Ffestiniog Railway Route (alpha test)

kevmt · Post by **kevmt** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 10:06 pm

Just a note to say that an alpha test version of the Ffestiniog Railway route by Colin Tucker (Batroost) is now available from the Ffestiniog Railway website at :-

http://www.festrail.co.uk

Look for the MSTS downloads page where details on how to get the route are available. The route is approx 62 megs in size.

If anyone registered before 10.30pm tonight (15th April ) then could they please re-register due to a technical problem.

Hope you enjoy the route.

Cheers
Kevin

sillyevan27 · Post by **sillyevan27** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 10:54 pm

Is it past that time?
'Cause, I registered just 2 minutes ago. (I wanted to test/see this cool route for myself!

)

Finally another narrow guage route for MSTS!
hmm...

Kevin?
Do you know if it's a TrueScale route? Or 2x like your Talyllyn?

kevmt · Post by **kevmt** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 6:52 am

If you registered 2 minutes ago then you should be ok.

The route is to 2x scale (like the Talyllyn route)

Cheers
Kevin

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 8:42 am

*goes to fill his hardrive with everything ffes"

Wow! Looking forward to getting one!

I'll go sign up now!

steamystef · Post by **steamystef** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:27 am

Hi,

I registered around 06H but never receive the log in information

is it past for testing ??

stefan from belgium

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:32 am

Its probably manually sent out..so it could be anytime I guess...

But its given me an idea for my Welsh Highland!

kevmt · Post by **kevmt** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:37 am

rwaceyw wrote:Its probably manually sent out..so it could be anytime I guess...

I'm pretty sure that the system is manual so I'm afraid I'm not sure when they will be issued. Sorry.

Cheers
Kevin

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:50 am

Just Register - I'm really looking forward to this!

Bruce

Christopher125 · Post by **Christopher125** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:01 pm

Hi

Is there any idea when a general release/CD will be available if the testing goes all right?

Chris

sillyevan27 · Post by **sillyevan27** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:13 pm

Err...I just remembered something

When I registered I became a "tester", right? So that means there still may be some bugs in the route

I hope, if there are any bugs, that they aren't serious

BTW...is it mandatory to have all the Ffestiniog Rly MSTS stock before you register??
I have only a few Ffestiniog coaches and engines on my computer.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:14 pm

Just signed up.

Decided to put the TR/FR differnces aside and download

Looks like an amazing route Kev/Batroost. Looking forward to this one muchly....

Christian

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:45 pm

How long do we have to wait for this password. Im off to Wales on tomorrow and i'd like to have a play on it before then.

Tim

batroost · Post by **batroost** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 5:28 pm

OK, there's obviously quite a few questions. First off, here's the installation readme file - which actually covers quite a lot:

Ffestiniog Railway MSTS Route (Alpha Release) by Colin Tucker and Kevin Martin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alpha 1.0, April 10th, 2003
For use with Microsoft Train Simulator.

Route by Colin Tucker (Batroost) [E-mail at colin.tucker@festrail.co.uk]

The majority of Models and Textures by Kevin Martin (Created using 3D Canvas Pro) [E-mail at kevin.martin@festrail.co.uk]

Please turn Word Wrap ON!

Aknowledgements
---------------

My Thanks to:-

Other Contributors of one-off or modified creations to the Route, especially,

-Tony Formosa for the NG Banner Repeater Signals, (and colour light signals etc)
-John Yelland for the Port Disc Signals
-Terry Thornton for Soaring birds (+ his Swans, Gulls, Cats, Ducks and Sheep...)
-Ian Morgan, Mike Wilson (and others) for their road vehicles.

And for other assistance,

-John Savage,John Cordrey and Chris Jones for advice and photos
-Ian Butters for arranging web-space and FR support
-TSTools, TSTerraform and Route-Riter which were all used in the preparation of this route
-UKTrainSim and Train-Sim.com for forums and downloads

And thanks to the Festiniog Railway, for being there.....

[I'm sure I've forgotten people - Sorry! - I'll try to put a full list of contributors together for the first proper release of the route. If anyone sees something of their's on the route and would like it removed (or credited) please let me know and I will gladly comply.]

(To find out more about the Ffestiniog Railway please visit the Ffestiniog Railway website at http://www.festrail.co.uk)

IMPORTANT
---------

It is necessary that the default rolling stock and default Routes supplied with Microsoft Train Simulator are correctly installed and working before installing this locomotive - ok well that's the ideal because that's how I've done it; it may install OK if you have less default stuff installed but I can't promise as I'm new to this...

About the Route
---------------

I'm not going to give you the history of the FR as there's 170 years of it - look at the website! The MSTS Route on the other hand has a much shorter history. With Kevin's help I've been working on it for around a year - it might not look like much for a year's work but the real world keeps getting in the way... You'll see as you run along it that there's lots still to do. There are big bare patches in the scenery, particularly above the Moelwyn Tunnel where the landscape is still in a rough state. I've also got lots of trees, bushes, small embankments, slate walls, fences and cuttings to model. . The route labels (F6), barring typos or mis-placements, are taken from the Authorised Route in the General Appendix to the Rulebook, and gives you an idea of the route knowledge required from Guards and Firemen.

This model (landscape, buildings, objects etc...) has had to be built to a larger scale to enable it to run on the track supplied with MSTS. It will run with standard gauge stock etc but may look slightly odd due to the increased size. For best results use 2xscale rolling stock. I have made two default activities (an Up and Down) using the GP-38 loco. But you don't want to use that do you ?!? Download some of Kevin Martin's FR stock from the FR website and see what real Narrow-Guage looks like! I haven't included any activities using NG stock as this could give error messages for anyone who hasn't downloaded the stock.... but I'm sure there will be some NG activities (from someone) soon.

Oh and I haven't done a lot of testing in seasons other than Summer or in the snow, so you may get 'Missing Texture' error messages or some odd effects if you try to run this version other than in the Summer (Fine or Rain).

MSTS gets a bit confused about speeds and distances when you model in 2x scale. Essentially, the real FR has trains running up to (about) 20 mph. In MSTS the equivalent speed on this route will be displayed as 40mph (F4/F5). But, the mileposts are arranged (by quartermile) to reflect actual FR distances (0m to 13m55.5c), so the Right Hand Column of the F4 'Driver Aid' will show the correct mileage, but (for example) the 'Distance to the Next Signal' shown at the bottom of the Same Driver Aid will show twice the 'real' mileage.... if anyone can think of how to tidy up this (and the other Driver aids) please let me know.

Hope you enjoy the work so far, I WILL finish it eventually... !

Installation
------------

Before installing any models, it is suggested that you make a copy of all the files in your
\TRAINS\TRAINSET directory - failure to do this may result in a lengthy re-installation process.

The route takes up just under 200MB of Disc space when installed and run.

At this stage you will either have downloaded a single Zip file of around 61MB (phew) or multiple smaller zip files to give the same total - some people find the smaller files hassle bother to download so I've included both options. If you've gone for the smaller files then they will all have to be downloaded to the same directory (without changing their filenames!) before you'll be able to open the zip archive (with for example winzip 8.1).

Instructions:

1. Unzip the contents of the zip files into your TrainSim Routes directory e.g. 'c:\program files\microsoft games\train simulator\Routes'. You will need to make sure that the 'All files' and 'Use folder names' options are ticked when you unzip the files.

2. Double click the Installme.bat file in the 'Ffestiniog' Route folder that has now appeared in the Routes folder. Wait for the Dos window to finish working (and then close it if necessary).

That's it!

Legal Stuff (Just in Case)
--------------------------

Neither the Ffestiniog Railway Co., Colin Tucker, Kevin Martin nor any of the other contributors, will be responsible for any loss or damage caused by the use of these files.

The files have been checked with up-to-date anti-virus software, but no liability whatsoever is accepted or implied by or on behalf of the Ffestiniog Railway co, authors, webmaster, hosting site, or anyone else, for any ill effects suffered by your computer or its users as a result of using these files.

This model was tested (at various stages) with Windows 98 and Windows XP.

This model is for your personal use only, and may not under any circumstances be sold or distributed in any way whatsoever. It must not be uploaded onto any website nor distributed via CD without permission of the Ffestiniog Railway Co. or the authors Colin Tucker and Kevin Martin.

Please be aware that this model may or may not be compatible with all the rolling stock that you have available.

WARNING: It is not recommended that you delete these files once installed.

Thank you for trying this Route.

Colin Tucker (Batroost)

In answer to the other queries the FR site has been set up so that the registration requests are processed ~once per day, probably around 10pm. Similarly Kevin and I will get bug reports/emails at about the same frequency.

When people have started downloading I'll post some more activities (which will need most if not all of Kevin's FR stock.... download it, it's worth it!).

There are already some 'features of the product ' - let's not call them bugs! - which I am changing. I'll keep you up to date with developments.

Regards

Batroost (:evilbat:)

jdtech · Post by **jdtech** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 6:52 pm

I hope it doesn't take too long to get this password!

At this stage you will either have downloaded a single Zip file of around 61MB (phew) or multiple smaller zip files to give the same total - some people find the smaller files hassle bother to download so I've included both options.

When you get to download it, can you download at as seperate files, like the first Talyllyn Route?

batroost · Post by **batroost** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:18 pm

Oops! Should have said. There is a 'split' version of the Zip file but it may not be on the website for a while.... In the meantime I recommend that you use a download manager such as 'Getright'.

Batroost (:evilbat:)