Cumbres & Toltec (Freelance)

[BigVern]

My first post on this new and excellent looking forum. (You may also know me as "Northern Warrior" from the 3D Trains boards and very occasionally Train-sim.com). A refreshing place to discuss North American or indeed any aspect of Rail Simulator in a positive environment.

To start the ball rolling, after a couple of false starts recently on new route projects I've decided to have a crack at Cumbres and Toltec. As there's not much ng support for RS as yet, it's going to be a freelanced standard gauge version of the route - the emphasis will be on enjoying the immense scenery. So far I've got the bil DEM converted to hgt and imported to the route with around 75% of the track laid. Once that stage is complete it's back into Google Earth to plot the remaining markers for roads, rivers, landmarks etc. then the long job of painting the terrain and putting down 3D objects. As the line travels through relatively remote country for much of its length, I'm hoping to make reasonably fast progress.

There's a whole host of US/Canadian railroads it would be fun to have a crack at - probably 10 years worth, but at this stage I want to keep my focus on the current project and avoid distractions.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

Great to have you aboard! I'm sure there will be a US-specific NG track profile some day. The UK already has one (albeit of 2' gauge), which looks fabulous. I think you can get it at uktrainsim if you're interested. I also recall seeing a Spanish NG route (maybe 1m gauge???), but don't remember where.

If you're new to building RS routes, you might also be interested in a tool called ReDem. It is payware (okay, at its price rather 'coffeeware') but really great in terraforming routes much faster with a much better terrain resolution than the default HGT format (make full use of the NED 1/3 arc sec and some use the 1/9 arc sec DEM data!) You can learn more about it out here: http://www.zugware.com/site/

Good luck and much fun with your route!
Maybe you can post some screen shots from time to time?

Cheers!
Michael

[BigVern]

I've already produced two short routes in RS but there is still a great deal to learn and discover about the software.

I was aware of ReDem but the mountains in my route so far look pretty good! If there was *one* feature I would consider buying such a utility for it would be the facility to overlay georeferenced maps as textures, in the same way Transdem does in Trainz. That would avoid at least some of the marker production in Google Earth which - it has to be said - is one of the more time consuming processes.

[Scott_AUS]

Hi Vern, a warm welcome to you. I've been hanging about MSTS land since 2003, back then Vern's website and insights to the train sim world was compelling reading to say the least in a time before blogs/facebook/twitter etc.

Look forward to your contribution here over time.

Cheers!

[moeraki32]

NZ has narrow guage already in 3ft 6inch (1067mm) guage
Looks and runs well and can get from tsnz.co.nz
need stock to run tho but coming

Moe

[wmalder]

I can say with some certainty that track of any gauge appears to be easy to create. I've been working on a route in RS now for a little while but when I started there weren't any tracks quite like I wanted so I set out to create my own. After a few false starts I was able to create the track I wanted amazingly easily. If you have a specific need all you need is someone with 3D Canvas or 3Ds Max and an afternoon to spare and they should be able to cobble up just about anything you'll need.

[ozinoz]

Fantastic news about the T&C. Have journeyed there 4 times now from Oz, it is a fantastic place, just a pity I didnt get to see the OY in action, but I have done freight charters and a trip with the E&P No 4.

I recently saw Captain Bazza's DRG releases for TS and have been hoping that somebody might do something for RS. I have a few photos and books should you need info, including the fantastic Ticket to Toltec which is a mile by mile breakdown of the line. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Cheers

[BigVern]

Just an update - this particular project has gone on the backburner while I...

1. Take a short holiday from route building.
2. Extend my existing RS Scottish route a bit.
3. Wait and see if Railworks combines the existing texture set as the US set is fine for desert type areas but doesn't have many to cover the more temperate areas the C&T passes through.

However it remains an aspiration of mine to build the route in some form or another.