Some newbie questions

[snoon]

Hi all,

Can someone help me with a few questions that I have, please?

If you have a train with a single locomotive is it possible to change the locomotive to the other end of the train?

Is it possible to join routes so that an explore or activity can start on one route and continue onto other?

How easy is it to reskin stock and create routes?

Is there a explanation of the track signals anywhere?

Finally, can someone please run through the basic controls for both diesel and electric locos as I am still struggling a little bit - especially with stopping in time for stations. I read somewhere that there are separate brakes for the loco and for the train - what's the difference and when/how should each be used?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

Steve.

[douglee]

HI Steve,

Hi all,

Can someone help me with a few questions that I have, please?

If you have a train with a single locomotive is it possible to change the locomotive to the other end of the train?

Is it possible to join routes so that an explore or activity can start on one route and continue onto other?

How easy is it to reskin stock and create routes?

Is there a explanation of the track signals anywhere?

Finally, can someone please run through the basic controls for both diesel and electric locos as I am still struggling a little bit - especially with stopping in time for stations. I read somewhere that there are separate brakes for the loco and for the train - what's the difference and when/how should each be used?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

Steve.

In order.

In an Activity only if it is intended in the act. In Exploremode Yes change points with G and G+shift.

No. Unless the author of both routes does it and uploads to UKTS.

Depends on your skill with Graphics Apps. Permission will be required from the original author. If used outside your own PC i.e. uploaded.

The original game had a card with this info. If your copy is Budget. Look under All Programs/Microsoftgames/Trainsimulator it may be there as a .pdf.

This should be in the same place if you do not have a printed manual.

Try the Tutorials fo each type of loco.
As far as braking is cocerned remember, with a 10 coach train there is 100ton pushing you from behind. MSTS simulates inertia.
Train brakes are just that, they stop the train, loco brakes stop the loco.

Hope this helps, come back.

[Lad491]

If you have a train with a single locomotive is it possible to change the locomotive to the other end of the train?

Yes in explore route or if an activity requires it.

Is it possible to join routes so that an explore or activity can start on one route and continue onto other

No unless its a route in a series like EB's ECE series, where each part was designed to join to the next. Normally though the answer is no

Is there a explanation of the track signals anywhere?

I dont think so, but Msts reserves the path of each train three signal sections or blocks ahead. With colour light signals therefore you would receive a double amber, single amber and red signal as you approached an obstruction or blocked path ahead. Semaphore signals are usually just cautions and stop signals, with some combined caution and stop. But the three block rule still applies but you get less warning.

I am still struggling a little bit - especially with stopping in time for stations. I read somewhere that there are separate brakes for the loco and for the train - what's the difference and when/how should each be used?

Normally the loco brake would be used if you were running light engine or pulling stock without any independant braking. Trains sets with individual braking, like coaches for instance, you would use the train brake to brake the whole train at once. You can use the loco brake as well sometimes if you need extra braking.

And Doug beat me again

[Tonysmedley]

Not all MSTS locos have loco brakes.
Reskinning is not for the faint hearted. Creating a route demands quite a steep learning curve but there are tutorials. However a decent route of the sort uploaded here takes a very long time and a lot of work.

[energize]

When in explore mode or running an activity it is not possible to physically swap the loco from one end of the consist to the other. To physically swap the loco round, you can either:

Open up the Activity editor (found by opening MSTS "Editors and tools - look in your programs menu) and make a new consist (difficult since it won't let you correct any mistakes when making a consist), or use conbuilder (comes in two versions: conbuilder lite which lets you make consists but doesn't check them, or pay for the full version which does) and can be downloaded from here http://webdottrainsim.tripod.com/msts53.htm

Alternatively, if you're driving a multiple unit or a train with locos at both ends (e.g. the HST), download MSTSBin which lets you swap ends http://mstsbin.uktrainsim.com/eng/eng.html. MSTSBin also improves MSTS's memory settings, alternates between day/night cabs (if the loco uses them) while driving (say, when passing through a tunnel) and gives you bi-directional lights (for locos that have them)

Hope this all helps

[alanch]

When in explore mode or running an activity it is not possible to physically swap the loco from one end of the consist to the other.

Sorry - that is not true. In explore mode you can swap a locomotive from one end of the consist to the other, as long as the track layout allows this. All you need to do is uncouple the locomotive, run around the consist by changing the appropriate points, and couple up to the other end.

[energize]

Ok thanks for correcting me. I didn't think of that

[snoon]

Alternatively, if you're driving a multiple unit or a train with locos at both ends (e.g. the HST), download MSTSBin which lets you swap ends http://mstsbin.uktrainsim.com/eng/eng.html. MSTSBin also improves MSTS's memory settings, alternates between day/night cabs (if the loco uses them) while driving (say, when passing through a tunnel) and gives you bi-directional lights (for locos that have them)

Many thanks for the replies. Could someone please explain how to swap ends of the train using MSTSBin, which I have installed. Would this work with, for example a Class 87 and a DVT/DLV at the other end or would I need two Class 87's?

Kind regards,

Steve.

[jbilton]

Alternatively, if you're driving a multiple unit or a train with locos at both ends (e.g. the HST), download MSTSBin which lets you swap ends http://mstsbin.uktrainsim.com/eng/eng.html. MSTSBin also improves MSTS's memory settings, alternates between day/night cabs (if the loco uses them) while driving (say, when passing through a tunnel) and gives you bi-directional lights (for locos that have them)

Many thanks for the replies. Could someone please explain how to swap ends of the train using MSTSBin, which I have installed. Would this work with, for example a Class 87 and a DVT/DLV at the other end or would I need two Class 87's?

Kind regards,

Steve.

Hi Steve
Starting in the Class 87 cab ( and assuming the DVT/DLV has a cabview).
You press F9 and then scroll along the train and select (highlight) the end vehicle .
Then press key 1 you'll be in its cab.
Cheers
Jon