Static engine headlights - not lit

[qballbandit]

Charles,
Going back to my original post, yes - after using Route Riter to create the static engines, I would then follow up by adding all the lighting that I wanted on the engine; dim headlights and dim rearlights, plus safety lights.
Yes - always created the static files from a player .eng file.

I think Wade hit it...may be that the .wag file is the issue vs. it being a true .eng file. OR doesn't accept it for whatever reason; the main lights, anyway.

[crstagg]

Post one of your none operating $engine.wag files to the thread.

[qballbandit]

Here is an example of a Route Riter created static engine that displays my added lights in MSTS, but not in OR.
Note: I copied the original .wag file into this text file. In OR, the front and rear lights don't illuminate, but the safety lights do.

example 1.txt

[baldwin]

I think that if the headlights were defined in the same way as the safety lights they would also work, but without the cone of light. The cone can only be assigned to an eng file, not a wag, so if you turn all those locomotive wags into eng files, the headlights with cones will probably work.

[crstagg]

I think that if the headlights were defined in the same way as the safety lights they would also work, but without the cone of light. The cone can only be assigned to an eng file, not a wag, so if you turn all those locomotive wags into eng files, the headlights with cones will probably work.

Type (0) = Glow
Type (1) = Cone

He has the headlights defined as Type (0)

[crstagg]

Neil,
Try this use that WAG at the rear of a player consist and run it on OR at night and see if rear headlights show dim.

[qballbandit]

They do not. Tried it with cars behind it, and without - no lights.

[crstagg]

Neil,

Test this for the loose consist.

Set the Conditions for the front lights on the lead $engine.wag to:
Conditions (
Unit ( 2 )
Service ( 1 )
)

[wwhall]

Neil,

I think the problem may be in the light placement in the .wag file. It is much different than the original .eng file that I have of that engine. It may be that the lights are just buried in the locomotive somewhere.

I also seem to remember reading somewhere that all locomotives (and, presumably cars) in an OR activity (including loose consists) are considered to be "in service." So, if the Service statement is ( 1 ), that may cause the light not to show.

Also, as a matter of prototypical operation, when a locomotive is truly shut down--that is, prime mover completely shut down (not in Automatic Engine Start-Stop--AESS--mode), all of the lights on the loco should be off. If the engine is idling, then lights may be on or off. In the case of AESS, headlights are usually off (unless the loco is with its train), but safety lights may be on.

So, when I want a dead engine sitting in a yard, I use a $xxxx dead locomotive with no lights. If I want a live idling engine, then I just use a regular .eng. In OR, there is really little use for an #xxxx unpowered loco, either, when OR makes it possible to "isolate" individual locomotives in a Player consist.

What I'm going to have to try one of these days is to jump from a Player train to an AI or loose consist, isolate one of the locomotives, then jump back to the player train and see if that isolated engine stays that way.

[jrmeindl]

Neil,

Missed a thing in my previous post. I did get this to work in the ENG file for a loco just sitting on a siding etc. I changed the controls to what is listed below.

Conditions (
Control ( 0 )
Service ( 0 )
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )

Also would work with the Service parameter set to 1. You can also set the Control parameter to 1 also. All depends on what you are trying to do with the lights per the MSTS document.


Jim

[crstagg]

Neil,

Missed a thing in my previous post. I did get this to work in the ENG file for a loco just sitting on a siding etc. I changed the controls to what is listed below.

Conditions (
Control ( 0 )
Service ( 0 )
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )


Jim

Jim,
What happens when that ENG is the lead in a Player Consist? Would its lights always be on Dim till the switch was set to bright?

[jrmeindl]

Charles,

In that example, the lights, on a player loco would be dim when first starting. They would change as you toggle thru the headlight sequence. One example that I used was for a switch engine. When starting, I used the above sequence to have a dim light on the front. When I switched to dim, the front light went bright. When I went to 3, the front light went to dim and the rear went to bright.

Jim

[qballbandit]

I'll give it a test on Wednesday, Jim - thank you.
Wade, most of the static engines I've made for MSTS over the years were to simulate both running/idling/crew in the cab type engines, temporarily sitting on a yard track, siding, or on industry tracks. I also have some that simulate engines which are shutdown. The former have the dim front/back/safety lights. The latter have no lights.

[qballbandit]

Hello guys,
Today we achieved success! I was able to get a Route Riter .wag file (static engine) to display dim lights.
I used the code:

Light (
comment( Head light Top dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Unit ( 0 )
Service ( 0 )
Control ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 1.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.75 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.0 4.36 6.55 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.35 )
)
)
)
Light (
comment( Head light Bottom dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Unit ( 0 )
Service ( 0 )
Control ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 1.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.75 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.0 4.16 6.53 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.35 )
)
)
)

Did the same for the rear lights. I'd rather copy this code into my dozens of existing static engines, than copy into exisiting engine files, and have to edit all of my routes/activities, swapping in the new engines. This is great!

I thank you all very much for your assistance and suggestions.

[qballbandit]

Just when you think you're in the clear...SMACK!
Though the above post bragged that I achieved what I was looking to do, the big kick in the nuts is that when selecting any train equipment in the AE, it pukes....not yet sure why.