FSX vs RW2, Article 1, Publication Date - to be Announced.

[nlmcm]

Had a request some months ago, to write, beta test and Review Rail Simulator - Rail Works:

Been an avid MSTS user since released. Goodness, such history, took a few years to bring up to acceptable standards.

Bought RS-RW back in April, 2010, been hooked since, great graphics, as always great difficulty understanding scenario and route Creation, much like MSTS initially. And it too over since November RS has made improvements, with instructional materials and best, adding RS Wiki's.

Then one day, a good friend of ours over at Trainsim & Flightsim.com asked:

Would a flight simmer enjoy Rail Works?

Why would pilots - not? I certainly did, on Flight Simulator since v 1.0 last century.

Started testing this product, examine the whys and wherefores, history, evolution of forums, deep research, till my eyes want to fall out. The direction it's heading, got to tell each of you, base core is fabulous, best, improving almost weekly if not twice each month via opening session minor patches were observed. Such corrected scenarios, so they began finally working. Physics of locomotives, more realism in acceleration and braking, etc., but also have noticed beta testing all North American locomotives (compared to reality or MSTS), re-testing a month later, changed - for the better!

Concluded, if RSDev team keep this up, they'll eventually get it closer to the real experience of physics as it should be.

So, to be fair, allow some leeway. But Ladies and Gents, you will be proud, and enjoy Article 1, hopefully due out in thirty days, at either Review Section, of Trainsim.com or Flightsim.com.

To most of you, likely advanced users or experts, will be light reading, with a twist, armed with physics (detailed), other important facts, safety on the rails, and more, sprinkled with light wit and humor. To those who just entered this hobby, and still a bit new at it, likely they will grasp, enjoy and advance, more rapidly.

Article 2, essentially the results of the core locomotives and rolling stock, physics, great modeling, realistic sounds or not, braking actions realistic or off the charts? Included be the Dash 9, ES44Ac, even EMD SD70MAc series (add-on's) and our old trusty favorite, Marc Nelson's F7- A&B units, best physics (of course) of all. And quite a bit of comparison to MSTS and FS vXX, i.e., menu differences, instant replay and other features.

I would like to include this site name, with Admin's blessings. Newest and best American representative of our newest hobby, where we will find comments and assistance from freeware artisans, advanced users to experts, providing information that aids all of us well.

RSC - CEO Paul Jackson, 15 member staff upon his taking over, now numbers 20 or slightly more as reported. RSC core company Policy is this: Exclusively, and dedicated to Rail Simulation - only.

Write on this thread, your insights, hopes, dreams, issues and complaints even, allow me to consolidate your words, and include in Article 2, God willing, Nels Anderson included, final submission due, in thirty days, more or less.
Thank you.

(Re-edited for better clarity. NLMCM)

[nlmcm]

Since I began writing this article in November, right after the latest Update from RSC (approx. mid February), one scenario will no longer start due to: Error -Tracks Bin, leaving me stumped, baffled and bewildered, since searching here, or Steam-RW, even a direct ticket to RSC yielded no results, let alone from RSC Wiki.com.

Full wording: Unable to load Tracks bin

Any of Rail Works America.com members discover a solution?

Thank you,

Peter

[micaelcorleone]

Since I began writing this article in November, right after the latest Update from RSC (approx. mid February), one scenario will no longer start due to: Error -Tracks Bin, leaving me stumped, baffled and bewildered, since searching here, or Steam-RW, even a direct ticket to RSC yielded no results, let alone from RSC Wiki.com.

Any of Rail Works America.com members discover a solution?

Thank you,

Peter

Hmm, Tracks.bin is normally a file in a route folder. So it might be a problem with the route you're playing.
Is it a default route? If yes, try to verify the integrity of the game cache through Steam. If not, try to reinstall the route.

[styckx]

Have a Creative card and Alchemy enabled? If so disable Alchemy

[nlmcm]

On default route - Cajon Pass, but with an add-on released before the latest update, "Return of the MAc" Scenario (SD70MAc series) with Scale Rail (3DTrains.com) track, important to point out, before the second major update from RSC, everything was fine. Also via Process of Elimination, able to confirm has nothing to do with Scale Rail, least not directly anyway.

Prior and after - Integrity (cache) verified; complete Uninstalled/Reinstalled of RW2, including Steam Client; and all else ideas, hence stumped.
Obviously means that if run from default scenario (sans Scale Rail), it works - with out the offending message.

Micaelcorleone, am just learning the innards (files- folders and the like) of Railworks, hate to go there, fear of God v. me issues, but if you could offer some advice about examining such files, by all means, enjoy learning (whilst increasing self-confidence and backbone) something new every day!

Clickity-Clack

Peter

[micaelcorleone]

Micaelcorleone, am just learning the innards (files- folders and the like) of Railworks, hate to go there, fear of God v. me issues, but if you could offer some advice about examining such files, by all means, enjoy learning (whilst increasing self-confidence and backbone) something new every day!

Yeah I can try to give you an insight, but I'm not an expert. I'm only familiar with the locos and rolling stock folders (not the insight of files like the GeoXPC) anf I also know the basics of the route and scenario folders.
It was and still is hard learning, but as I'm developing my own route I must know these folders.

[SMMDigital]

I also am no expert on the subject, but I would suggest that if you want to get into "the guts" of the game, your first stop should be Mike Simpson's RW-Tools program. XML coded files like Tracks.bin can be examined using other methods, but RW-Tools will open the .bin, .GeoPcDx, and TgPcDx files that are vital in Railworks operations.

[styckx]

I actually just read the first post.. I'm utterly confused..

[Toripony]

There were changes made to the way track is handled in RW between version 114 and 116, particularly having to do with gradient markers. I have noticed a couple of other anomalies since in the course of my work, but nothing I can pin down (repeatable) yet. The "Scalerail for Cajon Pass" modd was created in the 114 version; perhaps you have stumbled onto a new issue??? I do not have that modd so I cannot verify for you.

Tori

[nlmcm]

Based on some of the recommendations/input given on this thread, RE: reviewing files, appears that I would need to split screen the two scenarios, core file of Return of the MAc scenario, and on the right of the ScaleRail version of same, and study line by line (I hope) without going blind along the code, will give it whirl this weekend.

Where their is a will, their has to be a way....

Anyone else has the 3DTrains ScaleRail package (payware version) installed on their PC for RailWorks? Please open career mode "Return of the MAc" (assuming you have that DLC, SD70MAc in N&S and BN livery schemes) and advise if you get "Unable to Load - Tracks bin", - Thanks.

We all know that 3DTrainsruff, All Aboard Rails (Rich Garber) contributed the Cajon Pass and Castle Rock routes as the only North American content on RSC-RW, while 3DTrains improves greatly the track appearance, SCR also provides the enhanced clickity-clack rhythmic sounds, even though today, almost exclusively ribbon or quarter mile rail is installed between Barstow to San Bernadino CA.

Will advise soonest, unless later, if I need new glasses.

Clickity Clack,

Peter