't Hart Van Nederland V2 - And Other Great Freeware Routes

Hardest "work" is the first route - but, all packs are directly linked to in most manuals. If you have these, the rest is patchwork. The only issue is some assets that are hiding in other dev folders (yes someone copied RSderek's veg into Kuju and used these on a route), but I've collected them all, so just post requests and you'll get help.

 

Just a note, on some routes with tulip fields you will only see them with "Procedural Flora" enabled! (I only turn it off when playing JT routes.)

Cheesy shot:

 

My god! That's a face only a Mother could love..

 

The ICMm looked better when the gangways worked

 

Already entered Belgium here after my Railsim.fr account has been activated. District Sud-Ouest Belgie requires a bunch of french assets. Nice!

 

I asked on the Dutch Forums if anyone knew of a reskin for the 66 in to Freightliner

Beacon Rail 266 002-9 B-BRLL

Or if anyone knew of a reskin for the 58 in to ATCS but no replies
https://www.nicospilt.com/index_class58.htm

 

Not sure what I am doing wrong. I have all the packs loaded and downloaded all of the track packs from the Dutch sites. Still no track showing on the Hart Van Nederland line. Other dutch packs do have track. Feel like I have wasted a lot of money on Dutch trains. I Feel like a real noob!!!

 

Is there a tutorial anywhere which explains how to select a 'milk bottle' and see what is missing? When I go into the editor the milk bottles are not selectable and do not show any info. Usually I just see a 3 arrowed origin icon.

 

Try and get tight above of below the bottle and double-click...if you're lucky it'll make the properties box slide out on the right hand side of your .screen. The path and file name of the missing asset should be in there.

 

Do I need to be in edit mode? If I am missing tracks do I need to select the track option to find it? Thx. Most bizarre is that I have tripple checked that I have loaded the tracks yet cannot see them. I have Allaboard, Christrain and Scheinenset all loaded on my pc yet it does not show. What should I be looking for in my Route BluePrint
<iBlueprintLibrary-cBlueprintSetID d:id="215816748">
<Provider d:type="cDeltaString">Allaboard</Provider>
<Product d:type="cDeltaString">Trackplans</Product>
</iBlueprintLibrary-cBlueprintSetID>
<iBlueprintLibrary-cBlueprintSetID d:id="215816874">
<Provider d:type="cDeltaString">Schienenbus</Provider>
<Product d:type="cDeltaString">Tracks</Product>
</iBlueprintLibrary-cBlueprintSetID>

 

kilt46, use TSTools to create a list of missing stuff ("Check Route"). Make sure to install everything listed in the manual. Do you have the stuff from CoHa.nl? Cache cleared after adding assets?

 

Yeah, edit mode is essential, but you don't need to select the track 0ption. Missing track will not produce a milk bottle though.
You'd look in ..\Content\Routes\<Route GUID>\Networks\Tracks.bin rather than the RouteProperties.xml file for more information than the provider and product.
As Spikee has written, make sure you have everything installed first, even go as far as looking in the Assets folders to make sure the .bin and .Xsec files for each track type are present.

 

Happened to me too that I forgot to install assets from a required route pack.

Again make sure you check ChrisTrains' Recommended Assets for most Dutch Routes. Though it lists a Lisboa - Santarem route which has disappeared, it is not necessary as its assets appear in other packs too.

Also, for route requirements, it's enough to install the assets of said routes, you don't need their Content folders. Dependencies only work on Route > Assets level, never on Route > Route.

And don't be angry. You have 100% not wasted any money. But I know what's happening. Somethings missing, you get angry until you find out it's you who's made a mistake... I even filed a missing assets report for the author of the Belgian line, just after I posted I discovered I had forgotten to copy the assets included in his download and only focused on the other requirements.

Or skipping folders ("WOP\Zwischen Elster und Saale" ? Already got that!) just to find out that the pack contained one more custom XSec file that was needed.

Just copy everything over. Run TSTools, Remove Duplicates and post a csv if you're not able to find something. It's all here.

 

Got it fixed thx. What got me was the Coha Level Crossing download. There are 2 of them Wissel V1 (folder name is different) and Wissel V2. Most searches only came up with V2 which I had already downloaded. TS Tools pointed to the older version.
Again thx for the help

 

Install everything from Coha.nl - you will need it. It's not that much anyway, but essential.

 

Be aware that many repaints are not compatible with the AP Class 66 EP. Though they can be made compatible by adjusting the blueprints. For this one, a reskin for the Freightliner 66 (RSC\Class66Pack05), I have just copied the AP emd_66_FL.bin to the Lineas folder and changed references to the Geo and numbering files by inserting the appropriate "Lineas" paths according to the original repaint bin. (Much easier to modify the AP bin to the repaint than the other way round...)

 

I did lol. I missed that there was a V1 and V2. I made the assumption that V2 was 'better'

 

Haha, I know. Sometimes it's best to not overthink and just copy. If in doubt, install V1 first.

Finally cd RailWorks\Assets and del /s *.xml *.tgt *.cost *.dds *.pak to get rid of the dev junk files and cache files if you wish to.

 

Btw THVN is based on the Academy template. Make sure you copy the AP TimeOfDay folder to DTG\Academy if you haven't already done so.

 

...oh, I've danced to that tune many times myself!!!

 

I'll also recommend getting everything from PierreG. He's made some lovely objects and stock. It is used on many freeware routes. These are small single asset files mostly, quickly downloaded. I especially like all the beach people and have populated Pacific Surfliner with these.

Quickly made diorama on my sandbox test route (PierreG\Beach)


https://ajrailsim.pierreg.org/

 

Now driving this. The upcoming TSW route, which is only one part of this route in TSC

 

Did you try to use the European Class 66\Pack06 that the MRCE comes in - the lights are correct on that version

 

Who says TSC is dying? There's a whole world out there to be explored, Netherlands, Romania, Czech Republic etc all have very active creative groups.

 

No intention of spending a single cent/penny/Euro on any TSW. I’m done with that mess. Thx for help with NL DLCs.

 

Freight for Delfzijl (Noordoost NL)

 

Yes, the money is much better invested in stock from ChrisTrains, DutchClassics, RailTraction, K-Trains, etc.

 

Once again I'm in full agreement with der Meister.

 

I wonder if I can trade in my TSW DLC for TSC DLC I don’t yet have?

 

This is a massive map with 66 Scenarios!
https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/europe-routes/hart-van-nederland

 

?

This is the route that started this thread. Also the prime download source is dutchsims.nl which hosts the latest version.

 

Yes I have started cataloging the route on my web site. I provided a link to my map so that others can see what is in the route. I am a visual learner so I thought others might be interested to see what and where the route is located. This is a work in progress. I will as usual be adding more details as I play them.
Respectfully

 

Apologies kilt46, I've mistaken that as a "new route" discovered. No worries.

Duties on Spoorlijnen Zuid Limburg





Scenario (including station announcements): https://dutchsims.nl/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=3759

 

These routes make you wonder why DTG didn’t bring ChrisTrains and the Dutch DLC into the Steam store. A lot of this stuff is way better than the TSW junk!

 

I’m just leveraging all your good work! You have given me another lifetime of routes, maps, scenarios and trains to map!

 

I think Chris values his independence.

 

So much better to have the freedom to drive a plethora of routes and trains rather than be stuck with boring TSW timetables!

The challenge with the Dutch routes is that only 1 is out of the box and that being a fictional one. New players are challenged with finding everything and understanding how to leverage TS Editor, TS Tools and other knowledge out of the gate. Pity more effort was not made by DTG to package some of these gems for new players. Now they are stuck with the growing pain of TSW.

 

The dutch situation in TS is interesting. All routes are made by the community, and Chris delivers the payware stock of consistent quality. There's just no need for him to sell on the Steam store, as everyone is buying from his own shop. No cut for Steam and none for DTG as publisher. You only sell on Steam to reach a wider audience - but in the dutch case, that is simply not necessary.

Also, people would ask for dutch routes on Steam. The way these routes are built on payware+freeware assets makes it impossible to bundle them in an .ap for Steam distribution (DTG are putting all assets used into one Provider folder and adjust the paths in the bins), aside from the licensing issues with the creators of assets who publish their content for free.

I agree with John and think Chris does value his independence. Also, the licensing thing is probably different when on Steam - some RSSLO stock got withdrawn from Steam, but is available from their store still. See one of the last announcements from Jamie. DTG as publisher are probably too afraid of issues, as they are responsible for content sold on Steam.

 

Chris does sell his most of his work thru other resellers such as Aerosoft and Just Trains.
Handy to buy via Just Trains as the price is the same and you get points.

 

So I'm doing a Krammendijk IC run now






Scenario: https://dutchsims.nl/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=3713

Lots of action - there's some really skilled scenario authors in the dutch scene. This is an absolute blast of a scenario, and shows this excellent route in its best light.

 

I agree. The quality of the product just shames the whole TSW charade. People just don’t know what they are missing. There appears to be a market for Standard Work to put together the complete bundle of items needed to run each route. If this was bundled together in an easy to consume format (not having to hunt for missing assets) this could really benefit new players

 

Very tempted to get into the Dutch TSC stuff but getting started looks daunting.

 

Same, I often struggle keeping up with AP's updates just for my UK stuff let alone venturing off to different lands, if I play DE or US I tend to just play out of the box stuff to scratch the itch.

Doesn't mean I don't want the very best of everything of course I do, but being in full time employment time is my limiting factor.

 

It's absolutely worth it. You don't know what TSC is capable of unless you check what the community has created with love, passion and a lot of time invested. Many of these routes were started in RailWorks days I guess.

This scenario, {TB199} Intercity naar de zonsondergang, is hands down one of the best I have ever played. Everything is alive, the setting is perfect, and there's 40 services you'll encounter. The evening lighting on the route is fantastic, the custom buildings and bridges and everything, I'll make separate posts in the Screenshots thread on that scenario alone. I'm just happy, feels like returning to your true love after a toxic relationship that TSW was for me.

 

HSL Zuid Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Antwerpen - Fire!

 

FRYA was the name of the service which was being set up until the Emus they got were binned as being rubbish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AnsaldoBreda_V250
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyra

 

Any advice on acquiring these assets: SMMDigital\Scenery\buildings

Thx

 

All of this is available on RWA at https://railworksamerica.com/index....ity-asset-project-v1-12-24-12&catid=22:models

 

ChrisTrains is still in business and seems flourishing, his products are available through a few partner sites.
There are even repaints, texture updates and sound packs available, for his trains look a bit too spic-and-span and often appear flat and/or bland in screen shots.
Due to the large contact area of the overhead wire and carbon pads in the contact shoes, EMU's get very dirty in foul weather, this is only an example, but sometimes the train is entirely covered in brown mud when the washing racks cannot be used due to sub-zero temperatures:

some mild weathering wouldn't go amiss on CT's rolling stock.

But what about Dutch Classics, developer of most of the historic Nederlandse Spoorweg locomotives, EMU's and passenger cars?
My last purchase from them was in 2016, and even though the website is still up, there haven't been any significant updates for years.

And my inquiry in possible updates to the rolling stock I've bought from them 2012-16 hasn't yet been answered?

Is Dutch Classics still in business?

 

I am in contact with DutchClassics atm, I had made some purchases there (Mat'54, NS 1200, NS 1300) which turned out to have some script incompatibilities (no power, pantos not raising). Support was very helpful and updated the loco scripts, which are now working again.

Yes, the repaints for ChrisTrains stock are a must have, most come with an easy installer, double click and it's done. Many of them (from DutchDriver and Rubku_NL especially) contain a massive amount of repaints.

Atm only the NS 6400 repaints are incompatible as CT has just updated the pack, but I'm sure these repaints are currently being updated too.