Crib Notes: Boso View Express 2

By Alfred Barten

As longtime readers no doubt have discovered, I like ALL train sims and am prone to spending intensive blocks of time with one sim and then another. When I return to a sim after having been immersed in another sim for an extended period of time I often find I�ve forgotten the important procedures and keystrokes for even the most basic actions, like placing and driving a train. With this in mind, and also as a possible boon to newcomers, I�m putting together a series of crib notes for various train sims.

This set of crib notes covers Boso View Express 2 (BVE 2). BVE 2 is a cab-view drive-it sim with exceptionally good train dynamics and sounds. Its graphics are limited to 640x480 pixel resolution. The newer BVE 4 handles higher resolution. Both versions are available free at the BVE home site, which is the only place you can legally get them.

The following steps and controls are the ones I use the most and consider basic knowledge.

Install a New Route

Many routes install automatically to the default location (e.g., C:/Program Files/BVE). If you have a different location, set the new path when given a chance by the installer. Those that do not install automatically usually contain instructions in a readme.txt file.

Install a Train

The route file declares the train that is to to be used. If you do not have the train installed, or you want to change the train, you have to change the entry in the route file. The route file is in the Route folder, which is inside the Railway folder.

If the route has an .RW extension, open the file with Notepad and look for [Train] near the top of the file. Below this there should be an entry File=trainname, where trainname is the name of the train (e.g., 113_6 for a Uchibo train). Change the name to a train you want to use and save the file.

If the route has a .CSV extension, the procedure is similar except that you will look for the With Train statement, and below that .Folder 113_6 (to use the example above).

A. Startup

1. Double-click the BVE executable (the default is bve.exe, but you may have changed it to bve2.exe or something else to distinguish BVE versions). The program loads and displays the Display Mode Settings dialog box, which lets you change your monitor resolution to 640x480 pixels or view in window mode.
   If you're a first-time user, changing the screen resolution is of little importance. After you've tried a few runs you may want to experiment with the resolution.
2. Click the OK button to continue. The Select Train window displays.

B. Select Route and Train

3. Select the DesiredRoute (substitute proper name) route in the File pane. Route overview and train overview information appear in their respective panes.
4. Press the Enter key. The game screen opens, and you're ready to operate a train.

C. Operate Train

5. Select the forward direction by pressing the Up cursor key.
6. Release the brake by pressing the / key repeatedly until the brake is completely off. (For single-throttle systems, the brake releases when you advance the throttle.)
7. Press the A key. You can press it more to gain greater acceleration. Train movement may not occur immediately. The train has to wait a prescribed amount of time at each station. The amount of time is determined by the route designer.
8. To throttle down a level at a time, press the Z key. For single-throttle systems, this key also serves as a brake.
9. To set the brake a level at a time, press the > key. (You do not need to hold down the Shift key.) (This key is not used by single-throttle systems.)
10. Your goal is to reach the end of the line in the scheduled time, stopping at the proper location for each station, observing the signals and posted speeds, and sounding your horn (Enter key) when instructed to do so.

Summary of Keyboard Controls

• Up cursor selects forward direction (passes through neutral)
• Down cursor selects reverse direction (passes through neutral)
• Z = Throttle up one level (maximum number of levels depends on train cab)
• A = Throttle down one level. For single-throttle systems, this key also serves as a brake.
• / = Brake up one level (maximum eight levels). This key is not used by single-throttle systems.
• > = Brake release one level. This key is not used by single-throttle systems.
• Ins/Home/PgUp/Del/End/PgDn � These may or may not be functional. Try them out.
• Enter = Horn
• F2 = Toggles the speed indicator analog/digital. This is not functional on all routes.
• F3 = Toggles on/off the upper (smiley face) status bar
• F4 = Toggles on/off the route timetable display

Game Tips

Accelerate at full throttle if operating a transit train. You�re running against the timetable, which generally expects optimum performance. (If you�re operating a heavy freight, you may be better off accelerating more slowly to avoid wheel slippage.)

Depending on the cab layout for your train, your speed indicator will be analog or digital. Analog indicators are calibrated in MPH, digital indicators are in KPH. Posted speeds usually indicate MPH or KPH. You may have to do some arithmetic here. KPH = 1.6 x MPH and MPH = .625 x KPH. (Sorry about that!)

The timetable is visible as a dropdown display. Display the timetable by clicking the upper right corner of the screen or by clicking the F4 key. Repeat the action to close the timetable.

Stopping points are tricky. Look for some sort of indicator near the platform end. For example, the Flushing Line (available at our Downloads page) has a sign near the end of the platform with a 10/11 in it. When the sign nearly fills the upper right portion of the cab window you are OK. When you�ve stopped, the status bar tells you exactly how far from the exact stopping point you are. In the case of the Flushing Line, if you are within 3 meters in either direction you are OK. If not, a message appears instructing you to adjust your stopping position.

Another way to determine the exact stopping position is the watch the indicator in the right-hand window. As you get close to the position, a yellow-orange bar comes down. It moves closer to the green bar as you get closer to the stopping point. When the moving bar is aligned with the green bar, you are at the exact stopping point.

BVE 2 does not have a pause or save feature, but you can go directly to a station by clicking that station�s name on the timetable. A secondary benefit to this feature is that it positions you exactly at the proper stopping point for the station. This is a good way to determine in advance where exactly you are expected to stop.

Trains have momentum. This is very well simulated by BVE 2 and takes some getting used to, particularly where grades are concerned.

At the end of line, set the unit to neutral direction. This displays a final evaluation.

Exit

Select the button in the lower left corner and select Exit.