I'm a spotter, not a driver

[malkymackay]

Hmm, might give this idea a go. I've got plenty of WTT's for the ECML to make reference too. The only problem I can think of is the patchy nature of starting services from Portals, which would be required if it was set at York or Newcastle. If I do get round to it, it will also be payware heavy. If I have the stock available to make a realistic scenario, I'm gonna use it.

[jimmychoo]

Sounds like a good idea to me, I would be interested, assuming I had the payware items you used of course :p

in a way, thats a big problem with 'spotting' scenarios, to make them enjoyable you need to use as much variety of traction as possIble and that means 'payware'.
I nearly made a spotting scenario for my 'Yeovil back from the past route' but did not want to use default items which were the rules of the competition at the time.
If you want, I will make 2 spotting scenerio's this weekend, one early diesel spotting and one 1990 ish diesel scenerio - but be warned it will require much payware, I will use;
IHH class 50,
IHH Western Region pack,
IHH class 45,
IHH Class 56,
RSDL CLASS 101,
RSDL CLASS 37,
Digital trains class 40,
RSDL Class 158,

See what I mean, to make it look good, theres alot of payware, I guess if you haven't got any of the payware required then you can always edit the scenerio using RW Tools.
let me know what you think, do you want me to do it?

Yeovilrig

I'm definitely up for this! I have all the payware you've listed, but like you say, it can be edited with RW tools if necessary. Can't wait!!

[ashgray]

I agree -fundamentally, You make scenarios for your own pleasure. If you upload them, them anyone downloading has the choice of downloading or buying any required freeware/payware stock, or not. Those that don't have everything can use RW tools to substitute missing stock, but with scenarios like this idea, it's variety that counts most.

Ash

[Tankski]

Actually, to play any scenario in "Train-spotting mode" is already possible by adding "-followaitrain" in the RW shortcut properties windows.

How do you do that Manuel? I start RW from a desktop shortcut, so I presume it would have to be started from the install folder?

Rich, off the top of my head you go to the library in steam, right click RW2, go to properties then click "launch options" and paste what manuel has written in there, click ok and that should be that.

[msey0002]

I would love to see this .

Theoretically, it can be done to any scenario one possesses, just go into the editor, fly to the player train and untick the driver option.

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

I've done a few for my own amusement, but I have never uploaded any because they are very payware-heavy.

Please don't let that stop you from uploading them.

[TransportSteve]

Hi, I've always preffered in previous sims such a Trainz just to get an AI scenario up and running and just sit at various vantage points watching passive watching the action. It was something that I felt MSTS was not very good at and you were encouraged to be a part of the activity. Fine if you want to drive ... but I don't well not always a t least.
Does Railworks or any 3rd party approach provide a facility to be able to do this? Pershaps its just a matter of sourcing a custom scenario. Any of you familiar with Trainz will instantly know what I mean. ie. To have freedom to move about the route and observe the activity of other trains without becoming directly involved in the operations. Well I could perhaps pick up the energy to be a rather bad signal man I suppose ,,, if pushed:)
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice.
regards, Tony

I too think this is an excellent idea, you have many mainline stations on routes, both default, and downloaded ones. There's nothing wrong with doing scenarios whilst "train spotting", which, let's face it, is what most of used to do when we were younger, and even though most of the current scenarios, which are excellently created by the likes of Malky, to have others created for our enjoyment from a different perspective, might go down rather well, I would think. You'd obviously have to make it as interesting as possible, otherwise, folks might get a little bored and you'd need to choose stations with lots of platforms, as well as passing through lines, such as Reading, on the Padd-Oxford layout, as trains divert to both the south coast and the Midlands, as well as onwards on the GWR mainline, if coming from London, so, you have lots of different traffic to operate. There must be quite a few different routes you can do a busy scenario on, come to think of it.

Sounds good to me Tony, carry on, Sir....

Cheerz. Transport Steve.

[Darpor]

Thats possibly another reason for me not doing one so far, you see, I am a stickler for realism so it would have to be a real timetable. Take Darlington for instance, if I did one there, you would have periods of ten minutes or so without anything. I dont actually mind it myself, but maybe I am not normal.

[msey0002]

I was planning on releasing a 20-30 minute one at Princes Street Gardens on the Scottish ECML to upload on UKTS once it comes out, had already started it in fact. As Darren said, for me realism is important, but at Princes Street there isn't much waiting, there is barely any waiting to do

[malkymackay]

Your ok Darren. I remember spotting at the ends of platforms in the 80's. Sometimes you just had to hang about for something to happen. I've just had a quick glance at a few WTT's with Darlington in mind. I too am a stickler for realism, but the default Darlington can't handle the traffic when there are 2 platforms missing

[Darpor]

Your ok Darren. I remember spotting at the ends of platforms in the 80's. Sometimes you just had to hang about for something to happen. I've just had a quick glance at a few WTT's with Darlington in mind. I too am a stickler for realism, but the default Darlington can't handle the traffic when there are 2 platforms missing

Which ones, the old north bays?

[msey0002]

Your ok Darren. I remember spotting at the ends of platforms in the 80's. Sometimes you just had to hang about for something to happen. I've just had a quick glance at a few WTT's with Darlington in mind. I too am a stickler for realism, but the default Darlington can't handle the traffic when there are 2 platforms missing

Your 80s scenarios would be fantastic for these . How about York? Nice station which through platforms as well as bays.

[Darpor]

Your ok Darren. I remember spotting at the ends of platforms in the 80's. Sometimes you just had to hang about for something to happen. I've just had a quick glance at a few WTT's with Darlington in mind. I too am a stickler for realism, but the default Darlington can't handle the traffic when there are 2 platforms missing

Your 80s scenarios would be fantastic for these . How about York? Nice station which through platforms as well as bays.

I think York and Newcastle are slightly dodgy simply because the track doesn't extend far enough away and not many services can be stacked. Of course, use of portals is available but I have never used them yet, both for stacking or re-entry. I like the idea of Northallerton or Thirsk though, lots of things flying through.

[yeovilrig]

Thats possibly another reason for me not doing one so far, you see, I am a stickler for realism so it would have to be a real timetable. Take Darlington for instance, if I did one there, you would have periods of ten minutes or so without anything

yeah your right Darpor, a 10 minute wait with no action would not be acceptable to most people, so to please the majority, there must be alot of tweaking going on!
i feel the problem that i would have is that the scenario might become unrealistic by having to much eye candy going by, but in my opinion better that than 10 minutes of nothing happening, but it is horses for courses, someone has said here tonight that they would leave their pc playing whislt they did some work - in that case a 1 hour timetable at Reading would be possible and enjoyed. but for someone sat infront of their pc playing live i fear that boredom might cause a problem.

Yeovilrig

[Darpor]

I still dont think it should put anyone off creating and uploading something realistic with real time "waits". At the end of the day, some will want them and some won't. If I was to do one, it would explicitly state on the download screen what was involved and a warning of periods of inactivity. People can then make an informed choice which if they still don't like it and complain, they can go in the "biffa bin"