KAHD Update. Oct.25.2011

Just a quick update about some more progress I've made on my "King's Arm Highway Deluxe" route.

* I've been on a "milk-jug hunt" for a couple of days. It's a more tedious and time-consuming task than I expected. But, I wanted to make the "Deluxe" version to make use of only default assets that come installed with RailWorks. The original King's Arm route did make use of a couple of freeware assets packs (along with mostly default assets), but to avoid possible conflicts I wanted to use just default stuff this time. In removing the non-default assets from the route, RailWorks leaves behind "milk jugs" as place-holder objects. And as far as I know, there's no quick and easy way to remove all of them, so, I've had to go in and painstakingly "hunt" them down, one by one, to remove each left over "milk jug" object. A fun procedure (not) ;)

* Completed one of the new Passenger Platform areas.

*  Been adding in some more of the new TSX effects in more areas (such as some of the Passenger Platforms).

* Made some more fixes and improvements to the tracks and signalling infrastructure.

* Added in some more surrounding scenery in some places.

Here's a couple of more screen-shots to tie you over (click on a screen-shot to view the image in larger size):

The new Passenger Platform down near the Shipping Yard area.

Another view of the Shipping Yard area.
Some Workers on a little break talking amongst themselves.

"Coal from Cole" scenario.

Here's a free Scenario Addon I made for you fellow RailWorkers to enjoy.

"Coal from Cole"

This scenario will work with default installations of RailWorks 3 (and should also work with RailWorks 2 if you haven't upgraded to RW3 yet). 

For more info on this scenario and for where to download it, visit this link:
http://www.rryard.com/coal_from_cole.html

Enjoy! :)

KAHD Update. Oct.20.2011

Here's another update about my "King's Arm Highway Deluxe" route project.

* Added "King's Container Yard" area, some extra surrounding foliage, and a couple of more cranes for loading & unloading container cars.

* Added in some floodlights at the Container-Yard area making use of some of the new TSX lighting effects.

* Added a Turn-Table near King's Container Yard.

* Added a new Engine-Shed that can house two engines.

* Added in a Coal-Unloading Platform at King's Processing Plant area.

Here are some screen-shots highlighting some of the new additions (click on a screen-shot to view image in larger size):

A view of King's Container Yard at night-time.

Daytime with King's Container Yard in the background and the new Coal-Unloading area in the foreground:

An engine on the new Turn-Table with King's Container Yard in the background:

KAHD Update. Oct.16.2011

I've added a whole new area and industry on my King's Arm Highway Deluxe route.
Some of the new additions include:

* A Shipping Yard area and surrounding scenery.

* 3 cranes for loading or unloading container cars.

* A Turntable.

* A new passenger-platform.

* Two more train-bridge overpasses completed.

* More ambient sound effects in some areas.

Here's some screen-shots featuring some of the new additions. (Click on a screen-shot to view a larger-sized version of the image):

A view of King's Shipyard:

At Shipyard Crane 2 ready to load some container cars:

Night-time falls at King's Shipyard. 

Here I've been experimenting with adding some of the new TSX lighting effects:

King's Shipyard Turntable:

KAHD Update. Oct.12.2011

Been doing more work on the "King's Arm Highway Deluxe" route these past couple of days.

I've made more improvements and additions to the track network such as;

*Fixed up some areas where there were "floating tracks" (it seems that with the big upgrade to RW3, that I've been noticing more "floating tracks" areas on some of the old routes).

* Added more signals and signs.

* Made improvements to some RailRoad Crossing areas.

* Fixed & improved speed-limits on some parts of the network.

* Fixed some junctions where the "frog ties" were missing before.

* Started to work on a new Train Overpass Bridge.
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A screen-shot of one of the RailRoad Crossings I've made some improvements to:

(click on link to view a larger sized version of this image)

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/lwd1234/RailWorks/KAHD_006.jpg

AWS Detection Script

Script versions & Download links:

For 1680x1050 screen resolution (With TSX on):
http://www.rryard.com/files/AWS_script_beta14.zip
---
For 1366x768 screen resolution (With TSX on):
http://www.rryard.com/files/AWS_1366x768_beta015.zip
 ---

If driving trains in RailWorks using the Expert-controls, and if using other views other than the interior cab-view, while watching the scenery and such it can be easy to miss the AWS warning-light coming on the HUD, and in views outside the cab, then you can't hear the AWS alarm sound.

So, I've wrote a little script that will detect when the AWS warning-light comes on and then will play an alarm sound, and guess what, it works for all camera views.

This is an experimental script, it runs independent of RailWorks and it works with good success for me on my computer as well as several other RailWorks Users reporting back that it works good for them as well. It may or may not work for you and on your computer, but it could be worth trying if it's something you think could be useful.

Here's what you need to do if you want to try it;
Download the version you'd like to try (see top of this post for the download links).

I've tested it on my computer now running Windows 7, 64 bit. It works fine for me on my computer but a couple of things you have to do to get it working properly.
Like my earlier versions of this script, I've made this first script for a resolution of 1680x1050 in full-screen mode (I may be able to make versions for some different screen-resolutions if there's enough interest).

Windows 7 does something strange (I guess it's a part of the Aero), where even if you're running a full-screen game, it seems to keep some kind of focus on the Windows Desktop (if you ever tried to take a screen-shot of a game playing Windows 7 using your PrtScr key, then wondered why when you go to paste the image into some graphic editing program why you see an image of the Windows Desktop instead of the game). This was also messing up my little script.

But, there's a work-around for that.
Go to your folder where you have your RailWorks (RW3 / Train-Simulator 2012) installed.
Right-click on the "RailWorksProc2.exe" file there, Compatibility tab, and check the "Disable Desktop composition" option there, Apply and OK.

* Note: For explaining things below, I'll be making reference to the 1680x1050 resolution version of my script, but the other versions should work the same, just you'd need to change your RailWorks screen-resolution to the matching resolution for the script accordingly.
 
Un-zip the downloaded file, and you should have a folder, named "AWS_script_beta14", containing two files:
"AWS_Alarm_1680x1050_beta014.exe" and "Alarm01.wav".
Keep both files together in the same folder, and have folder in a place at your convenience (such as your Desktop or other easy to find location).

Next, from that folder, double click the "AWS_Alarm_1680x1050_beta014.exe" to run the self-contained executable script.
An icon should appear in your Windows system-try to indicate it's running. This script uses very little memory and resources to run, so it should not cause any problems in that regards.

Now, have RailWorks set to run in Fullscreen mode and with a Resolution setting of 1680x1050 (currently that's what I'm using).
When you have those settings in place, Start RailWorks normally.

Next, use Expert-Controls (Uncheck the "Simple Controls" Option from within RailWorks).

For this script to work, it requires that the default F4 Driver's HUD be on. If that HUD is off, it won't detect when the AWS warning-light comes on.
Now, choose to drive a route / scenario / train of your choice that you expect the AWS warning to come on sometimes.

Drive the train as normal, (but remember to leave the default F4 Driver's HUD on for the script to detect the AWS warning light), and you can choose an external camera view now if you like.

When the AWS warning-light comes on, regardless of what camera-view you have selected, you should now hear a "ringing" alarm-sound to alert you that the AWS warning light has come on. Acknowledge the AWS warning as you normally would (example; a click on the AWS button), and the ringing alarm-sound should shut-off as well.

Once you finish playing RailWorks, right-click on the script-icon in your system-tray and select "Exit".
And, that's it folks! :)

King's Arm Highway Deluxe. Oct.09.2011

After the big update / upgrade to RailWorks 3 (Train-Simulator 2012), there were several impressive new features added to the program such as new effects of lighting & shadowing, rain, cab-sway, etc..

I was asked by a fellow RailWorks User if I would consider making an improved version of my King's Arm Highway route. So, I said if there seemed to be enough interest from people in the RailWorks Community for me to make an expanded and improved version of my King's Arm Highway route that I might do it.

Well, I've already got lots of feedback from many people expressing an interest to have me make an expanded and improved version of this route (Which I will call "King's Arm Highway Deluxe").

I will be working with the original base route and make many new additions and improvements to it such as; improving the track and signalling network & infrastructure, expanding on the track network in some areas, add in structures / areas for loading and unloading coal-hoppers, a functional coal-transfer point for refueling Steam-Locomotive Tenders, a container / shipping yard area with working cranes for loading and unloading container-cars, improved lighting effects added in some areas, adding to and improving the scenery in some areas, many new exciting, challenging and immersive scenarios (with a good variety of  Passenger runs, Freight Runs, Shunting / Switching activities).

In many ways this Deluxe version will be like experiencing a whole new route even if you're familiar with the original version. Kind of think of it as revisiting and exploring the charming little area of King's Arm, but around 10 years of time have passed, and see how it's developed and grown over those years.
 
I have been working hard on this King's Arm Highway Deluxe version of this route and have already made many new improvements and additions such as; added and improved signals along many parts of the track network, added in some new signs, fixed up and improved some parts of the original track network, added in a Coal Transfer Point for Steam-Locos, added in an area for loading Coal-Hoppers, added in a new train-bridge overpass which will lead to a new container shipping / container yard loading area that will have functional cranes that can load & unload container-cars.

Below are a couple of screen shots of some of the new additions (click on the link below each screenshot to view the original full-sized version):

Added a Coal Transfer Point and Coal Loader at the King's Coal & Gravel Yard area:

http://www.rryard.com/page_images/KAHD/KAHD_001.jpg

A view of the new Train Bridge Overpass which will lead to the Container Shipping Yard:

 http://www.rryard.com/page_images/KAHD/KAHD_003.jpg

Another view of the new Train Bridge Overpass (King's Mountain in the background):

http://www.rryard.com/page_images/KAHD/KAHD_002.jpg

Western Wildwood HSR update. Oct.09.2011

Currently I've put in over a year's worth of my spare time working on my Western Wildwood High-Speed-Route project. Sometimes I got a bit sidetracked with other things going on in life, but I'm steadily making progress on this project and it's gradually coming together.

To see more info about this project, click on this link:
http://www.rryard.com/western_wildwood.html

Below are a couple of recent screen-shots taken from this route (click on the link below each picture to view the original full-sized screen-shot):

http://www.rryard.com/page_images/WW1_18_LG.jpg

http://www.rryard.com/page_images/WW1_19_LG.jpg