LU Network

[96smitro]

Just to the people on this forum into what Ive been doing within MSTS (also on a thread over on UKTrainsim).

I am currently constructing a large portion of the Underground in MSTS. I am still doing trackwork, so no scenery has been fully finished (though I have exported a model successfully from Sketchup - with more to follow once suitable textures are found). I have no completion date yet set, though this is cetainly going to be a long term project!

Here is my most recent pic of the route in one of the editors:



Note that I am currently extending the Met...

Rob.

[Ben]

Fantastic stuff! What sort of year is this set? I only ask since recently lines have become more and more self contained

[96smitro]

It is being set in the present day, although the ELL will still be open ;D and Heathrow T5 might have opened early - once I get that far!

Things have slowed down a bit - currently at Wembley Park but moving back to university has put thing on a temporary halt - will be restarting sometime this week (once a essay is complete and dissertation title handed in!)

Rob.

[Ben]

No chance of Grove Road being there?

[chris]

So you're building the whole LU route? If you're gonna make a decent job of it (like DrJimi) thats gonna take a long time! Anyway, there's a Victoria Line for MSTS and a District (in progress), a half assed Picc and if i remeber correctly an East London Line. Is all your project necassary? Best of luck (i think you'll need it!)

[Deleted]

Sorry if this sounds like I'm being pessimistic here, but I agree with ChrisA... It's all very well making huge networks for MSTS, but if you want them anywhere near realistic, it's going to take a hell of a long time!
Look how long Dr Jimi has been slaving away on the District route so far! OK, so Dr Jimi's a perfectionist as you can tell from the screenshots, but MSTS route-building takes a LONG time!

I'd suggest simply concentrating your efforts on one particular line to start with, like the Met line.

As I say, sorry if this sounds negative but I think you'll be taking on too much work if you tried to do the whole network!

[Deleted]

I agree with ChrisA and AlanL as well. Its too much work, especially for one person, and if Kuju Rail Simulator is released next year, then all the work may be for nothing...

IMO, you should try with something small, like the Waterloo & City, or the ELL, which are quite short.

Also, the Northern and District lines are currently being made, and the Victoria line as been done, and quite well I must say. So really, re-doing them, IMO, would just be a waste of time!

I'm sorry to sound negative too, but I think the term "thing big", has been a little over-used here!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do though!

[Ben]

Its a gynormous undertaking, granted, but better to have tried to pull it off then thought 'Its all too much hassel" and not botherd. Best of luck, and every sucess with it!

I'm not familier with MSTS (I've only ever used Trainz and Eisenbahn EC) so you must forgive my ignorance by asking this, but is there any way of merging two seperate layouts together? If thats the case then differant people could work on differant bits and put it all together at the end. The downside is that credit due might be overlooked.

[Deleted]

I *think* that can be done Ben. But in the past its caused lots of problems, with authors deciding they dont want their part in it because of this or that reason. Unless you are sure the person you work with wont mind you using it in the long run, it probably better to go alone!

[Deleted]

Possible but highly problematic for merging routes.

[96smitro]

Whilst it is in theory, possible to merge a MSTS route, they must be both the same altitude, have no interactives, and as far as I am aware, have a single common tile between both routes - it is however, too much of a hassle to merge a route, especially one as complicated as the London Underground!

I know it is going to take a long time and allot of effort to pull it off - and I know that I am never going to be able to meet the same quality as the District line route (hence I am looking forward to its release), but thats not going to stop me having a go at making a route in MSTS.

Whilst Kuju Rail Simulator is just round the corner, I don't think that people will stop playing MSTS at the drop of a hat - The large amount of add-ons and routes will extend the life of MSTS until either there is a process of exporting a route, or a large amount of duplicate add-ons has been produced for the new simulator.

Are people going to stop using MSTS just because a new simulator comes out? I don't think so, especially with so many other routes having been built, or being built currently.

Rob.

[DrJimi]

My hat is off to Rob for doing what he's doing! I remember seeing the first 'map' that showed the Circle section and being excited about it. Clearly it's expanded a little! It's entirely his choice to create a route his way and to the level of detail he wants. Frankly, I envy him the track mileage! There's times I just want to drive a train for a while, and the DL section of the LTSR then fits the bill for me. Nice trackage of reasonable length and adequate - even good - scenery, and easy to build an immersive activity. I chose more detail in my building, as I had access to the data to do so, but I feel uncomfortable if it is held up as a benchmark of what a LUL route should be. I know no one meant to be critical, but we all build what we want, as we see fit, and in whatever spare time we have. If at the end of the day any route meets it's maker's goals, provides them fun creating it and (secondarily) provides fun for the users, then it's a winner. Keep it up Rob - and if there's anything I can offer to help you (e.g. signals or other LUL objects) just yell and it's yours.
My only concern with all these lines, is we're going to need yet more Stocks built ;D
Could not agree more with Rob's commens about MSTS vs. KRS too. From my point of view, KRS will have a way to go until the depth of tools required are in place - facilitating the stock and route building to the level we now have in MSTS. Plus, as he notes, the investment (stocks and routes) in MSTS is huge world-wide. That is not all going to be 'ported' to KRS overnight - if ever. MSTS, warts and all, will soldier on for quite a while I feel.

[dotmatrix]

so, will there be an MSTS Jubilee line. Because I would be stumped at how to put the PEDs in!

btw, good luck for this 'adventure'. hehe

[Ben]

Do you have a more recent pic of the entire route yet? I'm quite fascinated by this:)

[96smitro]

Thought I should give a little update on the work Ive been doing....

Progress has been going well, and now Ive reached Uxbridge and Watford. I was hoping to get further along the Met, but unfortunately an error (I think due to the Croxley triangle causing a TDB error) meant I had to use a backup - Nothing too major was lost - just 6-7 hours doing the triangle and into Rickmansworth.

Don't worry - will be trying again tomorrow, and hope to get the track into Amersham/Chesham by the end of the weekend.

Here is the most recent picture:



Rob.