Hisatsu Steam Facilities

[ricksan]

I'm back home in the States for a week, so of course thoughts turn to MSTS.

I had created a couple of activities in which the point of origin is the 2-stall enginehouse at Hitoyoshi. There are some car-washing facilities for KiHa DMUs in Hitoyoshi, but nothing for steam. Not surprisingly, though - there were no Japanese steam locos in the original game. That is, there weren't until I built a couple of vintage 8620s a few months ago specifically to run on the Hisatsu. Well, they've got to have to have coal and water, so...

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d11523c18945e31.jpg

There's a coaling platform (they used to shovel it into the tenders by hand), water tank and spout.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d11518b16f42ae3.jpg

Yeah, the water spout works - even in winter.

I suspect there is limited interest in something like this, so I'm not going to post these models on Train-Sim this time. Instead, if you're interested e-mail me at rvg1hwnd@aol.com. The files are fully compressed and run about 128k. You'll get the .S, .SD and .ACE files along with an explanation of how I placed these objects and what other files must be edited so you can see them.

Rick Vernon
PDX
and now, back to Asia I go

[CMO]

I think a lot of people would be very interested in the objects, and the explanation of how to place them. :-)

[obo]

And while you're at it, how about a few screen shots of those steam engines?

Rob.

[ricksan]

I guess that's why I asked folks to send me an e-mail -- to find out how many are acually interested and who they are.

The other reason is that inserting objects into a route is not a trivial matter and I expect that some of our community will need some extra help.

So Don't worry. The instructions will be as thorough as I can make them. As many of you know the MSTS Help files are pretty vague.

To those who responded so far, thanks - I'll send the stuff to you on or about Monday as I'm currently in transit, and soon to be jet lagged.

Rick

[ricksan]

You asked for it! Here are a few shots from some earlier posts...

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d12bab344a77b1c.jpg
The original 8620 (misidentified by me as a C50...bad, bad boy).

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d12bb36458d2b77.jpg
A triptych view of the cab.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d12bbd647057973.jpg
The Aso Boy model.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d12bc2b47e8ba70.jpg
Oops! That's the real one. Sorry.

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d12bc9248b2c8f5.jpg
Pulling a freight consist across the Kuma river (Inset: the real bridge).

Lotsa fun, eh?
Rick

[obo]

Thanks, I missed the earlier thread. Any of that available for download?

Rick, maybe you know the answer to this question: why does it seem that there are no Japanese designers working on MSTS? We have Russians, French, Chinese, you-name-it all represented but Japan is oddly absent.

I was in Japan in January, and train sims are popular to a degree unimaginable here in the USA - I saw them in arcades in Tokyo - which only makes it more mysterious to me.

Any clues or wild theories?

Rob.

[henry3]

I'm curious about that one myself.

Hopefully Rick-san can enlighten us about this.

Henry

[dvdhoven]

Hi,

I think that one reason is the great popularity of BVE in Japan.
BVE is freeware and Japanese people can read the BVE homepage. I cannot read it.
But there are MSTS sites in Japan. Some time ago a guy posted a link to a Japanese MSTS sites. Several cars and parts of a route to download. But again, except something like the word MSTS the site is not understandable. And I think it works the other way around, many Japanese people are not capable of correct handling of the English language.

Dick van den Hoven
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c3739ad2f412aac.gif

[sirshuntalot]

I'd just like to say that I had BVE running for wuit a while, and it is nothing compared to MSTS.

(apart from maybe the engrossing London undderground route)

Sirshuntalot

[chrispietruski]

Rick,

I'll be emailing you for the watering and fuelling facilities, but I'm sure it would be worthwhile your uploading them here, too.

While we're on the subject, has anyone got any suggestions for modifying the .eng files? I know Japanese trains are fast, but I thought that was mainly the shinkansen, and not 60-year-old narrow gauge steam locos!

Anyhow, love the locos. It's great to see something out of the ordinary. Apart from anything else, IMHO, they are the only things 'exotic' enough to run on Seaview 2!

Chris.

[ricksan]

All,

I'm back on line again. Missed the cross-Pacific flight to Taipei in SFO due to fog. Rerouted to Tokyo. Tokyo-Taipei leg cancelled due to mechanical problems. Watched the Koreans beat Brazil instead. Finally made it over here late Saturday. United lost my checked baggage. All-in-all, a normal trip.

Chris,

I'll consider your suggestion about uploading the static objects. But for the time being there's nothing I can do about that over here.

There were some threads in January, right after the original loco was released, about modifying the .ENG files. I do not profess to know anything about locomotive physics, but some of those other guys might be of help.

Rob,

Yes. Except for these new static objects, everything's available for download. So far this is what's in the Train-Sim Library...

-- Early January, Steam Locomotive section: The original 8620 (mis-labelled C50). Includes loco, cab, tender and a few freight wagons.

-- Late March, Steam Locomotive section: An update of the 8620, plus the Aso Boy variation.

-- Early April, passenger car section: A set of passenger cars for Aso Boy.

Rob, Henry,

I have no special insight about why we don't see any Japanese contributors to this site. There have been several threads in the past speculating about this same subject.

I think Dick van den Hoven's theory concerning language skills is right on. Most Japanese study English in school, but that doesn't mean they are proficient with the language. It's not the easiest one around, after all.

In case anyone's wondering, I'm a pure-bred Yankee. My handle "ricksan" is what my Japanese friends call me. I lived in Japan many years ago (USAF duty) when steam was still around. At the time I collected a number of train books which I've been using for the models. My current assignments are mostly in Taiwan and the mainland.

Thank you all for your continued interest. I'd probably be more prolific if it wasn't for all the travelling I do in the course of my work. But then that's what finances everything else, isn't it.

Rick Vernon
Tainan, ROC

[black5]

Hi Rick...I wrote to you a long time ago about the eng file being rather 'optimistic' and I have run your trains with my modified files which makes them @as real as you can get'.....well nearly!!!!
If anyone wants the modified .eng file just contact me :
www.geodenland@hotmail.com
Thanks for your work..looking forward to more engines!!!!!
Georges from London.

[chrispietruski]

Georges,

I'd like the eng files please - but your email(?) link doesn't work. Can you send them to me, please: chrispietruski@lineone.net.

Thanks!

Chris.

[Srj28]

Nice loco:9
I usualy drive the Flying Scotsman on Hisatsu line,but i think it must be more fun to drive a "japanese" loco