Locomotive features and Animation in Open Rails

[BrandonS261]

So I just wanted to get a general idea of what features and animations that can be done to locomotives along with how to add them to new models? I believe this could help modelers who are building new locomotives along with ones who download them to figure out how to use the features. By any means if I forget any please let me know. I am just thinking off of the top of my head at the moment.

Animations

Steam Locomotives

1. ringing bell
2. Doors open/shut
3. Animated coal load

Diesels

1. Doors open/Shut
2. Animated fans
3. Windshield Wipers
4. mirrors

Electric

1. Pantograph up/down
2. Doors Open/Shut
3. Windshield Wipers
4. Mirrors

Now I know there is quite a handful of physics for each class of locomotive so I will not get into that but if anyone want to go through those that would be fantastic. As for freight and passenger cars I am not sure all of the animations for them quite yet so please fill me in if possible.

Brandon

[pwillard]

To be honest. A general guide for "how to animate" anything is probably needed. People have been asking about animating scenery as well.

[TrainGuy6550]

A general guide for "how to animate" anything is probably needed.

Absolutely a +1

[ZachBell4400]

So I just wanted to get a general idea of what features and animations that can be done to locomotives along with how to add them to new models? I believe this could help modelers who are building new locomotives along with ones who download them to figure out how to use the features. By any means if I forget any please let me know. I am just thinking off of the top of my head at the moment.

Animations

Steam Locomotives

1. ringing bell
2. Doors open/shut
3. Animated coal load

Diesels

1. Doors open/Shut
2. Animated fans
3. Windshield Wipers
4. mirrors

Electric

1. Pantograph up/down
2. Doors Open/Shut
3. Windshield Wipers
4. Mirrors

Now I know there is quite a handful of physics for each class of locomotive so I will not get into that but if anyone want to go through those that would be fantastic. As for freight and passenger cars I am not sure all of the animations for them quite yet so please fill me in if possible.

Brandon

Interesting enough, Diesels West had some payware locomotives with windshield wipers moving back in the day.

[pschlik]

Worth noting that there are quite a few additional animation types.

• Brake cylinders [ORTSBRAKECYLINDER]
• Handbrake wheels [ORTSHANDBRAKE]
• Brake pads [ORTSBRAKERIGGING]
• Windows [LEFTWINDOWFRONT] [RIGHTWINDOWFRONT] [LEFTWINDOWREAR] [RIGHTWINDOWREAR]
• Continuous generic animation (can be attached to cabview controls and sound triggers) [ORTSITEM1CONTINUOUS] [ORTSITEM2CONTINUOUS]
• Toggling generic animation [ORTSITEM1TWOSTATE] [ORTSITEM2TWOSTATE]

[BrandonS261]

This is great news! Thanks you for everyone's hard work! Would it be possible to get a list of everything that could be animated for locomotives and cars for the ones that build models like myself?

[TrainGuy6550]

This is great news! Thanks you for everyone's hard work! Would it be possible to get a list of everything that could be animated for locomotives and cars for the ones that build models like myself?

I'm looking for something like this too. In fact, imo, the MSTS exporter should come with an example file with ALL the possible names of parts and animation types. It need not be a real model. It could be just boxes!

[pschlik]

Looking through the list here (this is for things that need animations with keyframes, there are other things that are "animated" like wheels and bogies, but these animations are done procedurally, rather than precomputed), the allowed beginnings to animated engine/wagon matrix names (you can add anything after the listed text to have multiple matrices using the same animation trigger, so "MIRROR" and "MIRROR_LEFT_1" would both be controlled by the mirror animation) are:

• WIPER
• DOOR_A / DOOR_B / DOOR_C (right door)
• DOOR_D / DOOR_E / DOOR_F (left door)
• PANTOGRAPHBOTTOM1 / PANTOGRAPHMIDDLE1 / PANTOGRAPHTOP1 / PANTO with "1" anywhere else in the name (first pantograph)
• PANTOGRAPHBOTTOM2 / PANTOGRAPHMIDDLE2 / PANTOGRAPHTOP2 / PANTO with "2" anywhere else in the name (second pantograph)
• PANTO with "3" anywhere else in the name (third pantograph)
• PANTO with "4" anywhere else in the name (fourth pantograph) [this is hardcoded to only allow 4 different pantographs]
• MIRROR
• LEFTWINDOWFRONT
• RIGHTWINDOWFRONT
• LEFTWINDOWREAR
• RIGHTWINDOWREAR
• UNLOADINGPARTS (rotary unload animation)
• ORTSBELL
• ORTSITEM1CONTINUOUS (generic control 1 looping animation)
• ORTSITEM1TWOSTATE (generic control 1 toggle animation)
• ORTSITEM2CONTINUOUS (generic control 2 looping animation)
• ORTSITEM2TWOSTATE (generic control 2 toggle animation) [this is hardcoded to only allow 2 generic controls, unsure why this wasn't made more flexible]
• ORTSBRAKECYLINDER
• ORTSHANDBRAKE
• ORTSBRAKERIGGING
• Any animation linked to a wheel without a particular name is assumed to be a running gear animation

These are NOT type specific. Any engine/wagon can have any of these animation names in the shape. Now, that does not mean they will all be useful everywhere (wipers cannot be enabled on a freight car).

[pwillard]

Thanks for the list