Thames Trent Route

[stefcurtis]

Hi,
I am in the process of creating an activity on the above route. It will start at Derby & end at St Pancras.
I have a problem.
As I am more of a Br Blue enthusiast I am dismayed to find this route has many steam loco's positioned on the default route.
I know there are many steam enthusiasts out there but surely the route would of been more versatile for all if the route was bare & then whatever anyone wants afterwards can be added then!
As you leave Derby there are loads of steam engines beside the Derby Works. If there were fewer maybe I could of hidden them behind other wagons/ coaches etc but there may be too many to do this!

How can I remove all of these unwanted loco's?

Any idea's?

Thanks.

Stef

[michaelhendle]

Hi Stef,

The only way is to go into route editor and remove them,but you will have one heck of a job nearly every station between Derby and St Pancras has them,after all it is a steam era route,

The new version will have even more steam loco's as it has most of the routes that were closed before and by Dr Beeching.
Mike

[stefcurtis]

Hi Mike,
thanks for the reply even though it wasn't what I wanted to hear!

Stef

[michaelhendle]

Stef,
It looks like they are scenery objects as they don't show up in activity editor,probably done as scenery to save memmory.
Mike

[slipperman12]

Hi Gentlemen,
The following is only a suggestion which I haven't tested to see if it's feasible!

1. It should be easy enough to identify the static locos from their names in the route's SHAPES folder - make a list of them.
2. Find an invisiwag or invisiloco shape and texture - there's probably one in the TRAINSET folder.
3. Copy the invisiwag/loco .ace file into the route's TEXTURES folder.
4. Copy the invisiwag/loco .s file into a temporary folder.
5. In the temporary folder make copies of the invisiwag/loco .s file, renaming each copy to match the names in the list taken at 1.
6. You should end up with a set of files in the temporary folder with names matching those of the static locos.
7. Copy the "real" static loco .s files out of the route's SHAPES folder into a NEW backup folder (in case you want to restore them!).
8. Copy the .s files out of the temporary folder into the route's SHAPES folder, allowing overwrites.
9. The temporary folder may now be deleted, if required.

The above has taken longer to write than it would to do!!

PLEASE note that I am not responsible if it doesn't work - just restore your backup!!

Cheers,
Ged

[stefcurtis]

Hi Ged,
long time no hear! I hope you are well.
Bl***y good idea!
I'll give it a go!

Best wishes..
Stef

[slipperman12]

Hi Stef,
Yep! I'm always here!!

There only seem to be 6 static locos in the SHAPES folder, so it's not an onerous task
There are also 6 other items of rolling stock used as scenery items, to which you may wish to apply the same procedure.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find an invisiwag or loco, but there is one in the library. Probably the best one to use is InvisiPilot (File ID 18152) - just use the invisipilot.ace, invisipilot.s and probably (see below) invisipilot.sd files.

One thing I omitted from my previous post is that the .sd files may need to be copied and renamed as well as the .s files, BUT there's a problem! Each copied .sd file must be opened and the shape file reference amended to match the shape file name. I suggest you try it without the .sd files first, but if you get error messages to the effect that shape definition files are missing, then they need creating as above.

Cheers,
Ged

[michaelhendle]

Hi Ged,
As I prefer steamers I think I will leave well alone,any I don't feel comfortable doing this,my moto is if ain't broke leave well alone
Mike

[stefcurtis]

Hi Ged,
I cant seem to get them to disappear!
I've made the bogies disappear on some & the bodies are still there as locos & are now pure white!
Maybe I'm using a bad invisiloco!
I thought the invisiloco with a fully black alpha channel would make it disappear!

I'm struggling here!

Stef????

[casperdog]

Hi,
An easy way if you want to PERMENANTLY delete the static locos/freight wagons/coaches is to identify the .s files from the ref file. Type in Static in the edit/find function of notepad.

Open up Route Riter and:
MSTS file utilities
del shape from W

It may take a while to load up but eventually you will be presented with a box where you can type in the s file you want to delete.
Cheers
Clive

[stefcurtis]

Hi Clive,
thanks for your input but I am a bit lost by the last bit & I don't have route riter.
I am still a bit of a novice but learning fast (not that fast though evidently!)

Is it an easy thing to do for me?

Stef

[casperdog]

Hi Stef.

It is very easy but, of course, you do need Route Riter.

An easier way to use Geds idea is to pick a small object from the library. Refman made some birds. Pick a small model (Magpies?) and use Geds method of re-naming the files. You'll be able to see them but might look quite nice .

Cheers
Clive

[slipperman12]

Hi Stef,
I've just tried my suggestion, but only changing the .s files and all the locos have disappeared! I used Explore Mode on the Toton to Leicester path which has (had!), I think 6 static locos.

May I suggest that you go through it again because I think you've missed something, or done something wrong, because the static locos are just one shape and don't have separate bogies.

To confirm, I made copies of the invisipilot.s file and renamed them to those of the static locos' shape files and copied the renamed files into the route's SHAPES folder. I then copied the invisipilot.ace file into the route's TEXTURES folder. That's all!! There were no error messages regarding missing files.

I did find one extra static loco shape file which doesn't have "Static" in its name - ch_5MT_NoTender.s - which should be added to the list. There might be more!

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Thanks Clive - I picked an "invisible" shape for obvious reasons, but your idea could look very attractive, especially if different small birds were used

[stefcurtis]

Hi Clive,
I now have route riter.

I went to MSTS File Utils, Del Shape from W & pasted the file names ch_5MT_static.s, ch_8F_static.s, ch_9F_Static.s (which look to me to be the steam loco's) but the shapes are still there! Where do I seem to be going wrong Clive?

Thanks for your help Clive!

Stef

[slipperman12]

Hi Stef,
Your last report prompts me to ask : Where have you got MSTS installed?
If you're running Vista, Win 7 or Win 8/8.1 and it's in Program Files or Program Files (x86), then that's the source of your problem (unless you've set up the appropriate permissions).

For information, the static steam loco shapes are :
ch_5MT_NoTender
ch_5MT_static
ch_8F_Static
ch_9F_Static
ch_Chassis
ch_Static_3F_47447
ch_Static_4F

There is also one diesel - ch_Class_28_5701 - and one narrow gauge diesel/petrol - ch_NG_Loco

Cheers,
Ged