Route building problems.

[nicky9499]

Hi people,

Thought I might just pop by and solve a few problems and questions I had in mind.
I'm relatively new to Trainz 2006 and I'm currently trying to build my own route. I've got a little bit of scenery out, and a rough estimate of the terrain which I will modify in greater detail later on. But I do have quite a number of questions:

1. How do I use the gradient feature when laying tracks? Sometimes the track just goes up and down irregularly when I apply a selected gradient.
2. Is there any other way to create a consistent curve other than fixed track pieces?
3. How do I create a consistent terrain gradient? (e.g. sloping ledge on a hill)
4. I have added an interactive platform as my terminus, edited the properties but there is no ambient noise which would come from a standard interactive industry. How do I add sound to these objects or the area around them?
5. Is it possible to add objects to the world at a preset rotation? (e.g. placing a long row of street lamps)
6. I have a small double tracked portion in place and I've tried running trains on it. However, the trains seem to be all over the place and using all the wrong turnouts. How do I determine how trains will behave on the track?
7. In some sessions, you can tell an AI driver to "drive via ___". How do I include this in my route such that the train follows my desired path?
8. How do I customise the turnout switches instead of using the standard red lever?
9. How do signals work and how do I assign them to different tracks?
10. Why isn't there any traffic on the four lane highway (under objects>spline) and where are the on/off ramps for it?

It's okay if you answer only a few, but please quote the question or the question number in front of the answers, thanks alot! =)

ps. anyone has tips on painting terrain instead of making the entire place solid green?

Cheers,
Nicholas.

 

[mtldrm38]

Many are simple mistakes and truly suggest looking at the manual
under surveyor........
example using markers and track direction markers., red levers can be replaced by deleting them and replacing with example cnr switch jcts
when you lay track the direction you travel with it is the direction a train will default as forward.........

Most topics you should find in manual or just doing a subject search on the forums plus just plain old click and see what it does....
also placement of objects are fixed or you have a option in surveyor drop
window upper left hand corner schroll with mouse.... that you can random
place objects.........

just a few suggestions here good luck have fun and keep posting after you run across more problems.....

 

[SandwichSpread]

Hi Nicky

To
Q4: There is a built in effects in 06 although I'm sorry, have forgotten the name (but it looks like a tall yellow tower). Also I think there are a few on the DLS.
Q6 & 7: This is a silly one really although perhaps logical. Basically, good track layers will lay track in the direction of use, but there are ways round this. Ideally you should lay only sigle track for the down line in the direction the train should follow. Likewise for the uptrack except obviously the opposite way.
To get round this, place a trackmark or tracmarks on the route you wish him to follow and issue a Go via trackmark command.

Hope this helps

Chris

 

[nicky9499]

Thanks mtldrm38 and sandwichspread for the advice.

Trackmarks and direction markers work fine, but basically when i double track portions of my line i lay both at a time. Also, are there any other ways to lay tracks parallel other than multi track splines or (i know this sounds silly) measuring the distance between the two spline points?

Can I also assume that I must leave out the direction markers for single tracks lines? Anyone has ideas on how to create consistent and smooth track and terrain gradients? I cant seem to sculpt a nice embankment or cutting and im sure the people must have used some method in creating the landscape found in the fancy completed routes on DLS.

Sorry again for being such a pain. =(

 

[sethmcs]

I Never Use Double Tracks

Thanks mtldrm38 and sandwichspread for the advice.

Trackmarks and direction markers work fine, but basically when i double track portions of my line i lay both at a time. Also, are there any other ways to lay tracks parallel other than multi track splines or (i know this sounds silly) measuring the distance between the two spline points?

=(

I never use double tracks. If you put two single tracks side by side they will usually connect in annoying ways. To work around this. Hold the shift key when placing the track. They will not connect. Use the circles of the separate splines to judge the distance between them. Use the track straighting tool to keep them straight.

Hope this helps

 

[nwhitney]

This site has a number of tools for curves and setting track spacing. http://ca.geocities.com/dinb@rogers.com/toolz/index_files/Page317.htm
Norm

 

[wreeder]

Hi,
1. How do I use the gradient feature when laying tracks? Sometimes the track just goes up and down irregularly when I apply a selected gradient.

Click near the spine point at the beginning of your gradient. For example, on a gradient going up hill lay out several track segments. Set the gradient you want and then click on each segment of track near the lower spline point of each segment. Practice and you'll see how it behaves.

2. Is there any other way to create a consistent curve other than fixed track pieces?

Use a template. Mr_D made some good ones that are one the DLS.

3. How do I create a consistent terrain gradient? (e.g. sloping ledge on a hill)

Once you master gradients with track then use this skill to mold the terrain. Lay several section of track next to each other but not connected. Hold down the shift key to prevent the ends from joining. Set a gradient on the track to match the slope you want then smooth the terrain under the track section with the smooth tool. Then delete the track.


5. Is it possible to add objects to the world at a preset rotation? (e.g. placing a long row of street lamps)

No, but you can add one and adjust it then use the copy tool to make copies to the new location.

6. I have a small double tracked portion in place and I've tried running trains on it. However, the trains seem to be all over the place and using all the wrong turnouts. How do I determine how trains will behave on the track?

Use trackmarks and the drive via trackmark command.

7. In some sessions, you can tell an AI driver to "drive via ___". How do I include this in my route such that the train follows my desired path?

You have to edit the session to add the AI driver and give him commands to perform. See the manual on page 57.

9. How do signals work and how do I assign them to different tracks?

Check the DLS for layouts by jrcrawford that show the proper use of signals in different areas of the world.

10. Why isn't there any traffic on the four lane highway (under objects>spline) and where are the on/off ramps for it?

No one has created them yet.


ps. anyone has tips on painting terrain instead of making the entire place solid green?

Learn to use the copy and paste tools. Then once you get a small area looking good then copy and paste it to cover large areas of the map.
Check out this link for a good tutorial:
http://www.ttbwrr.com/TTBWRR-Texture-Tutorial.htm

Have fun!

William

Cheers,
Nicholas.[/quote]

 

[nicky9499]

Lots of help.

Thanks alot for the help, William.

But I seem to have some trouble finding the "smooth" tool under the geography tab.

Is it also possible to select an area of, say, nicely arranged objects, copy and paste them in the exact same order somewhere else instead of finding them again and placing them individually.

Nicholas.

 

[mtldrm38]

smoothing track would be under track tools clicking on the drop down
menu theyre will give you those option tools........works the same for roads........
For double track I lay so much one way then go back the oposite way.......
and of course the spline circles I use them as guides for spacing and keeping curves evenly.........

=========o============
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[segy]

2. Is there any other way to create a consistent curve other than fixed track pieces?

Yes - use JK way gauges. Example - laying 2 tracks side-by-side. Put a 2 track gauge at each and of the curve. Join the way gauges with a single track laid from each end using the direction you want your trains to run on the track. Turn each way gauge in opposite directions by the same amount. Hey presto - a beautiful curve of double track (provided you don't make the radius too tight!) To get a fairly tight radius correctly spaced you can put a gauge in the middle and drag it sideways as you turn the outer gauges.

Segy

 

[nicky9499]

Thanks people, I think I'm getting the hang of how to lay beautiful track. =)

How about copy and paste? Any advice? I can't seem to figure out how the buttons work.

Nicholas.

 

[wreeder]

Thanks people, I think I'm getting the hang of how to lay beautiful track. =)

How about copy and paste? Any advice? I can't seem to figure out how the buttons work.

Nicholas.

Look at the tutorial by Dave Drake that I linked to in the earlier post. He uses the copy and paste tools. You can choose to copy either terrain shape, objects or textures or any combination of the three. In copying terrain you can choose absolute or relative. What this means is this:
Absolute copies the shape of the terrain within the square you draw out and then pastes it in a new location at the same height above the baseboard as the orginal. A ten meter high hill will be a ten meter high hill.
Relative means that the area you copied is added to the height of the area that you paste it into. A ten meter high hill can be pasted onto a 50 meter plateau and the top of the hill will now be 60 meters above the baseboard and 50 meter above the original hilltop.

So here is an example, I use several textures to create an area of 100 x 100 meters. I rotate the textures to avoid making patterns and also adjust the scale of the textures as I paste them down for the same reason. After a few minutes I have a nice looking area. I choose a few trees and plant them to add to the look. OK, now I go to the tools panel and select the icons for texture and objects and leave the terrain button unchosen. Then I and choose "copy" and draw a square around some of textured area. This places a copy on the clipboard. I then choose the paste button and I see the outline of my copied area which I can move around the baseboard until I have it where I want to paste it. I click and the textures and trees are pasted down. You can also hit the "]" or "[" keys before you paste to rotate the area. By rotating and overlapping you can quickly build up a larger area which you then copy from to cover even more ground.

The best way to learn is to play around with the tools. Just have fun on an empty map.

William

 

[Dymond]

I love that even though I have been playing with Trainz for a few years I can still stumble across some real nuggets of knowledge! I've added all the links in here to my favorites because its great info. Thanx for sharing guys!

 

[nicky9499]

Thanks for the great help, William!
Does there happen to be a smooth tool under geography similar to most other terrain editors?

Also thanks to Chris for editing your post on sound effects to state that it is a yellow tower. Have found it and it sounds quite real, too.

Sorry for being such a bother, but I might have a couple more questions.

12) I have used the straighten tool under the trackage tab a couple of time and I realize that when I click on the track, it bends into a ridiculously straight line towards to next spline point and when I click it again, it returns the track to the original position which I laid it. No help in making smooth curves at all. Any ideas? Perhaps I'm trying to push a door that opens outwards?

13) The ruler can't seem to go around curves and adding up the different lengths doesnt seem very practical.

14) Let's say I lay out a splinal platform. How do I make the platfrom interactive? Or is this only possible with stations and platforms marked IND?

15) How do you take a screenshot in TRS? I've tried pressing the printscreen button, and I've also noticed a few TBA files inside the screenshot folder. Tips?

16) Does anyone knows where the route files are stored in the game directory? I would create a backup of my route from time to time to "insure" it.

17) Sometimes I take a break from surveyor and play driver. Other than the map itself (which sometimes also doesn't help), how do I find out how far away is the next station to gauge when I should start slowing down?

 

[mtldrm38]

nice little add on helpers which you can find on dl
mc custom hud v2 and display custom hud i believe
these are script files that once downloaded you can add em in your session also it tells next signal speed limit and grade etc....

You should find these avail in surveyor and add em in a saved session
wont save in the main layout.......also may want to look for portal manager which works nice instead of doing each portal you can group and set up theyre.......

others like derail eraser and diamond crossing rule etc...a few different train driver add ons.....

 

[nicky9499]

Checking out the DLS now...thanks!

 

[wreeder]

>Thanks for the great help, William!
>Does there happen to be a smooth tool under geography similar to most >other terrain editors?

No, using track as I described above is the way I use but there may be other ways. Search the forum.

12) I have used the straighten tool under the trackage tab a couple of time and I realize that when I click on the track, it bends into a ridiculously straight line towards to next spline point and when I click it again, it returns the track to the original position which I laid it. No help in making smooth curves at all. Any ideas? Perhaps I'm trying to push a door that opens outwards?

The trick to curves is to use as few spline points as possible and have a straight section at either end that you use the track straighten tool on. It the straight section can be very short. Here is one way of seeing what I mean. Add two section of track on the baseboard at an angle to each other so that a curve would be needed to join them. Use the straighten tool on each track. Now connect the two pieces with a single section of track and you should have a smooth curve. If you have trouble with a curve then try laying the entrance and exit sections first and the curve will often make itself. They best way to learn is to try curve templates on a blank baseboard. They help you to see how the spline points should be positioned.

13) The ruler can't seem to go around curves and adding up the different lengths doesnt seem very practical.

There is a tool on the DLS for measuring track length but I don't know what it is called. I lay track by eye.

14) Let's say I lay out a splinal platform. How do I make the platfrom interactive? Or is this only possible with stations and platforms marked IND?

Check the DLS for invisible stations.

15) How do you take a screenshot in TRS? I've tried pressing the printscreen button, and I've also noticed a few TBA files inside the screenshot folder. Tips?

Check the sticky posted at the top of the screenshot forum for everything you need to know. One point through, you must have enough free RAM memory available to hold the screenshot in the clipboard before it is written to you hard drive. If you don't then the process fails without an error message.

16) Does anyone knows where the route files are stored in the game directory? I would create a backup of my route from time to time to "insure" it.

In TRS and before, look in the world\custom\maps folder. In TRS2006, I save them as .cdp files to my desktop and then move them later. I assume TC works the same way.

17) Sometimes I take a break from surveyor and play driver. Other than the map itself (which sometimes also doesn't help), how do I find out how far away is the next station to gauge when I should start slowing down?

I use the mini map.

 

[nicky9499]

Thanks William, it's more like having the sections before a curve join themselves without you physically laying the curve yourself. I've seen some really smooth curves spanning three baseboards and wondered how they do it. Guess this is it then, thanks!


A few more questions if the people on the forum don't mind:

18) Do the signs under [lay track>trackside mode] really determine the speed limit of a piece of track? If these speed signs are not placed, what is the default speed limit?

19) Similarly, do signals work the same way as speed limit signs? If I place a signal on a piece of track without any other signals, what is the maximum distance of trak that applies to the signal?

20) Assuming TRS 2006 uses the absolute block system signalling, can anyone give tips on strategic signal placement and how to use these signals when it comes to stations and turnouts?

21) Is it possible to edit the traffic density on different roads? For example, I might have a higher amount of traffic near the city and lesser in the suburban areas.

22) How do I open the TBA files under the screenshots folder in TRS directory? Any program to recommend or some way to convert to jpeg of bitmap?

23) Is it possible to include a day/night cycle on a route?

24) Is it possible to change the texture of water surfaces apart from the colour? (e.g. rough water, reflective water, rippled water)

25) I have noticed different "widgets" below the control panel (the one where the DCC control or loco stats reside in) varying from coupler strain monitor to gradient and signal detectors. How do I add these the my route and what are the KUIDs for them if I need to download them from DLS?

26) How do I add station icons to make assigning AI tasks easier?

27) I've seen turnout control rails (not sure of what you call it but they can be seen in the Wabaldavale line included out of the box). How do I lay these and are they really functional and need to be connected to a central switch box where I can control all the switches in a yard at once?

28) I've also noticed bridge guide rails on the Wabaldavale line and these do not seem to be part of the track but rather between the track crossing the bridge. Under what name do I have to search for to get these tracks or are they just simply narrow gauge tracks inside standard gauge tracks?

29) I'm having some problems opening Iberia Interior's showcase. The game crashes whenever it is opened. Anyone experiencing a similar problem?

As again, please state the question number or quote the question you are answering to, thanks alot!

Nicholas.

 

[mtldrm38]

18) Do the signs under [lay track>trackside mode] really determine the speed limit of a piece of track? If these speed signs are not placed, what is the default speed limit?

under track side object s you find speedsigns and stakes (which i use)
they determine the speed of trains usaully faster speeds wont accell til the train has entirely passed the maerker....default speed 40 w/o signals around 18....

19) Similarly, do signals work the same way as speed limit signs? If I place a signal on a piece of track without any other signals, what is the maximum distance of trak that applies to the signal?
Theyre isnt any and here is the trick signals are signals if done wrong AI trains get confused....I ll apply a link to a great tut here when I find it....

http://trains.0catch.com/Tut4-IntroToSignaling.htm An Intro to signaling...

20) Assuming TRS 2006 uses the absolute block system signalling, can anyone give tips on strategic signal placement and how to use these signals when it comes to stations and turnouts?

this will follow link

21) Is it possible to edit the traffic density on different roads? For example, I might have a higher amount of traffic near the city and lesser in the suburban areas.

sure is! assign trains as drive to>(industry station or a assigned marker)
theyre are 3 types of these commands you may notice.....
1 for industry (name them) and 2 types of marker via etc....

22) How do I open the TBA files under the screenshots folder in TRS directory? Any program to recommend or some way to convert to jpeg of bitmap?

get a freeware program called infranview easy to use or if you got
paint shop pro or other editor....

23) Is it possible to include a day/night cycle on a route?

yep environment adjust the little clock dial includes storms and snow also

24) Is it possible to change the texture of water surfaces apart from the colour? (e.g. rough water, reflective water, rippled water)

not that I have found

25) I have noticed different "widgets" below the control panel (the one where the DCC control or loco stats reside in) varying from coupler strain monitor to gradient and signal detectors. How do I add these the my route and what are the KUIDs for them if I need to download them from DLS?

couple strain I think you mean uncoupler?

26) How do I add station icons to make assigning AI tasks easier?

name that item right click on object tool with the question mark tab selected....works for naming junctions and signals and markers.......

27) I've seen turnout control rails (not sure of what you call it but they can be seen in the Wabaldavale line included out of the box). How do I lay these and are they really functional and need to be connected to a central switch box where I can control all the switches in a yard at once?

A whole nother can of worms that you may wanna wait on til you learn more plus also may be a strain on frame rates etc..........look good but
I passed that up for time being.........


28) I've also noticed bridge guide rails on the Wabaldavale line and these do not seem to be part of the track but rather between the track crossing the bridge. Under what name do I have to search for to get these tracks or are they just simply narrow gauge tracks inside standard gauge tracks?

these are splines that would be in track tool "BTC DARK CHECKRAILS"
I use...note some bridges are objects and some are track splines....


As again, please state the question number or quote the question you are answering to, thanks alot!

 

[nicky9499]

Yes, thanks mtldrm38 for the help. The link on signalling was also a very big help.

Referring to the widgets question which you might have though I was talking about the control panel where you can bring up the map and decouple trains from, it's not that one. Rather, the "widget" I'm referring to is immediately below the status panel and displays different information depending on the route itself. Wabadavale has a coupling strain detector which alternates between red and green to signify how much stress is placed on the couplers and allows you to gauge the risk of a couple breakage.

Also, I'm not sure if this is a bug or something, but whenever I drive a train into a converging turnout set AGAINST it, the train just goes on like nobody's business and doesn't derail. Anyone has comments on this? Not a very big problem actually, but it cuts down on realism especially in yard switching activities where you really have to pay attention to the switches.

When I save the scenario I'm currently working on, sometimes I get multiple copies of the same route when selecting one to continue working on at the surveyor menu screen. I noticed this usually happens after adding locomotives or consists to the route. How do I merge all these together so that I only need to edit one and is it possible to delete the "extras"?

Any help is appreciated.