Amtrak F7 Patch/Update

[StrategyFirst]

Here are some screenies of what I have pulled together. I substituted the hi-levels with Superliner cars, and there's probably some missing locomotives. If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, please do tell.







Sorry for the low-quality pictures. That's what my computer runs best as currently.

[dtrainBNSF1]

Here are some screenies of what I have pulled together. I substituted the hi-levels with Superliner cars, and there's probably some missing locomotives. If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, please do tell.







Sorry for the low-quality pictures. That's what my computer runs best as currently.

I've got my settings on low as well. No shame in that.

My only suggestions: The first and last cars in the high level section were "step down" coaches, equivalent to today's dorm/sleeper superliner. This made the entire train accessible to all passengers and crew. While we don't have an authentic El Capitan trainset, you can substitute the step down coaches with PH II Sleeper/Dorm car, specifically the PH II variant because even though on the menu it says sleeper/dorm if you look on the side of the car itself in-game it's really a coach. You could also replace the bag/dorm car that's supposed to be behind the first baggage car with a standard coach.

Minor details. Do with them what you will.

[StrategyFirst]

I've got my settings on low as well. No shame in that.

My only suggestions: The first and last cars in the high level section were "step down" coaches, equivalent to today's dorm/sleeper superliner. This made the entire train accessible to all passengers and crew. While we don't have an authentic El Capitan trainset, you can substitute the step down coaches with PH II Sleeper/Dorm car, specifically the PH II variant because even though on the menu it says sleeper/dorm if you look on the side of the car itself in-game it's really a coach. You could also replace the bag/dorm car that's supposed to be behind the first baggage car with a standard coach.

Minor details. Do with them what you will.

Ah, so that's what step-down cars were. I was curious...

Do you mean using the transitional sleepers for step-downs?





EDIT: I'm deciding whether to change the Amtrak F7's for the Yellowbonnet ones I have... it just won't look the same. These decisions are oddly hard for me...

[StrategyFirst]

Alright, I got the Yellowbonnet consist now. Do you think it looks good?



vs


Original website picture.

[dtrainBNSF1]

Yes I meant the transition sleepers. See though that for PH II they're actually coaches?

Seems like the developers paid attention to that detail.

While technically the yellowbonnets were the prototype power for the first couple of years until the SDP40F came along, these are your scenarios. If you think it best to use the yellowbonnets go ahead. If you want to show off the new F7s you've patched, go ahead and use those or you could put them into service on the early Empire Builder on Marias Pass & Stevens Pass or even the San Francisco Zephyr over Donner Pass (the San Francisco Zephyr later turned into the California Zephyr after D&RGW finally decided to hand over its passenger operations to Amtrak in 1983, finally allowing it to travel over Soldier Summit).

The choice is yours. Either way, the consist looks great

[dtrainBNSF1]

Hey check this out! Vintage film of Amtrak in Southern California, including the Southwest Limited at San Bernardino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfssLOecoE8

Skip to 5:00 to get to the Southwest Limited. Starting at 6:21 there's another train you could try modeling with the F7s and the streamliner equipment: the Las Vegas Limited.

[StrategyFirst]

Hey check this out! Vintage film of Amtrak in Southern California, including the Southwest Limited at San Bernardino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfssLOecoE8

Skip to 5:00 to get to the Southwest Limited. Starting at 6:21 there's another train you could try modeling with the F7s and the streamliner equipment: the Las Vegas Limited.

Thanks for the video. That really helped! I think I'll stick to the Amtrak F7's. I've fallen in love with them.

Question... I saw (at the website you linked) that for the F7 consist, there was a hi-level coach at the end... but I don't see it appear anywhere like in videos or pictures. Am I getting it right or have I been tricked?

The second train looks fitting. I'll try that next.

[dtrainBNSF1]

The only explanation that I have for that extra hi level on the end is that the video was taken back in 75-77-ish so the consist may have changed a little bit (for instance it shrunk from 18-19 cars to 12 on average it appears). Notice that the first appearance of the Southwest Limited in the video there were only 3 hi levels in revenue service, while the next appearance of the train stopping at San Bernardino had 5 hi levels in revenue service, suggesting that the hi level section at least changed according to demand. The hi level at the end of the train listed on the site was a "deadhead", or a piece of equipment being moved from one terminal to another, not in revenue service. It more than likely appeared on the end as necessary, such as moving a piece of equipment to a shop at another terminal for servicing, but more than likely not on a standard every trip basis. Again referring to the video with the Southwest Limited's first appearance there are 3 hi levels at the head end just behind the locomotives obviously not in revenue service, but just being moved around.

[StrategyFirst]

First scenario's almost done (90% complete), I'll upload it once I get back home (been gone for weeks now). I'm gonna try and take the train from Barstow to Los Angeles... so 1 and 1/2 routes!

[dtrainBNSF1]

Sounds good BTW: what base F7 model is needed for the repaints to run? I tried installing them but they don't appear in-game meaning either I did something wrong or the repaint is not of the default F7 that came with Cajon Pass.

[StrategyFirst]

Sounds good BTW: what base F7 model is needed for the repaints to run? I tried installing them but they don't appear in-game meaning either I did something wrong or the repaint is not of the default F7 that came with Cajon Pass.

It's the UP one, not the ATSF one.

[buzz456]

If you are talking about these they indeed are from the Kuju default locomotives and have to be placed inside the default folder. If you got the ones from Mad Mike they are the Brit Kit ones.

[dtrainBNSF1]

Just got them working last night and they look great! Looking forward to the scenarios

[Britkitfrancis]

I downloaded the F7 reskins but not the patch. Will the patch make the engine actully appear during a custom scenario? Only the couplers show up. Also, i can't even find either the default or Amtrak G-Trax passenger cars at all in my game, even after following download instructions. (The file doesn't come with the PDF the desription says it does.)

Edit: I'm confused, you need a Britkit F7 for the reskins to work? Can I use the free ones? Is it Kit 09 EMD E7A?

I also have downloaded the Russel Snow Plow fro his webstie, but I can't find it for a custom scenario.

[StrategyFirst]

Download the file I uploaded to RWA. It has ALL the files, including base ones. It uses the Kuju F7.

As for the passenger cars, those are separate, but can also be found here on RWA. I'll make a list of stock when I release my scenarios. Actually, that's an IF...

I left for vacation for two weeks. I come back, and Windows 10 won't boot. I took some looking into it... and I'm not sure at all what happened, but something got corrupted--big time. Whilst the PC info shows Windows 10, the troubleshooting environment says "Continue to Windows 8.1", and GRUB thinks it's Windows Vista.

Anyway, I'm trying to backup all my files through the CMD environment before I reinstall Windows 10, but I'm having issues with access denials in my RailWorks folder, and I have to start from the beginning every time I copy... it's incredibly frustrating! Anyone have ideas as to what to do?