DRS: New Route Editor Incoming

[NorthernWarrior]

According to a post on their Facebook page, Diesel Railcar Editor is about to get an all new editor, actually landing tomorrow. The quick tech video clip on FB seems to show something more akin to the 3D world editors we are used to in other sims.

Certainly seems interesting as I would love to start throwing together routes for something new, really bored with route creation in Trainz and TSC. Just remains to be seen what support the new editor offers for real world data import, specifically DEM data for terrain and some form of GPS marker or map overlay.

[eric]

If you want to write up a review for the home page, let me know.

Watching the video, it looks pretty cool.

[NorthernWarrior]

If you want to write up a review for the home page, let me know.

Watching the video, it looks pretty cool.

Early days Eric but it does look good.

Really hope it supports real world data as there are a large number of UK secondary and branch lines which were operated by these DMU's which have never seen the light of day in any of the other sims.

[haverfordwest]

A lot of the features have been in DRS for a long time Vern.

They have just been expanded on, as in auto fences. They used to just be auto generated walls, but now you get the chance to choose, types of fence and walls.

I have had the beta installed on and off for the last 9 months i think it is. So even the new features are very familiar to me.

As far as i know there is no map or terrain data, importation yet.

But it is definitely on the features to do list.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

Appreciate the info Mike.

Not sure how I managed to miss the beta. Need to get my head out of Trainz.

3D editing should still be a huge step up from the plan view original and ought to be possible to get something going with it. After all in the early days of MSTS we had no means of using DEM and had to build up the terrain from scratch.

[haverfordwest]

No problem Vern, hate to sound like a complete know it all.

But there have always been 2D and 3D modes for the route editor, buddy.

They actually compliment each other, depending on what you are doing.

You are able to go from one game to another Vern. So a bit of Trainz and a bit of DRS, could give you more variety in regards route creation.

I can only concentrate on one game at a time, at the moment it is Trainz

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

Found this...

https://www.naguide.com/diesel-railcar-simulator-route-guide/

Possibly a bit out of date, but a start.

[haverfordwest]

Never seen that before thanks Vern. I learnt on the job, like all apprentices do

Just had a quick look through it, tunnels are now supported. Bridges and viaducts are created differently now.

Streets and roads are no longer created in a grid, much more flexible.

I think it is key 8 or 9 to switch between 2D & 3D modes in the editor.

I have also created timetables, which are quite straight forward once you get the hang of it.

Mike.

[eric]

They just sent me the product release announcement with a YouTube link for those who don't do the book of faces.

https://www.trainsim.com/vbts/content.php?879-Scenery-Update-for-Diesel-Railcar-Simulator

[NorthernWarrior]

I found that thread on steam which discusses how to get a semi transparent map overlay on the 2D editor view. Crude but in the absence of anything more technical, it will have to do. For a quick experiment matched up the measurement then plotted the rough course of the line with trees. Will certainly work for short routes but in the long term a more sophisticated system is needed.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/750170/discussions/0/5144805327246441651/

[haverfordwest]

Yeah i was all over that thread at the time Vern. Still don't really understand it.

One thing i really don't like in the update. Is the ballast under the track, there is no built up representation.

Track is just flat on the terrain, with a ballast texture spread around.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

I haven't quite got that far!

And yes that mapping/image program seems a bit temperamental, stopped responding to Ctrl-T so I wasn't able to move it to finish plotting the course of the route.

As I've said before, if Oskari can get it more like Trainz with Transdem we would be away, but I can't really see 100% or even 50% prototypical routes until that happens.

The other thing I'm struggling to see is how you delete "scrapped" projects and actually give the one you're working on a proper name.

[haverfordwest]

Vern, i noticed it when i was driving one of the built in routes. So then i went into the editor and layed some track. I am pretty sure it wasn't like that with the original track.

You had a go at the map overlay thingie then. I keep meaning to have a look at the blokes, West Highland Line on the workshop.

At least i think it is the WHL. Shame you haven't got access to the Taff Vale, that is really well done. Best route in DRS i would say and all done without data input. Apart from the signalling diagrams i gave him.

Completely agree game needs data and map importation functions. I would really like to do my own line up to Swansea, even got the Class 119's and 120's that ran here already in the game.

Scrapped as in you want to get rid of them. Your own personal data is saved \Users\YourName\AppData\LocalLow\Lapioware\Diesel Railcar Simulator\Routes\ then a folder with a stream of numbers and letters.

Just delete that last folder Vern. Piccie, i just extended track to a siding to show ballast and track bed.



Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

Thanks Mike, hopefully a menu to manage the route name and delete unwanted attempts will come.

I'm not too keen on how the fences auto generate with the track and to change the type or turn it off you actually need to lay a section first. Also would prefer the platforms not to generate with a building.

But it's good fun trying something new and with TRS22 sending the laptop into orbit, this is easier on the hardware (a bit).

Edit:

One possible bug I found, after placing an object (station sign) and switching back to track laying mode the tool still wanted to place the sign. Couldn't get rid of it without exiting the editor and going back in.

I worked out how to remove the default building placed with a platform (well it worked once, not sure about the second time). However, not sure how you get rid of the fence posts on one side which otherwise are sticking up through the platform surface. I know how to change the track properties so no fence shows but how do you then get it to appear on the offside at a single track halt?

[NorthernWarrior]

Update…
I posted a summary of the various issues on the Steam forum to which Oskari kindly responded. There is a rough and ready guide to route building on Steam which I’m going to digest later. Also seems the 3D view doesn’t automatically or quickly update which is why you can end up with fence posts left where they shouldn’t be, F5 to refresh the view is your friend.