Swap Switch Stands

[harryadkins]

Is there a fairly simple way to swap the switch stands on the Castle Rock route to something more realistic?

Harry

[tntrainer]

Yeah,
Something I have wondered about myself. Are the manual switch stands/operators so tied up in the track rule/asset .bin file as to not be interchangeable in some manner? Wanting a high stand for mainline switches and a low one for side tracks, for instance, would be a desirable change for me.

When I started to build my route, I selected Penn Coal for my track rule without much thought about its construct or applicability to my era. I simply liked that route in the simulator. It of course it has modern hand throw hoops for the handle. I've often wondered the complexity of/or impossibility due to the scripting, of swapping the stands.

Thanks,

[PullmanCar]

This is something I planned to try on my Kalamazoo route this weekend. I would think you would have to change or create a new tracks bin file, I was just planning to change the file structure in world in an attempt to change a few certain ones to that modern ground throw you mention, whilst leaving the rest PRR and NYC style. I will be following this thread to see what experts say, as well as report what I find from my attempts.

PullmanCar

[cnwfan]

Harry,

It's been a while since I've done this, but for an already existing route, you would need to edit the tracks.bin file in TSTools using find/replace. You'll need to determine which switch stand are used for manual and automatic switches by looking at the track rule for the route. Find the desired replacements by opening up a route of your choosing. Then go into Assets for that route and open the TrackRules file in TS Tools. Copy the file path for the manual / automatic switch stands along with the provider and product. Then open up tracks.bin in TSTools for the CastleRock route and replace away. From what I remember it is a tedious process. Just be sure to back up the tracks.bin file in the CastleRock route before starting any replacement.

Once you're done replacing, you'll need to open the route in edit mode and tick the provider and product for the replacement switch stands. Then look at the track and note the switch stand placements. You may need to adjust up/down and left/right to get a good fit. Also, the switch stand ties may be a different color.

If you're looking to replace a particular switch stand in a route, I do not have a solution for that one. I've tried but have never been successful in identifying a switch in the route's edit mode, and then finding that switch in the tracks.bin file.

Hope all this makes sense. If someone out there has a better way, I'm all ears. Good luck!

[krellnut]

Start the route you want to edit the stands. Go into track editor and in the bottom left corner select the route from which you want to use the stands from. Then start at one end of the route and break the joint at the switch. If you want manual stands, make sure the box is ticked. Weld the joint and the new switch should show up. You may have to grab the switch and align to your liking. If you like the result, its worth the effort.

[tntrainer]

All,
I can report Success using Krellnut's method!!!!!! I'm about to produce a tutorial video showing how it worked for me. I'll post it here soon.

Many Many Many thanks to Krellnut and cnwfan for their responses!

There is no limit to what you can learn, here at the great RWA

And I Mean that sincerely!

George

[mindenjohn]

Great tip, thank you.

[tntrainer]

Hello,
Here's a link to the tutorial I have made using krelnutts method to change manual switch stands/operators. Hope it helps folks learn to do it. It's easy as can be.

https://youtu.be/Mi_qZicgTcs

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

If you want to change all switch machines/stands on a route, you can also use RW_Tools and its powerful search/replace functions to edit the route's tracks.bin directly.

There are a few considerations before jumping in though:
+ Back up! I can't stress that enough -- back up tracks.bin and the track tiles folder in case something goes wrong
+ Be extra careful that the replacement provider/product and xml paths are valid
+ There's no guarantee that the new switch stands will be positioned correctly. If the old and new models have different orientation or center points, manual repositioning will be necessary (in which case you might as well use the manual replacement method right away)

Cheers,
Michael

[harryadkins]

Thanks for your help...

[tntrainer]

Hello
Another question on the subject from the route creation perspective. if switch stands are swapped in a creator's new route and once the route gets packaged and posted somewhere for others to enjoy, I assume it would correctly load and appear when installed as a new route, if the end user had the substituted assets in their asset list?? Or would they get a missing file notification?

Thoughts?

George

[buzz456]

Hello
Another question on the subject from the route creation perspective. if switch stands are swapped in a creator's new route and once the route gets packaged and posted somewhere for others to enjoy, I assume it would correctly load and appear when installed as a new route, if the end user had the substituted assets in their asset list?? Or would they get a missing file notification?

Thoughts?

George

It should load correctly.

[tntrainer]

Thanks Buzz!