Track - What Makes One Type Better Than Another

B

boleyd

Well-known member
With lots of track variants on the DLS I wondered what the parameters are to choosing a particular track. Are the purely aesthetics? Are there some mechanical reasons such as weight limit or bending radius? Perhaps it is ability to mate well with some of the animated switches? Quite curious......:o
 
I read for the latest versions of Trainz the track should be a stitched spline, other than that it comes down to performance and aesthetics I believe.
 
Dick,

For me it's a combination of both. If the track looks good, and works well, then I'll use it. Over the years, my "standards" have gone up. What looked good to me in the past, has been replaced with newer and better stuff. With TS12 now, I am replacing all my track with Jointed Rail - built-in track, which looks really nice and has great performance as well especially with the new stitched spline method used for creating them.

As time went on, particularly with TS2009 and up, the older track used to disappear and cause objects to disappear because the track splines were too resource intensive. After upgrading the track, areas where buildings and trees disappeared, or popped in and out, are now rock solid.

John
 
JCitron said:
Dick,

For me it's a combination of both. If the track looks good, and works well, then I'll use it. Over the years, my "standards" have gone up. What looked good to me in the past, has been replaced with newer and better stuff. With TS12 now, I am replacing all my track with Jointed Rail - built-in track, which looks really nice and has great performance as well especially with the new stitched spline method used for creating them.

As time went on, particularly with TS2009 and up, the older track used to disappear and cause objects to disappear because the track splines were too resource intensive. After upgrading the track, areas where buildings and trees disappeared, or popped in and out, are now rock solid.

John
Click to expand...


I looked at the Jointed-Rail site but did not see any track in Payware or Freeware??
 
he means it's in the newest release of trainz...TS12. though i've heard through the grapevine (hey, always wanted to say that:D :hehe:) that there's more pay- and freeware coming after they update the site, so be on the lookout. it may come, it may not, i don't know to be honest. But JR's surprised me before, so i wouldn't put it past them.
 
I use the MP tracks mentioned above by Cascaderailroad, but I also like the wide choice of G tracks from the same site as Trunda trees.

http://www.greenery.name/mstsgcz/mstsgd.htm?trainz,1

All the MP and G tracks are chunky mesh tracks which are good on lower spec systems. I use them in 2006, 2009 and 2010. Although the G tracks were made for 2004/2006 I find they work well in 2009/2010. They are not as detailed as some tracks such as Bullhead, they are low overhead and give better framerates.

Scottish
 
If your computer has a good videocard, then you can try the RBMN track by Alpha11 on the DLS. My computer runs it okay, but when i use it in populated areas, it's a lag-fest.

Also, S301 has some great track on the DLS. use the VR MRT Standard Gauge selections if you want better framerates off a lower-end computer, or the straight VR track (with 3D ties, rails, and even highly modelled spikes) if you have a better computer. Mine's somewhere in the middle (good videocard, but on the low end of the RAM power-curve) and the VR track runs well. I'm finding it's slowly replacing Philskene's/Josefpav's MP-track wood/v2 as my favorite track.

Just some info, the Higher-detailed track will be higher on the list in the "black Pages" DLS site if you search S301's name. that's the only way i can keep them straight. Even though the track is meant to model austrailian track (It comes in Broad Gauge too, to model the Victorian Railway's track Gauge) it can pass for American track fairly well.
 
I've been trying out the 'SAM' tracks by samplaire (#132952) eg. "SAM Track - III/B class 3 v3 RUSTY",<kuid2:132952:100334:2>. They look fantastic and there's lots of varieties.

Paul
 
I suspect it's mostly aesthetics, altho there may be performance hits on higher poly tracks if you use them exclusively. Some tracks I've found don't blend with any terrain texture very well, some simply look bad, after a lot of experimenting I settled on Original Dark Gray Wood.

20637895.jpg


Three flavors, original clear, original, and original rusty blend together nicely with each other and most terrain textures, don't jar the eyeballs when other track textures are connected. Like Phil I'm using different tracks to indicate places the player should stay out of or avoid blocking with loose consists. The set also has steel and concrete tie sets, but I'm an old fashioned wood crosstie kinda guy. I love the smell of creosote in the morning, it smells like RAILROADS! :cool:
 
For me its performance vs looks. You want a good looking track that doesnt cut too many framerates. This is why I use CloakedGhost Payware track. I would say that you should avoid using double and Quad spline tracks. As you will not be able to use the replace tool to change them out, in the future if you find a better track.

hert:wave:
 
On MY SYSTEM (Have to appease certain folks):
The JR built in tracks in TS12 look great but tank my frame rates. I like to use different tracks to simulate uses. Nice and clean for mainline, rusty and over grown for sidings and yards. Trunda's tracks fill the bill for that but look bad in TS12. The HP Track from TS2009 gives the option of different types that blend well together and give good performance in the newer versions.
In TRS 2006, VMD tracks look and work great. TS2009 and up, forget it. A small route I built in TRS2006 ran great but died in TS2009. Replaced the track, went from 10FPS to over 50FPS.
Have to find a happy medium. I look for different types with the same ballast to mix together. Hard to have a pristine main and siding. Nice to have a pristine main with a rusty siding and ballast to match without trying to hide the switch somewhere.
Over all, Trunda gives that mix and performance. I just hate the way TS12 displays them.

Dave.........
 
ok.....where the ... is the jointed jr rail? if i type jr in the track box it brings up jr track none will show the joinerplates ...? am i missing something here ?
 
Talking about tracks, I see nobody commenting about tracks at night. There are some that when you switch the headlight ON, show no illumination (scenery is lited, but not the track!). Am I the only one with this problem?
 
I have tried just about all the tracks around ... RTS (Romanian Trainz Studio) is my favorite, but may be difficult for the masses to locate and download.

Greenery Track is So So ... but I was not thrilled with the severly kinking in turnouts.

All the rest of the slew of fantastic high poly tracks, kink horribly in +200' crossovers, and framerates are horrible.

I use MP Wood v2 by Philskene.

MP Rusty, and MP Tunneltrack Dark seem to be unavailable, as JosefPav HP Trainz site is under construction for the last 2 years time.

Chunky mesh tracks such as all of HP Trainz curved fantasticly, and the low poly had great framerates.

Is JosefPav still active in Trainz ?

What track would you suggest I use on a TRS2006 route, so that it displays as a hight detailed, non-kinking track in 09,10,12 versions ?

I have a Horseshoe Curve route pending release ... and I need to know ASAP about TRS2006 track that is 09,10,12 comapable.
 
Last edited:
...spline length...

:cool: Track, is a spline...

You get 2-meter, 4-meter, 6-meter, 8-meter....how many polygons can you get in that?

On straight(tangent), use 8-meter.

On curves(called radius), 4 or 6-meter.

On turnouts, tight radius, 2-meter.

Unfortunately, third-party assets that are not on the DLS are big issues if you wish to upload your route, but don't let that bother you if you select something you like...and then there is payware...

As to your question, it does come down to the size of the mesh in a file, as with anything else....

Track however, is the least of your problems after draw distance, etc.

Choose what you want & lay-it!
 
@cascaderailroad: The MP track is also on the DLS I believe. I also believe that you could probably browse the old HP-Trainz website using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. ;)

The Wayback Machine is often your friend. :cool: ;)

Regards.
 
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