. company and this Umbrian maps page. Trenomania.it also has the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra route as well as a more recent one, Linea Bologna - Ferrara (on the Scenari page). UKTrainsim.com has Thierry Vaillant's Roussillon route, version 2.1, roussillon_2.1.exe (23Mb, 04-Jul-04), as well as two packs of rolling stock, Roussillon stock 1.zip (16.5Mb, 04-Jul-04) and Roussillon stock 2.zip (16.9Mb, 04-Jul-04). The Roussillon route is located in the Languedoc Roussillon French region, to the east of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, the home of LGVMed 3 (both sites take you to the SNCF-TER pages - use the Telechargement Fiches Horaires in both to view the rail maps).

• <04-Jul-04>: The Train-sim.com library has Robert Herkes' set of New South Wales CityRail Tulloch carriages that he's repainted from Chris Jennings' original work, tullochs.zip (7.8Mb, 03-Jul-04), Bobby Harvey's ENGine and CabView files to turn the default MSTS Kiha140 into a driveable trainset, 140drive.zip (383kb, 03-Jul-04), and a further patch for the Thames-Mersey route, patch3-2.zip (5.9Mb, 03-Jul-04). Victorian MSTS fans will be interested to see Martin Bennet's Comeng suburban sets at his site, Broad Gauge Trains (look for the version 2 download).

• <03-Jul-04>: Train Store V3 is up and away on web•TrainSim's machine - the Easy Train Store interface is very innovative and gives all sorts of handy information with just a couple of clicks. Of course, power users have one-click access to the classic interface. At Train-sim.com, you'll find more contributions from Anthony Cook: California Zephyr Western Pacific dome carriages, wpdomes.zip (9.6Mb, 02-Jul-04), and Western Pacific California Zephyr carriages, wpzeph.zip (6.7Mb, 02-Jul-04). Which reminds web•TrainSim: Australian TV viewers should find The Line (an episode in the Seven Wonders Of The Industrial World series) at 1930 Sunday 04-Jul on ABC TV of interest. Pierre Gauriat has added another 231C Super Pacific Nord French compound loco to his work thus far; see the French compounds site for history, photos and tech details. UKTrainsim.com has a further patch available for the Thames-Mersey route, MerseyPatch3-2.zip (5.9Mb, 02-Jul-04).

• <02-Jul-04>: Put aside what you're doing and start your download of Train Store V3, trnstr30.zip (4.2Mb, 01-Jul-04), from the Train-sim.com library. That means everybody!! web•TrainSim will want to hear at least ninety-nine good reasons why Train Store shouldn't be used, so just do it. While downloading, you can browse through Train Store's new features in Tony's post to the Train-sim.com forum. Remember to read the Getting Started Manual (part of the download archive) before installing, whether you're upgrading or installing for the first time.

• <01-Jul-04>: Anthony Cook has contributed three dome carriages to the Train-sim.com library in the livery of the famous Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad: Silver Pony no. 1106, rg1106.zip (4.7Mb, 30-Jun-04), Silver Pony no. 1107, rg1107.zip (4.7Mb, 30-Jun-04), and Silver Pony no. 1108, rg1108.zip (4.7Mb, 30-Jun-04). UKTrainsim now has Patrick Fabard's Paris metro line, RER C, RERC_V3.EXE (79Mb, 29-Jun-04) and there's a map at Patrick's site so you can see where the RER C fits in with the complete Paris metro network. When looking for French rolling stock, web•TrainSim refers to the following, so you may find them handy, too: AJTrainsim, thierry.pere.free.fr and x69jackass.free.fr.

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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.