on your sim, and why? I just got the sim, and I am very impressed. Luckily I haven't had any graphics problems due to my installation of a good card earlier, and new 512meg of ram. My question is, what is it that you find yourself doing the most, and why do you enjoy it so much. I know I'll be downloading as many steamers as I can find, and figuring out how to add em to consists, because I just love watching em run. I have a funny feeling I'll be running a lot of double-headers and helpers up the Marias Pass. I did enjoy the practice run with the Acela, too. Is there a way to set up switching or yard work?
From my experience so far the only limits within MSTS is you and your understanding of how it operates and the various tools and editors. You can take just about any route, put together a consist of the type of motive power and rolling stock that you desire, and run it on any route using the Explore Route activity. You can also go into any activity with the activity editor and edit the Player Services consist and if you prefer steamers, replace the electric or diesels with steamers. Switching and yard work is all a matter of getting used to the controls and understanding the basic tenets behind MSTS. Once there, you will find it very enjoyable. My main preference is Local Frieght types of stuff, from the yard to the site and back or multiple stops out and on the way back in. Breaks up the monotony of long periods of just watching scenery go by.
That's an interesting question! I bought train sim because it sounded like fun, but after hours of watching the tracks roll by, found that the characteristics in a derailment were quite realistic. I am a real locomotive engineer, and although the controls don't react as they should on a real locomotive, they are close enough, and the random way cars derail became addictive for me. I just wish they showed physical damage during a derailment. So I guess now I make up a consist and train just to see what happens somewhere down the road when I don't do as I'm supposed to. Maybe it's because I can't speed at work or make a hard coupling. In train sim I can and I don't get fired. Just have a few laughs. I've really figured out some ingenious methods to have a wreck. Now if I can only figure out a way to stop the camera from going to the default position when a derailment takes place. One likes to see exactly whats going on back at the derailment!
TxRocket, now that is something I would never had thought about! Sounds fun!!! The idea of local freights is very intriguing, indeed. I'm hoping that I can experience that ASAP. I'm also gonna download a couple of steamers off the net. I haven't had a lot of time to start in on the mechanicals of the sim yet, but I plan to soon.
The reason I purchased MSTS was to re-create the rail system we have/had in New Brunswick (Canada). Things may be different now, but a year ago, when I tried to create new routes etc. I found it very difficult and frustrating, so I abandoned the project. Are there add-ons that make creating routes easier?
There's some good switching tasks downloadable from the net, even to use with the existing routes on the game. One good thing is that MS included the Columbia Falls - Kalispell branch on the Marias route, which has big opportunities for running a local freight on. At the moment I'm into making small modifications to the routes, for example I have just electrified the Austrian route so I can use the european electrics I've downloaded, plus creating believable consists & activities (I really don't like a couple of the supplied cars, like the "low rider" brown autorack!) The wrecks are really cool I must agree, have you tried setting up a cornfield meet yet? I also tried creating a new route & gave up ATB
nbrail, and MartynRead, There are a couple of updates on the MSTS website. Maybe these will help you. http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsim/ I haven't tried any editing yet. I'm not that trainichly inclined,
TxRocket, Create a head-on crash. In Editor just place one consist (engine) on the path with start direction one way, then reverse the start direction and place another consist. The first consist will be there waiting for you as you come down the track. Oh yeh another interesting thing....if you get the Baldwin steam up to about 94 MPI and hauling several heavy cars, the drawbar between the engine and tender will break! This will leave the engine running minus the tender and cars.? So much for automatic brake lines!! ....Eddie
Eddie, that's similar to what I did, I set up an activity on the LTV mining route where you start in one of the passing sidings and have to wait for an empty train coming the other way, because that route is unsignalled you can leave the siding if you want (or don't read the instructions!!!) and will meet the other train coming towards you just passed the switch. When two 90 car ore trains hit each other it makes a BIG pile of freightcars!
I tried also and couldn't get past the regional map. There just didn't seem to be any options after that. Of course, maybe I should read the directions. I also can't find where in the editor you build new consists - can someone point me in the right direction? I really would like to read the manual, but I can't seem to find it...
For building consists: go into the Activity editor go to the top left, file, new select a route (doesn't matter which) click OK to just call it "new activity" (you won't be saving the activity) on the right is a box with "player service", click new write a name to call the service (doesn't matter what, you're not saving the service) go down to the consist box and click new your consist editor window will open select engines & cars from the menu at the top & drag & drop into the blue box at the bottom. If you don't want something drag to the odd little logo above the ble box on the left. watch your coupler & brake compatability, most US stuff should be fine together, the brake line is represented by a line under the picture of the stock in the blue box, if the brake line doesn't line up you have vehicles with mixed braking systems in the train Set the durability slider to where you want it Add the name you want the consist to appear as in the boxes at top left hit "save & exit" you can now go back & create another one, or just exit the editor (without saving the service or activity) and go and use the new consist. Hope that's a help, it sounds complicated, but once you get to know it it's pretty simple.
Martyn, that's actually the hard way to create a consist if all you want to do is create a consist. All you have to do, instead of starting a new player service, is go to any point on the route map, right click on a section of track, and then click on place consist. When it gives you a chance to select from an existing consist, just click on the new button and go from there. When you are done creating the consist, save the consist and then cancel out of the new activity creation. The consist is now available for use.
Black Cloud, I've found this train-sim library one of the better sources of engines. The TrainBoard also has links page with more choices. Sims Addons Library ..Eddie
Thanks, Eddie, for the link. I'll utilize that more after I get my broadband connection. Now here's one for ya: Sometimes, if I use my mouse more than my keyboard for adjusting things in the cab, I lose my mouse. The pointer disappears, and I can't use it. Then, If I escape out, I cant click on 'Yes' or 'No', or anything. Also, when I Alt-Tab out of the window, the pointer will show on the desktop, but will not respond. I use a Microsoft Optical USB Intellimouse, and I've noticed this on my daughter's game, Harry Potter. It used to happen alot in that one, but the instances have dwindled. Now, it's happening in MSTS. I have the latest drivers, and am running 512meg RAM. It's a 650Mhz Athlon, with a GeForce 2 64meg DDRAM card. Someone told me its the USB connection. Any ideas?
Lucky you... I just went through this same dilemma with my MS Optical Mouse. I tried a bunch of recommended solutions and the only thing that worked was the one that suggested I replace the USB Optical Mouse with a PS/2 Mouse. Voila!!!! Keeping figures crossed...I haven't had a problem in MSTS or any other program since making the swap. The $20 price tag was well worth the amount of time and inconvenience I was experiencing.
Dang. Just as I suspected. I love the mouse for my Delta Force 2 game, as I can program the side buttons. But even in that game, sometimes the keyboard will go whacky ever since I installed the Optimouse. Will Microsoft ever get anything right? Maybe I'll buy an Apple...
