Tracks or Land First?

[MattMan569]

Hello, I am a brand new Trainz user and started out with 2010. I want to build a ski/mountain/snow themed route. But I am completely lost on what to do first, make/shape the land first, or lay the rail first. And how to do so effectively. I am 13 years old so don't get too complicated please, but don't think I'm stupid either, I have straight A's. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[JRT]

Hello MattMan569,

I remember the days when I was 13... I was stile learning Trainz. The only difference I stile had been playing since I was 9.

Many people ask the question "What should I do first?" and my reply will be all ways the same.

What Ever Feels Right To You
There is no right or wrong way to create Trainz routes. Imagine you are creating a Trainz route right now as you read the word read. What is the first thing you imagine your self doing. Is it laying track, or to do topology (landscape) first.

Personally I always do both at the same time. Do some landscape, lay some track. Do more landscape, do more track.

Tips

• Never under estimate how important your textures are.
• All ways use textures so they "agree" or match with tracks, building, and trees/grass.
• Before you re-create something in Trainz understand it so you can lay it out the most realistic way.
• When laying track, ask your self. If I worked for ________ railroad company the track would be cheapest to go to or in _________.
• When developing a route, see to it that objects match each other. For example, you don't want a blue house that is totally blue with no other shading, but have a realistic cabin next to it.

I hope I was of some what help to you.

Cheers,
JRT

PS: Here are some examples of my work:

 

[JRT]

Here are some shots of me working in Trainz. Maybe this will help you understand what I am saying.

Cheers,
JRT

 

[danny5]

You should down load this and read it, it's a bible on track laying. http://trains.0catch.com/tutorial.html
You can print it.

 

[BobCass]

MattMan569: Welcome to the forum and to the world of trainz..The first thing that I would is think about what you want to achieve or some what set a goal for yourself..Think about that final goal..Some times I like to take a baseboard and see what I can accomplish with Topology tools..Get used to them and you will be surprised what you can do..
Now I'm sure you want to know track first?.Well in all sincerity I'd do a little of both..The reason I say that is because lets say for Example: Side of a Mountain you want make your Hill or Mountain First because you won't know or where your going..Flat area go ahead and lay your track..
Now a another thing make sure you set your gradient on all Track..The reason I say that is because lets say you want to do another Mountain or Hill right next to where you Laid your track, it might push your track out of position..But it can't if you have set the gradient(0.00-Grade percentage)

 

[BobCass]

 

[Vern]

If you're building a prototype route then you almost certainly want to set out the terrain first, as everything else fits around that. If you can afford it, I would certainly recommend Transdem as this you can set up your DEM (digital terrain data), overlay maps either by referencing or from a web map server, trace out your route then export the whole thing ready for importation into Trainz. Doesn't build the route for you, but a fantastic head start.

 

[H222]

Hey Matt
I'm 13, but been playing since I was 5, with UTC.
When you play trainz, there is no right or wrong answer because you can go back and do it again, this means you can do whatever you want
Jamie

 

[realm]

I totally agree with everything said above. Personally, I tend to do the landscaping first, then lay the tracks, and do the landscaping adjustments as I go, then I go back and add scenery (houses, streets, signs, etc).

The one exception is the route I am currently working on (and this is definitely NOT an example to follow). I started by laying the tracks, all of it, for a route that's about 400km total, based on what I could find on Google Earth. So I know my tracks are in the right position. Next, I adjusted the height of all the tracks (because I didn't think of doing it in the first pass), and adjusting the ground below it. Needless to say, it is a long tedious way of doing it.

Then, I heard of TransDEM, which I have used in the past, on earlier versions of Trainz. So now, I'm debating if I should just continue the way I started, or start from scratch and do it all over again...

But either way, as said by previous posters, you might want to experiment a little, start on something small, and see what "feels right" to YOU. Is it making your landscaping first, then the tracks, then the scenery? Or any other way around, or a combination? Experimentation is the best way to know what works best for you.

realm174

 

[MattMan569]

Thanks!

Thank you all for your help, it will help me become better. But I have another question to ask. Is it possible to find detailed maps of railroads? My favorite is CN or CP. I have searched and searched but found nothing. I would really like to model my local yard and connecting rails. Thanks.

 

[robogo]

MattMan569, I am also newish to Trainz and busy building my first route. This worked for me (on a fictional or fantacy Route)(for a Prototype Route Vern's methot will be better).

Like everything else in life, start with a dream, which you have already done, visualize it and then grab a peace of paper.

On the paper draw your basic track layout, mark the high and low points, if any, add big geographical features like mountains and rivers, then add features like towns and industry.

Now it's time to open Trainz Surveyor and do your thing. Creating a number of single baseboard routes for experimenting also helps me a lot.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[realm]

Thank you all for your help, it will help me become better. But I have another question to ask. Is it possible to find detailed maps of railroads? My favorite is CN or CP. I have searched and searched but found nothing. I would really like to model my local yard and connecting rails. Thanks.

I use Google Earth to see the tracks layout. Then you can use the lat/lon coordinates to place them where they should go on your layout, along with switches, lakes, etc...

Alternatively, you can get TransDEM I'm in the process of figuring that one out myself, so I won't be able to answer your questions, but I'm sure there's lots of experts on here to do that.

realm174

 

[nuni727]

Nice to see a fellow teen with good grammar. Good job with the no text talk. Anyway, my method is to look at other routes for inspiration. I then lay one piece of track and build around it. I build with track and topography in tandem motion. After that come the rest of the stuff. Hope this helps.

 

[MattMan569]

I think I will start with an inspired but not representation. I plan on doing a small passenger railway in a valley with a river based on where I live. Are there any popular tips that will help me build my first large route? Again, all help is appreciated.

 

[JRT]

Just do not rush it, take your time. Work in small areas of a time for a better result and have fun.

Cheers,
JRT

 

[H222]

Nice to see a fellow teen with good grammar. Good job with the no text talk. Anyway, my method is to look at other routes for inspiration. I then lay one piece of track and build around it. I build with track and topography in tandem motion. After that come the rest of the stuff. Hope this helps.

Oi wt bt me??
Jamie

 

[nuni727]

My bad...:hehe:

 

[MattMan569]

Images

How do you add images. I added the to image shack then put in the url but they are not showing up. I would like to show some of my work.

 

[H222]

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=2417

Jamie

 

[MattMan569]

My Work So Far