MSTS MV challenge - Cliff Hanger

A fictional mountain route for the fearless

Freeware for Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) by Michael Vone


Overview

This fictional mountain route tests your driving abilities, the performance of the rolling stock in difficult conditions, track laying methods and steep terrain shapes.  Those with vertigo should stay away!  A direct start-to-end ride of some 30 kilometers or 20 miles takes about an hour, but there are endless other options.

The challenges of this route include all sorts of track maneuvers:  zigzags, u-turns, steep grades, narrow turns, reversal loops, wyes, steep snaky and knotted curves, an open-pit mine, a volcano, a helix, etc.  These can be tried in good to poor visibility with short to long trains, increasing the difficulties.

The route is not decorated, not even with textures;  tunnels are "invisible" but usable, offering intriguing subterranean views.  But varying the weather and lighting still gives great scenes!

Provided are:  complete route;  simple activities.

Credits:  I gratefully thank all those who contributed to the Message Forums at Train-Sim.com for their heroic attempts to master the mystifying MSTS Editors and Tools, and for sharing their hard-won expertise.  This route would not exist without their discoveries!


Included files

This document:  
	MSTS MV challenge - Cliff Hanger.doc (Word2000) and .txt
MSTS Route:
	folder Cliff Hanger
Activities:
	several simple activities (with paths and services)
Route map:
	Map - Cliff Hanger Route.gif


Installation

Before installing any of the included files, prepare Microsoft Train Simulator as follows (using Windows Explorer or My Computer):  copy the TEMPLATE folder of MSTS into the ROUTES folder of MSTS:  this copy of the TEMPLATE folder should be at the same level as the default MSTS route folders (EUROPE1, etc.).  Next rename that copy of the TEMPLATE folder to Cliff Hanger:  so the folder Cliff Hanger will be at the same level as the default MSTS route folders (EUROPE1, etc.).

Now unzip the route files provided with this package into the new Cliff Hanger folder:  unzip using path names (there will be no overwriting).  

You need no other files.

The Cliff Hanger route should now show up as an option after you start MSTS and select Drive a Train.

You will find this document and the map in the Docs subfolder of the Cliff Hanger folder.

To completely uninstall the Cliff Hanger route, simply delete the entire Cliff Hanger folder from the MSTS Routes folder (using Windows Explorer or My Computer).


Using the route

This is a point-to-point route with nearby start and end points (these are not connected together since MSTS apparently will not accept a closed-circuit route).  Three reversal loops (balloons) and three wyes are available for reversing direction.  Several spurs and sidings are also included.

From the start point (Outland Station West), an ever-steeper climb uses many zigzags with very short reversing spurs.  This limits the train length to two units, such as one locomotive and one car.  And this requires high-precision slow-speed maneuvers to avoid falling off cliffs.  Particularly hard are snowy night rides!  You can continue to the end point or return to the start point, reversing en-route as desired.

The end point (Outland Station East) is used as a departure point for long heavy trains.  This path also climbs steeply, but avoids zigzag reversals.  This route uses "U-turns", as well as snaky and knotted loops.  Use the Pit to reverse a long train and come back down the same path to the end point.

The 3 reversal loops (balloons) and 3 wyes allow many routing options (except in Activities).

The overall speed limit is 30 mph or 48 kmh.

Do enter tunnels that look blocked:  sorry about not providing tunnel openings (I don't know how to do that yet).  I also apologize for the many landslides that you will encounter, including the dynamic ones that Microsoft/Kuju built in:  fortunately the trains don't care!

Several simple Activities are provided to give you a taste of the possibilities on this route:  they start up different trains in various locations, and they show you the effects of weather and lighting (time of day).

However, Activities freeze many switches (points) and reduce your freedom to explore.  In particular, wyes don't function when you run an Activity (reversal loop switches also seem to be frozen but that is not a problem).

I strongly encourage you to use the Explore Route Activity so you can go everywhere, with any choice of train/origin/season/weather/time/path.


Things to do

Start exploring the route with simple equipment, like a single KIHA or one GP-38 loco, in clear weather.  You can start from several different stations along the route.  Print and use the map for guidance.

Then move up to longer and heavier trains.  Watch the train oscillations in the tight curves!  Find ways to get a train unstuck in tight places.

Change the weather to reduce visibility:  try rain, snow and night.  

Enjoy the lighting at sunrise and sunset.

The simple Activities should give you a few ideas.

Explore spurs:  Test your vertigo at Lookout.  Climb the volcano.  Curl up in the Spiral.  Loop around the Deep Helix and the Deep Balloon.  (These and other names are shown on the included map.)

Try out the Pit (but not in an Activity, because Activities freeze the wye at its entrance).

Operate longer trains through the zigzags by breaking them up and moving fewer cars at a time.

Set speed records from start point to end point.


Technical

This route is built on a single tile, keeping the MSTS file size down to about 250 kB.  (I started with 3x3 = 9 tiles, laying track on the center tile only;  I then deleted the unused tiles by looking at their modification dates).

The route is located in the Northern Mexican wilderness.  The fictional terrain was created while laying track:  I shaped it crudely "by machete".

Most of the route uses Dynamic Tracks (which is why there are few tunnel walls).  A minimum radius of 50m was used, except in the Spiral and on the Volcano.  Almost no bumpers are provided (they take precious space and are weak anyway).

If you modify the route, avoid closing it into a big circuit.  

Be careful if you add wyes and reversal loops (balloons):  test each one before doing something else.

My Activities will probably fail after you change the route.

Don't create Activities until the route is finished, except perhaps simple ones for testing purposes:  they have to be redone when the route changes.  

Don't create Activities that use wyes or reversal loops:  those often freeze up MSTS.

Caution:  adding roads before tracks is dangerous and caused me (and others) much trouble, such as the dreaded "can't load track database" (remember to save and back up frequently!).  See the Forum mentioned above for an effective way out of such a problem.


Distribution

This route may be freely distributed and modified, but no money may be made with it.  I do not plan to decorate it myself.

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Michael Vone - mivone@pacbell.net
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