Double deck drawbridge?

[sniper297]

I'm doing a fictional Chicago route, so I don't have to be Prototype Pure, but I would like a drawbridge with double track overhead and four lane street below. The prototype;

Is a split double deck, opens in the center, but I'd use a single span or even a non operating double deck, close enough for freeware.
This route is intended for eventual uploading, so whatever assets I use have to be available on the download station.

 

[bendorsey]

I made that bridge and the other 4 on the same canal as well. Do a DLS search for chicago canal bridge (title) and make sure the 2004 box is checked.

Ben

 

[sniper297]

Thanks, can't get any better than that!

:wave:

 

[sniper297]

Okay, now the instructions say to

"Lay invisible track from the outer end of each side of the bridge across the bridge"

I see four "invisible track" assets in the list, plus assorted third party invisible tracks, is there a preferred one? Also is there a trick to getting the alignment of the visible track and invisible track close, or do you just have to fiddle with it?

 

[cascaderailroad]

BNSF50 Invisatrack is really easy to see in surveyor, and is easy to use

 

[sniper297]

Thanks, while pondering this I came up with a workaround for the invisible invisible track - use a visible track texture that you're not actually using elsewhere, then do the replace assets after aligning it.

Gotta set up a ship track now to test the operation. I suspect I've got too much overlap on the one end, altho that might be hidden by the pivot. Still curious why I have four "invisible" tracks in the list, and what the point is in having so many of them if they all work the same way.

 

[bendorsey]

The gent I made it for said the original bridge had 3 tracks on it. I assume the center one was removed at a later date. Natch you can do it however you wish. Just keep in mind on any moveable (interactive) bridge trains must cross on invisible track because any real track will not move with the bridge spans when they open up. I usually use real track on the non-moveable parts and invisible track across the moveable spans. What you see as ties, rails, are parts in Gmax that look like track but aren't. In this case I did not use any real track either on the fixed or moveable parts. Its all fake. The comment in the READ ME file referring to invisible track means you must place it all across the span (adjusting the height) for the two tracks. Using real track will not work as it will not move when the span opens - it will just magically hang in the air. Hope this helps.

Ben

 

[sniper297]

Original was a double deck swing bridge replaced by the bascule about 1915, don't remember when the center track was removed. When I was a kid (1950s) the express trains stopped at Clinton then ran on the center track to Pulaski, I never saw a center track east of Clinton or west of Pulaski. I don't think they run express or A/B trains anymore.

Any suggestions on cargo/freighter/tanker ships to run on the river? Only ones I can find to run as AI traffic ships are the side paddlewheels, and for some reason they won't spawn from portals.

 

[PerRock]

Original was a double deck swing bridge replaced by the bascule about 1915, don't remember when the center track was removed. When I was a kid (1950s) the express trains stopped at Clinton then ran on the center track to Pulaski, I never saw a center track east of Clinton or west of Pulaski. I don't think they run express or A/B trains anymore.

Any suggestions on cargo/freighter/tanker ships to run on the river? Only ones I can find to run as AI traffic ships are the side paddlewheels, and for some reason they won't spawn from portals.

They do run Express trains on the CTA network, but really during certain times, such as rush hour, and only on certain lines.

peter

 

[bendorsey]

No ideas as to ships, etc. There are interactive ships (set up like locos) which will run and trigger the bridge. I'd suggest you ask on forum - lots of folks willing to help. I don't actually run Trainz to run a train. I just keep 2004 and 2010 to test items I make in Gmax (its what I like to do). I can't remember the last time I actually fired up 2004 or 2010 to run a real route. I just keep a route called test which consists of (usually) 1 but sometimes a few more (and once in a great while a heck of a lot more ) blank baseboards to test items I make before uploading. A 15,000 foot long bridge definatley will not fit on a single baseboard, lol.

The fact that real track will not move is just one of many oddities in Trainz. If it weren't for invisible track I'd venture to say there would be no moveable bridges in Trainz.

Another oddity is turntables and transfer tables. They can rotate (turntable) or move linerally in the X, Y, Z, or any combination of axis (transfer table) and a loco or car on them will move with them but a traincar can not rotate on its longinitudinal axis (coupler to coupler). Make making rotary dumpers downright difficult. Dale Patee and I made several but they had to be closed so you can not see the fact that the car inside doesn't actually rotate. There might be a way to do it as know someone who has but his method is propritary (payware) so he can't tell me. I do have a few ideas but haven't gotten around to trying this-n-that out (yet).

Ben

 

[PerRock]

Another oddity is turntables and transfer tables. They can rotate (turntable) or move linerally in the X, Y, Z, or any combination of axis (transfer table) and a loco or car on them will move with them but a traincar can not rotate on its longinitudinal axis (coupler to coupler). Make making rotary dumpers downright difficult. Dale Patee and I made several but they had to be closed so you can not see the fact that the car inside doesn't actually rotate. There might be a way to do it as know someone who has but his method is propritary (payware) so he can't tell me. I do have a few ideas but haven't gotten around to trying this-n-that out (yet).

Sorry to digress, but i got to thinking, there is the banking consist rule, I wonder if that could be incorporated into a rotary dumper to get the cars to 'tip'

peter

 

[bendorsey]

I thought of that too but it doesn't work (rats). I once made a vertical loop of track and ran a loco around it. When it gets half way up the loco flips so its always right side up (more rats, lol).

I have seen a demo of a traincar rotating like it should in a rotary dumper but its propritary (payware) so he can't tell me how he did it. He was kind enough to give me a hint or two so I think I know how its done. One of those things I fiddle with now and then (and as you can guess its complicated).

The advantage of an enclosed rotary dumper is it will work with any traincar setup for the product (coal for the ones Dale and I made). An open rotary dumper would have to be traincar specific (due to the slight-of-hand I think is necessary to make it appear to work.

Ben