Now I see them, now I don't...

[OldProf]

Before reporting the odd situation I'm about to describe to RSC support, I'd like to ask whether others have encountered it:

I've been working on a new scenario for the Altoona Yard area of the Horseshoe Curve route. As usual, the routine is, edit a bit, click the play arrow, test the edits, rinse, repeat. Only, I've noticed something odd. When I click the arrow to run the scenario, switch stands are invisible until I change the switches they belong to in the 2D map, whereas if I start the scenario in the more usual way, from the select a route menu, the switch stands appear immediately. Please don't tell me that this is a result of the "graphic detail" setting: that's already at 10, and all the other graphics settings within the game are on "highest". The start-up screen graphics settings are also high, in fact, higher than high.

What I'd like to know is whether other scenario writers (Jim Fried has already answered positively) are experiencing this on the Horseshoe route or elsewhere. Frankly, I haven't checked any other routes yet.

Thanks,

Tom Pallen

[artimrj]

Tom it happens to me all the time. If you look closer you will see the turntables dissappear as well. I have now gotten in to the habit of writing a scenario, hit play, then exit right out of the game to the desktop, restart it and switchstands and turntables are back and all is good.

Moral is, do not try to play a scenario you just editted. Exit out then play.

[OldProf]

I just want to add an update to this topic: I'm currently working on a scenario in the yards around Woodvale and Bethlehem Steel. In this area, when I click the arrow to move from editing to playing, all of the switch stands are visible. Could this be because this area is less graphics intensive than the larger, Altoona yard?

Tom Pallen

[artimrj]

Keep in mind besides the switchstands and turntables, that signal intialization and AI are also effected if you go from edit to play. It will drive you crazy trying to making a special timing with AI if you go from edit to play with out restarting the sim.

[OldProf]

Now that's a point I hadn't thought of before ... and well worth considering. In fact, it explains a lot of my past misadventures. Thanks!

Tom Pallen