Railworks America

Ok, this might be a dumb question, but what exactly is consist messaging? I've looked at everything on RWA I could find about it, and from what I can tell it's some sort of code within locomotive and rolling stock files that allows for multiple unit operation across consists; is there more to it than that?

It seems unique to Searchlight Simulations products; is there a way to add it to other rolling stock so I can use it in conjunction with SS locomotives? For instance, I made a consist in the Timesaver route that had a SS CR SD40 on the head end with several RRMods cars behind and then another SS CR SD40 on the rear, and with everything in the rear locomotive set up to run just like I have with consists of entirely SS products, it still didn't follow the commands input at the head end, which I assume means there is no consist messaging?

Consist messaging is basically code as part of rolling stock or locomotives that allows said item to pass instructions down the train. A classic example is an EOTD appearing when you put the headlights to on. Most devs have their own implementation of consist messaging which are incompatible with each other; in short, the RRMods boxcars for example don't "know" how to pass the message along the train. If you don't mind a little mucking around in the files, you can edit the script references for those boxcars to point at the SS scripts instead.

pkz19 wrote:It seems unique to Searchlight Simulations products; is there a way to add it to other rolling stock so I can use it in conjunction with SS locomotives? For instance, I made a consist in the Timesaver route that had a SS CR SD40 on the head end with several RRMods cars behind and then another SS CR SD40 on the rear, and with everything in the rear locomotive set up to run just like I have with consists of entirely SS products, it still didn't follow the commands input at the head end, which I assume means there is no consist messaging?

The script file for consist messaging, and instructions on how to add them to any piece of rolling stock is included with the free Equipment Defect Detector on the Searchlight Site. The instruction manual has a very clear and specific section on how to do this.

The problem I’m beginning to see with “consist messaging” is determining which of the newest released rolling stock has it and which rolling stock doesn’t without spending a lot of time looking this information up. I mean, I am installing product releases that have it because I’m driving locos with it enabled, but, when the time comes to build a consist, I rarely remember which ones do and which ones don’t. I’m sure others in this community are beginning to see this problem as well.

Is there someway, a repository, a listing, in the asset editor, something, that could identify these products? It would be extreme helpful when assembling consists.

By default, only the SS/JR rolling stock and reskins of it will have that specific messaging. All that stock is prefixed with [JR Freight] I believe. You can add messaging to any item of stock you wish, however; the process for doing so is outlined in the manual for the defect detectors from what I remember.

Railfan722 wrote:By default, only the SS/JR rolling stock and reskins of it will have that specific messaging. All that stock is prefixed with [JR Freight] I believe. You can add messaging to any item of stock you wish, however; the process for doing so is outlined in the manual for the defect detectors from what I remember.

All of the latest version of the Trinity hopper cars that I re-painted are messaging equipped.

Can the same messaging script be used in any car, as long as it is hooked up in the blueprint? Thanks!

cnwfan wrote:Can the same messaging script be used in any car, as long as it is hooked up in the blueprint? Thanks!

Yes, you just need a statement about reference to a lua in the bin file. I can send you the info if you wish.

So, if I’m reading all this correctly, if I have a non-compliant Loco/car, I just simply add the “defect detector script” to that stock and that should eliminate any messaging problems. Right?

P.S. Buzz, I’m going to look at your repaints......

gtrtroger wrote:So, if I’m reading all this correctly, if I have a non-compliant Loco/car, I just simply add the “defect detector script” to that stock and that should eliminate any messaging problems. Right?

Correct, yes.