Retro Routes

The real Talyllyn is well worth the ride, although the walk from the station at Tywyn to the front exercises the legs.

The default orient express train takes an alternative route to Innsbruck via the Karwendelbahn route (Deluxe version with DB tracks update applied) final section between Seefeld and Innsbruck....................

Leaving Seefeld

Down hill from the high alps towards Innsbruck

Approaching Innsbruck





Innsbruck west



Innsbruck station

The included stock is mainly modern electric, but a few historic types are included such as this one............





Route available here............

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006J360II?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Excellent value for four nicely done routes, and all the latest "deluxe" versions with DB tracks. (none of the other releases I've seen come with DB tracks.) The acts have English translations too. (unlike most of my other "German version" Pro Train add-ons)

Hello Mark,my Disc duly arrived but I seem to be having trouble finding some of the stock

Trains\Consists\PTK_101_2_71C  Stw.con
     

car ,200188  .191.   197.    200 (that's 4 cars)


any ideas,as to whether I may have put them in the wrong place (or something).  Regards   Roger.

Hi Roger.

On the disc the last installer (after the 2 route installers and 4 DB tracks installers) is called "DB Tracks Aufgabenpack", that is where all the stock is located, make sure you have installed that.

In the meantime I'll go and check to make sure whether it is on mine or not.

Hi Roger, It is in my consist folder, the installer puts them into the right folders automatically, make sure it is pointed to the correct location, and not another MSTS installation or default program files location..

Here is the consist in question loaded up in game.

Here's how it shows up in trainstore.......

Here is a list of stock in the consist if that's any help.

Hi Roger.

I have just found this on Steam4me, it is nothing wrong with your stock or installation, but a mistake in the act as explained below.

Error Message - Failed to initialize car <200nnn> Rigidbody

These errors are caused by placing a consist on a siding for which it is too long or over a set of points (switches). Open Activity Editor, select the Activity and click on "Verify Starting State". This will show you where the error is. When you look at static consists on the sidings it may not be apparent that there is a car off the end of the siding because a car off the end IS NOT VISIBLE. You have to move the consist to see any car off the end. There is no way to relate the error message to one of the loose consists.

You will, at this point, need to check each and every loose consist by moving it slightly away from the siding end to see if another car appears, the one that may be hidden. Also get to know the exact car count of the loose consists you are placing so you can count the cars showing as a double check. {Vince Cockeram}

Move the consist so that it fits on the track properly and re-run "Verify Starting State".

Hope that helps.

Sydney tramways -North shore lines route......................

Nice to see that someone is still using North Shore Tramways route. However, just a slight problem - maybe you are running 'wrong road' ; the traffic runs left hand running, unless you are running the tram in reverse (the trolley pole should be trailing the direction of running).

Only one of those enormous TV transmission towers still stands, the one closest to the road (however Channel 9's tower is about one mile north at Artarmon) - the two storey brick building between the towers is the old North Sydney Technical College - I spent 4 years there doing the theoretical part of my Electrical Mechanics apprenticeship in the mid-60's - so loooooooong ago !!!

I was just giving it a quick run in explore mode when I took the screenshots, it was more to showcase the route than anything else, wasn't wrong line in the act.

An unusual visitor to the ELR...........................



A pair of Italian steam locos ( SFAI 1051 & 1052 Mastodonti dei Giovi) haul some vans out of Rawtenstall heading for Bury.

Following a reminder from Mark I have installed an Italian version of the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle route by Renzo428 as a means of running some of my LYR and LNWR models. This is a screenshot from one of the Version 1 activities.

The route comes complete with activities and stock, and I have installed it in a fresh MSTS install. I will then create a Mini Route and then update to Version 2. This too has activities included but apparently the Version 1 activities don't work on Version 2 due to broken paths.

ShortNorth wrote:Nice to see that someone is still using North Shore Tramways route. However, just a slight problem - maybe you are running 'wrong road' ; the traffic runs left hand running, unless you are running the tram in reverse (the trolley pole should be trailing the direction of running).

Only one of those enormous TV transmission towers still stands, the one closest to the road (however Channel 9's tower is about one mile north at Artarmon) - the two storey brick building between the towers is the old North Sydney Technical College - I spent 4 years there doing the theoretical part of my Electrical Mechanics apprenticeship in the mid-60's - so loooooooong ago !!!

Are there any activities for this tram route?

dforrest wrote:......................Are there any activities for this tram route?

Hello David,

Unfortunately, there are no pre-made activities for this route, or most other Australian train or tram routes - the main problem with the Australian train simming world, is that there are NO activity writers in the simming community. I'm capable of building routes, rolling stock and structures, but I'm hopeless at making activities. I put these routes out there, in the hope that it may attract someone to have a go at making activities for them.

I still have a bit of route authoring and stock building to do in the foreseeable future, but after that, I might (and I did say might - not guaranteed) have a go at making a few simplistic activities - these would be simply drive from A to B, with appropriate AI trains either waiting in loops / sidings or passing on double track sections - I just can't get my head around making activities with shunting, etc as part of the activity, they all end in disaster !!!

I recently released the Tumulla Bank + Plus route which covers the NSWGR Main West line from Wallerawang to Orange - it is an interesting mix of both double track sections and single track sections over its length - I have most (but not all) of the 1960-ish working timetable and I may have a go at a few 'simplistic' activities for this route with appropriate AI traffic to showcase the more important trains over this route. The major issue for me is that there are two significant banks out of Bathurst, both to the west and to the east where all trains had bankers. I have great difficulty in trying to attach and detach bankers to the player train and make it all work - the problem being that some trains had the banker in front of the train engine, others pushed at the rear - however, we'll see how we go. Either way it could be some time before I can get a group of 'working' activities out in the sim.

Regards, Brian

Brian, thanks for providing the insight into you future plans. Any activities for the routes would be greatly appreciated as I have little knowledge of Australia rail operation and activities age a great way to learn.

Hi folks,

This is one of my first freeware routes to be downloaded, Modern England V3.0.
I have used the route back in 2004 and I remember driving on the London to Oxford section.

Here are the pictures of a fictional Class 94 making it's journey from London to Manchester as far as Oxford:





















Apparently the Class 94 available from UKTS is just a replacement texture for the default HHP8 locomotive!
I also remember using the BR Blue Class 304 from Oxford to London.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

Hi folks

One of my first freeware routes to be downloaded was the Harwich to Manningtree route,
also known as East Anglia as it was named in the game. The train used for the run was a
Regional Railways Class 101 unit, one of the first models to be released in the early days
of MSTS.

This unit has a photo-realistic but basic cabview (no working controls and dials), but it
was actually an easy unit to drive. The cabview also contains a front passenger view
and a passenger compartment view.

Here, we join the train at Harwich as it will be forming the service to Manningtree:





























Arrival at Manningtree. Despite being a retro route on a dated old unit, it was a fair good run.
This route (both virtual and reality) has since been electrified, and today EMUs run the service.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

There's a lot to be said for nostalgia, and shows what was achieved in the early days. Thank you for sharing.

Hi folks

Another MSTS classic this afternoon, this time we visit Castle Cement at Shap on Northern
Rail Routes V6, where we see a double-headed Class 50s with a rake of PCA Castle Cement
wagons departing for Barrow Docks:













A Castle Cement train seen later en-route on the WCML as it passes Northern Rail Class 166
unit with it's stopping service to Carlisle.

Of course Northern Rail Routes V6 is basically a fictitous route with places based on real-life.
The WCML section is definately fictional: In real-life, the WCML is a double-track mainline
with track curves, with beautiful scenery and hills such as the Lune Gorge. But in NRR V6,
it is a straight, four-track route along the flat dessert...

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

Hi folks

We have screenshots of another MSTS classic route, this time it's Glasgow North Electric
route. This route is un-scenerised and was the only MSTS route set in the Glasgow area
until Glasgow Carlisle route came out.

Here, unit 303009 calls at Dumbarton Central before continuing its journey to Airdrie
via Glasgow Queen Street Low Level:



This Class 303 model for MSTS wasn't the best. Not only that it is not a realistic model,
it doesn't have the best cabview, and the axles (or wheels) not only lacks its inner shape,
but also pulls out on curves!

Next, unit 303087, one of the four units to receive the Carmine & Cream livery, is seen
calling at Bowling on its Balloch to Motherwell Sunday service:


And finally, a Class 314 unit calls at Anniesland on its Milngavie to Springburn service:



This Class 314 model is actually a default Series 2000 repaint, and this was before
proper models arrive a few years later (albeit with issues but this was later sorted).

This route was released in the very early days, with version 2 being released in July
2002. Unfortunately, work on the route went no further and remain an un-finished
route.

Some of the lines covered on this route are now covered on Glasgow Carlisle V4 route,
including the Partick to Alexandra Parade and Shettleston section and the Argyle Line
via Glasgow Central Low Level, the latter of which was included since version 2 of that
route.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

This route is referenced in the Routes Directory, and would make an interesting choice perhaps for working on in terms of route development. Obviously any such efforts would be for personal use due to potential copyright issues.

Hi folks

Screenshots of continental railways this time, today it's the Roussillon route, and we will
be visiting Portbou and Cerbère on the French-Spanish border.

While this is a retro route, it is also a very interesting route for a reason: a break of gauge
on the French-Spanish border. The Spanish Railway network has a broad track gauge of
1668mm (or 5 ft 5.5 in), which is known as Iberian gauge.

As a result, Transfesa freight wagons change axles at Cerbère, while Talgo trains (which
have variable axles) go through a gauge-change machine at Portbou as well as the change
of locomotives. Other freight trains have to change to another train which is dealt with at
Portbou.

Here we see a RENFE Class 252 arriving Portbou with the Barcelona to Montpellier service:









Now the RENFE Class 252 is detached from the Barcelona to Montpellier train
and will be parked in the sidings to await for the next Barcelona train from
France.

Now the RENFE Class 250 arrives to couple to the rear of the train and will
propel the Barcelona to Montpellier train to the gauge-changing facility:













Talgo train enters the gauge-changing facility.

Now the SNCF 7200 Class now arrives to attach to the Barcelona to Montpellier
train to complete the gauge-changing process and then head north to Montpellier:




The gauge-changing process is now complete as the train enters the tunnel and the
Talgo coaches are now on standard gauge tracks. The SNCF 7200 Class locomotive
is now in charge of the Barcelona to Montpellier train:





Here we see a RENFE Class 250 locomotive hauling Transfesa freight wagons.

Coming out of the tunnel and the train now enters the Languedoc-Roussillon
region of France:


SNCF 7200 Class with the Barcelona to Montpellier train arrives at Cerbère:







Leaving Cerbère, the train continues it's journey to Montpellier. In the background
is the SNCF Z7300 EMU which will soon form the local service to Perpignan.

With the new direct TGV service to Barcelona being introduced in December 2013,
intercity train services through Portbou have since ceased.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell