Track position

[SAR704]

Is there any way to get the path of some track into TransDEM as say an .str file or something for the purpose of displaying the course of a route? With my decision to build a line through a notorious semi-mountainous area with a ruling grade of 1 in 100, I have had to make changes to the right of way (IE where the line goes). But unfortunately, without any geo-coordinates, I don't even know where to place a potential polyline in TransDEM to generate some UTM coverage.

I can only very roughly make it out, assuming the DEM boundaries are accurate. Also, TRS doesn't seem to permit multiple .trk files. This could also assist if it was possible. Despite the route being fictional, I prefer to be able to trace it. I might have to put it in Railworks, which will waste quite a bit of time, in order to get some coordinates. Is there a better way? The long/lat reader is not even close to accurate.

Cheers.

 

[martinvk]

Using JOSM, rail and other paths like roads, water, etc. can be encoded as GPX files and then added as routes to any TransDEM. Place them on different layers to make it easy to modify each one without affecting the rest.

 

[JCitron]

You can also trace the route off in Google Earth Pro, the application and not https://google.com/maps and export the .kmz file. While in the application, you can also fine the lat., long, and height.

TransDEM will import the .kmz files and use that as its path that you can then export as track.

You don't want to edit or modify .trk files in Trainz. These contain position data and other information regarding your track on your route and by messing with them, you'll end up corrupting the route.

 

[c44d9w]

I used OpenStreetMap (and JOSM) to import the track.

C

Post in thread 'TranzDEM US Route: Import into Trainz'

Dec 31, 2022

TranzDEM US Route: Get Railroad Vector Route from OSM

This post describes how to get an exact vector of the railroad tracks from OpenStreetMap (OSM). For the intro-post, see https://forums.auran.com/trainz/sho...ge-US-Route-using-OpenStreetMap-and-USGS-DEMs.

This part uses the Java Editor for OpenStreetMap (JOSM). It needs to be downloaded from https://josm.openstreetmap.de. Java needs to be installed on the PC.

Steps:

• Start JOSM. Either tun the WebSstart link, or open josm.jar with Java.

• Open the...

• c44d9w

 

[RetroRails12]

I used OpenStreetMap (and JOSM) to import the track.

C

Post in thread 'TranzDEM US Route: Import into Trainz'

Dec 31, 2022

TranzDEM US Route: Get Railroad Vector Route from OSM

This post describes how to get an exact vector of the railroad tracks from OpenStreetMap (OSM). For the intro-post, see https://forums.auran.com/trainz/sho...ge-US-Route-using-OpenStreetMap-and-USGS-DEMs.

This part uses the Java Editor for OpenStreetMap (JOSM). It needs to be downloaded from https://josm.openstreetmap.de. Java needs to be installed on the PC.

Steps:

• Start JOSM. Either tun the WebSstart link, or open josm.jar with Java.

• Open the...

• c44d9w

not compatible with windows 11 anymore!

 

[martinvk]

not compatible with windows 11 anymore!

Is it a Java thing? Are you using the latest version.
A DX11 vs DX12 thing? Might have to install the older version.
Does Win11 have a compatibility mode?

 

[SAR704]

My situation is that the track is laid in the sim. But I need to determine the long lat coordinates. The original .kml file was just bare bones, and did not depict the penultimate route accurately to any degree. Essentially I'm requesting info how to reverse-engineer.

The current alignment is at the edge of the map. I have no idea where it's located geographically. That's what I'm wanting to address. BTW, still using Win 10 basic.

 

[martinvk]

Since the Lat/Long coordinates in Trainz only have a weak relationship to the real world, especially the further you are from the World Origin marker, I would not rely too much on them to reverse-engineer locations in Google Earth.
What I would have done is use TransDEM in conjunction with JOSM to paint terrain features using textures on the baseboards. Then using identifiable features such as lakes, intersections, powerlines, etc. I would locate my track in Trainz and measure to the nearest couple of features. Then do the same measurement in Google Earth to pin down the corresponding location.

 

[OddRails]

not compatible with windows 11 anymore!

When did JOSM become incompatible with Win11?
I used it just last week. I'm using a JOSM version downloaded about a month ago. A newer version is available.

 

[SAR704]

Since the Lat/Long coordinates in Trainz only have a weak relationship to the real world, especially the further you are from the World Origin marker, I would not rely too much on them to reverse-engineer locations in Google Earth.
What I would have done is use TransDEM in conjunction with JOSM to paint terrain features using textures on the baseboards. Then using identifiable features such as lakes, intersections, powerlines, etc. I would locate my track in Trainz and measure to the nearest couple of features. Then do the same measurement in Google Earth to pin down the corresponding location.

Unfortunately, it's been so long since I've used JOSM. Also, it is different now to the YT tutorial from about 2021. I haven't encountered issues with this program at my end. All I did was click the load icon. But I'm still using Win 10.

How do I import track and terrain files into OSM from TRS? The TransDEM route is inconsistent with the anticipated route that I had laid in Railworks. and even more inconsistent with the one from G Earth. This is largely due to the precision required, and difficulty of finding a desirable custom route through such hilly terrain. It took me several days. And it doesn't exactly go where I expected. It is out by over a km in places. Also, there are several hairpins to account for rapid topographical changes. Other than that, I don't mind the actual route it takes.

I have done this with OSM before. But probably not since 2023.

 

[martinvk]

Not sure I see the issue here.

The TransDEM route is inconsistent with the anticipated route that I had laid in Railworks and even more inconsistent with the one from G Earth.

Unless you used the technique that JCitron described in post #3 above, how could TransDEM know about the route you made later in Trainz? And why should it? Unless you plan on creating a new map from the augmented data using TransDEM.

I use TransDEM with JOSM to create the basic map with known features placed in the appropriate places. As I add and remove things in Trainz, the map is modified beyond what TransDEM knows about but for me it's a one way process. What's done in Trainz stays in Trainz.

 

[JCitron]

Unfortunately, it's been so long since I've used JOSM. Also, it is different now to the YT tutorial from about 2021. I haven't encountered issues with this program at my end. All I did was click the load icon. But I'm still using Win 10.

How do I import track and terrain files into OSM from TRS? The TransDEM route is inconsistent with the anticipated route that I had laid in Railworks. and even more inconsistent with the one from G Earth. This is largely due to the precision required, and difficulty of finding a desirable custom route through such hilly terrain. It took me several days. And it doesn't exactly go where I expected. It is out by over a km in places. Also, there are several hairpins to account for rapid topographical changes. Other than that, I don't mind the actual route it takes.

I have done this with OSM before. But probably not since 2023.

The only time I've encountered similar problems is when the map data was incorrect causing the tracks and roads to be off by at least a kilometer in many locations, an. My solution was to find another map source and use that instead.

If your maps are not encoded with the proper UTM sector information, the maps will end up out of place like way out of the location and sometimes off the map. I ran into this a couple of times and unfortunately, it can't be repaired because this is caused by whoever uploaded the maps with the geodata.

If you use Google Earth for your imaging, you can import the .kmz file after tracing your route.

Most of the time I will import just the map images and the DEM to use as a route and then add the tracks myself manually. This eliminates the extra steps of adjusting track placed by TransDEM. It might be a bit more work, but it's more accurate at the end and I can also see abandoned lines as they are marked on the topographic maps I've imported.