Atomic Systems

Hi,having unpacked and installed this activity it shows up but the player loco is missing.Can someone explain please where I have to install the loco and if so which file to put it in.I have installed it into the MSTS Trains/ Trainset file but it does not show in the activity.Thanks.Peter.

Hi Peter,
I haven't run this activity, but the problem appears to be that, if you've not used the .apk file, the CONSISTS folder has not been supplied!

I suggest that, if your TSUnpack doesn't work, use my APKExtractor3 to install the .apk file :

MSTS / ORTS - Replacement for TSUnpack. [1182057 bytes] - APKEx-v3.zip File ID: 34386 Date: 01 Mar 2016 - 766 Downloads

Cheers,
Ged

HI Ged can you please explain where to install the APK extractor and how to use it to install this activity.I have always used SunPack and I am not having much luck.Thanks.Peter.

Hi Peter,
Are you saying that TSUnpack doesn't work, or doesn't unpack the .apk file?

You can install APKExtractor wherever you like, except C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86). By default, it will install in C:\MSTS APK Extractor v3.

A full readme will be found in the installation folder, but, like all my utilities, I've tried to make running it as easy, and self-explanatory, as possible
You can "drop" the .apk file on to its Desktop icon, or, when you've set .apk files to open with APKExtractor3, you can just double-click the .apk file.

Please come back if you have problems running it.

Cheers,
Ged

Hi,
MikeandDi has reported that this activity doesn't work under the latest non-stable version of Open Rails. I have just tried (but not run) it using X4017 and it starts OK, but the loco's driving wheels revolve too slowly!

Also, the coal and water levels are shown as zero - this is because the tender has type = Freight instead of Tender.

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : I see it has now been withdrawn from the library, presumably for correction.

As far as I know the activity has not been withdrawn.

The player loco is included in the download as a separate item. The loco file needs to be dropped into the Trains folder, it should then appear in the activity.

There should be no need to adjust the loco files.....this activity has been tested several times by myself and tested again by Mike Sexton.

Hi Danny,
Many apologies My listing was preset to MSTS files!

There are still the problems of the tender not being designated as such with the result that the F5 display shows : Fuel levels 0% coal 0% water, no separate CONSISTS folder for those who can't unpack the .apk file and the slow-running driving wheels. It may not be connected, but the activity starts with a "wheel slip" warning. I'm using Open Rails X4017.

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Sorry, but I have discovered two more problems with the tender - The Wagon name is not the same as the file name (this might not affect OR) and the tender has air brakes whereas the loco has vacuum brakes.

Hi Ged

Been there, done that!

In testing under X4017, I did try changing the tender designation and brake type. This got rid of the fuel level problem, but the consist still gradually slowed to a halt even on full regulator and reverser.

I think that the wheel slip message can be ignored. It seems to crop up quite often when running MSTS activities in Open Rails. I think that there is reference to this in one of the forums, but I cannot recall where.

Mike

Hi Mike,
I have seen wheel slip mentioned in connection with low frame rates, but this doesn't apply in my case - I get about 140!!

When the activity starts, the train is running at a respectable speed, but if the same consist is used in explore mode, it hardy moves, even after changing the tender brakes to vacuum.

Changing the loco and tender for Dave Robinson's 73082, everything works as it should.

As you say, the supplied Player loco gradually slows to a halt - there's no response to the regulator/reverser settings. Maybe it's an "Adheasion" or Friction setting??

Cheers,
Ged

At the moment there are too many variables that can affect a loco running in OR. I know virtually nothing about .eng and .wag files so tend to leave them alone unless there is no alternative ...and even then it is hit or miss as to whether my changes make any improvement.

The only real test is to try a consist in OR to see if it runs OK.

This is what I did for this activity......so even if the .eng or .wag files don't look right I would leave them alone as long as the loco performance is satisfactory.

The loco ran fine for me in OR version 1.2. 3766. ...but when Mike tried to test in a later Version of OR the consist wouldn't move....he then reverted to 1.2.3766 and all was OK.

Just to confirm....the uploaded activity should run OK with the uploaded Train as long as OR version 1.2.3766 is used.

Hi Ged

Maybe it's an "Adheasion" or Friction setting??

Way beyond my knowledge, I'm afraid.

I did wonder if it was related to the recent changes to the operation of vacuum brakes in Open Rails, but tried a slightly earlier version with the same result.

However, it does work "out of the box" in the latest stable version of Open Rails, available here (as you probably know) -

http://openrails.org/download/program/

I've now got both this and the latest experimental release installed.

Obviously, it is difficult for activity writers with the program constantly evolving, but I am so glad that they are continuing to produce excellent activities that run in Open Rails.

Regards
Mike

Hi,
@Danny : With respect, there is no mention anywhere that the activity will only work with OR v1.2.3766. That was issued a long time ago and I feel that this limitation should have been included on the UKTS download screen, at least. I appreciate that Open Rails is a "moving target", so writing activities for it can be a hazardous affair!! Thanks for your efforts

@Mike : Thanks! I have only recently deleted the stable version from my PC, so I'll get it reinstalled PDQ!!

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Have now tried with v1.2.3766 - all seems OK, except that the driving wheels rotation still doesn't look right!

Hi Ged. You're right that I should have mentioned 1.2.3766 on the Download screeen...I did notice this soon after the Upload...I tried posting a message on the Activity thread here, but it seemed to have gone unnoticed.

Hi Danny,
I think you can edit the text on the download screen by selecting "View My Uploads" then the "E" (Edit) button for the upload itself.

Cheers,
Ged

I think you can edit the text on the download screen by selecting "View My Uploads" then the "E" (Edit) button for the upload itself.

Done! Thanks Ged - I didn't realise that Uploads could be modified so late after release.