Ostrava Svinov - Zilina, A Brilliant Czech Freeware Route

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by torfmeister, Mar 11, 2023.

  1. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Hi,

    just stumbled over this one and I'm quite stunned. This route took 8 years to develop and it shows - very detailed and it looks awesome.

    The southern area from Čadca on ist still WiP.

    The best part is you won't need to go hunting for assets - the route has no dependencies - they all come in one single developer folder (CS_addon\KaMat). You only need to download rolling stock, a list with links is supplied.

    Just getting into czech railroading, don't know anything about the stock and consists. Started my route exploration freeroam on the suberb ČD749 (https://pikku.msts.cz/railsim.html) - a freeware loco that's on par with AP stock in my humble opinion.

    Just love the TSC universe - always something new to discover, and often better than payware (as there is no release deadline).

    Some screenshots
    11.png 22.png 33.png 555.png

    749006 Peter, I'm thinking about doing a repaint of the "Bardotka" - the 749006! :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2023
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  2. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    The Czhech sure know how to make ugly locomotives...
     
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  3. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Gotta love those old heavy and loud machines... this thing has great sound!
     
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  4. triznya.andras

    triznya.andras Well-Known Member

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    Looks like a GE ;)
    Joke aside, I sort of agree. But they also have some sort of charm, like with the Skoda cars and buses.

    Stolen from Wikipedia, the CSD Class 499 (funny how Class and Series are completely random per country):
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. IronBladder

    IronBladder Well-Known Member

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    Can you provide a link to the download site please?
     
  6. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Yeah, the links have changed recently - here's the current ones: (source text file is attached)

    Route pack:
    https://mega.nz/file/NpgmRa7b#YNc0lbR56EWQovr_nyBmqmcBXMMU7zw1pFlv8kFvrVQ

    Asset pack:
    https://mega.nz/file/B1oUARwK#Fm-0brx7bBrfXkJLAHmFVqbaEzl5y7-VS5qnv8orzg0

    For stock, there's a textfile with links in the Scenarios folder of the route. I advise leeching https://pikku.msts.cz/railsim.html - gives you loads of locos and wagons.

    Google Translator gives good results when pasting the czech manuals.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 11, 2023
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  7. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    For the Freeware makers they can make a CD 371/372 for here in Germany it is designated as DB Baureihe 180 DR Baureihe 230
     
  8. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

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  9. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    Pikku has done a very good NG line with the assets and a diesel loco plus a steam loco that can be repainted to suit Austrian NG (when we get one). It's in the list posted by Torfmeister.
     
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  10. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead Well-Known Member

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    An odd thing for an American to say, seeing as most of your modern locos look like they were designed using an Etch-a-Sketch LOL. ;)
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2023
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  11. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Somebody described a modern american freight loco as a collection of unrelated boxes on a common frame
     
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  12. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Screenshot_Berlin-Leipzig (KBS 250)_51.35650-12.39822_10-33-43.jpg
     
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  13. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    Where is this list? The download links given to mega.nz only have rwp files with no lists included
     
  14. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for telling me about this looks like it's running on its home route Elbtalbahn Dresden Hauptbahnhof Bodenbach (Decin) Aussig an der Elbe (Usti) Prag (Praha). I had to use German names for the Czech cities because the railway line was built when Czech Republic was under Austrian control.
     
  15. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    When you've installed the two rwps go to Content\Routes\bd4aae03-09b5-4149-a133-297420197358\Scenarios. In there, there's two textfiles.
     
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  16. Jon from Rhode Island

    Jon from Rhode Island Well-Known Member

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    Folks, I call uncle. I have spent my whole life around PCs and early internet, and I have rarely encountered something quite so outrageously maddening as the process of downloading and installing a freeware route.

    The text file embedded deep within the assets folder (?!) says that at least 28 separate downloads of assets are required, from at least a dozen different websites with Czech domains. You download these, then you need to open up each zip file and either copy its contents to the Railworks folder or use something called utilities.exe to extract a rwp file. And then something always goes wrong and you don’t have a train to drive.

    I am not singling this developer out. It is endemic. I have never to this day successfully installed a freeware route from any source and only gave up after hours hunting down assets on non-English language websites.

    can we PLEASE work on this as a community so that I and others can actually enjoy the hard work and effort of hobbyists.
     
  17. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead Well-Known Member

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    I have never had any such issue. Normally the route is either a zip file, or a .rwp file, and you either copy it to the assets folder, or install it with TSC's Utilities.exe. Neither of which are particularly difficult. If your route or DLC is not working after installation, you must be missing required assets.
     
  18. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Jon,

    this is the first freeware route I've encountered that brings all its assets in one pack - for FREE!

    As for the rolling stock, it's not KaMat's fault that some rolling stock downloads might've been taken down. I see the scenarios as a bonus, but I create my own using the stock I have available. The Pikku page gives you a huge base of fine, free locos and wagons.

    Remember there's LocoSwap to substitute any stock you don't have.
     
  19. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    It’s free and the assets are free and worth the time and effort. Once installed will be used over and over as the Czech community is small and tight knit they work together and create.
     
  20. Jon from Rhode Island

    Jon from Rhode Island Well-Known Member

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    I apologize for getting cranky. I realize now that the missing assets are a problem only for the scenarios and that I can do a quick drive with one of the locos without a problem.

    however, can someone help with the cold startup procedure for the CD749? The usual keyboard commands that I am used to for the German locos don’t seem to apply here.
     
  21. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Sure,

    Press U to turn the battery on (keyboard only)
    Press I to turn the Master Control Key
    Press W once to move the Reverser into D mode (notch between off and forward)
    Hold O for about 16 seconds to start the engine
    Press R to turn the brake key, then release the train brake
    Hold Shift+T to release the handbrake

    Turn on instrument lights (dimmable), marker lights and headlights and the train heating (handle next to the brake) if passenger train
    1212.png
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2023
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  22. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    American locomotives look like they're designed for one thing - pulling trains. Which, funnily, IS what they're designed for....
     
  23. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    You were the one commenting on locomotive looks.
     
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  24. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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  25. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead Well-Known Member

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    Which implies looks are irrelevant, so why comment on the Czech train's looks?
     
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  26. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    Peter, the "Goggles" are a different later design from the same builder. It is confusing as the goggles are classes 750/752/753 and 754 depending on the rebuild of the 750. The Bardotkas are class 749 and the rebuild 751. upload_2023-3-14_13-36-27.png

    Yes there are models in the game of the "goggles" .
     
  27. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I have not mentioned the Goggles.
    But you seem to think I don't know the difference between a 749/751/752 and a 750/753/754?
    I was asking about the Bardotka 749/751 as the first locos in the class had a more rounded body that the later versions
    Hence the name Bardotka from Brigitte Bardot.
    Also the locos started as T478.1 then became 751 or 752 - Locos with ETH were renumbered as 749
    IMG_1695.JPG
    IMG_1917.JPG

    And these are my pictures - also shown on the page I linked to above
    https://peter749.piwigo.com/index?/category/13-czech_slovak_railways
     
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  28. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    I apologise Peter and yes I used one of your pictures.
     
  29. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Thought it looked familiar :)
     
  30. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    I've now made 13 attempts to download the CD 749, but my computer simply refuses to let me download it. I've deactivated all antivirus and firewalls, but still it simply won't download properly. Anyone willing to mail me the file, or share a dropbox link or something?
     
  31. Reef

    Reef Well-Known Member

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    Did you disable Windows firewall, easily overlooked if you've got other 3rd party ones?
     
  32. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    Yes
     
  33. Reef

    Reef Well-Known Member

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    Other than try a different browser I'm out of ideas then.
     
  34. Jon from Rhode Island

    Jon from Rhode Island Well-Known Member

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    Eastern bloc design, though certainly not handsome, has its own charm similar to brutalist designs in the West. UK railfans have the pleasure of driving trains that are nice to look at; this is not a priority in Central Europe.
     
  35. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Try this - https://pikku.msts.cz/files/CD749_TS2016.zip
    From this page https://pikku.msts.cz/railsim.html
    There are a lot of wagons and locos
     
  36. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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  37. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Just click on "Stáhnout", install the base 749 first and then the update. Upon clicking, it should instantly download the zips.

    2023-03-15 09_22_04-.png
     
  38. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    I know how to download stuff. The issue is that the downloads never wanted to successfully complete - even though it said 100% downloaded, it still wouldn't allow the download to actually finish (and yes, I had as I said deactivated all Windows Defender stuff)
     
  39. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Windows Defender shouldn't interfere. There must be some other issue on your end.
     
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  40. USRailFan

    USRailFan Active Member

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    I downloaded pretty much everything else from pikku's site without issue, so it's really weird
     
  41. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Just tried it myself and it took about 10 seconds to download the zip file.
    Nothing wrong at the sites end - try a different Browser - I have no problems with Firefox.
     
  42. Lokomotiv

    Lokomotiv Active Member

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    Thanks for the tip! But in regards to scenario assets, some of the loco downloads were unavailable, of course. I guess that's what happens when I'm late to the show :D

    Here's how the loco downloads turned out for me:
    Code:
    x = Not found
    d = Duplicate
    e = Download limit exceeded
    p = Payware
    
    01         ČDC 181
    02         ČDC 123
    03         ČD 141
    04         ČD 150/151
    05         ČD 150.209
    06a        ČD 363.078-7
    06b        151.012
    06c        151.006-4 UPCE
    06d        363.078
    06e        363.015
    07         ČD 362/363
    08         ČD 810
    09         ČD 749 v. 1.0
    10         ČD 750
    11         ČD 750 update
    --    d    ČD 754 021
    12         ČD 750.408-7
    13         ČD A, B. BDs
    14    x    ČD IC vozy (Aee140, Aee142, Bee238 a Bee240)
    15    x    ČD BDs/BDa
    16    x    ČD B251, B256
    17    x    ČD Xmz
    18         ČD + Viamont Faccs
    19         ČDC Ryko Zas
    20    x    CFR Marfă Rgs Pack
    21         [TSC] Res Flachwagen (Gleisbauversion)
    22    e    HRQ Taurus
    23         HRQ Taurus reskin ČD
    24    p    DB EMU 442
    
    By the way, is anyone familiar with the Railworks download station app? It's currently in development, and it aims to simplify the download process of routes like these. Came across it in one of the download links here. And the main site for the app is here. Looks interesting at least.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2023
  43. mindenjohn

    mindenjohn Well-Known Member

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    The RDS works - it checks what is there and what you need. If the missing assets are part of the scheme then they are found and installed but you must follow the procedure to the letter. Mainly German and Czech assets but a brilliant concept.
     
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  44. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    The HRQ Taurus is also Payware - if you are using somebody else's login would be why the limit has expired.

    This thread has some of what you need
    https://railsimulator.simtrains.eu/viewtopic.php?p=31988#p31988
     
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  45. Lokomotiv

    Lokomotiv Active Member

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    Thank you for that link and info, it did resolve a couple of the dependencies. But there are rail vehicles missing from the scenarios that are not even on the download lists, which means I have to manually find them on the interwebs. We'll see how that goes. But on the bright side, I now have tons of Czech locomotives and wagons to play around with in the scenario editor!
     
  46. jstange

    jstange Member

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  47. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    If you don't have the locos/wagons shown but you have something suitable the change them with LocoSwap
     
  48. martschuffing

    martschuffing Well-Known Member

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    I was going to comment on the comment about the looks of the Czech locomotives but very adequate comments have already been made in their defence.
     
  49. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    I prefer these unique machines over modern, plastic, boring and silent stock. Especially if you get a Pro Range loco like the 749 for free.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 31, 2023
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  50. martschuffing

    martschuffing Well-Known Member

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    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think that is a good-looking loco. It has a certain 60's charm to it.
     
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