Direction not correct anyway. Compass is closer to 270 than 360 therefore direction is "W" not "N"!
OOOPS there, Direction refers to the reverser position, NOT compass heading.
Cheers, Gerry
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Version
Very important to know what version you use.
You can use a Stable version or many experimental versions
Personnaly I use at least two versions, a stable and the last experimental
Also most of the time, I keep a good experimental version for a certain time - If the latest experimental version is not very good or have some bugs, I have always a good experimental version in service. Very important to know what I use.
Direction
It is very important this is the direction of your train move.
N = Neutral - Foward = Go away and Reverse = Backup
Train Brake: Service
It`s important to see if your BC is at zero ( 0 ) - Because it`s impossible to move your train if the BC is over.
FPS
OK not important for driving a train, but it`s good to see if your GC is OK anywhere on a route. Placed it in an other place would require an other window, I think.
Version, Very important to know what version you use.
NO. It goes without saying that users of ORTS should always use the last released Testing Version, or else what is the point of updating it frequently !
In any case it shows at the top of the ORTS Menu screen !
Train Brake: Service. It`s important to see if your BC is at zero ( 0 ) - Because it`s impossible to move your train if the BC is over.
When the BC shows Zero ( 0 ) then the Train Brakes have been released to ZERO %, indicating to the Engineer / Driver that Throttle can be applied and the train can be driven !
FPS. OK, not important for driving a train, but it`s good to see if your GC is OK anywhere on a route. Placed it in an other place would require an other window, I think.
The MSTS Shift-Z toggle always shows it bottom right of the Desktop and Bandicam and others can move it with F12 ! Real trains do not have it !
NO. It goes without saying that users of ORTS should always use the last released Testing Version, or else what is the point of updating it frequently !
Yeah, no, it doesn't.
Experimental and testing versions are for the people who are committed to opening bug reports and with an above-novice tolerance for things that might go astray with code changes.
Not everyone fits that description, so yes, version matters.
Also, depending on screenshots to convey debugging info isn't always helpful. When I'm using a mobile, personal hotspot or otherwise dealing with very low bandwidth, I will specifically block images.
I don't mind the FPS, and have rarely used the compass even in MSTS.
Originally posted by OTTODAD
Real trains do not have it !
Real trains don't have instant brake line recharge or the ability to throw switches from the cab, but I'm glad the functionality is there...
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Who uses the F5 HUD when driving a train anyway? Who wants all that text blather up there when its not essential? How Trainz-like.
Its for diagnostics, and as an aid when switching or examining brake state on cars, but not long stretches of driving.
One thing I do wish is that the F5 brought back curvature data, Grade and curve data went hand in hand in MSTS, displayed on the same line. It sucks having to keep MSTS around just to examine the curvatures stats in a route. And I wish the brake data showed the entire train, not just the front half with the rear half of the cars dropped off the bottom of the screen. Can't examine angle cock or hose status when doing a setout or pickup near the rear of the train. Have to use the shortcut too often as a blanket fix since I cant see back far enough using the HUD.
The "BC" is a good tool to have in the hud, because some cabs simply don't show the Main Res/Equalizer gauge, nor the Brake Pipe/Brake Cylinder gauge..
Those are something you SHOULD know as a "driver" of a train anyways. Gives you better ways to handle your trains smoothly, and safely.
To start with I NEVER DEMAND anything and make SUGGESTIONS, many of which have been implemented by Railworks and utilities developers for it, like Mike Simpson and others !
@CSRX - I am not interested in brake lines BC PSI and other related data. All I want to know is whether Train Brakes have been released and I can drive my Players.
Carlo Santucci has improved their more instant release with his CTRL-; function !
@Geepster - Using my Headout cameras most of the time, I would like to see the state of players BASIC controls, like MSFS can do and have created my version of the MSTS F5-Hud showing just this:
Anything else I want to monitor there are many more specific functions for doing that !
Everybody has their own preferences and mine are better Tracks, better Camera views, looking at better Scenery, which are shared by many !
Throwing switches when driving trains in their Simulators is possible only if they allow that in Activities and Scenarios and DTG no longer supplying Freeroam ones users of it have to create their own, if they know How-To, mine also being capable of changing to existing players and running multiple AIs !
Back in Vienna, where I came from in 1956, drivers of its Trams could throw switches ahead of them like so:
Carry on doing in Train Simulators what you prefer and also suggest what you like to be improved. As NELS has pointed out, the ORTS team should note that in his forum for it, some already do !
Perhaps we need to be thinking in terms of two different things. One is Simulator status and functions, EG, FPS, version. and material found in the extended f5 functions (shift=f5.)
The other is train operations information that might appear in the computer window of a modern locomotive. (Break status, slack action, EOT readings.
I would like to see the train operations information in a window that could be resized and either be displayed as a HUD or with an opaque background. This would allow the display to be moved to cover one of the computer screen displays with real time information. Maybe the wheel slip warning could be part of this display and the operator could decide how to use it.
........ and DTG no longer supplying Freeroam ones users of it have to create their own, if they know How-To, mine also being capable of changing to existing players and running multiple AIs !...
What the hell has this got to do with the subject at hand, which is the F5 function in Open Rails?
And yes, Otto...you do make demands.
You never use phrasing such as (for example) "Maybe you might like to consider....."
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What the hell has this got to do with the subject at hand, which is the F5 function in Open Rails?
Forget where I was there for a moment. Old age you know !
And yes, Otto...you do make demands. You never use phrasing such as (for example) "Maybe you might like to consider....."
I do not make allowances for the few who use their own interpretations of what has been written and prefer to use PLAIN ENGLISH, most readers understanding its meaning of and if they don't then can ask a question, like some of the many thousands of staff did I have managed in my working life and clients I have supported !
[/COLOR]@CSRX - I am not interested in brake lines BC PSI and other related data. All I want to know is whether Train Brakes have been released and I can drive my Players. [/B]
Okay, well that is the difference between being a "game" and being a "simulator"
If you want a game, I'd suggest sticking to Railworks, or whatever it's called now.
No offence, but if you actually understood train operations, you would know that BC (Brake Cylinder) would mean weather or not the car brakes, on the trainline, are fully released or not. Even in the real world, it takes some time for all the cars to fully release, making it a very sluggish start if you want to get going ASAP. So honestly, it's rather important to know this, other wise, have fun with the broken knuckles, drawbars, etc.
So if you want to know if your brakes are released, best be keeping an eye on that BC part!
Also, Direction DOES not mean North as you are thinking. In fact, it means Neutral. Other wise known as, reverser being in the center position, rather than forward (F) or reverse (R).
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