I am just getting started with route building in TS2010. I haven't done this since TRS2004. There used to be fixed radius curved track sections under Objects that you can drag onto your route and construct a curve to get a smooth curve before hooking it to a track spline. I cannot find these pieces anymore under my Objects. Does anyone know if they have been removed from TRS2010? Or am I not looking in the right place? I was sure I would find them under Objects but don't see them there.
Curved track objects in TS2010
- Thread starter anand99
- Start date
bassist118
Suffering for his art.
There are curve template objects on the DLS, you place the template where you want the curve and place the spline points in the circles. Search for guide curve in CM or the DLS.
Andy
Andy
Last edited:
ray_whiley
Active member
In objects, look for 'FT' (fixed track). The curves are listed in order eg. FT 10 deg (10 degress = 36 per circle) followed by the radius in metres.
But remember that prototype railway track uses transition curves, not fixed radii.
Ray
But remember that prototype railway track uses transition curves, not fixed radii.
Ray
They do use fixed radius curves in prototype railroad track work. The transition curves - usually some sort of cubic spiral - lead into and out of the fixed radius portion of the curve and connect the cuved track to the tangent tack. This usually results in a linear transition of the curvature from the infinite radius (0 curvature) of the tangent track to the fixed radius (1/R curvature) of the circular arc portion. In the US the length of the transition curve is usually the length required for the transition for the superelevation. So the length would vary based on track speed limit and the fixed radius of the circular arc portion.
Trainz uses a cubic spline for the track but it can't exactly duplicate either the fixed radius curves or the cubic spiral usually used in railroad track work. Though with some effort it can be made to look the part fairly well. The fixed track sections have the advantage that the end tangents and intermediate points are accurately positioned and aligned. Something that's difficult to do with manually layed track splines.
What throws me usually is to find the fixed track in Surveyor you have to look under scenery objects and not track. I think they all start with FT as Ray said.
Bob Pearson
Trainz uses a cubic spline for the track but it can't exactly duplicate either the fixed radius curves or the cubic spiral usually used in railroad track work. Though with some effort it can be made to look the part fairly well. The fixed track sections have the advantage that the end tangents and intermediate points are accurately positioned and aligned. Something that's difficult to do with manually layed track splines.
What throws me usually is to find the fixed track in Surveyor you have to look under scenery objects and not track. I think they all start with FT as Ray said.
Bob Pearson
They do use fixed radius curves in prototype railroad track work. The transition curves - usually some sort of cubic spiral - lead into and out of the fixed radius portion of the curve and connect the cuved track to the tangent tack. This usually results in a linear transition of the curvature from the infinite radius (0 curvature) of the tangent track to the fixed radius (1/R curvature) of the circular arc portion. In the US the length of the transition curve is usually the length required for the transition for the superelevation. So the length would vary based on track speed limit and the fixed radius of the circular arc portion.
Trainz uses a cubic spline for the track but it can't exactly duplicate either the fixed radius curves or the cubic spiral usually used in railroad track work. Though with some effort it can be made to look the part fairly well. The fixed track sections have the advantage that the end tangents and intermediate points are accurately positioned and aligned. Something that's difficult to do with manually layed track splines.
What throws me usually is to find the fixed track in Surveyor you have to look under scenery objects and not track. I think they all start with FT as Ray said.
Bob Pearson
Trainz uses a cubic spline for the track but it can't exactly duplicate either the fixed radius curves or the cubic spiral usually used in railroad track work. Though with some effort it can be made to look the part fairly well. The fixed track sections have the advantage that the end tangents and intermediate points are accurately positioned and aligned. Something that's difficult to do with manually layed track splines.
What throws me usually is to find the fixed track in Surveyor you have to look under scenery objects and not track. I think they all start with FT as Ray said.
Bob Pearson
ray_whiley
Active member
Thanks for the correction, Bob. My understanding from what I have read has always been that in the UK the prototype does not use fixed radius. I am willing to admit that I am wrong, and of course practice in other countries may differ anyway. Perhaps I am also confusing the fact that points/turnouts do not use the sort of fixed radius which was common in toy train sets.
I often use fixed radius curves to set out track, then delete them after fixing the ends with the shortest possible length of straight track, and replace the curves with spline track.
Ray
I often use fixed radius curves to set out track, then delete them after fixing the ends with the shortest possible length of straight track, and replace the curves with spline track.
Ray
ray_whiley
Active member
After further reading, I have found that (in the UK at least) two kinds of curved track seem to be used:
1 Transitional track leading gradually to a (possibly short) fixed radius known as the ruling radius.
2 Parabolic track, which is described as sinuous, continuously curving track - apparently not leading to a fixed radius length.
My interpretation may be wrong! - certainly in real life track does not change abruptly from straight to fixed radius as in toy train or 'set' track sections. The shock as the locomotive hit the curve would be too great.
In the UK there appears to be little straight track other than on higher speed lines as the original engineers tried as far as possible to keep tracks level and use the natural terrain to avoid engineering works such as embankments and cuttings.
Ray
1 Transitional track leading gradually to a (possibly short) fixed radius known as the ruling radius.
2 Parabolic track, which is described as sinuous, continuously curving track - apparently not leading to a fixed radius length.
My interpretation may be wrong! - certainly in real life track does not change abruptly from straight to fixed radius as in toy train or 'set' track sections. The shock as the locomotive hit the curve would be too great.
In the UK there appears to be little straight track other than on higher speed lines as the original engineers tried as far as possible to keep tracks level and use the natural terrain to avoid engineering works such as embankments and cuttings.
Ray