Stadtbahn (Cityline) U79 Tram route V2

Sportpark Nord stop.

U79 is a tram route full of detail which fortunately won't slow your computer to a crawl. web•TrainSim's old 900MHz Celeron seems to be coping quite well (except for the trees along a couple of streets).

For a correct installation, the U79 route requires the six default MSTS routes (easily organised if you're a Train Store user) and an Installme.bat to be run after the zips have been unpacked and the EXEs ran.

These are the files to download from either The-Train.de or Kim-Trains, the latter being easier to access and somewhat quicker.

These are the files to download (you won't see the zip filename so use the titles):

• Stadtbahn U79 v3-Part1, U79-3-1.exe (26.9Mb, 25-Aug-05)
• Stadtbahn U79 v3-Part2, U79-3-2.exe (24.3Mb, 25-Aug-05)
• Stadtbahn U79 v3 Aufgaben/Trams: U79TRAMS.zip (26.1Mb)

Installation steps:

• Extract each EXE from U79-2-1.zip and U79-2-2.zip in turn to a temporary folder and run each EXE to create the routes folder.
• Check that you have MSTS' six default routes available (unstore with Train Store if need be).
• Run the Installme.bat in the U79 route folder. Hint: If you're running MS Antispyware, as soon as you double-click the Installme.bat for Wupper Express 9 and/or Stadtbahn U79, an alert will pop up and you can allow the batch file to run. However, Installme.bat won't carry out any of its copy functions - you'll notice zero files being copied if you read quickly enought! A second double-click on Installme.bat will see everything carried out properly.
• Run U79TRAMS.exe to install the rolling stock and activities.

For more information, including a comprehensive map of the Dusseldorf system, see:

• Dusseldorf City Map: www.duesseldorf.de
• Dusseldorf Tram System Map (GIF): www.rheinbahn.de
• Line Plans of Transport System & Streets: www.vrr.de - the best map because it shows streets and main buildings so you can place yourself while at work in the cab.
• LTU Arena: web.die-arena-kommt.de/arena/
• Rhine-Ruhr Area Train Lines: trainspotting.buekkes.de/maps/
• Screenshots of U79 MSTS Trams: www.ralfkoelsche.privat.t-online.de/u79/u79/bahnen.htm
• Strassenbahn Duisberg: www.strassenbahn-duisburg.de

A note for Raildriver users: web•TrainSim made a couple of changes in one of the tram's ENGine files to see how things would go using the Raildriver. In the first place there's no means of using a combined throttle/brake lever (Raildriver is pre-programmed only for the Dash 9 throttle/dynamic brake combined lever). Secondly, the only ENGine-type to enable use of Raildriver is the Series 2000. Having changed a couple of lines in one tram's ENGine file, web•TrainSim found that the Series 2000 settings were far too slow to react, particularly the brake release and application, so he reset the ENGine file and is using the keyboard.

Another general driving note: coming to a stop at a platform, make sure you don't go past a signal if there's one at the end of the platform, even it shows clear. As soon as you get the all clear to proceed, you'll be penalised for not stopping at a red. This has only happened to web•TrainSim once, and that's enough!