Train Simulator Blog Materials

This is a screenshot of Microsoft Train Simulator that I'm posting to go with a blog post. Only the screenshot is mine, as the scenery is from the Severn Valley Railway add-on from JustTrains.

This is another screenshot for the upcoming blog post, but this is of an add-on that I've actually built...for Jens Schubert's Railsim. It's an old simulator, but one that I love. It has awful graphics and sound, but decent physics and fantastic signaling. It's also easy to mod routes, as an editor is included, and the whole interface is also made easier by easy track-based grade simulation (with no terraforming needed) and automatic mileposts. The scheduling is also automated. I could go on and on and on.

I've posted this code from Microsoft Train Simulator's version of the Gresley A1 "Flying Scotman" to compare it to the same locomotive simulated (albeit as an A3) in Auran Trainz. Note the logical, standard units used. I would argue that this is far better format for entering engineering data, as anyone, engineer or not, can understand it and transfer specs directly to the simulator.

Here's the Trainz physics (or "config") file for the Flying Scotsman. Regardless if you're an engineer or not, I don't think it makes much sense. Can any of you interpret it just by looking at it?

This isn't my mod, either, but is the VirtualBeechGrove EMD AEM-7 after I gave it a going over to give it better physics. I haven't re-released it, obviously, as I don't have permission. The mod was just for me. However....the numbers now don't appear on it. That white patch on the left is where it's supposed to be. I've checked the kuid for errors, and I can't figure out what's the matter with it.

Here's the error report from the patched AEM-7. Neither of these errors appear to be about the number.

Here's a report on the patched AEM-7's dependencies....and it still doesn't show an error.

This was my first repaint project since the start of my modding on Trainz. This is an inauthentic repaint of Sub Par Productions' B&O Dockside tank engine, based on an equally inaccurate HO model that I have. I did this repaint so that I would have a Santa Fe tank engine for a branchline in Trainz that I'll show later. The reason I needed a tank engine was that there appears to be a blatant error in the code of Trainz that causes tender engines to run around the train without their tender, leaving it on the front of the train! If you don't believe me, check out the next screenshot.

Here's the nearly-unbelievable bug that I mentioned in my last screenshot. This locomotive isn't one of Auran's, but rather is an ATSF repaint (not by me) of Sub Par Productions' Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0. This bug, however, is common to most steam tender engines that I've seen so far in Trainz, and I haven't found anything obviously wrong with the configuration file. So.....obviously Auran have to work on this.