The uses of Box Rail track / Hopper Rail track / Passenger Car track splines

[cascaderailroad]

Little used, are the many railcar spline tracks: Box Rail track, Hopper Rail track, Passenger Car Rail track

Not only do the add low poly freight car / passenger car filler to huge yards ... but I find them easy to use when laying switch's and yard ladders.

You just stretch the railcar spline, just until it snaps to make 2 cars, and that is a distance of 90'.

I find that 90' is perfect for switching layout turnout lengths.

No more complex Trainz ruler, just stretch the rail car spline gently, just until it snaps to a new railcar repeat rate length.

If you look straight down on the railcar splines, when stretching them, eyeball the rotating spline point, so that it just about touches the adjacent railcar spline car side ... and that is @ a 4m track spacing.

You can also add track spine points at every Rail Spline coupler location, and this measures a 45' distance.

I have been trying to post a screenshot of what I am talking about, but it is hard to describe this technique, let alone get a useful screenshot of it.

You delete the Railcar Spline track sections one at a time, and replace them with the normal single track of your choice, or replace all instances of the Railcar Spline track, route wide using VistaMare (in TRS2006) or replace the track in mass using other means.

Adding spline point circles at every coupler, makes a 45' spacing, or a 90 foot spacing every 2 cars.

 

[JCitron]

Hmm...

I'll have to check that out...

John

 

[Kree8tiviT]

I had used some of them early in my route - just for that reason - fill yards with low impact.
However, what I didn't like is the appearance....the SAME railcar repeating over and over.....looks unnatural to me

Mark

 

[mquigg]

Thanks for the tip, will try it out.
Mike

 

[cascaderailroad]

Although it was a good idea, and has some merit, I have found an even better tracklaying tool / technique.

"MB Finescale Track No Ballast" works great, as you can see right through between the ties, and view tack spline points, and basemap topo map drawing lines.

I always have been looking for a helper asset that will help you with the track / turnout geometry, of frog placement, lead in and lead out of turnouts and curves.

I have tried everything: Yard Ladder Guides, JK Way Gauges, FT prefabricated turnouts ... etc ... etc ... but nothing beats good old hand laid track, by eyeballing things.

I have a method of where two lines intersect, that is where the Frog and points to the next turnout goes.
I use ties as a visual guide, looking where they just barely touch another adjacent tracks ties.
I will make a screenshot of this technique.
There really is a track geometry in Trainz for making perfect turnouts and straight yard ladders. I just haven't perfected it yet.
I use the "MB Finescale Track No Ballast" as a straight edge guide, for tweaking yard ladder straights.

Note how the track spline point circles all align up just about touching the outside of each rail.
You must move directly overhead, looking straight down on exactly above the location of each rail, or the off center angle of view will make the spline point location way off to either side.

All track spline point circles should be lined up, and just about touch the outside of the rail (this is @ a 4m track spacing).

Using the "Hold Shift" / "Don't Hold Shift" key technique, lay temporary tracks to the center of where rails cross (where the frog should be located).

The "Insert Spline Point" tool makes for a very rough placement of track spline points ... Where as laying temporary tracks will provide finely placed, exact Spine Point Circles, at precise locations.

Lay another temporary track straight in line with the other track spline point circle at the frog area, on the other track.

Connect a curved piace of track to the 2 spline point circles.

Delete all the unwanted sections of track, and the turnout will be finished.

=====================================================

NEXT: Yard Throat Lead In

Start by holding the Shift key down, and place temporary tracks, release the shift key when joining the temporary track to the switch.
This is known as the "Hold Shift" / "Don't Hold Shift" key technique.
Note the slightly overlapping figure 8 spline point pattern, it should contain 1 tie in the overlapping football shaped area.
Note the fat bold red arrows, exception to the rule: The switch lead in track spline point circle should be moved over so that it's outside edge, aligns on center of the frog intersection

Connect curved track to the 2 spline point circles.

Delete all unwanted temporary tracks and your turnout is finished.

(Marked by red arrows) Straighten all the switch lead in's, and the straight track switch lead outs (there usually is 1 curved switch lead out).
The small football shaped area inside the slightly overlapping figure 8 pattern must also be straightened !
(At the bold red arrow) Gently tweak the switch curved track spline point slightly out of alignment, so that it just moves a hair away from the original position.

 

[cascaderailroad]

 

[Falcus]

I just eyeball it and call it good, particularly since, at least locally, Turnouts are almost never Geometrically perfect. Having a good understanding on how to use the correct tools to accomplish different things is required to do this though.

I would like to use more low poly splines, but as another user mentioned there is a distinct lack in variety of them. I have some RDG Hoppers which work, for Coal lines on the east coast in the 50s-70s, but ATSF Boxcars were almost never seen in the numbers that a spline would produce, and certainly almost never that exclusively lashed to each other.... Slugsmasher even did NG Logging Cars, which look fantastic on an NG Logging line.....

Get me some Maxi-Stack Cars, or TTX Intermodal, and we'll talk. Bethgons would be another good one. CEFX Covered Hoppers, or BNSF Grain Porters.... Something you actually see in Unit Trains, or just large consists because theres so much being moved. MRL's White Tank Trains? UTTX Black Tanks labelled 1267 For Crude even, since they're almost EVERYWHERE these days..... W/e, just something more ubiquitous then Museum and Dinner Train Pieces....

Falcus