the magical branchline...

[PamBrooker]

I'm wondering if there is a way, to make a branchline appear off a mainline, for only one night of the year?? The Chicago Rock Island and Pacific had s specific tunnel west of Ottawa Illinois near LaSalle along the Illinois Michigan Canal. On a normal day, The route continues on through LaSalle/Peru, Spring Valley, Beureau (sp?), Hennepin , Rock Island and on into Des Moines. At least, I think it did. It's been quite a few years since I've been there. What I want to do, Is on Dec. 25th at midnight, cause that tunnel to have a branch off of it, that will take people too MY version of Santa's Village, and then disappear again at sunrise.
Is there a way to do this?? Or am I just dreaming again???
Thanks..
Pam

[jlms48]

Just a preliminary idea but it might work.
1.Put a fork in the tunnel for your secret branch line.
2. Put a manual point/ switch and a light signal ahead of the branch line.
3. Use the animated doors, which some loco sheds/depots have, to close the entrance to your branch line. You could texture the doors black like the tunnel wall if you don't want them to be too obvious.
4 place a blocker loco behind the doors which is always present except in your Xmas eve scenario
5. At midnight on Xmas eve schedule a blocker loco ( which could be invisible) to make your player train stop at the signal in the tunnel before your hidden branch line .
6. Add a pop up message telling you to throw the manual switch and drive through the doors into your hidden branch line.

If it works in normal scenarios you will drive past the hidden branch line in the tunnel and probably not notice the branchline entrance and its doors.
Only in your Xmas eve scenario will you get a stop signal in the tunnel and an instruction to throw the manual switch and proceed through the doors into your hidden world.

I am sure others can improve on this with scripting but you have to start somewhere.

[PamBrooker]

That sounds like it;ll work.. Thank you. I was stumped.. I'll copy that from here and get it in the build journal.. I know it wont be a long route. Not more than an hour or so, but I[m hoping too make it as magicl and enjoyable as is possible.. Thank you again.. :)
Pam..