Odometer: feet vs. meters

[qballbandit]

Hello,
Ran two different routes last night, and noticed that in one route that the odo meter was displaying in feet, and other in meters. What determines the difference, as I'd like to change the one reading in meters to feet.

Thanks very much!

[baldwin]

The route trk file usually. Change MilepostUnitsKilometers ( ) to MilepostUnitsMiles ( ) and the odo should read in miles.

[qballbandit]

Perfect, thanks very much baldwin!

[CSRX]

Speaking of Odo.. Would be nice if we had a feature that would count down the length of a train, much like a Telemetry box would. Most if not all Consist editors now feature the train length, as does ORTS, would be nice to be able to hit a button at a resume speed sign for example, watch the footage count down to 0, and work your way back to track speed. Much better than being in Camera 3...

I work too much for the real thing don't I? ugh. lol

[qballbandit]

What would be the difference between counting up from "0" to your train length vs. counting down?
When is each method used during operations?

I ask, because I always just use the rest odo, then count up from 0 at resume speed signs, or coming out of a turnout, etc.

[CSRX]

Well, in reality, if you don't know your exact train length, the odometer will give a rough count of how long the train is when you hit it at a certain mark, and then watch the tail of your train go past that mark. However, doesn't work very well with more than 50 cars. Some engineers prefer using the odometer as well (plugged into the digital speedometer), and watch as it counts up, when of course, knowing the train length. Me personally in real life, I feel this is a distraction, especially when watching crossings.

Counting down, via train length, works just as well. The telemetry, typically beeps when it hits 0, letting you know your train has past the mark, without distracting yourself by watching the numbers go up, or down, or by sticking your head out the window. Of course this also works best when the train consist paper work gives you your exact train length, or the M-Crew program.

In short, odometer is typically used when judging your train length, (without having the paper work, or it's improper length)
Train Length countdown, is typically used when you have the length preset.

[UP_4848_Thunder]

At a fresh start hold ctrl + shift an press Z once then press ctrl Z an start watching the countdown. Repeat the step if you want to count back to upward.

Would be nice as a cab feature for ORTS extended cabs features.

[ebnertra000]

The RW use of the odometer that I've heard is when going into a siding, the odometer (I think theirs counted up) would be started when the engine gets into the clear or passes the signal, and then when the number reached the length of the train, they knew that all their train is in the clear. Of course, that only works if you know for sure how long your train is