A.M. Ore Run. Begins at 8:30 A.M. on a clear day. Porter No. 1 pulls a string of empty ore cars to Lincolnpin mine. The cars are loaded and the train returns to Riverton, where the loaded cars are set aside for later inclusion in the P.M. Ore Run. You can run the loco around the train while at the mine or not.


Animated coal loading at Lincolnpin Mine. Coal loading produces a dramatic cloud of black dust.

A.M. Local. Begins at 10 A.M in stormy weather. The Christmas Porter pulls a single coach to Switchback, High Peak, Switchback and Riverton. The loco runs around the train at each stop.

P.M. Ore Run. Begins at 1 P.M with the weather now clear. This is the same as the A.M. Ore Run except that the loaded ore cars are added to the cars from the morning run and taken to Kingdom Come (the portal) by the 2-6-0 Thusis locomotive. The portal consumes the train and, presumably, the coal. The mine can be set up to dispense any one of a number of different ores or coal. I set it to deliver coal.

P.M. Local. Begins at 3 P.M. with the weather still clear. This is the same as A.M. Local.

P.M. Commuter Run. Begins at 5 P.M., again in clear weather. The Whitcomb-led string of 4 coaches returns from the fiddle yard, having run around so the Whitcomb is leading. Upon arrival at Riverton, 2 coaches and the Whitcomb are dropped and Christmas Porter completes the run to Switchback and High Peak and back with the 2 remaining coaches.


P.M. commuter train led by Whitcomb diesel returns from the fiddle yard. [LPRR-018]

A session typically takes from 15 minutes to a half hour depending on the complexity. With a bit of study and a stopwatch, one could put all the sessions together with a fast clock to simulate a full day’s operation.

Interactivity

I used interactive features throughout, such as stations, depots, firewood and water stations, but I found the rolling stock to be largely uncooperative. For example, the passenger coaches can be loaded with people while in Surveyor, but they do not interact with the passenger stations. The steam locomotives do not seem to interact with the water and fuel supply depots and the Whitcomb does not take driver commands. I left these features in place in hopes that future updates of the rolling stock or new rolling stock will be able to properly interact. [UPDATE 15 FEB 08: Thanks to input via the Trainz Forum from Pencil42, I was able to get the passenger cars working properly with the dynamic stations and the Porters to properly load/consume wood. This is reflected in the updated download pack at the VR Downloads page. I still cannot get the Whitcomb to respond to Driver commands, but have confirmed that the OFZ_Verschublok 760 mm diesels by hupfgeign do respond. These are available at the DLS.]

Fortunately, the mine and the ore cars work beautifully, as does the animated waterfall.


Animated waterfall in background.

Availability

The layout and sessions, which require Trainz 2006 and Service Pack SP-1, are available as a single downloadable package free of charge at the Virtual Railroader website Downloads page. Those assets not built into Trainz 2006 are available free at the DLS.

Reference KUIDs.The following KUIDS are included in the Download package:

• KUID:68830:1126 Lincolnpin Rail Road
• KUID:68830:1127 AM CommuterMilk Run
• KUID:68830:1129 AM Local
• KUID:68830:1132 PM Commuter Run
• KUID:68830:1133 AM Ore Run
• KUID:68830:1134 PM Ore Run
• KUID:68830:1135 PM Local