I hate laying or trying to repair track in TS 12!

[JonMyrlennBailey]

When I add a spline point, the track likes to bend at the spline point against my will. How come I cannot add spline points to a straight track section track and adjust their respective vertex heights without the damn track's tendency to want not stay straight left to right?

Track straightener tool only straightens track between two spline points.

I accidentally deleted a couple of sections of straight track on my layout. Worse, this was a graded section with various spline heights.

To adjust spline height at various points one has to insert spline points which subsequently bend the track out of shape.

There should be a tool that when one selects any two points along the track the tool will automatically straighten the track between those two points even with spline points in between.

Is there an add-on tool at the DS to improve the ease of track laying?


Yes, I accidentally deleted some track sections with my mouse when I was trying to delete some invisible track nearby my all important visible track right did not discover this until a day later!

You can get into real trouble in Surveyor and totally both up your route if you get mouse-happy and click away like mad without being careful.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Laying Trainz track has been, and always will be that way.

What should be invented ... will never be implemented.

I told you before: "Trainz is not perfect", and it will never be ... you have to jump through hoops for Trainz to run !

When you lay a track, and straighten it ... then add a spline point, one section remains straight, and the other track needs to be re-straightened. That's just the way it is ... and the way it will always be !

You get to straighten all tracks when you lay, or add spline points ... automatically, as a habit.

You can attach a temporary track ... then waive it around in a 360 circle, around the spline point ... and the un-staightened track will wiggle about ... press undo, or X, and the temporary track will disappear ... then simply re-straighten the wobbly track.

I can not possibly descibe the hundreds of short-cuts in tracklaying I use ... there is no book ... nor a profit in writing one ... so get on Skype and I'll show you the tracklaying tricks of the trade.

Skype UN: cascaderailroad

 

[JCitron]

I have found the following:

1) Use as fewer spline points and let the track naturally flow like a piece of wire.

2) Lay down the track in the direction of travel.

3) Use track spacers when necessary to "lock" the track in place. Bridges and road crossings are particularly helpful for this as they are different than regular track.

4) To keep switches smooth, put two spline points about 10-20 meters apart (1-2 squares). Looking in the direction of travel, the first spline point is used to assist in straightening the track while the second spline point is used to form the switch. Straightening the small piece of track in between the two spline points will smooth the track through the switch.

This all takes practice. You'll find you'll have an area that looks good, but as you've gained practice over time these areas aren't quite up to standards. I am currently reworking routes I started years ago, and relaying track again in some areas to meet my new higher standard.

John

 

[AussiePaul]

"I can not possibly descibe the hundreds of short-cuts in tracklaying I use ... there is no book ... nor a profit in writing one ... so get on Skype and I'll show you the tracklaying tricks of the trade."

I'd like to see that as well!!!

 

[cascaderailroad]

Then get on free Skype, and we'll all have a track laying tutorial, where we share screens and do a video, free phone call

Skype UN: cascaderailroad

 

[JonMyrlennBailey]

I found out what I was doing wrong.

There is a good way to replace a missing section of straight track between two spline points that accidentally got deleted while editing in Surveyor doing something else.

Use the Property tool (?) to determine the type of existing track so as to match the replacement track with the existing track to fill in the missing section. Make sure the track is uniform and seamless: all the same type.

Add the new piece of track right at the spline point to auto-join at the existing track end at one side of the gap and continue holding LMB as you drag it down the gap to the other spline point at the end of the other track and release the mouse at that spline point and click....joins like magic and the whole "mended" track stays straight: no additional spline points to add! Don't use the Move Track function for this operation (like I was doing wrong the first time) or the track will get bent all out of shape.

It is a live and learn kind of thing.

 

[cascaderailroad]

You could still use a good tracklaying tutorial ... It has taken me years, by trail and error, to figure out how to use all the tools and do stuff like this:

 

[AussiePaul]

Then get on free Skype, and we'll all have a track laying tutorial, where we share screens and do a video free call

I'm VERY interested in this.
Let me know when!
I've used Skype before, but only very sparingly.
Is it possible for you to do this and have more than one person watching at the same time?
I guess it must be when you say "we'll all have a track laying tutorial"
I didn't know that was possible.
My comment was said in a half "tongue in cheek" way.
I thought your offer was a great one to make... but I wouldn't expect you to do it over and over with everyone that wants to see how you do things.
I do feel this is part of what I am not getting in Trainz.
If it was (for example) real railway modeling, I would be able to go to a mates place and see how he does things... but I don't get that in Trainz.
I have never thought about it before but I guess Skype would facilitate that
Downloading Skype now
Cheers,
Paul

 

[cascaderailroad]

Yes ... many people can watch my screen, or watch your screen, using "share screen" (not your webcam, as webcams are a general bad idea) all you need is a mic sitting close by on your desk, and share screen.

Which does not allow people to direct access your PC ... but it does allows one, to see your screen, when you want to broadcast your screen.

You can send me an invite ... but I may not be on Skype for several hours (the little woman is on a tear and wants me to go outside and shovel the snow) :hehe:

 

[AussiePaul]

I don't have a webcam... I'm downloading skype now... I have changed HDDs since I last used it.
I have a mic.

 

[Vern]

3) Use track spacers when necessary to "lock" the track in place.

Used this with some success in the past. However it does mean you are adding more fixed objects and therefore increasing the risk of catching the spline detach/freeze bug unless running TS12 61388 or (presumably) TANE.

I also find FT sections as a temporary template (i.e. not attaching splines and delete after use) an incredibly useful method for keeping long straight runs aligned correctly or keeping to a required curve radius.

Without bringing all of the TANE discussion in here this is of course an area open to debate, had N3V ditched backward support for previous versions we could have had an all new and much better track system in TANE - combining the best of Trainz, MSTS and RW systems for both ease of use and best results!

 

[scratchy]

I'm sure it was after I updated to the latest patch of TS12 that whenever I insert a new spline point onto a graded piece of track for a turnout or whatever it will now snap to the ground level instead of staying at the same grade, its super annoying!

 

[Vern]

I'm sure it was after I updated to the latest patch of TS12 that whenever I insert a new spline point onto a graded piece of track for a turnout or whatever it will now snap to the ground level instead of staying at the same grade, its super annoying!

Correct. One reason why I reverted to 49922 even though it's prone to the dreaded spline detachment.

 

[JCitron]

I'm sure it was after I updated to the latest patch of TS12 that whenever I insert a new spline point onto a graded piece of track for a turnout or whatever it will now snap to the ground level instead of staying at the same grade, its super annoying!

This is super annoying. I've learned, and I should remember to do this too, to meaure a nearby spline point and either use that or get the ground and add the .20 difference. The one advantage of this version though is track objects not whizzing off somewhere and getting stuck in a pile. I had a route where I thought all the track objects had disappeared, or so I thought. I then replaced them from one end to the other, and when I got to the other end there was a stack of speed boards, signals, switch machines, and bridge abutments. It as though they were beads on a wire that was lifted up at one end and all these assets slid along to the lowest point.

John

 

[cascaderailroad]

Never had any problem in TRS2006 ... That's really funny ... The 3rd most antiquated Trainz version ... and yet 06 is flawlessly the best version yet ... maybe when 09 came out ... all the newer versions went steadily downhill ... it was a falling downhill trend of failure

 

[steamboateng]

Gee Wizz guys! I ain't never had them problems with TS12..............................Just Lucky I guess?

 

[AussiePaul]

I never noticed it before but I checked and Scratchy is right.
In build 49922 when you add the spline point to an inclined track rising from flat ground, the spline point goes in as if it is a support pillar supporting the track at the hieght that it is at at the point where the spline point is.
When I do the same thing in 61388 the base of the spline point is placed at zero elevation , pulling and bending the track at that point down to it.

 

[steamboateng]

The 'spline point' action in TS12 build 61388 is default and normal. Just like real railroad practice, one must build the under laying grade to support the track. Now what's wrong with that, besides its annoying?

 

[AussiePaul]

To be honest I never even noticed it was different.
I guess Scratchy's point was it was different and he was used to how it used to be.
I can see his point even though it really didn't make any difference to me ... its seems to me that there would be a toggle to turn it off or on as desired, but I haven't been able to find one.

 

[steamboateng]

Not to be argumentative, but simply stating the facts........................
The point here is that properly laying the track roadbed prior to laying track is very important. I certainly will agree that laying that roadbed is not only an annoying task..................it's a downright pia!
And this is directed to a certain someone who knows darn right better..............................
Tracklaying direction is an URBAN MYTH! It affects nothing other than the direction in which signals and other trackside objects face. I know of no other way it affects operations. This has been discussed many, many times in these forums. It may effect engine headlight directional operation, but that is a script issue, not a track issue.