A good or bad idea??

3digitdriver · Post by **3digitdriver** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:14 pm

Hi all you train simmers, im thinking of making all my entire train set collection one type of coupler. Ive thought about it because if i use a loco for more than one activity then i end up forever changing its coupler type and i alwayse seem to forget to do it until im half way threw the activity and i go to couple up to a consists and it wont and then i remeber it's wrong coupler type. Is this a good idea or a bad one. I will change them all using conbuilder it will take a long while but if it works ok will be alot simpler. Love to know what you all think and im all ears for any advice.

Thanks all for a great website.

Neptune50006 · Post by **Neptune50006** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:23 pm

Having one coupler type will make life a lot easier, but each type behaves differently.
My personal choice is for chain for all UK locos and wagons (except between loco and tender which is bar). Bar for fixed formation trains such as DMUs and HSTs. I don't run much foreign stuff but tend to stick to bar for that as well, especially if it's American.
At the end of the day it's your sim so it's up to you.
If you use Route Riter you can change all the couplings you want in one go.

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:35 pm

I use Conbuilder to change loco couplings to suit appropriate stock.

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Wed May 03, 2006 8:45 pm

Route Riter will change all your couplings in one go.

I used to have all couplings set to automatic but a couple of months ago I changed them all to chain.

I can't detect any difference. It's the numbers what matter.

One thing you should also do is change the coupling sound in the sms file.
Every diesel I have looked at uses the automatic sounds
(and ever American steamer uses chain sounds)

terrycunliffe · Post by **terrycunliffe** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:18 pm

I tend to put an alternative .wag file in the appropriate trainset folder. (suitably named, of course), so when (if) I need it, I've got the same wagon with the choice of chain or automatic couplings. I also do the same for brake types. This avoids inadvertently overwriting the authors files and screwing up other activities elsewhere.
T

parsfan · Post by **parsfan** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:42 am

A couple of times when i've changed the coupleing type i've ended up with error messages. This is even when the train concerned wasn't using any other consit.

Lad491 · Post by **Lad491** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:37 am

Long ago i decided to standardise on automatic coupling and so change all mine accordingly, but it makes no difference to activities unless you include a readme telling everyone to do the same. Basically its down to each person to decide.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:28 am

Also don't forget that even with all the same couplings throughout, certain stock will still be incompatible because of the different braking systems in MSTS.

And changing all those to be the same is a very different story.

streamline · Post by **streamline** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:39 pm

Hallo!
I only use two types of couplings, automatic for my US stuff and European EMUs and DMUs, and chain for the European rolling stock. I've also changed couplings between loco and tender that way (no more bar and special type couplings) because - according to Rudolf Richter's manual of eng and wag files - this helps with the front coupler problem. (He says MSTS sometimes "forgets" the position of bar couplings leading to front coupler problems.)
By the way, this useful manual is available here: http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsi ... tml#models

Keep on steamin'!
Dietmar

3digitdriver · Post by **3digitdriver** » Thu May 04, 2006 5:41 pm

Thanks all thats given me a big help. il go for it i think ive only got uk stock so il change them all over. Thank you all again

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:08 pm

Personally, I find the mulitple coupling types a pain. I hope this is something they get rid of in the new sims-it may be prototypical but it makes life SO complicated!

3digitdriver · Post by **3digitdriver** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:11 pm

One question, ive just gone to change all stock using route riter but i cant seem to find how to to it using route rite. i wnet in to ACTIVITIES/STOCK tab and then ENG/WAG FILE EDITOR. Is that the wright place to be or am i on the wrong rails.

Cheers all i just cant get enought o uk trainsim and msts

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:28 pm

Just press the Activities/Stock Tab and then Check Rolling Stock.

A list of the stock will eventually appear.

Highlight the Rear Coupling box and right click to see the options.

Be careful with the Front Coupling/Add Front Coupling option as it can sometimes add an extra bracket.

Zackybong1 · Post by **Zackybong1** » Sat May 06, 2006 1:47 pm

Automatic for everything except the bar type on fixed formations.