Challenge - Upndown (Screenshots now added)

[AndyM77]

Might as well have a go....

I'm not an experienced routebuilder, but will have a crack at it. "Upndown" (Up and Down, get it? ) will be a fictional area, complying to the rules. So it'll contain some stations, a fair few fields, refulling point, and an old steam engine relic from the past so that the turntable can be used.

This'll be set with modern signalling and a scenario which'll involve diesel motive as that is my interest. Hopefully I won't get too stuck!

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Andy

That's the spirit ... have a go

Welcome to the Challenge.

[AndyM77]

Thanks for the welcome

Source folder / Route blueprint is all prepped and ready to go for the start of this project later on tonight...

Edit: Just worked out how to implement the Route description in the main menu screen without using RW_tools...

For those wanting to provide a description, find your Route folder within the "Steam\steamapps\common\railworks\Content\Routes" folder - Within that create a folder called "RouteInformation", then one called "En" within that, and finally a html file with your route description. (If you don't know HTML language then open up one from another route and 'View Source', copy that text into a new document and then replace the content with your own words. don't delete anything that contains <></> as these are the containers for the HTML (i.e <p></p> is paragraphs, etc...)

[AndyM77]

Yes.... I've been quiet... I've almost thrown in the towel after numerous restarts / rebuilding as this is the first time I've been making a 'proper' route with a DEM and some gradients. So, the problems? so far it's been the gradient tool and getting the track to behave itself at the "ribbons" and also getting the junctions to look 'proper'.

The route is planned to have four stations, I've currently laid track between the first terminus station and the first intermediate stop which also contains a yard and turntable. Distance between these two stations alone is around 4.8 miles, plenty of space for a HST to get up to 125 and well, on the way down it touched 134.5MPH! (no TPWS / Signalling yet, nor is this a very steep decline, just a long one )

Whilst this might not be a "Winning" entry, based on some non-prototypical track setup and some dodgy looking bits at the moment, I think I should have something by Friday night. It'll at least be a bit of a run for those whom like a bit of high speed stuff, and an option to run a bit of freight.

No screenshots at the moment, as I'm hitting points where one minute I think it's looking reasonable, but then with my 'crazy' routing ( ) it gets moved about a few minutes later. Don't worry it's nothing like Spaghetti Junction (Yet).....

Edit (16:20):: Update Route length is currently 10.64 Miles (17.12 KMS) at the intended point of my third station, so I'd say that final route will be looking around 15 ~ 19 Miles, as I don't intend on having a massive gap between third station and final terminus.

[AndyM77]

Route builders fatigue has set in .... ARRRGHH! I know this because I've just been looking at some of the screenshots here and trying to move them around as if I'm in the game (Currently building in windowed mode).

SO, I'll have a break now - happy with what I've done so far, but still have a mammoth task ahead

[AndyM77]

Time for some "Screenies" (only small, as a teaser and so not to give too much away.... )

A bridge over a little "pond", on the approach to Upndown Terminus


Leaftown Depot - Storage for Steam, Diesel and carriage storage. Fuel points, Diesel, Water and Coal.


Old, now rarely used turntable siding, hence the grass


Empty water tower and defunct water filling point, lots of rubbish round here too...


The old squeaky turntable, still works, just....


Final approach to Upndown Terminus



All criteria fulfilled for the "challenge" :

a) To encourage the building of complete routes, the ideal route in this challenge will have a user created route template, dedicated route loading screen and route description. If you still want to take part in the challenge but do not want to go into this detail, then this should not deter you and there is no reason why you cannot create a new route using the RailWorks option on the opening route selection page.

The bare route, loading screen and route description can be created and prepared prior to the start of the challenge but you must not start building until the challenge starts. This will allow new builders time to work out how the source folder and developer folders work before the event starts.

b) You can only use assets that came with RailWorks or that have been made available to everyone since. i.e. The route must load up completely in another copy of RailWorks without the need to obtain third party assets.

c) The route must contain a path where a loco can be driven from one end to the other without stopping for at least 4 miles (6.5 km).

d) The terrain must be undulating so that track will have gradients in places. No perfectly flat routes please.

One yard (Where rolling stock is maintained, fuelled and stored)
Three stations
Three sidings (Either single lines or more complex as you wish)
One turntable (a challenge in itself!)
At least some working signalling
One simple scenario to show that the route works
A set of markers for jumping to chosen locations
Platform and other markers placed where required

Still to do :- A complete scenario (don't worry have tested signalling), some *cough* scenery adjustments / finishing touches.

Warning Expect a lot of trees!!

Sorry, but I'm not an artistic person but hopefully the scenario(s) will make up for the lack of visual ability. One thing has come of this, I'm going to try something on a MUCH smaller scale, perhaps just a shunting yard to get my artistic side better and I'll be able to use assets from the IOW pack as I feel there is some good stuff in there that we can't use for this challenge (such as the red lights for buffer stops).

Roll on 7pm!

[y10g9]

Nice lookng route there mate.
Good luck for the judging
Regards
Nath

[class313]

Looks excellent, great work

[AndyM77]

Thanks for the compliments, although you haven't seen it action yet...

I'm uploading it to the "secret server" in the next few minutes, and will get a general release in a week or two. As it's only at around 90% completion it'll get a tidy up in areas for the general release as I've really messed up the Field area between the flat 'Downfields' and 'Leaftown' stations. (Painted Rapeseed oil over the track area and now can't get rid of the moving bushes, therefore a trackrelocation might be in order). I'll also try to remove some of the excess trees, which I've used to hide vast expanses of blank open green fields.

In retrospect, I've learnt a bit about the world editor and 'quirks', but I think I took this on when I really wasn't ready for such a challenge. I've only ever just toyed in the world editor before and this was my first 'proper' route with the addition of route marker points, loading screens, etc..

I know this isn't a winner, but it's the taking part that counts

[AndyM77]

Well, 'Upndown' v1.01 has started - I've just wiped out 4+ miles of track and the badly painted fields along with a vast amount of trees (why couldn't I have done this right in the first place... oh well, nevermind!)

With no time limit as such now I can hopefully get this area and some other 'spots' more to my satisfaction. I'll say that it'll take 2 weeks minimum to get this near release, but it'll be out in some form by Xmas (sounds a long time away, but it's not )

It'll still be following the rules of the challenge, so it definitely won't be requiring any extra payware / downloads though....

[AndyM77]

Small update - having at least 3 days break from route building / enchancing so it's looking like a release before Christmas....

Basically the end which was rushed is being replaced with something a lot neater (slight re-routing and killed the rapeseed texture problems), there is currently a loop to enter the yard from the 'up' track, and I plan to demolish the loop and relocate the yard to make this possible. Then finally some embankment work will take place.. Not too much really, but it's time consuming to repaint areas, readjust terrain heights, etc...

[AndyM77]

70% of original route now demolished (deleted) 50% less trees at present, however that figure will no doubt rise again. Currently I've totally redesigned my first of the planned areas that I wanted to improve upon... Midtown Yards - Loop no longer needed to gain access to yard from "Up" direction, yard reorientated and redesigned, disused water tower still implemented and added water to the empty part on top ( ), still lots to do....

Bit easier now I can take my time

[hertsbob]

Good luck! I was going to ask if you had any more screenshots seeing as your first batch looked so good, but it doesn't sound like you've got much left!

Looking forward to the next update.

Cheers

Bob