Bradleyeed
Member
Can anybody out there give me some advice on how to build a passenger station, using GMAX which would include track, preferably with switches and signals included in the design?!?
building a station
- Thread starter Bradleyeed
- Start date
Can't help you with GMax but I am puzzled about your inclusion of both switches and signals in a station asset. From my limited knowledge of Trainz, a station would normally be an industry-class object while signals and switches are completely different classes of objects. I don't believe that you can create a trainz object with acts as both a signal and a switch, and then add a passenger enable station (if that is your intention) into the mix. But I stand ready to be corrected.
Bradleyeed
Member
Not all stations have switches at the end some have them somewhere in the middle of the platform. Your right, about the signals; I know that animated switches do exist under building, and that invisible track is needed to make them work!!!
I have built many stations using GMax but have never been able to incorporate a switch into the station mesh. Many Dutch station split their platforms into "A" and "B" segments with cross-over switches between them to allow trains to bypass each other.
A...........B
=-\--/-=== track 1
=-/--\-=== track 2
I place two independent station objects, A & B, with a gap between them that is filled with the cross-overs.
The problem is that only a single track - can connect to the end of each station track =. The second track - that would be part of the switch will not connect there. It has to be connected to the regular track - that spans the gap between the station objects.
A...........B
=-\--/-=== track 1
=-/--\-=== track 2
I place two independent station objects, A & B, with a gap between them that is filled with the cross-overs.
The problem is that only a single track - can connect to the end of each station track =. The second track - that would be part of the switch will not connect there. It has to be connected to the regular track - that spans the gap between the station objects.
What you'd probably need to do is make all of the straight, normal tracks that will be used as platform tracks (the ones where the people get on and off, not any other tracks) as standard spile tracks in GMax. any switches and signals would have to be added in surveyor. You can, however, put in non-working switch meshes into your station object, then use invisible track to make them work. Only problem with doing that is they won't animate (As far as I know)
ray_whiley
Active member
One possibility - which I have used - would be to make the station as a scenery object with platforms, buildings etc. but no track, then use markers (Surveyor only) to indicate the position of tracks, switches, etc. The user would then add tracks of his/her choice using these markers to position the tracks as intended. Invisible stations could be added at this stage to make your station passenger-enabled.
Ray
Ray
I agree with Ray but would go further. It is tempting to want a single object to do everything but that means that station can only be used once unless even the prototype was used in different places. By using various parts, platforms, ramps, fences, buildings, etc, in different combinations, you can build many stations that all look different, thus avoiding that repetitious look in your route. I've done both and generally, the parts are more useful. Only when a station is iconic or so different that custom parts would have to be built anyway do I build a complete station
by parts
Just to show how simple it is to build a station from parts, here is one I started with a double cross-over in the middle of the platforms. When two trains are following each other, the second train can then bypass the first if needed. In larger stations there is often a third track between the two platform tracks to make the bypassing easier when trains are waiting at all platforms.
On the ground to the left is the crossover guide I quickly made to help place the tracks. The disks of the guide are used to locate the spline points of the tracks.
Here are the parts I used to make it
By combining these and other parts, many different looking stations can be built.
The platform with the passengers has the track built-in. The back-fill on the left is a trackside object that adds depth to the passenger platforms. The bendy platform fills the gap between the two passenger platforms where the cross-over is placed.
Just to show how simple it is to build a station from parts, here is one I started with a double cross-over in the middle of the platforms. When two trains are following each other, the second train can then bypass the first if needed. In larger stations there is often a third track between the two platform tracks to make the bypassing easier when trains are waiting at all platforms.
On the ground to the left is the crossover guide I quickly made to help place the tracks. The disks of the guide are used to locate the spline points of the tracks.
Here are the parts I used to make it
By combining these and other parts, many different looking stations can be built.
The platform with the passengers has the track built-in. The back-fill on the left is a trackside object that adds depth to the passenger platforms. The bendy platform fills the gap between the two passenger platforms where the cross-over is placed.Similar threads
