Scenarios with a purpose

[xxuntitledxx]

Hey all,

I was just thinking about this and was trying to figure out how this would translate to Train Sim…

I’ve been trying to figure out how to make it so that rather than just running a train or moving cars around in a yard it seems like we are actually doing something with purpose. I’ve recently gotten into doing things in the flight sim world where you can move cargo from point a to point b and you get “paid” to do so. Would there be any way this could translate to TS? You get an order for a car to go from point a to point b across one or multiple routes and then figure out what train it needs to go on etc. pick up the order and move it either yourself or with other people and keep track of it. Something almost like a virtual railroad or thereabouts.

Any thoughts?

Ken

[Chacal]

This is popular with people with model railroads. I think you can do this with multiple scenarios. You can even span more than one route, when two routes are interconnected.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

What you're proposing seems awfully difficult to me in RW. Scenario design is pretty much all linear (first do this, then that, finally that), with the one notable exception being the Marshall instruction that allows some freedom in how to go about your business as long as signals don't interfere.

Some added "purpose" (or let's say "story") could probably be added with some inventive .lua scripting, but that's an area that's a bit beyond my abilities in this game.

One possible alternative that I can think of: rely entirely on free roam type scenarios and make up your switch list without using the scenario editor commands. This could even be done by several people, where one person populates the scenario and determines the work order and then other folks run it. Virtual Railroad companies might already be doing this.

Looking beyond Railworks, you might want to take a look at the train simulator game "Derail Valley" on Steam. It's early access but I believe it has everything that you're after in terms of a dynamically evolving game world, a career with job payments, etc., on top of which it's a also a very good train simulator if you don't mind the fictional game world and "inspired by real world" train models.

Cheers,
Michael

[wacampbell]

This may be of interest:

https://www.ohiovalleysystem.com/OVSRails/

Not based on cargo movement, but instead its a 'working on the railroad' concept. You bid for jobs on the call board, and get 'paid' for making runs. It seems like a bunch of good people working together to keep the trains moving :-)

W

[MonsieurMungo]

I understand where you're coming from. There isn't really a "Virtual Airline [Rail Line]" other than what was mentioned by wacampbell, which I am only now discovering. For the most part, we have to go into kid mode and try to use our imaginations. However, I've recently fallen in love with the New York Division-Bergen County Line route, by Minerman146, available on Steam for free. It is one of the most ambitious user created routes out there to date. What makes it really special is that he has put together an entire operations manual for all of the industries along the route. It was intimidating to look at when I first saw it, but it lists what rail cars need to go where. The research put into this project is incredibly detailed and it's not terribly hard to dissect once you dig into it. I have been tinkering around with a Free Roam scenario for the past two weeks and have been having a great time. Here are the links if you need them.

Route:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=265923409

Map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1gEQfMvlUaFK01kBJu2BTkII8_Os&ll=41.141404736925736%2C-74.37626125000003&z=8

Operations Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4DCtRvSOWHJZEd5RUNZaGFJNDQ/view?resourcekey=0-3p-J4Ht58-9dPrHlxbdm-A

[xxuntitledxx]

I understand where you're coming from. There isn't really a "Virtual Airline [Rail Line]" other than what was mentioned by wacampbell, which I am only now discovering. For the most part, we have to go into kid mode and try to use our imaginations. However, I've recently fallen in love with the New York Division-Bergen County Line route, by Minerman146, available on Steam for free. It is one of the most ambitious user created routes out there to date. What makes it really special is that he has put together an entire operations manual for all of the industries along the route. It was intimidating to look at when I first saw it, but it lists what rail cars need to go where. The research put into this project is incredibly detailed and it's not terribly hard to dissect once you dig into it. I have been tinkering around with a Free Roam scenario for the past two weeks and have been having a great time. Here are the links if you need them.

Route:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=265923409

Map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1gEQfMvlUaFK01kBJu2BTkII8_Os&ll=41.141404736925736%2C-74.37626125000003&z=8

Operations Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4DCtRvSOWHJZEd5RUNZaGFJNDQ/view?resourcekey=0-3p-J4Ht58-9dPrHlxbdm-A

It's funny you mention this...I've become good friends with minerman146 (the creator of this route) he's helped me a ton with my route. My route actually continues from where his ends off in Croxton Yard. I'm building my route from Croxton West on NS out to Harrisburg.