How to use OR with no previous MSTS install, or I'm totally botching the process?

[TennPass]

Hi all,

I understand it's possible, but I'm failing here. Unfortunately I never owned a copy of MSTS before hand to either a)use it for OR b)reference it's file structure to see how the route files need to be placed

I'll preface by saying I've searched and googled and all I come up with is how the file structure needs to be in order to "look like" a MSTS route to OR.

RouteName -> Routes, Trains, Global, Sound


What I'm not getting is where the unzipped route files need to go once they are all unzipped. I've read that if the creator was kind enough to include an installer that everything kinda finds it's own locations when you point it to the RouteName file you created. I've also seen it mentioned that all the unzipped files go into the ROUTES folder for the route I'm trying to create for OR.

I've tried it a few different ways and the results are not creating anything so I'm asking here. Is there a more formal how-to other than the readme files and a few posts on the internet of "have the file structure like this, dump all the files in ROUTES"?

For instance I downloaded a Tennessee Pass route. Unzipped everything in the file structure I created below
TennesseePass -> ROUTES, TRAINS, GLOBAL, SOUND
I then have tried putting all the unzipped files in the ROUTES folder per the readme, but all I get in OR is an "Installation Profile" of TennesseePass and nothing else populates. No routes, nothing.

Maybe I'm missing a step? Maybe without a previous install of MSTS I'm hosed?

[R. Steele]

Find the ORTS manual (included with downloaded program, I believe) and read ALL of section: 4 "Use of MSTS Files by Open Rails"

Now that you have some reading to do, I'll provide a little explanation of where everything goes, I'm sure others will post also.

ROUTES folder: Is the parent folder to all the routes folders, the only thing that goes in the ROUTES folder is a route. NO trains, consists, only routes. see below, the folder highlighted in blue is the Tennessee Pass route residing in the ROUTES folder.
bandicam 2016-09-14 22-22-28-142.jpg

TRAINS folder: is the parent folder for the TRAINSET and CONSISTS folders. The CONSISTS folder is where all the consist or .con files go.
The TRAINSET folder is where all the rolling stock is placed. All locomotives, and wagons are here in sub folders. Also are usually two other folders, the Common.Cab and Common.Snd.

I'll let others fill in the rest. You need to do some reading. Also, consider the purchase of a payware route, the Western Pacific Feather River found here >>> http://www.3dtrains.com/ contains everything you need, route, rolling stock, consists, sounds, cabviews, and an excellent route. IT will run in OR. You do not need MSTS at all. OR setup containing the WP3 shown below.
bandicam 2016-09-14 22-33-43-155.jpg bandicam 2016-09-14 22-33-56-996.jpg

One last item, if a route has an "install.bat" file that needs to be run before using the route, then that route requires some MSTS default files.

Check the Open Rails web site for stand alone OR routes >>> http://openrails.org/download/content/

[crstagg]

To add to what Gerry said about the WP3 Feather River route and this applies to any installation w/o MSTS installed. You need a dieselsmoke.ace file in the Textures subfolder of the Global folder. This will give you a more realistic diesel exhaust. Without it you will get squares of smoke. It come with MSTS, but replacements are available in the library here or at http://www.3dtrains.com/downloads/misc.shtml

[TennPass]

Thanks guys. I went back after posting and did some file rearranging and got two routes to show up on OR, but they were not launchable. I'll keep reading and use your advice for where to place certain files Steele, that was information I wasn't getting or picking up on.