Consist Instructions - comments wanted

[stationmaster]

After adding a couple of new GP-38 skin downloads to my site, i have received a few emails asking how to add the new locomotives to Train Simulator. As a programmer, I'm afraid that I'm a bit inept at writing clear instructions. I came up with the following by plagerizing bits a number of different posts. I would like to add a short tutorial on my site, but I wanted to get some comments first.

Ron
stationmaster@railwaystation.com
http://www.railwaystation.com/trainsim/index.html

How Do I add a new Locomotive download to Train Simulator?

Adding a new consist to "Explore"

1. Unzip the new files into a new directory in the "Train Simulator\Trains\Trainset" folder
2. Click on the "Start" button on taskbar and scroll up to "Programs/Microsoft Games/Train Simiulator/Editor and Tools".
Click on "Editor and Tools" and select Activity Editor
3. In the Activity Editor:
. Open the Activity editor and once it opens go to file and click open.
. Open USA2 for Marias Pass.
. Open ACTIVITES and you will find "itr_e1_s1_w1_t1.act". This is the EXPLORE ROUTE file. Double click it.
. Now on the right side of the window click on the down arrow next to "Player Service"
. Scroll down until you see "Whitefish - Shelby" and click on it.
. Click the Edit button under "Player Service".
. A window will appear on the Left. Click the "New" button under "Consist".
. Go to the drop list in the middle and select Engines(Diesel) the list should have your new locomotive.
. Double click on the Name and it will appear in the blue box. Right clicking it will change its direction.
. Other locomotives and rolling stock can be added as well.
. In the upper left corner, enter a "Name" and a "Display Name".
. Click on "Save & Exit"
. Click on OK

[Mechanik]

thx ;-)) This evening I know what to do ;-))

[stationmaster]

HERE IS THE LATEST REVISION BASED ON FEEDBACK.

So far no complaints or disasters reported and a couple of emails have indicated that it worked for them. I have not posted this on my website yet (The machine I have WS_FTP on is undergoing maintinance), but I expect to in the next day or so. Feel free to modify, copy, or quote these instructions for their own FAQ, Tip Page, Tutorial.

How Do I add a new Locomotive download to Train Simulator?

Adding a new consist to "Explore"

1. Unzip the new files into a new directory in the "Train Simulator\Trains\Trainset" folder

2. Click on the "Start" button on taskbar and scroll up to "Programs/Microsoft Games/Train Simiulator/Editor and Tools".
Click on "Editor and Tools" and select Activity Editor

3. In the Activity Editor:
. Open the Activity editor and once it opens go to file and click open.
. Open USA2 for Marias Pass.
. Open ACTIVITES and you will find "itr_e1_s1_w1_t1.act". This is the EXPLORE ROUTE file. Double click it.
. Now on the right side of the window click on the down arrow next to "Player Service"
. Scroll down until you see "Whitefish - Shelby" and click on it.
. Click the Edit button under "Player Service".
. A window will appear on the Left. Click the "New" button under "Consist".
. Go to the drop list in the middle and select Engines (Diesel, Electric or Steam), the list should have your new locomotive.
. Double click on the Name and it will appear in the blue box or dragged from the blue box to the long box at the bottom.
To remove an item, drag it to the square coupler icon on the left.
Right clicking will change an item's direction
. Other locomotives and rolling stock can be added as well.
. In the upper left corner, enter a "Name" and a "Display Name".
. Click on "Save & Exit"

Note: Once the consist has been saved, you can just exit the rest of the activity editor without saving If you only wanted to make a consist for future use.

[jkcooney]

Thanks for the step by step run through. When I have an entire evening to work on this I'll give it a try. Thanks for helping we cowards out here. I hope the Randomizer another enthusiast is working on is forthcoming Soon! Couldn't Microsoft have made this a little easier to accomplish?
Joe Cooney

[stationmaster]

"You had courage all along"

The Tutorial has been posted on my site. Go to: http://www.railwaystation.com/trainsim/index.html and click on "tips".

[jkcooney]

Ron.... Followed your instructions to add some new skins to the consist editor. They worked like a charm. Thanks. All I need to do now is find out why some of my Marias Pass scenarios won't run. Time will tell.
Thanks again.....looking forward to more great additions to rolling stock.....Joe Cooney

[jkcooney]

Ron...... Why would it not be possible to simply take the graphics files (skins) from the repaints and simply replace the corresponding files in MSTS with the graphics only... leaving all the other engine and operational files untouched. What would the files be that I would be looking to substitute in the repaints available on this website. I keep wondering why this can't simply be a quick way of doing a makeover on the existing GP38 and Dash9 files? Please advise. Am I barking up the wrong tree?
Joe Cooney

[stationmaster]

Train Simulator does not read the graphics files directly, they have to be compiled into an ACE file. I keep the old one seperate from the original so that I can keep the old rolling stock and locomotive consists.