How many cars including locomotives is the maximum for this program?

[cn bala]

I was searching to find what is the general rule for this program to have a player train to run. I was wondering how many cars including locomotives can run with this program? I believe that was answered before but couldn't find it. The maximum is 60. Is that correct?

John

[wwhall]

I regularly run trains with over 100. Depending on the computer, frame rates will slow down the more trains and cars there are. It also depends on how high the polys are in the cars and how "cluttered" the route is. A lot of the stuff that I run is high poly. OR will run train lengths and poly counts that will choke MSTS. A "typical" long train for me is 105 cars, with 4-6 locos, depending on the route--usually a couple on the point, one or two mid-train ("swing"), and one or two rear, a fairly typical distributed power ("DP") configuration.

[cn bala]

Thank you and that is true with MSTS will choke with long trains. That is why I am asking about Open Rails. Will try to see if I can get at the most with 80 and if it works then upgrade to 100.

John

[Don6218]

I am currently running a 113 unit train including 6 locomotives on SLI Green River with 46-52fps frame rates and no issues on my ancient machine in Open Rails. The lead 3 locos are recent higher poly UP ones.

[Vince]

Hi John,
Why don't YOU make up the longest consist you can and then report your results?

regards,

[cn bala]

Good point Vince but I am curious to see what other train simmers have for their train consists in Open Rails.

Smile,

John

[Vince]

Hi John,
Other simmers usually run with prototypical consists. You're knowledgeable about trains so you already know what they are.
If you want to know the limit then you should test and find out.
I personally have lashed up 400 cars and 10 engines. Open Rails - No problem. MSTS - Instant crash.
I have loaded every visible yard track along the PRR-East from Newark, NJ to Washington DC with driveable consists ... no problem. MSTS pukes big time if I try to load this activity.

regards,

[ossie]

I run my stack trains around 120 - 140 wells each but often go beyond that point with manifest trains. Aside from slight framerate hits if you get a couple together in a high scenery area, the only real issue I'd ever had was with the stack textures. If my player train was a stack train and I passed a couple of others in close proximity, then things could get a bit shaky and I'd often start seeing the textures "grey out". Since making up dxt1 versions of all my containers and well cars and running them on all my AI trains, it hasn't been an issue. Case in point (& ugly flickr compression aside):

JB Hunt East by ORTS Screenshots, on Flickr

One of my many frustrations with MSTS was its poor ability to run big trains and I wouldn't have even contemplated a scenario like that one. ORTS has been gold for big train fans.

[Donell]

I have run the world record breaking BHP train with 8 AC6000CW and 682 loaded ore cars. I have run their 3 rakes with 6 engines and 336 ore loads and just today I did a test run from MAC to Yandi Jct with 4 SD70ACe and 264 loaded ore cars. One of the longest manifest consists I made was of a UP train with 6 engines and 189 cars. Stack trains I have some sizeable monsters with the BNSF 16K 10 engines and 281 wells D/stack and some with 9 engines 283 wells. I have some smaller consists with 6 or 7 engines and 205 wells and these I prefer to use as my AI when player is a 16k. Not to mention the UP test train with 9 ES44ACs and some 295 D/stacks. Yes, these consists can bring your machine to its knees.

[Don6218]

In reality, if you want some operating scenery, the longest train should still clear your shortest siding. If you keep the long train on the mainline there should not be any issues, as long as the AI's can fit into the sidings along the way.

It is almost the same as when people ask me "How fast does it go?" when I show them my Lionel trains, as fast as you want, but how fast do you want to go and retain some realism. This part of the hobby is nice because you can add "Traffic" which adds to the enjoyment, at least for me.