What is important to you in a prototypical route?

[paulzmay]

What is important to me is exact prototypical curve radius (@ 250m R), and exact prototypical gradients (@ 1.75% or less) ... with turnout crossovers of at least 200', points to points.

All turnouts should have frogs, switch levers that are not default Auran type, and animated points.

Interesting - I should be able to trace all of the track straight from Google Earth, so it should be very close to correct. The turnout issue is more problematic, as there are not very many animated switches that match the detailed TS09+ track that is available, and none match my prototype. Olegkhim's are superb, but the track is too heavy, and the fixings are wrong for the UK. Ocemy's are good, but there are only wooden sleepered switches availalble. There is also the issue of some switches simply not having the right geometry (or even close). My thought was to use splines to construct the switches, and then add frongs and check-rails (unless someone wants to make a whole new range of animated points).

Paul

 

[djt]

My thought was to use splines to construct the switches, and then add frongs and check-rails (unless someone wants to make a whole new range of animated points).

Paul

Which if you’re trying to follow/simulate a prototype accurately would be a must since in the real world on other than main track you look at the points in order to determine which way a switch is lined.

 

[paulzmay]

Which if you’re trying to follow/simulate a prototype accurately would be a must since in the real world on other than main track you look at the points in order to determine which way a switch is lined.

Realistically, though, it's not going to happen, unless N3V do something that radically simplifies the process.

Paul

 

[djt]

Realistically, though, it's not going to happen, unless N3V do something that radically simplifies the process.

Paul

I hear ya Paul, that’s just one of the many reasons why I’ve written it off as being a viable platform for rail operation simulation, especially when you take a good look at track like this -


http://www.3dtrains.com/products/rs1/scalerail.shtml

 

[cascaderailroad]

http://www.railsimulator.com/newsdetail.php?Ref=317

I briefly viewed the site, and I looked at the screenshots ...It does somewhat have a charactor of Altoona to Johnstown.

I found alot of scenes that needed work, and I would have gladly helped them out with their project ... but nowhere can I find a "Contact Us" on the website.

The contact links came back as Dammon delivery failure.

So the Horseshoe route is comming out on Railworks.

I can't wait to see the reviews of the route and about the track, especially if it has animated points, and realistic track and trackage.

 

[djt]

I can't wait to see the reviews of the route and about the track, especially if it has animated points, and realistic track and trackage.

I haven’t seen any routes in RailSim/RailWorks that didn’t have track with animated switch points. How accurate the rest of the route will be is an unknown, but then again I haven’t seen any default NA route yet that is, more opportunity for developers like 3DTrains I guess.

Some of the screens do look good though –


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150274801903091.337494.258680273090

 

[Vern]

As others have stated, the first and foremost aspect is accurate terrain followed by infrastructure.

If it's a payware route then I would say custom objects for stations etc. along the route are pretty much essential. Lineside scenery less so, though there should be towns where there are towns and fields where there are fields these don't need to be 100% prototype accurate. How many people whizzing along at 80 MPH are going to notice (or care) that you've used a row of brick terraced houses rather than stone. I do think sometimes we lose sight - and this is applicable whether we're building in Trainz, MSTS or RW - that the ultimate goal is to present an operational railway system not a completely true to life replica of all the surrounding area.

ISTR a few years ago, a MSTS route builder saying he was going off to build a 100% accurate replica of the ECML from Kings Cross north to York, even down to custom building every lineside building up to a certain distance from the track. Needless to say, he wasn't heard from again.

Ultimately it will be a compromise between time, resources and the desire to get on and release something.

 

[rjhowie]

I can't help laughing.

When I noticed the word from djt about the "Selkirk Branch". I thought to myself 'magic' assuming it was the original Selkirk here in Scotland! Oh well.

 

[Dap]

If you are building a prototype route, it should be accurate enough to support prototype operations. This means topography and trackwork including briges and signaling are paramount. And Danny's tip about setting the operational radius for yard switches is important. If it is payware, I would expect at least the railroad owned trackside buildings and structures to be protypical. And at least some of the major industries to somewhat resemble the prototype. I wouldn't care about building that are not connected to the railroad.

 

[schweitzerdude]

to rjhowie re Selkirk

I can't help laughing.

When I noticed the word from djt about the "Selkirk Branch". I thought to myself 'magic' assuming it was the original Selkirk here in Scotland! Oh well.

"Selkirk" has even another meaning to me, since I live at the base of the Selkirk Mountains, which are mostly in British Columbia, CA, but extend into Washington and Idaho, USA. They were named after Thomas Douglas, fifth earl of Selkirk, so there is a connection here to Scotland.

 

[Paulsw2]

I'm not really a fan of payware routes - they're bound to comprise assets that can't be distributed to the DLS or wider community and so can't be reused in any layout that you aspire to upload to the DLS. The only benefit, then, is a route you can drive around in, which isn't so attractive if you're primarily a route builder.

That said, I love Paul's buildings and stuff so I can see myself buying his layout just so I can 'acquire' them!

Paul

 

[paulzmay]

I'm not really a fan of payware routes - they're bound to comprise assets that can't be distributed to the DLS or wider community and so can't be reused in any layout that you aspire to upload to the DLS. The only benefit, then, is a route you can drive around in, which isn't so attractive if you're primarily a route builder.

That said, I love Paul's buildings and stuff so I can see myself buying his layout just so I can 'acquire' them!

Paul

I suspect that some items made specifically for the route may also be uploaded to the DLS, especially if they are likely to be useful for other route builders.

Paul

 

[ex-railwayman]

The visual characteristics of the sub division are also modeled from data taken right from the actual area.

I have the prototypical CSX Selkirk Branch route that was created by Doolinator back in 2007, I think he did it in TRS2004, unsure what happened to that layout now, can't seem to find a link anywhere, unfortunately.

Sorry to hijack your thread Paul, it just reminded me of it when I saw the word 'Selkirk'.

Cheerz. ex.