Hi to all,

Has someone taken a look at the recently released Monon II route with its massive files to find out if the sidings are well tagged for a template?


Thanks

Hi Denis,

I'm currently running a train from Chicago to Indianapolis just to view the route. As far as siding markings, it really depends what portion of the route you are in. Many of the sidings in the Chicagoland portion are not marked. An example is Santa Fe's Corwith Yard. Many of the yard sidings are filled with "eye candy" car shapes that are not visible in the Activity Editor. As you go south into Indiana, the siding are not marked very well towards the end in the yard areas. It probably wouldn't work very well as a template. If you do install it, make sure you put it in a temporary directory first. The *.exe files would like to re-write many of the files in \Train Simulator\Global directory. In some cases the files are older versions if you have installed the latest X-tracks and New Roads installed. I probably dumped about 50-100 megabytes of files that were not needed.

It's a great route, but not really suited for Activity Generator.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your insight of the route. That will spare me from downloading the close to 1GB of files to be disappointed finding out after.

None of our "regular" template builders are planning to work this route. Even so, if anyone is interested, please post here so that no one else duplicates the effort.

Hi all
This is Rick
Author of MONON-2
Just uploaded version 8 and am planning to template.
What are you all talking about the "Yards not good for templating"
All Yards Have Siding Markers except where static yard track and cars are except up in Chicago itself.
From IHB yard in Southern Chicago to Louisville, every siding has a Name.........except static tracks....

Someone explain what you are referring to, please......

Hi Rick,

In my original post, I noted that the Chicagoland portion is the only section that is not suited for AG. There are very few siding markers in that section of the route. This would make that portion impossible to make switch lists for. In order for AG to work, you need a marker on those sidings. The rest of the route is marked, so it would work with AG. I suppose with some of AG's options, you could start a whole train in Chicagoland and not start switching until you move to one of the other sections. You just couldn't switch in Chicagoland. As for the tracks with static cars. While making the template, you would have to remove them, if any, from the *.csv files to keep AG from generating any work there. I did use some siding in Cajon that had static cars, but you need to make sure that there is some room for you to place a marker car and then you would have to limit the number of cars placed there.

Jim

The static tracks should not be an issue.
They do not show up in Route Editor because they are scenery objects in reality, not real tracks or cars..
Do you agree that scenery objects do not show up?
The static scenery yard cars are on static scenery tracks.....................scenery objects just like a tree...
Am I wrong or do I need to adjust something before templating.....?

As for Chiland, I consider that a Passenger route only, because it was built that way. Does everyone want switching on Chiland areas? I can add markers and delay Version 8 release...

Let me know what you think.
Thanks

Rick: Where is the new version posted, Train-Sim? Thanks, Pete

Waiting for a reply and have stopped release at Train Sim, May go back and adjust to add Siding Markers to CHI LAND for freight in Chicago.......
But it will be in train-sim.com.....

I think you meant the Activity Editor. Cars on static tracks, they will show up in the RE, but not in the AE. They won't be an issue as long as you don't place any marker cars on those sidings or if they just don't have siding markers (static scenery tracks) they definitely won't be an issue. (I don't remember which of the tracks that had static cars.) If they do have siding markers, you just need to make sure that they don't show up in any of the *.csv files. Even if there are no marker cars, AG can call for setouts on those sidings if someone were to chose them. That only will happen if they show up in the work check list. Reason for deleting those entries in the SWLTDB??.csv (track database) file.

Chiland being passenger only would be fine for me. AG just can't generate passenger activities. With that said, when AG generates your starting files for the templates, it will include any siding or track that is marked in Chiland. Those should be deleted from the SWLTDB??.csv file so no one can chose them for any work.

The rest of the route is definitely set up properly for a template.

Jim

Well
I just finished removing all directional very short siding markers in CHILAND on the MONON-2 and made siding markers for any track that should be Freight switched capable.............yuk..........but done...........
Rick

I am starting on the Monon template. Pete

This is exciting, thanks!

This just posted today:

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?t=275214

It is being worked on now by Pete.

The template is now complete and have started testing. It is a large route of over 1700 miles of track so it is going to take a while. The route uses no default stock but comes with all the rolling stock included with the templates. Pete

The template has been sent to Steve. Pete

Am I the only one having problems with activities originating in Michigan City? I have created, or attempted to create, 3 different activities originating in MC. My first attempt was a Michigan City to Louisville run, with several set offs and pick ups enroute. An analysis showed the path was not created, and locked up train sim. Tried the same route a second time, same result. Second activity was scaled back from MC to Monon, same result. Any thoughts? Running AG Version 4.2.2

I have created quite a few activities out of Michigan City with no problem. Just to be sure I just made another from Michigam City to Louisville after reading your post. I also checked it in RR with no problems there either. I am running AG 4.2.11. What kind of error message are you getting. Pete

Please update to the leatest version and try again.

Thank you, that seemed to solve that issue. I noticed that pressing F11 does not list the work order, though I generally print out the switch list. This is for any route I generate an activity with AG.

Disregard my last statement about F11 not working on any route. Does seem to work on some routes. Will have to study a little more.

Thats what I find too, works on some and not others but like you say just print it. Pete

I'm glad to hear that. Now I know it isn't something I've done. Thank you.