https://trainsim.com/forums/ vBulletin Forums en Sat, 14 Nov 2026 22:31:48 GMT vBulletin 60 https://trainsim.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png https://trainsim.com/forums/ https://trainsim.com/forums/articles/articles/news/2357505-state-of-the-site-november-2026 Sat, 14 Nov 2026 22:21:09 GMT Can you believe it -- Thanksgiving is two weeks away....

After the beginning of the year dragging out while we awaited our house build to be complete, the last couple months have just sped by in a blink. We took a walk around the property today, and it's amazing how different everything looks from just two weeks ago when all the leaves were still up and in their full fall colors. Not today -- they're almost all down now, and we can see across the gorge, and the water is running low enough we can walk across the Emory in places.

With the season change, there's less to do outside, and that's leaving me time for a few overdue changes here.

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First, something I think everyone will be thankful for -- Steam4Me is back online at a new address: https://steam4me.au/

After it went down in 2024, it seems access to its previous address wasn't possible. Yuri's son was finally able to bring it back a week ago at its new address.

In addition, the TeamAlco items which were previously payware are now available as freeware (see https://teamalco.steam4me.au/) including their Garretts. For Australian enthusiasts, this is a great outcome.

For 30 years, the site has been an anchor for the Australian simulation community, and also shares a glimpse into some of Yuri's other interests. I particularly loved seeing the harbor shots of older and newer cruise ships and ferries... and I think we all can be grateful that the countless tutorials are back to be used by new generations in the community. Well done, and a promise ultimately kept.

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File Library Upgrade

If you've used the File Library lately, you probably noticed it got a facelift... Search result lists will now be expandable cards, with summary information displayed in the collapsed view, and full details if you click on the top portion. That should save some space on the screen while scrolling.

The look and feel update was long overdue, but what you won't see is the changes that took place in the background. Up until last week, the file library shared a database with the forum's software, which was less than ideal from a support standpoint. They're now separate. If theres ever a need to move to another platform, or we suffer some form of hacking attack where the forum software is the entry point, having them logically separate reduces a lot of risk. After watching two hectic days of widespread technology failures in the news, reducing risk cannot be overlooked.

Something else that was just implemented was resource pooling. Up until now, all of the site's activity shared the same resources, be it downloading, searching, or just browsing the forums. Now, the downloading and searching are all carved out into their own resource pool, with caps and limits on how much resource those processes can consume. We already have "download slots" to keep the number of free downloads at any one time (i.e. the "Server Full" message that some of you have seen). That's now been implemented for searches as well. If there are too many searches being executed at once, you might get a "Try again in 30 seconds" message. Watching the logs, I've seen as many as 20 searches happening at the same time, each running 5-15 seconds of server time. The math never lies, and when the server runs out of resources, everything stops while services reset and restart. By segregating the pool, the web server should stay up during periods of heavy downloading and searching. I'll be watching the logs to see if that pans out, but I'm encouraged from what I've seen since it went live.

Let's shift back to what you can see...

In addition to the dropdown based searches we've used for the last 20+ years, there is now a tag based search available. This is a lot more efficient on the back-end, especially when looking for things like two and three character reporting marks. It also allows items like a trainset to be classified as a locomotive, passenger car, and other attributes that people might want to search on. You'll see the tags displayed in blue badges on the file cards. Using Ctrl-Click on these, you can assemble a tag based search.

The new database schema is also facilitating two other changes --- reviews and an overhaul of the quota system for free members.

Quota System Changes

Today, downloads are counted over a rolling 30 days, which has made it hard to track when your allowance resets and how much credit you'll see recover on any given day.

That all changes in January. Each member will be getting a fixed Reset Day, so you'll always know when your allowance refreshes:

• If you joined before December 1, 2026, your Reset Day will be on the 1st of each month, starting on January 1, 2027.
• If you join after December 1, 2026, your Reset Day will be based on the calendar day you joined
• If you have a FastPass or First Class Membership and do not renew, your Reset Day will be adjusted to match the expiry day of your membership

The number of credits that post depends on how many days are in that month. A 30-day month gets the existing amount -- credits for 500Mb. For a 31-day month, you'll get a little more, and February gets a little less.


​While this is all new and forward looking, we're also taking a trip back in time... back to your early 2000's cell phone plans... and rollover minutes.

Before unlimited calling was the norm, most phone plans included a set number of minutes. So... think of your download allowance credits as minutes... If you don't use all of your credits before your Reset Day, that unused balance will carry over for use in the following month. Just like a cell phone plan, that unused balance only carries over once, so at most you might wind up with double the available credits when the next month starts.

If you do run out of credits, you now can borrow from next month's allowance and avoid Download Jail

• The loan has to cover what you're over if you're already over
• A loan can't be larger than next month's allowance
• Any amount you borrow and don't use will roll over to the next month

Something else new are bonus credits. These are a little less defined as the the "why" but the "how" is wired and ready to go.

We might give bonus credits for winning a contest, or maybe creating the next world changing upload. Unlike rollover, Bonuses don't necessarily expire unless it's stated at the time they're issued. If you buy a membership, they'll stay in your "bank" indefinitely.

That's a lot of changes around quotas, and I hope it addresses some of the concerns I've heard over the past couple years we've had them. Ideally I'd like people to buy memberships and help support the ongoing expense of keeping the site operating, but I realize that's not an easy option for some of you, and being able to "save up" credits should help.

File Reviews

This is the last big change added... And I know you'll either love it or hate it.

Face it -- not every download is going to be great, and before you use up download credits, it would be nice to know if it's worth doing now, or maybe waiting for another time. Hopefully reviews will make those types of decisions possible. Just like you'll see on retail sites, you can give a 1 to 5 star rating, and leave a written review. After you've submitted a review, you can also add screenshots.

A few of you found this without a formal announcement, and I'd encourage all of you to give it a try after downloading something. Best case, the uploader will get some feedback on their work. Worst case... the uploader might get some feedback on their work. All too often, something gets uploaded and the creators have no idea if it was worth their time doing so.

To help support the review function, My Downloads has been added to the File Library menu, and will list all the files you've downloaded in the past three years (the previous rebuild when the site moved from vBulletin 4 to vBulletin 5). Its required for the short term to support the quota calculations and site activity metrics. You are now also getting a prompt if you've already downloaded it once before (thus helping you save credits).

Your downloading history is not shared with anyone including the file uploaders, but if you'd prefer to not have your older history retained, you can also opt to have it Forgotten after a month by going into the user settings and checking the box for Download History towards the bottom.

I know that's a lot of change in a little time, but these are things that had been in progress for a while, and due to some conflicts with my time, they never got tested and implemented. Happy to hear feedback on what you like and your concerns, as a couple of you have already done.

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With that, it's time to wrap things up.

Even though Thanksgiving is over a week away, I want to close as I usually do by saying thank you, and how grateful I am for this community.

Thank you to those whose memberships and store purchases help keep the servers running, to all the uploaders who keep the library full, and to everyone else who takes a minute to converse, leave a review or even report a problem.

Those small things all add up, and make the site just that much better for the next person who stops by.

However you plan to spend the holiday, I hope you have time with the people you love and maybe get to enjoy a few hours on the rails as well...

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you're here.]]> News eric https://trainsim.com/forums/articles/articles/news/2357505-state-of-the-site-november-2026 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/payware-support-forums/2358475-items-updated Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:20:42 GMT The CPKC Holiday Train graphics for the coaches has been updated so no duplicated coach name. Previously purchased goto your MY ACCOUNT / Download...
The Ontario Northlander original paint and logos was from factory images however a mapping issue also resulted in a black front end on the lower cowl. This has been updated now to the new graphics and paint work on the trainset. ( Available at Mapleleaftracks.com ) - Previously purchased goto your MY ACCOUNT / Download section.

MLTPT28B.jpg

MLTPT28C.jpg]]> Payware Support Forums TorontoMainlineTrains https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/payware-support-forums/2358475-items-updated https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2358399-tsre-next Fri, 13 Nov 2026 19:52:54 GMT
Just curious...

Barry. ]]> TSRE Route Editor amtrak115 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2358399-tsre-next https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2358214-difficulty-applying-images-to-blender-model Wed, 11 Nov 2026 09:02:53 GMT
I have been experiencing difficulty in following the tutorial "Tutorial - Exporting A Crate " in document "BLENDER EXPORTER FOR MSTS AND OPEN RAILS" by Wayne Campbell and Pete Willard". I am using Blender V 5.2.3 LTS and MSTS_ORTS_Exporter_AddOn_v5.3.0.

Specifically

• I have completed steps 1 to 4.
• Then the Materials and MSTS Materials don't appear. I have double clicked on the image icon(?) the red globe on the Material level of the MAIN_2000 item of the MAIN collection, which does make them appear, but is that the correct procedure?
• The next step "We will use the default material (5) that is already applied to the Cube," I don't understand how it is done. I've tried clicking on the "Material Item" (blue bar) but nothing seems to happen. I have also tried ignoring it altogether.
• I followed steps 8, 9, 10 and 11 - I was able to access the texture file and "Accept" it but nothing happens.

II have in fact been able to complete the sequence of steps successfully (in Blender V3.6) but I don't remember how and I am now no longer able to reproduce the procedure.

You will by now have gathered that I am an absolute beginner, so no doubt the problem is that I am doing something wrong - nothing to do with the Exporter.

I would appreciate assistance with this, and also an explanation (if possible) of what each of the steps is doing - much better to know what I'm doing, instead of the "monkey see, monkey do" approach I'm using at the moment.

I have done this in gmax in the past, so I understand in principle what is to be done, but not the specifics.

Regards to all

Tony]]> Open Rails Route Projects and Questions Tonya37 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2358214-difficulty-applying-images-to-blender-model https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2358024-is-there-a-way-to-spawn-multiple-trains-in-open-rails Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:11:38 GMT Is there a way to have multiple trains without making an activity? Is there a way to have multiple trains without making an activity? Open Rails Discussion and Help UP6706 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2358024-is-there-a-way-to-spawn-multiple-trains-in-open-rails https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2357804-new-google-earth Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:46 GMT
Jerry]]> Open Rails Route Projects and Questions landnrailroader https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2357804-new-google-earth https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2357424-skyline-computing-activity-generator Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:03:37 GMT The skylinecomputing.com website has been down for a few days now. :( ]]> Open Rails Discussion and Help niknak https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2357424-skyline-computing-activity-generator https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2357233-error Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:03:04 GMT
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung1.s"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung1.s|k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/textures"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung5.s"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung2.s"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung2.s|k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/textures"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung7.s"
[I] SVW60: "k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/shapes/lnmlctcbung7.s|k:/1msts/routes/lnmainstem/textures"

Jerry]]> TSRE Route Editor landnrailroader https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2357233-error https://trainsim.com/forums/articles/articles/news/2357218-search-engine-updates Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:12:00 GMT Sometime ago I mentioned making some new changes in the file search capability of our library. Among those are the ability for a file to belong to...
Those have started to roll out and some are available for public preview.

In addition to the back-end changes, I've also made a few changes to the user interface to bring things up to a more current state. Results in the new setup use cards that can be expanded and collapsed, allowing more information on the page and less to scroll past.

This is still somewhat a work in progress where colors might change and information might be rearranged, but this will be the new general look and feel in the File Library sections.

If you received a direct link to a file in the past, those are already being displayed out of the new database structure, as shown to the side..

https://trainsim.com/forums/filelib-...leid?fid=90242

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Layout and structure of the search forms remains mostly the same, but the result grid is definitely not the same. Hopefully the information is organized clearly enough that people will be able to find what they're looking for.

Please leave your feedback at the following topic:

https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/ge...-engine-update]]> News eric https://trainsim.com/forums/articles/articles/news/2357218-search-engine-updates https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2357196-tsre-genx-v0-21-custom-route-crashing-when-loaded Tue, 03 Nov 2026 04:19:59 GMT TSRE Route Editor EvolutionMan https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/tsre-route-editor/2357196-tsre-genx-v0-21-custom-route-crashing-when-loaded https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356965-where-to-find-sli-emd-sd60-engine-pack-vol-1 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:34:12 GMT
I'm sure this question has been asked several times before, searched the forums but didn't find a post about it, so sorry for asking this question again.I would like to install the SD60 repaint of the SD50 (file bew_up_sd50) which requires SLI EMD SD60 Engine Pack Vol. 1, which doesn't exist anymore as payware.... Is there a way I can find this Engine Pack somewhere as abandonware or someone could provide the shape file for it if it's not available for sale anywhere? Or does it exist under a new name at TrainSimulation or else? I had all this before I got robbed and they stole all my computer system and external HD's with backed up data.... Any help? Thanks!]]> Open Rails Discussion and Help Royalhudson https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356965-where-to-find-sli-emd-sd60-engine-pack-vol-1 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356741-working-ptc-system-in-open-rails-3d-cabs-demo Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:05:16 GMT
I've been in and out of the hobby quite a bit the last few years, I dumped a 90% finished Genesis into the file library a year or two ago with a 3D cab and figured at some point I'd be motivated enough to return. At work, I've been exposed to Claude Code and have used it a ton the last year. There's a ton of reasons to hate AI, but in code, it's gotten quite good, good enough to spark my interest in applying it to Open Rails to see if I can make my own gameplay more interesting.

With a manual that I was sent, I have implemented a PTC system into Open Rails with just an engine script and 3D cab components, which I'd intend to make available to anyone who wants to add such a feature to their own modern U.S. based locomotives.

Working with Claude Code on the best way to implement this, given that display simulation isn't something Open Rails can do natively, the solution was to animate objects around the display - rolling faceted cylinders that can display textures on each of their faces. As the train moves down the line, the cylinders roll progressively depending on the locomotive's location, speed, and upcoming signal and track conditions. The soft keys work and can do a brake test, with audio cues, and there is overspeed warning and enforcement. The display will warn you if you are overspeeding, and beyond a certain threshold applies a full service brake application which you cannot override until the train is stopped and the system reset.

It is also capable of showing you 4 miles of elevation change via the cyan line.

I should mention - the code and the model could all have been built by hand by a more capable human than I, but Claude's ability to take in all of the Open Rails documentation and. come up with a working solution fairly quickly was a welcome surprise for adding a neat feature to a very niche hobby.

There are some misaligned digital readouts on the display which I will sort out, and to my understanding many road's PTC systems have some differences, but for me the goal was a display that "worked" close enough to reality to run without the track monitor and add to the immersion. Thoughts, feelings, is this something people have been asking for or is this a tedious addition that adds no real function? When I test it some more I'll package it up and make it available to anyone, but sometimes I feel that modern U.S. equipment is a not a huge focus for sim users!

Video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tbq...ew?usp=sharing

Screenshot 2026-10-29 at 11.00.48 AM.png​Screenshot 2026-10-29 at 11.01.21 AM.png​]]> Open Rails Discussion and Help Strawberry Yogurt https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356741-working-ptc-system-in-open-rails-3d-cabs-demo https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2356614-bnsf-emporia-sub Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:39:25 GMT
I'm just wondering if there are any known better versions of the BNSF Emporia Sub and Argentine Yard/ Santa Fe Junction available for MSTS/ORTS?

I recently spent 3 weeks for a work assignment in Olathe/Overland Park KS. I spent a day recording trains in Olathe and spent some time visiting the Argentine Yard and Santa Fe Junction. Just seems odd we don't have a modern day representation of this busy section of the Southern Transcon Route?

This was my second time visiting Kansas City. Last time I was over in KCMO out by the airport for 3 weeks. Didn't get any rail action on that occasion unfortunately.

I actually fell in love with Kansas and the Emporia Sub. And I think I've seen this video about 10 times now lol.

Robert]]> Open Rails Route Projects and Questions NW 2156 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-route-projects-and-questions/2356614-bnsf-emporia-sub https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-installation-and-content-help/2356604-sli-mactier-honda-turn Wed, 28 Oct 2026 05:08:49 GMT I was recently running the Honda Turn activity for the CP MacTier Sub and when I go and run part 3 there are no autoracks showing anywhere in the... I was recently running the Honda Turn activity for the CP MacTier Sub and when I go and run part 3 there are no autoracks showing anywhere in the Honda yard. I deleted and reinstalled the route and trainsets for the route and no change. Has anybody else ran into this problem before? Ive ran this activity many times before without this happening. Open Rails Installation and Content Help 1996fan https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-installation-and-content-help/2356604-sli-mactier-honda-turn https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356538-problems-with-rfp3 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:53:36 GMT Screenshot 2026-10-26 104854.png Screenshot 2026-10-25 151756.png Screenshot 2026-10-25 151810.png Screenshot 2026-10-25 151856.png]]> Open Rails Discussion and Help UP6706 https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/open-rails/open-rails-discussion/2356538-problems-with-rfp3