S - Open Rails Activities

Hi Stephen

I've completed Low Moor to Hillhouse Yard Return successfully.

I am almost lost for words!

An amazing activity and a stunning demonstration of the capabilities of Open Rails, and your own talents.

Many thanks
Mike

Hi All,

My next activity for the Huddersfield and Environs 1920 has now been uploaded to UKTS as

File ID: 37596 Name:S - Manchester_Leeds .

Again it is for Open Rails only as it uses Open Rails specific functions. It is also a bit easier than the last one but it should still keep you on your toes.

Mike, thanks for your kind comments, always appreciated.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Thanks for another smashing activity.

The AI at Huddersfield was particularly impressive, and the weather change added to the enjoyment.

The brakes seemed much more responsive following the recent Open Rails improvements, making the driving a much more pleasant experience, and the signal checks much easier to cope with.

One small point - the activity description and installation text document wrongly refers to your previous Low Moor Yard to Hillhouse Yard activity.

Thanks again
Mike

Hi Mike,

Oops thanks for pointing out my error - I'd used that one as a template and will correct asap.

Regards

Stephen

Hi Mike,

Mike wrote:One small point - the activity description and installation text document wrongly refers to your previous Low Moor Yard to Hillhouse Yard activity.

Having rechecked all the documentation what I wrote was

Please read the Huddersfield and Environs 1920 - Guidelines for Realistic Traffic Workings contained in V2 as this gives the required downloads.

- that is the only specific reference to any of my previous activities.

Sorry if I have caused any confusion.

I agree that the brakes are much better but reading UKTS and Elvas Tower forums reveals that this has created other problems with tender engines using the front coupler - hopefully this will be quickly rectified. This also reminds me of the early MSTS front coupler issues.

As before, thank you for your feedback, it's always nice to read what other people think of my efforts.

Regards

Hi All,

Following on from Mike's comments I have found my error and re-uploaded the activity.

My sincere apologies to Mike for doubting his word, I should have checked my work more carefully.

Regards,

Hi All,

To go with Version 3 of the Huddersfield and Environs 1920 route is

File ID: 37673 Name:S - ParkMillColliery_Hillhouse Yard

Regards,

Stephen

Thank you for this and all the others.

Hi Stephen

Thanks for yet another super activity showing off part of the new sections of the route. It is such a privilege to enjoy the route, the stock and the Open Rails activities provided for it.

Thanks also, of course, to Brian for the ever expanding and scenically excellent route, and to the creators of the splendid period stock.

Regards
Mike

Hi All,

There are now four more Dorset Coast Activities uploaded ready for your enjoyment(??)

File ID: 37821 Name:S - Waterloo P11_KewF_Windsor
File ID: 37820 Name:S - Waterloo P7_Dorking
File ID: 37822 Name:S - Welsh Rugby Special
File ID: 37823 Name:S - Windsor_WaterlooP16

Some of these have taken a lot of work to get them working as I wanted so please make sure that you follow the instructions carefully.

As usual, any comments are welcome,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Thanks for the excellent set of Dorset Coast activities.

I have completed them all successfully and appreciate the amount of work that you must have put in to create these.

The special Open Rails weather and AI movements were very impressive, together with the volumes of traffic in and around the Waterloo to Clapham Junction stretch.

The route and stock is a bit too modern for my liking (I prefer BR green and earlier), but nonetheless I had great enjoyment running these.

Many thanks for your continuing Open Rails efforts.

Kind regards, Mike.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the kind comments, they are much appreciated.

Do you have a particular route and motive power for your favourite era? If so I might try to make some activities at some point in the future. At the moment I'm trying to make some for the upcoming Huddersfield and Environs V4, unfortunately progress is slow for various reasons but I will get there.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

I haven't really any one particular favourite route. Anything with a sixties or earlier feel to it is fine with me, and any region.

Also happy with either steam, diesel or electric traction, or, ideally a mixture of all three, because that is what I grew up with.

Thank you for asking
Mike

Hi All,

Finally I've managed to finish two more activities for the Huddersfield and Environs 1920 Route. These are for Version 4 and Open Rails only. There is one more in the final testing stages which should be finished in the next day or two. All of these have taken a lot of effort to get them working as I wanted - I hope the results are satisfactory. They are all based on what might happen but not necessarily what did.

Mike, I haven't forgotten that I said I'd make an activity for you, that is next on my agenda. Can you please give a choice of routes as there is no point in producing an activity for a route which you don't have!!

Regards,

Stephen

That's very kind of you Stephen.

In no particular order my preferences are Black Country 1, Cannock Chase 5, London and South East, Mid East Plus, Peak Line and Potteries Loop Line.

I'm looking forward to the new activities for the extended Huddersfield and Environs route.

Thanks
Mike

Hi All,

Apologies, in my haste last night to upload the S -Huddersfield_Meltham Return Activity I uploaded the APK instead of the 7z folder.   This has now been rectified.

Regards,

Stephen

Thank you for all your hard work in producing such excellent activities.

In no particular order my preferences are Black Country 1, Cannock Chase 5, London and South East, Mid East Plus, Peak Line and Potteries Loop Line.


Wot - no SouthEast - I'm mortified!  

No offence intended Danny.

It's just that I have run so many activities on South East during testing that I wanted to choose some routes that had not seen any new activities for a while.

Please forgive me.

Mike

No worries Mike - I was only joking. I'm probably too restricted in my rail interests anyway - it's only ever been Southern and LMS for me.

Hi All,

My latest activity S - Bradford_Holmfirth Return from the Huddersfield and Environs 1920 V4 has now been uploaded and approved. This is the last one for the time being as there are other train simulator things I wish to do.

David Forrest reported that he ran out of coal and water at Cooper Bridge while running S - Thornhill_Sowerby Bridge, the reason is an incorrect line in the eng. file. IsTenderRequired(1) This should be IsTenderRequired(0)

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Thanks for Bradford - Holmfirth Return. This was an action packed delight.

Unfortunately, after leaving Huddersfield on the return, I was signal checked ouside of Bradley with a collection of AI in front of me also held at red, so I was unable to complete the activity.

The activity was a real pleasure to run up to this point, with huge amounts of AI, a marvellous route, and excellent stock.

Kind regards
Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your kind comments.

I too had that problem during testing and thought that I had resolved it - it certainly didn't happen on the final run through before release. My thoughts are that this partly a timing issue and possibly which version of OpenRails you are using. Good timekeeping is very important with this activity as I stated in the Activity Briefing. If you could let me know which is the offending service at the head of the queue this will be very useful in solving your problem ( use the 8 key to enter the free camera view + the Page Up/Down and arrow keys to move around and Shift key to speed up, sorry if you already know this ).

As I earlier promised I'm currently creating an activity for you using Making Tracks LSE. Nothing too difficult but should be interesting. When complete would you like to test it for me and see if you think that I should make it available for general use?
Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

There are eight stopped services ahead of me, with S-HfieldBay6_LowMoor 2-4-2 + 3Nc at the head of the queue at Bailiff Bridge station.

I was using the Open Rails Experimental Version X4155, and left Huddersfield on time.

I appreciate the creation of the LSE activity, and will be very happy to test this for you.

Regards
Mike

Hi All,

I have now uploaded two new activities to UKTS for the London South East Route both of which are for Open Rails only.

They are File ID: 38070 Name:S - Charing Cross_Redhill Express
File ID: 38069 Name:S - Smitham_Cannon Street

My thanks to Mike Sexton for testing the Smitham_Cannon Street activity and for his useful suggestions and comments.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi All,

Mike Sexton has reported a couple of problems with the S - Charing Cross_Redhill Express.

He noted that at Redhill he had to go into Manual mode to "tab" the signal for permission to proceed and then when back in Auto Mode he went down the Brighton Line when he was expecting to use the Tonbridge Line. Why he had to go into Manual I don't know as I never had that problem, but the Brighton Line is correct - as far as I know you only get the Green Aspect when going towards Tonbridge, maybe I created confusion in the briefing by stating that the signal controls the access to the Tonbridge Line when you don't want that route.

The other problem was when stopping in most stations the stop wasn't triggered. This is something which I have recently noticed in several other routes. The solution that I have found is when this happens you release the brakes until the stop is triggered and then re-apply before the train moves again which can be tricky if the station isn't on flat ground.

Has any one else had these problems? If so, please let me know.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi All,

I have now uploaded a further activity for the London South East Route File ID: 38214 Name:S - Caterham_CannonStP4. Like my previous activities this is for Open Rails only.

As in other activities the station stop isn't automatically triggered. The other problem was when stopping in most stations the stop wasn't triggered. The solution that I have found is when this happens you release the brakes until the stop is triggered and then re-apply the brakes.

Another problem which has only occurred since the Open Rails update X4180 is this message which occurs frequently throughout the activity:- Warning - Coupler Overloaded! So far this has only happened with this consist which is MT Class414 (Green) 2HAP running as a 6 car consist.

Any suggestions as to how to overcome both problems will be gratefully received.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Thanks for the activity - it was most enjoyable and brought back happy memories from my youth.

I had the same coupler overload messages early in the activity, and had to release and re-apply the brakes to register station stops, as you suggested. I was using X4185.

Thanks again
Mike

Hi All,

I have now finally finished and uploaded my next batch of activities, one for Huddersfield and Environs 1920 and four for Dorset Coast v6. These are all for Open Rails only

These are:-
File ID: 38646 S - Calder Colliery_Penistone
File ID: 38647 S - Fawley Tanks North
File ID: 38648 S - HolybourneTanks_FawleyRefinery
File ID: 38649 S - MOD Vehicle Movement
File ID: 38650 S - Salisbury_Brighton

These have all taken a lot of hard work to get them working to my satisfaction but if you have any problems please let me know and I'll do my best to help or maybe others will, hopefully!

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

I have been running your amazing Calder Colliery to Penistone activity for the Huddersfield & Environs 1920 Version 4 route. You have really taken the Open Rails possibilities to new levels, so many thanks for this. It must have taken you many hours to put together.

I had trouble finding out how to change locos, but it is all explained in the Open Rails manual at section 7.9, for the benefit of any others running this activity.

I also noted a red hand in the Track Monitor, which puzzled me, so if you, or anyone else, knows what this indicates, I would appreciate an explanation.

Unfortunately, I was unable to complete the activity because I was held by a signal outside Penistone at approximately 17.08. This had still not cleared by 17.19, so I tried to finish in manual mode, but could not regain the path.

The rest of the activity was breathtaking, including fantastic AI interraction and fully populated sidings, depots and yards.

Many thanks for your continuing Open Rails activity writing which has provided me with many hours of excellent entertainment.

Thank also, of course, to Brian for the route, and to the stock buiders.

Kind regards
Mike

Edit - Further research informs me that the red hand indicates a waiting point. I have stopped and triggered this, but still have the red signal outside Penistone.

Unfortunately, an attempted save before the signal (starting from an earlier save) crashed Open Rails, so I am not sure whether or not the stop would have had any effect on the final stages of the activity.

Regards
Mike

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your kind comments which are always much appreciated. I'm glad that you discovered the meaning of the Red Hand and that you must either stop at it and wait for it to "clear" before you can continue or carry straight on if it "clears" before you get to it. Changing driving locos the Open Rails way is very useful and much better than having to couple to the new loco first as in MSTS. One thing to watch is that when you've moved into the new loco you haven't accidently placed and left the Red Dot ( camera ) on a different loco as this can cause problems.

When you got stuck at the Penistone signal was it the first one or the junction signal for the yard? Also had the empty coal train left the yard and if so where was it? Until it has completely left the yard you cannot enter the yard.

I have just run the activity successfully until the first Penistone signal where I passed it at danger Once I'd stopped, I waited until the empty coal train re-started from being held at the signal opposite me and then I regained the route and completed the activity.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Another tricky thing when moving to another engine is when it moves off of its own accord before you have had a chance to move into it, or even worse, when you have changed the camera view to it but still do not have control of it

I am stopped at the first signal outside Penistone. The enpty coal train is still in the siding, but cannot depart because the consist S-Penistone_MiffieldN LYR + 4 LYN is stopped fouling the crossover points. It has a clear signal and path ahead, but for some reason is not moving. There is also another consist held in the station at a red signal behind this consist - S-Penistone_MirfieldN LYR442 + 8LBL.

I have solved things by moving into the stopped consist, putting it into autopilot, whence it starts moving off, and returning to "my" engine. I can now see the empty coal train moving out, so, should now be able to complete the activity.

I am running the activity on the monogame version of Open Rails 1.3.1Xmas MG (unofficial) 4328 (debug), so this may possibly have caused my problem.

Regards
Mike

Thanks Ged

I will get the latest version installed. It was much easier to keep up to date with the automatic updates of the previous versions of Open Rails.

No problem with butting in at all - your contributions to these and other forums are invaluable.

I can strongly recommend running activities in Open Rails, although, of course, some designed for MSTS do not work. The graphics, stable performance and new features are superb, and improving all the time.

If you want to be really impressed, try running one of Stephen's Open Rails specific activities.

Regards
Mike

Sorry Ged - I had overlooked your broken arm.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Mike

Hi Mike and Ged,

Ged, first of all I too wish you a speedy recovery - typing one handed is even harder than typing with one finger of each hand which is my normal style. Secondly ( without boasting about mine ) please do try Open Rails specific activities as Mike has said the improvements over MSTS are quite impressive

I have never tried the MonoGame version but it is easily possible that is what is causing your problem. I have sometimes found that ai trains get stuck at a signal for no obvious reason and the only solution is to remove that service. When changing locos if the new loco is stationary when you move into it then it should stay still. What can happen is the loco has coupled to its train then moves forward to a waiting point or red signal where it will stop.

Regards,

Stephen

Hi.

I have just downloaded the monogame version, I already have net framework 4.7.2 installed, but OR crashes back to the menu page when trying to run it, there is no error message.

Anyone got any ideas?

Windows 10 64bit

Thanks.

I've found the problem....................

I tried it in windowed mode and it worked OK, but on my 4k screen the window was very small, it appears from this, that the monogame version of OR is more resource heavy, so I tried shutting down some other apps, and flushing the memory, and it loaded in full screen.

I have successfully completed the CalderColliery_Penistone activity and what an activity it is!   It very well demonstrated new OR features of which I was not aware.  Thank you Stephen.

I had some problems with the first loco transfer.  It was the first time I had tried to use this feature.  I eventually completed it while the 0-8-0 as moving and, after some jumping, was stationary in the station!  The second transfer went much better.  Just after Hillhouse Yard I drove through an oncoming train which crossed over in front of me (I thought that this OR bug had been resolved).  At the very end at Penistone the reverse points were not shown but the path was there and able to be followed.  I completed the activity correctly.

Thanks again.

Hi David,

In retrospect perhaps I should have included more details about changing locos instead of relying on people reading the Open Rails Manual. I find that it a much better way of changing locos than the MSTS method.

If your timings were right then the conflict with the oncoming train when leaving Hillhouse wouldn't have occurred. I was aware that it could happen and I thought that I had adjusted things accordingly. It is not an Open Rails problem but one with the type of track that Brian has used and it is one that he ( and I ) are fully aware of as shown where he refers to it in the route introduction - "In some areas the complex track layout combined with the lack of suitable 'active' crossings, will mean that conflicting Paths over the crossing will NOT be protected by the signalling. Activity writers will need to take into account suitable train timings to avoid collisions between the player train and AI trains. "

What happened with the reverse points at Penistone I don't know but the important thing was that you completed the activity successfully.

Thank you for kind comments,

Stephen

StephenRWells wrote:Hi David,

In retrospect perhaps I should have included more details about changing locos instead of relying on people reading the Open Rails Manual. I find that it a much better way of changing locos than the MSTS method.

If your timings were right then the conflict with the oncoming train when leaving Hillhouse wouldn't have occurred. I was aware that it could happen and I thought that I had adjusted things accordingly. It is not an Open Rails problem but one with the type of track that Brian has used and it is one that he ( and I ) are fully aware of as shown where he refers to it in the route introduction - "In some areas the complex track layout combined with the lack of suitable 'active' crossings, will mean that conflicting Paths over the crossing will NOT be protected by the signalling. Activity writers will need to take into account suitable train timings to avoid collisions between the player train and AI trains. "

What happened with the reverse points at Penistone I don't know but the important thing was that you completed the activity successfully.

Thank you for kind comments,

Stephen

You comments are noted Stephen. It would be useful to have a list of the recommended timings included with the activity. Notwithstanding all of this, I thoroughly enjoyed the activity. Thank you. I am eagerly awaiting your next steam-era one!

Hi All,

The next activity for the Dorset Coast Route has now been uploaded to UKTS.

File ID: 38757 Name:S - Shepperton_Waterloo

As with previous activities this is for Open Rails only.

Enjoy,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Thanks for Shepperton to Waterloo.

It all worked well, including some very intensive activity between Clapham Junction and Waterloo.

I also enjoyed the weather effects, and the various signal checks, although I did not quite master the art of stopping the Class 455 in the correct places.

Mike

Hi All,

I have today uploaded 3 activities for the Dorset Coast Route, one freight and two passenger with two versions of each using different motive power. Each version is slightly different to give a greater variety and, hopefully, more enjoyment. These are for OpenRails only - traffic density round Waterloo to Clapham Junction is very high and there are also weather changes prohibiting the use of MSTS.

These have taken a lot of work to get them working to my satisfaction whilst still allowing leeway in the timings for each individual user and their operating system. I have tested these with both the "Standard" OpenRails and the Monogame versions with good results.

As usual I welcome comments both good and bad preferably here or on the UKTS forums.

Hoping that you enjoy these,

Stephen

Stephen, have you uploaded them here or to MSTS?

Hi David,

In case you haven't already checked they are only on the UKTS site.

Stephen

They are there now. Thank you.

Hi Stephen,
Downloaded the six activities and on downloaded the stock you have indicated there appears to be one either missing or the wrong UKTS number:-

Activity UKTS 39081 Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour Fast 2 calls for UKTS 28118 FDB_Mk1_Postal_AB in your list but it's not on UKTS.

I'm just getting ready to set them up and run them through OpenRails.

Regards

Mike
New Zealand