Replacement Of Default Rolling Stock in Route Packages MOD (WIP)

[ENR3005]

Tonight I post a possible solution for those who are sick of the reused rolling stock in route packages. As noted in my Sechelt & North Coast Route update this evening, I have extensively used bin aliasing for my rolling stock package for years. This same technique can be used to swap out rolling stock using default rolling stock with any route package and does not require any editing of a scenario, copying of shape files, textures, sounds only a set of bin files.

From the screen shots I have attached of a default route scenario, you can see I have created a partial replacement package (still a working in progress) for the Montana Hi-Line which can serve as template for other route packages. The rolling stock is drawn from Searchlight Simulations, ABSStudios and RRMods freeware offerings. If you used MSTS years ago, everyone used to gripe about the default rolling stock and the community came together with a package to replace the default stock. My solution for TSC is more streamlined as you will see and does not use the actual shapes, textures, sounds, etc which remain in their original directory. The procedure simply uses a set of overlay bin files for the rolling stock and a modified Route Properties file as well to make it work. These bin files not modify your default route or rolling stock in any way, it is just an overlay telling the sim to use alternative files. You don’t even need to edit your scenarios, everything will load on its own. I have even tested it with motive power but will not offer any replacements in that area with the package I have been working on. I can confirm it works having used it on my own route for years and the Montana Hi-Line as well. Some considerations must be made when doing this, you must alias to the original car numbering, use the original file names and names within the bin file. Everything else within the bin file can be considered fair game for changing. I have also been strict with making sure cars are comparable length when changing with the exception of the 50Ft Boxcar which I replaced with the 60Ft TBox from RRmods and is more a less an experiment still.

This method has several advantages in that you can create a package with custom car weights for industries, brake settings, scripts and sounds to ensure that allows everything to run uniformly. This is just a look at what can be done and is a little outside of the box. You can build a route using the same technique if you wanted a custom asset database but didn’t want to copy every shape, I have done that also as an experiment.

Food for thought.

[harryadkins]

I like this concept. Looking forward to seeing more.

Harry

[Chacal]

This is a very interesting idea. I haven't played the sim for a long time, mostly because of the time and effort required for swapping rolling stock and engines. This solution can be applied quickly and reverted quickly.