Rail Yard Advice

[PORU333]

This seems to be the only issue I come across with route building. I usually go for a 4 to 6 track yard. I am using the Scalerail files of course, using branchline, as I prefer the gritty look, as I go to connect one of the yard tracks to the main track, it will work fine, but sometimes will end up at a joint issue of sorts, any thoughts on this?
Also, what is the way to make sure the tracks are spaced well enough so the cars/engines from track one don't collide with those sitting on track 2?

Also lastly, DEMS. I have tried several different ways, including ReDem, and the terrain doesn't seem to change at all, and I know I have the terrain from usgs spot on as to where my route is located. I've tried the srgt, bil, and the other file type, and they didn't seem to import, at all. both 1/3 Arc and 1/9 Arc.

[Bananarama]

What are the joint issues you're seeing?

For For yards, a minimum of 13' is the norm in North America (3.9624m), but I generally prefer something closer to the default spacing of 15' (4.72m). If creating from the prototype, measure the distance from one track to the next using the measuring tool in Google Earth, set your spacing in the TrackRules (BIN to XML, edit, XML to BIN), and lay out the yard tracks accordingly.

As for the terrain, did you select the correct route\<name>\Terrain folder when doing the creating or copying to?

[PORU333]

Marc,
For the joint issue, it would be shown in what Otto's picture here shows. http://www.otto-wipfel.co.uk/rw3a/SWITC ... MENT-1.jpg That large box above showing a bad joint.

As for spacing, 13' sounds about right, and I believe would be fitting for the rail yards up here. However, is there a way to represent that in RW when placing 4-6 tracks down at once with the track count option on the lower left box in RW Route Editor? Or is that something that comes by default with the tracks itself?

As for the terrain location. That must have been something I missed or was unaware of, Though when I looked in the folder of the route, I don't recall it having a terrain folder. I shall have to do more looking.

[Bananarama]

That happens when you either use two different TrackRules or, assuming in your case, two different track types (ie: mainline, spur, branchline, etc.).

TrackRule would need to be edited to reflect different spacing. As I indicated above, you'll need to covert the TrackRules from BIN to XML, edit, XML to BIN, and then re-enter the editor to use the changes (don't forget to convert again for the mainline stuff).

When using ReDem, it will ask you where you wish to save the files, which should be the Terrain folder within your Content\Routes\<route name> directory. If the folder isn't there, then create one to copy the files to.

[PORU333]

Thanks Marc, I will take a look into it. I was actually using just one direct track type, the SR W1 Branchline. Being it's just going to be a small junction style yard, that is all I was deciding to use.


As for editing the track rules, I will have to take a peak and see.

I will double check on the terrain folder as well. perhaps I overlooked it some how.