Are you awaiting the BIG news on MSTS 2 before you start....

[XPTE]

your route? Just wondering if there is anyone who is awaiting the long awaited news of what the UK route will be in MSTS 2 before you start your route, in case it turns out to be the same route? I think this may well be the case, because if the past few months now since the MSTS 2 press release on May 8th, there hasn't been many postings on here informing us that new routes are being created.

Anyway, 2 questions:

1) Are you awaiting the news of the UK route in MSTS 2 before you start your route?

2) Which route are you considering building?

[TrainSimminNick]

Yes I wating For MSTS 2, so I can build my route on it

[TomB]

Since my route is very very unlikely to be the MSTS route, being only 5 miles long and a tiny little preserved line, it's not really affecting me. Since there is a converter i'll work as normal and then convert to MSTS2 (or maybe finish the route on MSTS1 and then convert, if the MSTS2 editor tools are worse which - knowing Microsoft making everything for 2 year olds these days - they probarbly will be)

[longbow]

Since we do know that MSTS routes and content will be upwards compatible, we don't know when MSTS2 will be out and there is only a small chance that they will pick the route you're working on, I see no reason for route builders to wait for MSTS2. Better to be upgrading six months from now rather than starting a route from scratch.

[PaulH2]

Since we do know that MSTS routes and content will be upwards compatible, we don't know when MSTS2 will be out and there is only a small chance that they will pick the route you're working on, I see no reason for route builders to wait for MSTS2. Better to be upgrading six months from now rather than starting a route from scratch.

That depends a lot on whether you will be using default track or if you want to use XTracks or UK Finescale (or any other non-default track or roads for that matter). It is not at all clear yet whether these will work in MSTS 2, hence why Tim Booth has put development of UK Finescale on hold for the time being.

It depends on how large a project you are contemplating, but I'd be cautious about starting a large project now using other than default track if you want to upgrade it to MSTS 2 as there is a distinct possibility you could end up having to completely re-lay all the track...

I certianly wouldn't want to discourage anybody from using either of these track packages, but it is something you have to factor into the decision. I believe this was one of the reasons why the Bluearrow team elected to use default track for the Severn Valley route. As you say, we have no idea when MSTS 2 will be released. It may be 6 months, it may be a year, who knows (my initial guess would have been November time so it is out in time for Christmas, but who knows).

Paul

[bigvern]

I sincerely doubt Haltwhistle to Alston will be the new route! Progress on the above is likely to be slow due to a few other commitments coming up over the next two or three months, but it is taking shape slowly. There's a high proportion of 3D models to prepare too.

As to the rest, well I already said I won't be starting a big route project until after MTS2 comes out.

Interesting point about continuing to route build in MTS1 and then convert. Unless Abacus bring out a new version of TSM straight away (and not really wanting to take the plunge with Gmax) that might be the only means "ordinary" route builders can get their creations into MTS2.

Certainly when it comes time to upgrade the existing routes, station buildings etc will probably be done in MTS1. However for fencing the Far North, I *pray* MTS2 has splined fences!

[jjules]

I somehow doubt that MS would choose Kington - Hereford (my first project), or New Radnor - Kington - Leominster!!!

Can't wait for MSTS2 though! If I can take my routes from MSTS1 and use in MSTS2 I'll be happy!!!

[TomB]

I do presume that all shapes and textures can be converted?

[XPTE]

Well, I've just recieved a reply from KUJU enquiring about what the UK route in MSTS 2 will be and..............well quite frankly it could be MANY MANY months to wait yet till we hear what the UK route in MSTS 2 actually is. It seems they just want this information to remain confidential. They're not even prepared to say why they want this info to remain confidential. I think the least they could do is tell us why they want the info to remain confidential and an approx date of when they'll give us the info! If they did tell us why they want this info to remain confidential maybe then I'd understand more, but at the moment........naah I just can't understand what an earth they're playing at. VERY strange marketing strategy if you ask me.

Like I say, it is a nuisance when people are awaiting to hear this news before they start on their route. I would probably say go ahead and make a start on your route, otherwise you could be waiting about for months on end waiting for this info and when MS/KUJU do eventually tell us it will probably be a totally different route to what you're planning to make anyway and all those months of waiting and waiting would be wasted.

All we do know though abuot the UK route for MSTS 2 is that it will be a steam era route, possibly a late steam era route with diesels as well as steam trains included. So if you do a modern(ish) era route, and the UK route for MSTS 2 turns out to be the same route as you created, at least there will be a modern era and a steam era version of the route.

[lwaxl00]

Maybe the reason they are being cagey about the UK route is that it may not be ready for the anticipated release of MSTS2, and it will be a free upgrade at a later date. It seems odd that they are keeping the info confidential when all the other routes have been named.

Alan L

[sarahagain]

"They" tried to say the Settle route was as it was in the 1920s.
Naw....nothing like.
The track plan was 1980s at least...the only old fashioned thing was double track over Ribblehead.
Also very strange things, like missing out Culgaith and New Biggin completely, only one platform at Crosby Garrett and Ormside, the virtual complete absense of any goods yards, stations with signals but no signal boxes, a river in the wrong place, and no river at a junction named after a river bridge(!).
So just how accurate are the other routes?
(I did hear that the gradients on the Marias Pass were too steep...)

So...build away. You could build the "same" route as MSTS...and it would still be different!

[XPTE]

Thing that struck me about that default Settle & Carlisle were the speed limits. I think its 105mph limit the entire route isn't it? Can't be as high as that on the real line. I realised this when I tried to make an activity based on a real timetable using a Sprinter and I was arriving at each station miles too early! And yes, only one platform at Crosby Garrett and Ormside was very odd too!

Also, the default NEC route was not accurate too. Because it didn't include a number of stations which are on the real line! Plus a number of converging lines and freight stations weren't featured too.

Not sure about how realistic the other default routes are.

I hope the default MSTS 2 route(whatever that mysterious route may be!) turns out to be a real treat and is reasonably accurate to the real line. And then maybe I can forgive them for keeping us all in suspense for SOOOOOO long.

[sarahagain]

Thing that struck me about that default Settle & Carlisle were the speed limits. I think its 105mph limit the entire route isn't it? Can't be as high as that on the real line.

The "Base" speed limit is 105mph, yes. But there are areas with lower speed limits.

The Midland built the line with a limit of 90mph in mind.

MSTS will have you off the line in places at around 60 mph...

I will be looking at speed limits at some time!

[XPTE]

Anyone who is awaiting the release of MSTS 2 before they start on their route, well...........looks like you're gonna have a LOOOOOOONG wait till you start your route I'm afraid. An April release for MSTS 2 is looking doubtful now, and will it be released by this time next year? Who knows!

If it was me personally, I'd make a start on the route in MSTS 1 rather than wait till who knows when for MSTS 2.

[jaffamafia]

Maximum permissible speeds:

Settle Junction to Kirkby Stephen (MP 268) = 60mph (both directions)
Kirkby Stephen (MP 268) to Carlisle = 80mph (both)

Except:

Settle Jct:- 70mph (up) between MPs 234.5 and 231.75, 60mph (both) through jct to/from Carlisle direction, 40mph (down) through jct to Carnforth line.

Blea Moor:- 35mph (up) MPs 249.5 to Settle (applies only to freight trains conveying 10 foot wheelbase 4 wheeled vehicles).

Blea Moor Tunnel:- 55mph (down) through tunnel.

Kirkby Stephen West:- 70mph (both) between MPs 268 and 269

Appleby (Station) North:- 30mph (both) between 280mi. 50ch. and 281mi. 43ch.

Low House Crossing L.C.:- 60mph (both) between MPs 300 and 300.5

Petteril Bridge Jct.:- 20mph (both) through jct to/from Appleby direction. 50mph (down) from Petteril Bridge Jct. to London Road Jct.

London Road Jct.:- 50mph (up) from London Road Jct. to Petteril Bridge Jct. 20mph (down) from London Road Jct. to Carlisle South Jct. 10mph (down) through jct to Bog Jct. line.

Carlisle South Jct.:- 20mph (up) from Carlisle South Jct. to London Road Jct.

From London Midland Region Northern Section 1973 Sectional Appendix.

Hope this information is of use to someone.[/code]