Creation Sharing [closed] My Route - Almtalbahn: Wels - Grünau Im Almtal

Random notes:

• According to DTG's Kinzigtalbahn article, S-Bahn Vorarlberg should also be equipped with the new track shadows. Matt once said, that for track shadows, the source for it has to be changed, so I hope, that the VBRG track, that I used on my route, will have this feature implemented automatically!
• Conductor mode is something I would be really excited about to have implemented into my route, but we will see...
• For freight trains, I always make random AI Freight services that come to my mind and with an average frequence of 10-15 minutes...I hope this is Ok
• Wels Lokalbahnhof got rebuilt IRL in the last few months, my route will still feature the spring 2024-version - maybe I can get a picture in the future!
• I am excited to try photo mode 2.0 with my route in PIE, as this will be the first time seeing it with clouds or even snow!
• I read a hint from Matt at the weekend, to use so few formations as possible, otherwise it could have a bad impact to memory...good to have read that in time, I already changed much in the timetable!
• I now rebuilt the 218 shunt services and intetestingly they work without any problem now!

 

Wow, great to see the huge Progress youre making. I guess the upcoming editor fixes and cooking for the tsw5 editor will only help you in that regard?
Out of interest as i dont know the route that Well and how fast things go in the Editor, how far is your route to completion in %?

Excited for whats to come

 

I've been keeping an eye in the forum and some of the creations I literally can't wait for, including this one.

 

Thanks for these nice words! In fact, it will help me release 5-6 mods that I am already finishing this weekend (Salzburg-Rosenheim Scenery Enhancements, etc.) but I also have hope that DTG will finally help a little bit more with the editor, as there are still many unexplained things, like Navmesh setup that passengers spawn, or making player teleports for example.
My approx. completion:

• Route Scenery:
  • Calculation by time: 10 of 60 minutes of driving done
  • by %: approx. 17% (but Wels was much more time consuming that fields!)
• Route Timetable:
  • Wels Hbf AI trains: 70%
  • ATB Fullruns: 50%
  • Special/Shunt services at Wels Hbf: 30%
• 5022/ the flagship train: 100%
  
• Other route setup stuff, manual, key art, etc: 20-25%

Oh, thank you!
I'm also excited as this route is a little bit more of an interesting diesel branch line than Maintalbahn or Niddertalbahn, because you have the very intensive contrast from city and a big station to fields and agriculture to mountains and nature!

 

Update 29th September 2024:

(1 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts!

Hello everyone and welcome to another (big) update of the project!

...with the movement from TSW4 to 5 editor, also a lot of other things changed!

First thing to start of...
...The new look!
TSW 5 PC Editor suddenly made the skybox looking cloudy across all my maps. This was interesting to experience, but I feel happy with it as I already got sick of the ever-sunny sky...(This little shepherd dog doesn't like the sun much at all)

Have a look:


Second thing (you maybe have noticed in these pictures)...
...Major Wels Hbf Remaster & Implementing passengers!

The second big thing that dominated my time (besides having corona...again) for approx. 2 weeks is a major remaster of Wels Hbf. This all started with wanting the station to be able to spawn passengers and growed into rebuilding all platforms, assets, clocks, roofs, etc. You can see, that the platforms are now more like the ones IRL, the roofs now have one middle pillar instead of the incorrect two ones and I also added platform sectors. And in order to have proper paths for the AI passengers to follow - I made the unbelievable - I built the complete interior of Wels Hbf! Now you can walk in there up to the overpass without a teleporter! I also opened the entrance to Wels Neustadt and rebuilt the scenery there! After a few days struggling and crashing the editor, I finally could also see passengers walking on the platforms and boarding the trains. This made me happy.



(1 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts!

 

(2 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts!

In addition to the passenger thing:


Mini Things: ICE-T and the 5022
So, TSW5 brought us the ICE-T! And of course I will use it as AI through Wels Hbf^^

And I also updated the 5022 a bit, so we have now more correct seat textures:

(The ÖBB-Logo and the correct 3D-models for the seats are missing, but that's a thing I can't solve at the moment)

Funny PIS-Displays

Well, this route wouldn't be a product of mine, when there wasn't a bit of a furry content in it^^ - trains on this route are also able to display "Leerfahrt", "Sonderfahrt" or "Freddie-Express" in their PIS-screens and information boards. This is made quite simple via the StationDirectory but adds so much gameplay options I think! (And you can look forward to a bit more Freddie-things in the future^^)



(2 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts!

 

(3 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts

Daytime and weather fun!
TSW5's new photo mode options come in very handy for testing weather and daytimes on my route:



These pictures clearly demonstrate that snow isn't working as expected (It even snows inside of Wels Hbf main building) - No idea how to fix that unfortunately

Nice impressions and custom assets!

I have now built some custom assets like more branch-lineish crossing signs and these road pillars you always see at German and Austrian roads.


(3 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts

 

(4 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts

And finally...some more screenshots to the bespoke updates...




Although the editor caused some trouble now with testing my route (I already opened a thread to that here), I'm looking positive into the future (in fact, you could play the route if you getthe uncooked files^^) I now continue more on building scenery at Steinhaus and building up the timetable, so the next thread update will focus on that!

Write me what you think and enjoy these nice pictures,
Your
FreddieTheShepherd
(I also updated my Fursona yesterday^^)

(4 of 4) - Be sure to also read the other posts​

 

oh wow that looks great. I wish I could edit the StationDirectory for SRM as there is a complete gap between Linz and Budapest. Vienna, St Pölten and anything less big just doesn't exist and makes all trains going to Vienna end at Linz now. Mkrahe said in his timetable that copying the StationDirectory of an existing route and adding to it is not a good idea though.

But I gotta say your route looks great and from my experiences of driving through Wels with both the NJ and ICE-T's I can't wait to spend some more time there ingame.

 

Great Work, I canˋt waite for the route

 

Der Bahnhof Wels schaut schon sehr gut aus

 

Danke, steckt auch immerhin schon sehr viel Arbeit drin^^
---------------
Today, I've created some custom wallpapers^^


I thought I want to share this little pictures with you

 

I personally love your Diesel branchline project so much. There is so much time and creativity invested! Your route pictures reminding me always on fear factory - linchpin. This is routes linchpin!

 

Wow ich bin echt geplättet von dem Projekt. Bin wirklich sehr gespannt drauf.

 

That looks great!

 

Awesome work!

 

Wann wirst du die Strecke rausbringen
Ich freue mich schon so

 

Yes, FreddieTheShepherd - time to release it and be the first one ever to publish their own route for TSW - making history!

trainsimcommunity has already raised the upload size limit for you.

 

Ich bin wirklich beeindruckt von den Bildern und dem Fortschritt deines Projekts. Es erstaut mich, dass es nicht – wie so viele andere – plötzlich einfach ruhig wird aufgrund Sprechverbot. Umso mehr freue ich mich, hier regelmäßig Updates zu sehen!

 

Danke, ich werde mal bald wieder ein Update machen, es wird langsam wieder Zeit, aber momentan bin ich einfach zu beschäftigt mit dem Cooking meiner Mods^^

Well, It's just too unfinished in scenery, but I maybe do a part-release when I finished scenery up to Sattledt and finished the timetable^^
I also look into recording a video and upload it on YouTube

 

You could also add a Graffiti or Poster with your Picture (FreddieTheShepherd) as a lil Bonus to your Route.

 

Don't think I didn't already start making Easter eggs xD

 

It has been quite here for a while and now with the SRM Scenery Enhancements, I finally can continue with the Almtalbahn route and together with that, I already started with a another new project...soon to be shared here^^

But, and take that as a little teaser, I released the 5022 in it's CityJet livery just today, ready to be driven in Free Roam!
https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/m...ns/c67-european/i5420-obb-5022-desiro-cityjet

 

Hello! I'm wondering how will you export it and share with others when your route is finished. As I known , the editor can't export the self-made route into pak files to share

 

I will give it a try soon, and if it doesn't work, I'm sure I have some people around me that will try to help me - *no further leaks*

For all: Expect a new update this sunday!

 

Update 24th November 2024:

It has been nearly 1 month after the last update and I honestly didn't want to take so long, but the release of the Salzburg-Rosenheim Scenery Enhancements took a lot of time tbh. However, I could progress a bit since then and today I can present you a bit - not that much like I wanted but there will also be future updates!

Updating Vegetation
This is now the second time I got inspired by a TSW route to improve quality of my route - this time it was the Mittenwaldbahn. I experimented with new vegetation forms and currently I updated everything from Wels Hbf up to the brick factory in Thalheim, but there's still a lot to go and this is very time consuming...
However, it looks much better than before and I'm really happy!



Further improvements
Along updating the vegetation along the track, I'm also updating the route itself. I'm adding now graffiti decals, more realistic station signs (With the technique used on SRM EP), I retextured the railway bridge over the river Traun into green, and much more. I also updated the ground textures to have better reflection - but I'm still not having snow!
I will also look into building some more train crossing signs, town signs, and so on.
AND - DTG finally implemented track shadows to VBRG, so my route has this feature too!

The timetable and it's over 360 services also gets a huge update currently.

Big announcements in the future...
Currently, I have two big things about the route (and my other mods) that I will share when I can say more about it, but that are news that are really interesting
(Maybe making this secret takes a lot of time to)

Further improvements to the 5022
Of course I think logic and release a mod before I have proper ideas...Well, there're updates
The 5022 livery mod will get a big update in the next time, enhancing it more and adding new liveries to it, but this topic is also related to one of the big announcements.

Preview-Videos on YouTube
Something I want to do about the route is recording the already-built part of the route and sharing it on YouTube. Unfortunately, I haven't found the time yet for it.

I need help with OHLE
With updating Wels Hbf, I also wanted to update the OHLE that was bugging around, but I somehow can't get it to work...
As you can see here, the between-lines (idk how to call that) are floating around although there isn't actually a OHLE...
Maybe someone has a solution?


Write me what you think and enjoy these nice pictures,
Your
FreddieTheShepherd

 

I think vegetation adds a lot in a simulation game to enhance the realism. you can see how Rivet's Arosaline compares to the Berninaline. it's a completely different world. The abandoned and overgrown tracks look cool. I remember a few on FTF as well that really made me think I am definetely driving in german. are you going to add some more detail to the tracks too? to me they look a bit too TSW perfect instead of real. not neccesairy of course but I bet some more ballast and dirt color would add to this already amazing looking route.

PS: ah yeah there I found that part on FTF. just past Offenbach Ost I think.

 

Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy! But jokes aside, I’m really impressed with the work you’re sharing with us. Every time a new notification pops up, I get excited to see what’s next.

I really hope the attempts to export the track work out. Looking forward to more updates, and wishing you the best of luck with everything you’re working on. Keep it up!

 

Well, not every part of the route looks old^^
(That's around Diensthubensiedlung)
Maybe I look into using Mittenwaldbahn track or assets, but we will see...

Woof Woof! Thank you very much!

 

oh wow I haven't said anything then. That looks great

 

ich muss schon sagen ich wurde auf dein mod zu Salzburg Rosenheim auf YouTube aufmerksam. und ich dachte ich schau mal was du sonst noch so machst aber das sprengt ja alle meine Erwartungen die route sieht ja von den Bilder schon genial aus.
kann es kaum erwarten da mal selber zu fahren.

 

Danke!^^

 

Die Bilder der Strecken sehen einfach zu wild aus ist ja schon fast besser als bei DTG selbst

 

Das Muss aber nichts heißen.

 

Das ist klar ändert aber nix das es trotzdem besser aussieht als die meisten DTG strecken

 

Das ist natürlich subjektiv und ich hab auch kein Problem damit, wenn anderen mein Stil nicht so sehr gefällt, dennoch muss ich zugeben, mich bei Ausgestaltung der Strecken schon viel mehr Details zu verbauen und lange nach passenden Gebäuden zu suchen, was z.B. auf SRM nicht so ganz der Fall war bzw. ist.
-------------
This is a subjective opinion of course and I also don't have a problem when others don't like my route-building style, but I have to say that I invest much more time in details and fitting buildings than DTG does for example, like on SRM.

 

Moinsen, zum ersten die strecke sieht mega aus und tiefsten respekt. ich wollte mal fragen wird die strecke auch für die Konsolen rauskommen bin nähmlich Konsolen spieler deswegen frag ich

 

Dear community, I have some bad news about this project...

Originally, I wanted to give a big event from 24.12. to 2.1. to celebrate the first anniversairy of this route. In order to also cook this route, I didn't get it into the game, although I added all files like Route Definition, Theme etc. (All what a route needs to work) into the plugin/.pak-file which got 2GB big. The game just didn't want to show up the route, so I though it could be the plugin name which is containing the fault...

"AA_Almtalbahn_Content" - that was its name. I suppose the "_Content" was to blame for the not-recognizing, so I wanted to change that. I created a new plugin, moved all files into that while the map was open and all worked fine. I could save, I could load any place. I wanted to cook the route again, now with a better name, but the game didn't recognize it at all. I now didn't have any clues on what to do now, so I opened the editor again - and then it came.

The map just didn't want to load all tiles anymore. I could load 1-2 tiles, teleport to Wels for example and I only saw what was in the persistent level. After some saving and some teleporting, it finally loaded a sort of scenery, after teleporting far and back again, that also vanished. My route was gone.
I made a bakup, but also this has the same problem. Another backup I did months ago, would work, but there are also reasons for me personally to give route building up:

1. I don't know what to do for cooking anymore, because from logic, my route included everything it needs, also help from other modders didn't help
2. There were many things in the future, that would cause trouble on my route and a wreck of my nerves, some of them being just very complicated (simulating a timetable) or not documented at all (like player teleports), so I don't want to waste time on a route which maybe won't work in the future anyways
3. DTG seems to be not interested in the route building/PC Editor modding community at all. We now have a full-time worker on it but we still don't get more documentation and that is really demotivating for me, personally.
4. The backup made months ago is so old in the meantime, that I don't want to build so much new again.

So, the Almtalbahn is cancelled, I'm really sorry. I don't like this decision too and I needed some days to get along with it, before I write this here. And also the fact, that I almost began with making everything for the big event, hurts my heart too, because I had some cool stuff to share like a cab ride video or a live stream with our great Matin_TSP (Who was a bit involved with my story about that some days ago)
It's also hard because this project, with it's 252 people who are/were interested, was my first online-being ever and my start into becoming an online Furry xD
So, there's also a little bit of an emtional damage linked with that...

What does this mean? Do I give modding up?
No, of course not. The Almtalbahn is cancelled, yes. That is a fact. And I won't continue on it - because of motivation and tiles not loading anymore. BUT, you have already seen maybe, I work on repaints and the Salzburg-Rosenheim Scenery Enhancements. And also a big, new fact, leaked through the recent update of my Westbahn-Flirt I (Which still has Almtalbahn-Advertising in it) ist, that I'm part of the BPH team! (Atleast some sort of at the moment xD)

BPH stands for "Bahnpfuschhochschule", a group of modders, like Foobian, modding mainly German and Austrian content. We have some secret projects that we announce in the future, but also some previously announced on the november roadmap.
If you're interested in more (which you are allowed to hear) you surely find something about that in the internet.

I also work on some new, not-yet-announced projects (but I will announce them later in this post)
Also thanks to Matin_TSP I'm now also in the TSC Discord Server, and I will try to update the community more there.

So, new projects?
Yes, some interesting things to explain in short form here. I won't dig into route building anymore soon, but first route-like thing I can say is, that the Salzburg-Rosenheim Scenery Enhancemens get a huge update in the future, because we at the BPH can use all our powers and different innovations to improve this mod on different levels. I also made the decision to look much more into vegetaton, like too short trees or missing bushes. You can literally call that "wanting to replicating every small stone and bush along the route" - expect some great things

Additionally to this topic, I can announce, that scenery enhancements like this will come to other routes too.

Another big thing is, that I think about making a modern timetable for the Mittenwaldbahn, once its released. This will also include a 2024 Uprade pack. This is also linked to another big mod, I have kept secret a while.

And this mod is the...
4024 Expansion Pack
Together with some BPH members and also H enjoyer a.k.a. Swing Swong on Discord (Don't know if he's here too), I began a great mod, that will expand and enhance the 4024 A LOT.
I will add many repaints, they will sub into the original 4024, it will have new recorded sounds, better interior. And on top of that, Swing Swong contributed the 4023 and the 4124. which will also be interesting to have in game. There's also some other cool stuff in there, but I will keep it secret for the moment

But...As long as I didn't start a proper thread here on DTG forums, I can share a little picture (once again big thanks to Swing Swong):

And currently, I'm also working on adding much new liveries, features, etc. to the 5022, which is already a becoming a great mod if I'm allowed to say that.

I already have other ideas for new mods, and I think the ideas won't go out so quick, so be sure to hear from me again in a new thread

Your
FreddieTheShepherd

 

Incredibly sad be honest, but I've predicted that this editor is a recruitment tool and nothing more. A freeware scene is not wanted by DTG (which also has to do with consoles) and all we got we can thank trainsimcz for, who figured out how DTG deactivated the Cooking function. But against AddonManager, we're out of "weapons".

Appreciate your work though Freddie, this was one of the few serious projects with a reasonable scope. So sad it can't be shared. That's why I've asked a few months ago before trying large projects, start small and see if you can cook and pak it, and the game accepts it. If not, continue if you're planning on becoming a 3rd party - else all will be Playable In Editor only.

Merry Christmas Freddie! I think your route enhancements are a present for the PC community, so there's a reason to be happy.

 

That's so sad to hear. I've been looking forward to the first ever freeware route that looked promising enough to actually being finished. It's a shame the editor has no decent documentation. Seems to me by now if you want to create your own route and share it with others as freeware you have to go back to TSC or Trainz.

Though your joining BPH is a good step and one that I first caught a glimpse of on your latest Salzburg - Rosenheim christmas update


On that note I also got my wishes come true for more Freddie easter eggs


You have my sincerest sympathy for what happened to your route project.

I'm happy you're joining BPH and look forward to your future projects.

Merry Christmas Freddie and dare I say it, Good Boy!

 

I'm really sorry to hear that the Almtalbahn won't be continued. I find this development very unfortunate, as it is not only a loss for the TSW community but also for you, a passionste and fantastic Modder. Your effort and passion in bringing this route to life deserve great respect.

I still hope that we might experience this route in some form one day. In the meantime, I would be very happy if you could share the pictures and videos, so we can at least honor your work in this way. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for the community so far and for what you will continue to contribute as part of BPH.

 

At least on Trainz as it seems, route building on consoles should be possible.

 

A shame but understandable. Route editing is a big job I personally wouldn't dare to try. and you started it in the early days of the editor. As many have said you are a very passionate modder and although Almtalbahn is sadly is cancelled, Knowing what you made behind the screens for rolling stock repaints and more you will be a great addition to BPH and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

Merry Christmas and even with this setback a happy new year.

 

Many people already said before, its really sad you giving up the route. That project was the most promising, giving constantly progress Update to see how the route grow.
But well its a acceptable decision for given reasons and I'm glad to hear you joint BPH creating great mods in the future.

Merry Christmas

 

I'm very sorry for this project and especially for you. Thank you for your work and dedication for this project and all your upcoming projects.

I can understand your frustration. With broken tools it's impossible to succeed.
It unfortunately boosts my anger of this company's incompetence..

I hope at least you'll keep your motivation up, reach your goals and enjoy doing so. Cheers!

 

Oh man Schade, habe mich wirklich auf die route gefreut. naja kann man nix machen.

 

Now I have finally some time to thank y'all here for these appreciation!

Oh, thank you very much! Well, I have trusted on some advice from others who already brought a route into the game, but actually nothing worked they said.
Merry Christmas to you too afterwards!

Woof! Thank you too!
Yeah, this was really a project I meant serious and wanted to be exciting for all - you know, a diesel branch line has is it hard sometimes in the community
...And also the easter eggs will continue^^
Happy holidays to you too!

Yeah, we still work on bringing more Austria to TSW, although we now lost a route for that...
Thank you for your nice words, I already feel honored personally^^

Happy holidays to you, vircom!

Thank you very much too! It's good, that atleast SRM gets a new, very exciting becoming timetable, so that makes me already a bit more happy in that situation^^

Merry Christmas afterwards too and also happy holidays!

Thanks to you too! It's realy sad, I know and I feel sad for you all too, because you all saw less than me of this project and never had the chance to feel it in that 3D world I could have...

Merry Christmas and happy holidays too!

Yeah, it's real sad that DTG doesn't care at all anymore about route building and it actually gives a really bad image to me personally. Maybe they just shouldn't include the option to build routes if they don't want to have free route projects, but you never know, I wouldn't have found my way into modding too...

Merry Christmas afterwards and happy holidays!

Ja, tut mir auch Leid, vor allem weil du erst in letzter Zeit so aktiv bei mir zugestoßen bist, aber dafür hab ich noch genügend andere Projekte am Laufen, und man weiß ja nie, was in Zukunft noch so kommt...

Schöne Feiertage und ein frohes neues Jahr!

 

So, something other that didn't fit into the post above, I thought a bit in the meantime:
Something that would have been good by DTG or any other 3rd party would be a written guide, where are some big and also small things mentioned. Imagine, somewhere would have been written, that there are rules for plugin names, maybe my project would have survived the cooking. You know, a guide from A to Z.
There was a guide, but actually how to start a route with landscape and track laying but that all doesn't help, when there's a little tiny fault from the beginning which causes trouble afterwards...

Maybe, when a guide like this exists, route building would become an option for me again, but in the current situation it really looks dark for this...

 

No please not