Pentecosta V4 route, Oncoming template Options

[dgionet]

Almost two years after news of its future update, Julien Cachemaille has released at the turn of the year Pentecosta 4. And the sidings have been marked for AG. Shortly after, I have started looking into the route for construction of the templates

Here is the previous topic to help our users recall the first reference with Pentecosta.

http://skylinecomputing.com/forums/index.p...p;hl=pentecosta.

Although I have been silent on the forum since the beginning of the year in terms of template projects, I have been working a template package for the last six (6) weeks. I didn’t post anything yet; wanting to make sure this template could reach completion before testing. It had become one of my biggest personal projects ever and among the most difficult and challenging.

There will be more than 650 serviceable sidings for the seven (7) templates. Two of these templates will be along 700 km of mainline (EB and WB). Some of the paths have been split because of problems of broken paths related to one single continous path, I couldn’t succeed in installing a 450km path. Four others templates will be for LOCALS template, one for each direction (EB,WB,NB,SB) which will depict local runs along the remaining 400 km of secondary lines. The last one will be the YARDS template for the main areas with large yards and its surroundings.

The whole package has more than 160 regions, more than AG can handle in one SWLTDB file. During the region settings for each path, AG couldn’t reach the window where the different paths are assigned to regions. This is why the SWLTDB file had to be reworked and split in two separate SWLTDB files (one for the Mainline templates and another for the LOCALS template) trying to make the number go below 100. I have kept an original SWLTDB containing all 160 regions in case something happens during construction. After the split the LOCALS SWLTDB file ended with 102 regions, still above AG’s capability and couldn’t go any further. After scrapping some less important areas and going below the 100 mark, AG was able to proceed ahead to complete the region-path settings. Later it has been decided to split the LOCALS in four and rework all SWLTDB files to keep only the regions associated with the paths.

Since Pentecosta has many areas where there are sharp and/or twisting curves, steep grades and even switchbacks on the secondary lines, it has been decided to allow (for the LOCALS template) only 40-45 feet long freight cars to move along these tracks. The SWLACT and SWLTDB files had to be rebuilt to redefine some cars as short cars and also redefining the respective regions to allow only short cars along the LOCALS template. Because of some short sidings for meets, I would suggest for the LOCALS of having a maximum of 15 to 20 cars. A pair of GP38’s will be the player engines for the LOCALS while three sd40-2’s will be able to handle more cars inside the EB and WB mainline templates. On one part of the Mainline templates, the user will be driving left-hand, that is between Mimizan and Nova Bavay.

AI traffic is present in all templates, customized for almost all player paths in all templates. Each player and traffic path has been carefully checked to avoid a Mexican standoff or just a stall along their respective paths. Only Eight (8) downloads are required, all from Trainsim.com and all downloads are from Julien’s mega stocks.

Here’s the total count for Pentecosta so far: 35 Activity files, 104 service files, 88 path files (about half for player and half for traffic files), 7 traffic files and 35 consist files. That is subject to change with testing.

I have set tonight the last traffic paths for the last template (YARDS). Now the real test will begin. If some of you are willing to test the package, welcome aboard! I have no screenshots yet but these will be coming as testing advances.

So that’s it for now. Will update later as testing progresses.

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

Testing with Ted is continuing and improvements are being made. Ted reported some sharp curves in the Nienke-Port area too sharp for the C424's to handle. Shorter G12's were tested and generated the same results. That means 2 sidings were finally removed from the seviceable sidings in the Nienke-Port area.

Following a SLG-generated act from Castor-le-Moet to Buin on the mainline and across the Pentecosta mountains, two changes were done. First, extra power (a 3,300 hp M636) was added to the mainline player consist (originally Two 4500hp M640's) to make a 12300 hp, about the equivalent of four (4) sd40-2's. With two M640's, I couldn't climb the grades (see image 65 below w/40 cars). Even with an additional power, I had to throttle full-power and sanding. It went as low at 5 miles per hour (see image 65 below) before regaining slowly in speed.

Second, helper units were added in five strategic locations to face the sharp and steep curves across the mountans. Helpers have been set at Maribamba (LOCALSEB) , Jujuy (LOCALSEB), Arthuro K. (LOCALSWB), Peney-le-Jorat (EB) and Malak (WB). Location of the helpers can be seen in RED in the Maps area with the concerned templates. Referring again to the image 65, use of the helper made a significant difference ( from 5 to 19mph at the same location)

Before reaching these areas, it would be suggested for the user to save his act in case of insufficient power during climbing. In such case, he can reload his act and use the helpers to climb the steep grades. Once in the summit, if the user wishes, he can uncouple the helper and resume its work.

For the WB, the helper can be uncoupled in Myrtille-Goulet, the EB at Mont-Petzi, the LOCALSWB at the Col de Brumuste area and at Arthuro K for the LOCALS EB.

Here are some additional screenshots of some activities






















Will keep updating its progress