ATSF Belen to El Paso

[slipperman]

May I, respectfully, suggest that the author of this route withdraws it and fixes the number of errors reported in the Open Rails log (attached)
Also, a proper installation readme to include all external requisites should be included.

Thanks,
Cheers,
Ged
OpenRailsLog.zip

[eric]

With 500 over downloads, including mine, it doesn't look like those issue are fatal....

[crstagg]

May I, respectfully, suggest that the author of this route withdraws it and fixes the number of errors reported in the Open Rails log (attached)
Also, a proper installation readme to include all external requisites should be included.

Thanks,
Cheers,
Ged

I didn't have any problem with the install instructions.

What "external requisites" are you referring to? I found only 3 missing files. All were ACE files. One I found in other routes, but could not find the other two. They were probably in the creator's Global Textures folder and he did not realize he needed to provide file or source.

I lived in the area (El Paso and White Sands Missile Range) for a total of over 8 years. So I happy to see this route. However, though the terrain color is very close the amount of vegetation is not. Although it is mostly low shrubs it does change the color of the terrain particularly at a distance.

The major drawback of this route is that there are no labels for the sidings and platforms. Making creation and execution of freight activities very difficult.

As a route to run my many first generation ATSF, SP etc loco and western RR rolling stock it is perfect.

What I don't understand about this download is why was the 120MB Terrain-Maps folder included?

[slipperman]

Hi Charles,
There is no indication of which track and road systems should be installed.
I added XTracks v3.20 and New Roads v4.0 which also gives a tsection.dat file, but there are still some missing track shapes.
There are a number of warnings regarding shape files and, while they don't prevent Open Rails from running, they could affect the appearance of items in the route.

Cheers,
Ged

[eric]

I use the most current A-Tracks and the most recent TSection... going with XTrack 3.2 is a step too far back into the past.

[llanning08]

The route ReadMe does state that X Tracks and New Roads are required. I just deleted the Terrain Maps from the route folder as not necessary. I did have to edit and compress many shape files which were left uncompressed so that they would display properly on my Win 7 OR 1.31 system. Runs quite well for me now..

[slipperman]

Thanks, Eric,
That fixed at least one of the missing track shapes but there's still A1tWheelstop.s. I've found rusty_a1tWheelstop.s in the RMD West route and dummy_a1tWheelstop.s in the Horseshoe Curve route, but that's all!

Cheers,
Ged

[yellowdog]

I have that shape in the Rock Island 2 route, which is File ID 90565 in the library. It looks like the "dummy" version in the Horseshoe Curve route is the same shape--just in the route shapes instead of the global (and with a different name, of course). Copying/pasting it (and accompanying texture) from Horseshoe to your global folder might do the trick if you don't want to download RI2 just for that file...

[crstagg]

Hi Charles,
There is no indication of which track and road systems should be installed.
I added XTracks v3.20 and New Roads v4.0 which also gives a tsection.dat file, but there are still some missing track shapes.
There are a number of warnings regarding shape files and, while they don't prevent Open Rails from running, they could affect the appearance of items in the route.

Cheers,
Ged

Quoting from the Readme.txt in the folder ...\ROUTES\ATSF_BelenElPaso\Documents
ATSF Belen to El Paso
for Open Rails
by Dan French
daniel.frenchmd@att.net

Requirements:
X Tracks
New Roads

History:
end quote
I seem to remember someone saying in another thread about reading all the fine manuals. ;-)

Re: missing Track: Yes I saw that but Log file did not mention missing track shapes and loco drove over the dirt so I assumed the track was buried.

[dlfrenchmd]

Well...
Reciting to myself the serenity prayer here, "God help me to change the things I can change..." This was only my second route, so I apologize for the steep learning curve. A few comments on the above critiques, which I really appreciate:
1. My route and a redownload of my route shows all the sidings, etc that someone found missing. If everyone is missing them, I will ask for forum help to find them. They are there for me, but I do hallucinate.....
2. I remember downloading/ installing A tracks somewhere along the line, so they may be there instead/ along with.
3. It IS for Open Rails, not MSTS, so there are .dds files instead of .ace files.
4. I know nothing about compression of files for use in Windows 7. Someone messaged me (sorry. Forgot who.) to request permission to compress and upload the changes, which is great if it helps. Compressed files should be in the library.
5. If Eric thinks the route should be withdrawn and fixed, I will be glad to do so. But as I said, it works for me and the three trusted test pilots who helped me . I wouldn't know where to start, since for me "It ain't broke...".

FYI currently working on an "update" of Steve Dunham's (literalman) RFP3 route extending it through downtown Richmond with it's really great station to Petersburg. Expect the same concerns to be raised, since it "works for me". Any suggestions are helpful.
Dan

[amtrak115]

FYI currently working on an "update" of Steve Dunham's (literalman) RFP3 route extending it through downtown Richmond with it's really great station to Petersburg.

Looking forward to it, Dan!

[slipperman]

Hi All,
Thanks, Charles. How the hell did I miss that??
My apologies to everybody, but especially to Dan. I could offer all sorts of excuses but none would be valid!

Cheers,
Ged

[crstagg]

F6 keyed to display siding labels where are they.
image.png

image.png

[Darkhorse427]

If you are in Explore mode and not an activity open rails no longer displays siding names and platforms in explore mode only in actual activities.

[baldwin]

So who decided that was a good idea?