ORTS Physics

[jefffarq]

After realizing that standard physics for MSTS don't always work very well in ORTS (see my post about not being able to stop the train), I've been searching for some guidance on how to modify braking, etc. for ORTS. I'm sure there is some info available on this, but using SEARCH here has turned up nothing helpful (imagine that!).

Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm curious to see what needs to be changed and by how much. I do have a .wag file provided by a forum member here for the flatcar in question, which works quite well; some areas of it look very different from the stock file. I'm wanting to learn about some of the changes he's made.

Thanks,

[crstagg]

Elvas Tower and the OR Manual

[baldwin]

Some of the parameters in the stock file for that car are not normal MSTS physics either. They are a derived set that work well in MSTS because of the way the physics code operates there. OR uses a different method and thus requires figures to be more in line with the real world. Same goes for locomotives. To get the best out of them the maxpower line has to be the same as the real thing, no derating to allow for mechanical and electrical loss in the system as is done in MSTS.

[R. Steele]

Jeff, here's a list of ET links concerning OR and the adjustments needed. Some threads are off topic here, but may be helpful for other OR operating situations you encounter. Hope you can find what you need among them.

While I only have about 4 years experience with OR & MSTS, I'm willing to help, PM if you have a question.

TCS EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLICATION, ALL THE TIME. ADJUSTMENT TO ENGINE FILE.
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...93#entry168193

Link to Elvas thread on adjusting brightness, color and cone radius.
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...dlights-in-or/
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...50#entry166150

Running ORTS without MSTS:
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...-without-msts/

ORTS Signaling Functions:
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...ing-functions/

Activity Message Pauses in OR
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind..._1#entry175203

SigCfg.dat SignalNumClearAhead
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...27482-signals/
OR Manual Paragraphs 10.14.1 & 10.14.2

Speed Reduction for RESTRICTED and STOP_AND_PROCEED
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...__hl__approach
Includes discussion of modifying sigcfg.dat file

V5.10OR Physics for Open Rails
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind..._1#entry177805
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind..._1#entry145353
Realistic physics for engines in OR

Removing Trees from Tracks in OR
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...ees-on-tracks/
See posts #'s 11, 63, 67, 72, & 73.

Starting AI Traffic after Midnight
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...54#entry194554

Number Size in the CABVIEW: ORTSfont line in cvf
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...n-the-cabview/
See post #'s 22, 66, 73, 74, 84, & 85

Train Switching in ORTS using ALT+F9 - TrainListWindow
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...b+%2Bswitching

Switch Position indication Reversed
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...47#entry196247

Locomotive Performance in ORTS
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...45#entry203945

ORTS Anti Slip - WheelSlip features
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...20#entry206943

Advanced Adhesion & ORTSDriveWheelWeight Parameter
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...esion-in-snow/

[qballbandit]

Gerry,
While I just last night was weeding through posts at Elvas, this list is great to have - on one page. A lot of very useful topics.
Thanks for compiling the links above in your reply!

[geepster775]

Just as an FYI, 3 topics are dead links if you aren't a member


Signalling functions

V5.10 physics

Cab Switching using ALT-F9

[R. Steele]

Just as an FYI, 3 topics are dead links if you aren't a member
Signalling functions

V5.10 physics

Cab Switching using ALT-F9

Sorry 'bout that, I assumed all the links went to the public part of the OR forums.
Perhaps someone who knows Bob Boudoin would ask if he could post the V5.10 OR physics information here?

I'll see if the other thread by Matej Pacha ( OR Dev Team ) could be copied to the public part of ET.

Please see this section in the OR manual for Train Switching >>> 7.8 Changing the Train Driven by the Player

Also, of great interest is the thread for making working turntables for OR (membership apparently needed for this part of the OR forums) http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...nal-turntable/

[jefffarq]

Gerry,

Thanks for the links; lots of good info there.

I had no idea ORTS was getting so complex...

[muskokaandtahoe]

Anyone who has been around MSTS for along time knows there have been lots of posts about the braking parameters.... numbers all over the place. Recently I came across some information from the New York Central RR that led me to some realistic numbers: Set your MaxBrakeForce() value to 60-70% of Mass() when Mass() is for an empty car.

The deal is if braking force is too high the wheels will lock up and skid, damaging both wheel and track. Railroads eventually figured out that setting the brake equipment per the empty weight of a car resulted in an optimal force. Further research showed this wasn't quite right for open hoppers -- light when empty, very heavy when loaded and so the empty/load device was added that dynamically adjusted the brake equipment for each situation.

The RR's recommenced most cars use 60-70%. I use 60% for most cars and hoppers use 70%. I expect locomotives could be 100% of their un-fueled weight.

It might not be right for MSTS but it does seem to be right in OR.

[muskokaandtahoe]

Gerry missed one -- fixing the cone of bright light on locomotive headlights.

The OR team does not have access to KUJU's source code so quite a few things had to be assumed by studying what you could see in MSTS. That worked most of the time but it did not for the cone of light. Needing to do something the solution chosen was to re-purpose two parameters used in the cone of light -- radius and angle. Those two are now completely different in OR as compared to MSTS.

For radius(), use a value equal to how far out the light will be cast from the headlight. Most North American headlights are quite bright and will go out between half a mile to one mile. That seems like a lot but remember that North American trains are quite heavy and will take a long time to stop.

For angle, use a value between 4 and 5. This represents the total angle of the cone as measured at the headlight. That range is fairly standard for bulbs used in locomotive headlights.

These will result in fairly realistic representation of North American headlights. The cone will be very much more narrow and longer than what was used in MSTS. Equipment on other continents will probably require other values -- for instance light trains do not need to cast the light so far.

AFAIK glow bulbs in OR work correctly using original msts values.