New Route in Library (not mine)

[landnrailroader]

By some stroke of luck granted by the Gods of Train Simulation, I got into the library about 7pm last night. I found that a new route had been installed just yesterday or the day before. It is a very ambitious route, though the author says it is far from complete.
He calls it the "Lakeside" or something like that, but it is an 8 part spanned archive of several BNSF lines in eastern Washington and includes a significant part of the Milwaukee Road between Malden & Othello. Oddly, I cannot figure out why the Milwaukee is included because the line involved starts at Pine City and ends at another obscure location. He planned to go on to Avery, but should also extend east to Malden which was the freight division point and less than 10 miles east of Pine City. (the next division east goes on to Avery, ID)

I was able to download parts 1-5 before bedtime, and when I can get in again, I will go for the rest including one patch. I do wish folks putting these routes in the library would also make a entry into the route Specs. forum. Given all that is in this route, it must use X-tracks, but there is no mention of that. I have installed X-tracks on my non-edit computer at the moment so I can examine these routes that have it.

In this particular case, one could, by judicious lopping off of terrain files, reduce this route to 3 or 4 seperate ones. Of interest to me, and I am sure many others, is that it includes the abandoned portion of the SP&S down the Snake River.

I just want to encourage route builders to put their specs. in the specification forum. It is there for that purpose and does allow folks to quickly decide whether to download or not. Also, keep checking as Lukas Lussar expects to soon release his upgrade of my RMD-1 (Milwaukee Road, Rocky Mtn. Div, 1st Sub.) and he has indicated he may also tweak the RMD-2. I have seen the Swiss Version of the RMD-1 and it is, well, STUNNING, especially when one considers that most of the editing was of small points. He did work on better signal placement so that opposing trains will work better with the AI dispatcher. Once it is uploaded, I expect we will ask Nels to remove the earlier version to conserve space.

Jerry Sullivan
"landnrailroader"

[burgerbern]

Wow that is good news about RMD1, i have been patiently waiting to see if and when the upgrade would arrive and soon my patience will be rewarded, i have loads of MILW engines all rearing to go and haul freight, and now possibly RMD2 will get the treatment wow, RMD4 is my favourite MILW route and i run on it a lot, keep up the good work folks

[highdesertdave2]

Hi Jerry,

What is up with your Generic WB Mil. act in RMD4. I ran the EB with no problems but when I try to run the WB I get a red light at Superior.

Tried vary the time it takes to get to the signal but it doesn't matter it's alway red. Waited a long time for a AI train nothing.

Can you check it out and let me know what the problem is.

Love the route, nice job. One of my favorites since Trains "Two More Mountains To Cross" issue. One other question, why didn't you include the roundhouse at Avery. TIA Dave

[landnrailroader]

I suspect that the problem at Superior is a signal in the wrong place relative to a turnout. I am not into activities, and (regrettably maybe) I placed the signals where the Milwaukee Rd. had them.

Nobody has produced a small roundhouse for us and the MSTS turntable does not work anyway, so I omitted that detail. I'm not any good at making structures as can be determined when you look at the substations. Now it does happen that a Dutch fellow just put some really nice substations in the library over the last few days and any future routes I do (Coast Div. over Snoqualmie pass is next) will use his. He is doing the Coast Div. between CleElum and Othello.

Jerry Sullivan

[highdesertdave2]

Jerry, thanks for the quick reply. Sounds great about you doing the coast division. Can't wait to download it. Dave

[landnrailroader]

I reloaded the route on my PC and ran the simulation. I did not have a problem getting past Superior, Clear Signals all the way.

If the train continues on, it will meet the eastbound at Haugan.

This route has been out, now, about 2 years, and I did notice some things I ought to correct and then re-release it, because in a few areas, it is not up to my current standard, and I might consider that. Mainly things like a switchstand up in the air at the EE of Drexel, and a double crossbuck near the airport at Superior, and a second of "unsupported" road just west of Alberton. None of these affect operation, but surely don't look right. Also there are the better substations out now, and excellent electrical switch yards to put at the Substations.

If you are brave, and strong of heart, set up an activity to go from Haugan to Wallace by the NP line over Lookout Pass. See what you think of the "widow maker" at Willow Creek on the west slope of the pass. I got the "S" trestle as best as possible. It was replaced by a switchback in 1960, and abandoned altogether in the fall of 1980.

Don't bother to download the RMD-1 which is in the library as Lukas Lussar of Switzerland is about ready to release an improved "version 2" of it that will blow away your socks. Once he gets it in there, I plan to ask Nels to remove the old version.

Jerry Sullivan

[Swissie]

Hi guys,

what version of train.exe do you run? Default MSTS 1.4. or MSTS bin? I noticed that some signals in activities that worked under MSTS default will stay red when I run the same activity under MSTS bin. Two factors contributing to it sofar: Signals under bin stay red if I place double reverse points up ahead in the player path, and signals will also stay red if I end the path immediately after an absolute, without extending it through at least one or two more permissives.

This phenomenon is happening to me on various routes with all kinds of signals (Italian semaphores of 1900, the default US2 signals, the clv signals used in the RMD routes, the semaphores of the Argentinian NG route...) so it probably isn't a problem of the route / signal, but rather of how MSTS bin deals with the signal logic or pathes.

Concerning the v2: It is actually ready, only needs compacting, zipping up, installer testing, and then uploading. Had to re-do some activities/pathes due to exactly this signal issue (getting stuck at a red where I could pass with earlier train.exe installs).

Lukas a.k.a Swissie

[landnrailroader]

I am still running the default version, upgraded with the only patch I know of that MS has produced.

I am a bit hesitant to go with BIN, but do plan to use X-tracks and NEwRoads on the next Milwaukee Road route, unless I get a hold of KUJU and like it better.

Jerry Sullivan

[highdesertdave2]

Hi Swissie,

I think you hit the nail on the head about bin. When I ran eb act on RMD4 I didn't have any problems with red sigs. But after that I installed bin and then I started having at least 7 red lights and meets with the same train on the wb act for RMD4.

Btw thank you for your prompt reply about how to remove the overhead wire on the route. Dave

Jerry, last night I pulled a hot wb into Avery yard with 4 Milwaukee Road GP40S from GM&O SIMULATIONS uncoupled the cars pulled the 4 geeps out past the switches, hit F9, clicked on the trailing unit that was facing backwards hit #1 and bamb I was sitting inside the trailing unit's cab and took the 4 units into the fueling racks.

One word AWESOME! That's MSTSBIN.

[landnrailroader]

Glad it worked for you, I haven't tried BIN yet, but I am getting close and will probably use it (along with X-tracks etc.) on the next Milwaukee Sim. I do.

Jerry Sullivan