|
|
| Last Updated 11-Jul-2003 |
|
Bear in mind that, although some routes don't appear very large as a download, they all take about the same amount of disk space as each of the default routes. Newer routes are becoming more feasible to download because developers are using Route Riter to reduce the size of the download zip file. Route Riter checks the route's files and takes out any which are from the default routes. It then builds a batch file which will copy over any files from the default routes on the user's computer. Another requirement is that you will need to have all the MSTS routes installed because authors of these alternative routes use various objects and landscaping from parts of all the default routes. When you use any of the routes for the first time, MSTS will tell you it's generating terrain buffers. The time for this process can vary - on web•TrainSim's machine, LGV Med, for example, took nearly an hour but others were less than this. As yet there are no Australian routes, possibly because the digital elevation data required for laying out the countryside and track, is only available commercially (as far as web•Wiz can ascertain). If you have any questions about the following routes, mail me at info@webdottrainsim.com and I'll try to help. Don't think the routes here are all that the freeware MSTS community has made available! These are the ones web•TrainSim has thus far installed. Use the Browse a Section facility at the Train-Sim.com file library, for example, to view many, many others, and then visit various U.K. and European MSTS sites for more (use the web•Train sites page).
Peter Worsley's F.U.D.E. route is derived from James Hunt's Modern England route, with the electrification removed and changes made to set it in the 60s, 70s and 80s era. Information about F.U.D.E. and instructions for installing are in fude_inf.zip (Mb, 04-Apr-03). There are six files for the route itself: fude121.zip (10.8Mb, 04-Apr-03), fude122.zip (9.4Mb, 04-Apr-03), fude123.zip (10Mb, 04-Apr-03), fude124.zip (11.1Mb, 04-Apr-03), fude125.zip (10.5Mb, 04-Apr-03) and fude126.zip (6.5Mb, 04-Apr-03).v
As of 02-Nov-02, Bjoern Arlt has been upgraded the route to Version 2. You'll find it as fbline2.zip (16.2Mb, 31-Oct-02) in the Train-sim.com library or you can download it from Bjoern's site. The site also has useful information to help with any installation problems, details about the new activities, maps and signals, and FBL-liveried rolling stock. Version 1 is available in the Train-Sim.com file library in fbline.zip (9.6Mb, 12-May-02), with a small fix in fbl_fix2.zip (5kb, 28-May-02) and can remain installed alongside Full Bucket Line version 2 since they use separate sub-folders in your Routes folder. The Full Bucket Line, a small fictional desert-style route, has been expanded to about 70 miles track, 10 mainline stations, 2 branch line stations and several switching yards. Twenty-two activities are included and all these activities use default MSTS rolling stock. Using ConBuilder, you can quite easily change the consists in these activities to your choice of rolling stock. Installation is straight forward - use the steps in the "readme". Just ensure that you have: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Routes in the Extract to: folder path text box (enter this path manually or click your way through the folder tree in the Folder/drives box). Then run the runme.bat batch file to bring in other files from other MSTS routes.
This route is available in the Train-Sim.com file library in flfunnel.zip (17Mb, 16-Jul-02). A set of activities is available in flfunpak.zip (129kb, 26-Jul-02). Note that to run these activities, extra rolling stock, over and above the default MSTS rolling stock, is required (a list is given in the "readme" in the zip file). The Florida Funnel is a route based on the CSX prototype from Waycross, Georgia, to Jacksonville and Baldwin Florida. This is a mostly flat and straight route with a minimum of shunting (switching). After installing the route, there is a comprehensive information page and maps. An introductory activity is installed along with the route and this activity uses only default MSTS rolling stock. However, the author provides a pack of 17 activities in the fun pack but these require extra rolling stock. Installation is straight forward: use WinZip's ability to extract to a folder then run the batch file, installme.bat to copy over all the other necessary files from the default MSTS routes. Ensure WinZip extracts to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Routes
You'll find download links for Version 2, as of 20-Apr-03, of the Ligne 1 route at www.simtrain-fr.org. There's a site for the full archive (80Mb) and another for handy chunks for those with a dialup connection. Installation is straightforward but note you need the six default MSTS routes (Train Store users take note) when you run Installme.bat in the L 1 folder. You need the archiving tool, WinRAR, installed.
• <29-Mar-03> Update: Version 2.1b, lgvm21b.zip (3.5Mb), to now include all seasons, activities available in each season, and some small signal fixes; available from Train-Sim.com. • <12-Mar-03> Update: Version 2.1a, lgvm21a.zip (1.1Mb), which fixes some signalling problems, speed limits, AI activity traffic and some terrain is available from Train-Sim.com. • <04-Mar-03> Update: Version 2.1, lgvmed21.zip (29Mb), is now available from: Installation requires the six MSTS default routes to be present - Train Store users (and that includes web•TrainSim. Ed), take note. Among other things, Luc has incorporated a full SNCF-standard signalling system; read or download the docs from his site. • <23-Dec-02> Update: Version 2.0, lgvmed20.zip (28Mb), is now available from: After reading Luc's readme and following the straight-forward instructions, including the deletion of LGV Med V1.1, web•TrainSim had no problems with the installation. As noted elsewhere, LGV Med V2.0 completes the triangle of sections with the addition of the new Valence section. So now you can travel Marseille-Avignon-Valence, Nimes-Avignon-Valence, as well as the traditional Marseille-Nimes trip. If you're unfamiliar with the operation of TGV trains, there's information at Luc's site. As well, here are some screenshots of the V1.1 route (still applicable to V2.0) and some along the new Valence-Avignon section (the trainset is the TGV Duplex). The following comments refer to LGV Med V1.0 and V1.1 and remain here for reference purposes: • <18-Sep-02> Update: Version 1.1, LGVMed11.zip (20.2Mb), is now available from: Before installing, read through Luc's instructions in his readme. web•TrainSim had no difficulty with the installation. Use Luc's activities to familiarise yourself with driving TGV trains and the route. Here are some screenshots which show the new features of the route that web•TrainSim is learning. For those of you reading this and wondering why all the fuss, then visit LGV Med's author's site at perso.wanadoo.fr/lucweb/lgvmed/eng/ for activities, screenshots, route description, signalling, FAQs and a driver's manual. LGV Med assumes you've purchased the Speedworks TGV Addon Pack 1 by Clem Tillier. For just $US7.95 (about $AU15) for four TGV trainsets, with a cabview that uses the TVM430 in-cab signalling system as required on LGV routes, you'll experience the full thrill of being in control of a modern high speed train. The LGV Med route version 1.0 became available at the Train-Sim.com file library in file lgvmed.zip (19.9Mb) at the end of July. The web•TrainSim roundhouse already had Chris Longhurst's Eurostar which had some of its cobwebs removed now and then on NEC. The LGV Med was just the route on which to let the Eurostar show its potential - with a few tweaks (see Eurostar on the LGV Med). Installation of LGV Med is straight forward, except the batch file may not create the route's Sound sub-folder, as noted in the readme. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Routes After extraction, open Explorer to check if you have the Sound sub-folder under the Routes\LGVMed folder. If not, create it and run Installme.bat again. No harm is done with this second running of the batch file - web•TrainSim had to do this step. The consists for the included activities weren't in web•TrainSim's download zip but that's no problem. Running ConBuilder and checking these activities, you'll find that a consist named tgvres1.con is missing. It's a simple task to make one. Open Explorer and navigate to the Train Simular consists folder. Look for a consist named Eurostar FR.con. Make a copy of this file (click Copy then Paste on the toolbar). Scroll down the end of the file list and rename Copy of Eurostar FR.con to tgvres1.con. End of comments about LGV Med versions 1 and 1.1. Enjoy the thrill of driving a high speed train. All you need is concentration...
Marias Pass version 3.1 is available as of 14-Dec-02 from the Train-sim.com library in seven conveniently-sized download chunks - see below for the full list. To source all the files, use the Train-sim.com file library search feature to find all files mp31*.zip. Marias Pass 3.1 supercedes Marias Pass 3.0. Modifications in this latest version include:
Bob Siederer and Paul Doty are to be congratulated on their work and level of detail in creating Marias Pass V3.1. The file(s) you need to download from the Train-sim.com library are:
web•TrainSim certainly recommends MP3.1 and you'll find many activities specifically designed for this route. It's a far more enjoyable experience!
Modern England is a fictional, electrified route, using modern signalling so is a good U.K. route to supplement the default Settle-Carlisle. The full version 3 of Modern England has been available since March from UK Trainsim but not everybody could get in to download it. Now it's available from the Train-sim.com library modeng3f.zip (18.9Mb, 30-Oct-02)so there's no excuse! This version removes any need to have specific rolling stock (as the early version from Train-sim.com did) and includes plenty of default paths for exploring its full length. If you can run the Activity Editor, you'll get a good idea of the interesting branch lines, some with balloon loops so you can make the return trip and keep driving to a new destination. You'll enjoy exploring Modern England, with about 180 miles of track and sidings. web•TrainSim has installed this route and enjoys it, mainly because of its modern signalling. As well, you'll find its grades and landscaping somewhat similar to Australian rail conditions (similarly, the Settle-Carlisle route). It's just that an English summer still boasts green grass! One problem that is easily fixed - the catenary gantries are missing their horizontal and supporting arms. Easily fixed! At UK Trainsim, look for the download ukgantries.zip (28kb, 19-Dec-01) and extract us1gantry.s to Modern England's Shapes folder. web•TrainSim has been creating some activities for Modern England - see the downloads page. These activities principally use Australian rolling stock.
The NEC2.0 route replaces the default MSTS NEC route (let's say that was version 1). There are many improvements, including better placement of signals, more stations to reflect the real North East Corridor, and more scenery. Most activities designed under NEC 1.0 also work with NEC 2.0, with a slight difference in station placement being noticeable. The file(s) you need to download are:
NEC2.0 is highly recommended (web•Wiz has installed it) since it is more realistic with the extra stations and better signalling.
This is the Northeast Corridor in all its glory - and complexity! Included are the CSX and Philadelphia Sub lines and sections of the Washongton Metro and Maryland Light Rail. Vince Cockeram spent almost a year on this project and deserves congratulations of the highest order. NEC 4 can be downloaded from the Train-sim.com library as necv4.zip (30Mb, 12-Mar-03). Read Vince's readme for further detail and information, particularly references to learn about signalling. Installation is straightforward but the six default MSTS routes must be present (attention Train Store users) for successful completion by the self-starting batch file. For some activities that web•TrainSim has created (and some he's possibly still working on), see his page of documentation of paths and services for NEC 4. A couple of problems with MSTS and NEC 4 are also discussed there.
This route can be downloaded from www.trenomania.it - look under Scenari. Total file size is 90Mb but web•TrainSim got the friendly dialup connection sized archives as released on 06-Apr-03. Copy all files to your ...\Routes\ folder and run the first part of the archive which is an EXE compressed with WinRAR. On English language computers, files will be unpacked to a new folder, C:\Programmi\, with the actual route files in the Nordida folder, unless you change the destination folder to C:\Program Files\... when you're prompted. You'll have to move Nordida to your default MSTS installation Routes folder if the files are sent to C:\Programmi\.... You can view some pics and browse web•TrainSim's activities docs. You need the archiving tool, WinRAR, installed.
Rich Garber's route is at Build 10 and he's holding further development at this stage. You'll find plenty of information about the route at his own site. The route can be downloaded from Avsim.com's file library in the MSTS Adentures section.
For sites that have other routes, from all around the world, look through the web•TrainSim Related Sites page. Browsing through Train-Sim.com's file library (choose Routes under the Browse a section at a time), you'll find many routes created by enthusiastic MSTS fans. The main problem with downloading these over a dialup line is their size. You may want to get some idea of user comments and see if there are any particular problems. Visit Train-Sim.com's main MSTS message area and Train-Sim.com's message area devoted to route creation. One particular route that has received accolades from all who have downloaded and installed it is the Seaview Route (68Mb, version 3). There are some message posts with screenshots and you'll see many innovative objects used in this route's scenery. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| web•Home | web•Column | web•Sites | web•Directory | web•MP3s | web•Archive | web•Specials | web•Mail | web•Contact |
