Good routes/trains for a newbie?

Hello everyone.  So I've managed to install OpenBVE on my Mac, and on my third attempt managed to get a route working, the Cumbrian Coast Line.  The only train I've managed to get to work though is the class 37, which while not prototypical for the route seems a little problematic because I can't work out where to download the class 156 from that is apparently the default for the route?  There are class 156 files in the route folder, but they don't become drivable when I move them over.

Now I'm not unused to train sims, and I have even a little experience of driving a real loco, but OpenBVE seems a little trickier than some given that I accidentally managed to open the doors while trying to use the outside views.  Can anyone please recommend a route that is easy to set up and find the train files for, and which might provide a good test bed for a newbie to get used to the keys (probably so I can remap them)?

I would be correct that there doesn't seem to be a route learning mode, correct?

I have though been impressed by what I've seen of this sim so far, especially the noise when passing over points, for instance!

If you go to Customize controls you can configure the keys to your own preference. Also, openBVE is designed in a way such that you can use any route with any train. You can come up with crazy solutions like putting a shinkansen on the NYC subway for example

Try the celtictrainsim Welsh route to start with, suitable train is available from same site and routes and trains are "Package Managment" format so you shouldn't have any of the problems you may see with new users struggling to install older stuff meant for earlier sim versions.

Thanks, that is much better!  Neat route too, and very realistic!

I do get one error message though:

'The train plugin/..../openBVE/Train.CL175 Arriva/UKSpt.dll failed to load.
The built-in ATS/ATC systems will be used instead, which may cause issues.'

I expect this is because I had to re-map the keys as I am using a MacBook which doesn't have all Home and End keys etc etc.

No worries I think I've worked out why this is: https://bveworldwide.forumotion.com/t1506-no-aws-start-bells-etc-on-mac

Yes, you cottoned on quickly that UK train plug-ins sometimes behave oddly on a Mac, or don't behave at all!

Leave it with me for a bit, I'll look to replacing the UKTS plug in with the BVE Cornwall (BVEC) plug in which should be better. If it test out OK on my PC I will replace the one on the server

It can certainly be swapped out, but will require a little configuration work first and some testing

I'll try and do some playing tomorrow.
Main issue is that the starter system in BVEC_ATS isn't quite the same as that from UKSpt, and it might need some persuading to work in a similar manner


Other Mac compatible stuff:
The Western was somewhat the testbed for a bunch of the engine code in BVEC_ATS:
http://www.bvecornwall.co.uk/wordpress/br-class-52-western/

The steam locos on my site are also fully Mac compatible.

Thanks Chris. I must do some work on the routefiles, there's some route encoding error notifications like the ones I fixed up on the Irish routes, must kick out the ANSI for UTF. Likewise, all the CTS Irish motive power is running on BVES plug in and no trouble at all with them. Not going to start it tonight though


(** edit 30.04.2018 @12.00 hrs  -  Cwm Twypsin routefiles fixed for encoding errors and downloadable now.  I tried a BVEC plug-in with the CTS Class 175 Arriva unit, there were issues such as engine not being startable (which does cause some inconvenience   ) so not ready to abandon the UKSpt plug in for the moment, still on the "to do" list )

http://vps.bvecornwall.co.uk/stuff/beta/175_v1.zip

This is a marginally working configuration for the 175. Drop into the Cl175 Arriva\175.0 2 car set folder to test.
Still a WIP, needs some features knocking into the plugin to support the not working stuff.

Working:

• AWS
  
• TPWS
  
• Vigilance (Overspeed / deadman)
  
• DRA
  
• Basic startup sequence
  
• Wipers / raindrops
  

Not Working:

• Door open / close buttons.
  
• Engine start / stop sound effects.
  
• ???
  

I'm finding that the wipers aren't working. No motor sounds unless throttle is open. The doors work, but not the blue drcls panel light in the cab. Would that be plug-in or sound.cfg file related, I wonder?

graymac wrote:I'm finding that the wipers aren't working. No motor sounds unless throttle is open. The doors work, but not the blue drcls panel light in the cab. Would that be plug-in or sound.cfg file related, I wonder?

All of those are plugin related.

Wipers are (marginally) my fault- I haven't changed the key assignment from the OS_ATS default.
In the zip above, they're currently activated by 8 & 9.

Other flaws I've noticed:

• Cab lighting changes when the startup self-test procedure is started using UKDT.
  
• AI doesn't operate the DRA. (Fixed in my test build, will try and get another version tomorrow with some more of these fixed)
  

That will make a better job of it. Will this solve the problems our Mac users have been experiencing?

graymac wrote:That will make a better job of it. Will this solve the problems our Mac users have been experiencing?

Should do, yeah

There will be minor differences in timing etc, but nothing interesting.

Newer version:
http://vps.bvecornwall.co.uk/stuff/beta/175_v2.zip

Changes:

• Cab lighting now works correctly as part of the startup self-test.
  
• Door open buttons work.
  
• Wipers changed to match the key assignments of the original.
  
• AI now handles the DRA correctly.
  

To Fix:

• Starter motor / engine idle effects missing.
  
• Guard's buzzer missing.
  
• The panel defines two red buttons for the doors, which don't seem to do anything (Always off); At a guess, these are open left / open-right buttons, which need the correct beacons adding to the route. Need to do some digging into this one.
  

The CTS 175 Arriva unit is a "hybrid".  Steve Thomas had done a very good 175 cab but no exterior, so all I  did was to knock up an exterior to go with it, the hard bit already having been done.  (see Steve's site: https://sites.google.com/a/bve4trains.com/bve4trains/Home )

The beta is good on my test machine. You're right about the Door opn_*.png texture (ats15 / ats16) not appearing to do much, I never noticed before as the doorcls texture (ats14) was the one I looked for, and that's working fine. The missing engine idle sound effect is the main deficit really.

Wow!  I didn't expect you guys to have done so much to try to improve it!

Thanks to the new files, I certainly don't get an error message any longer.  One strange thing though - the speedometer is no longer animated.

Is there any way to get a readout of the speed without it?

Edit: Ignore my useless newbie ramblings I have found the setting!

I expect you've found that Ctrl+V  will bring up a speed reading in the bottom left corner of the game window to get you by.

I'm finding the speedo is fine with the beta plug-in under Windows. Unfortunately, I no longer have a Mac available to test with. Chris?????

I did indeed find Ctrl+V - but then, strangely, I found that the speedo seemed to start working again at the first station out of Newport (something in Welsh with a C  ).

AWS certainly works!  And adds a whole new dimension to the game.

Ah, that's probably coz you have to speak Welsh to it!!
Tricky, but not as difficult as the Cornish needed to shift Chris's trains

(That station beginning with 'C', that'd be "Cwmbran" - pronounced something like "Koom-bran" )

Ah, Cwmbran, that would be it! 

The droplets and wipers also worked for me when I went through the tunnels on the branch.  The whole route is great work - I have little experience of railways in Wales but the branch especially has a real sense of a single track route somewhere in the UK!

Glad you enjoyed it. I get very little feedback on that route and didn't think it was all that popular.

Based on other sims I've played in the past, it's really good.  Lots of good 3D modeling such as the M4 bridge and disused pit, and also railway details like the unused track sections.

I quite like Irish Railways so will try one of your other routes soon.

Don't forget to check out the information on the site, which ought to ensure there are no problems. I do try to make it as "user friendly" as possible. Irish trains don't have AWS, there's a system called CAWS instead. Take a look at the "instructions" first:
http://celtictrainsim.com/publications.html

Great, I'll be sure to!

Tried Kilmagranny - great little route, had the real feel of an Irish branch!

The CIE 2600 DMU gave me the .dll error and that meant the gears didn't work, but it was still an enjoyable drive.

The 141 class worked really well, including the CAWS and wipers.  Really good train to drive!

The CIE 2600 DMU gave me the .dll error and that meant the gears didn't work

As in life, so in art. The CIE 2600 was basically the same as the British DMUs of the period and I only made the externals for this, the cab & workings of this heritage DMU come from the BVETMD stable.  The original plug-in is probably the cause of the .dll error if you are using a Mac.
It may be worth trying the BVEC plug-in from here:
http://www.bvecornwall.co.uk/wordpress/bvec_ats-design-details/
read the instructions and make a copy of the train folder to put back if it all goes pear-shaped. I'd do it, but I don't have a Mac to try it on.