Al,

Just read your article on Auran’s current problems. Was shocked to see who got the axe!

Thanks so much for taking the time to write the article and keep us posted. I appreciated it.

Regards, happy holidays, and Merry Christmas.

Fred Gorham

Re: Shooting the TC Harlem Line

Hello Al,

I read with interest your article on screenshots on the Harlem Line, nicely done. You mention the use of tga files in Trainz, and the lack of thumbnail previews in Windows.

As you know tga file are very large and are usually converted to jpg for web and other use. When creating textures for models, and searching very extensive file directories at a later time, the lack of thumbnail display is a nuisance. I use a small plugin program for Windows that solves the problem nicely:

If you install the plugin (Thumb Plug TGA) for Windows from this site, you can now have the tga files show as a preview, very useful:

http://greggman.com/pages/thumbplug_tga.htm

This will now show a thumbnail preview when you click on a file in the Windows file display. Thought you might be interested.

regards

Ian Manion

Re: Metro North Harlem Line: A Trainz Classics Original

I have just read your article on the Harlem line modelling for Trainz Classics, very well written and a good read.

As you know, I have been working for Auran on various projects in recent years, I use the username Spock2004 (171456) when modelling for Auran. On finishing the Content Creator's Guide for TRS2006, Rob Shaw asked if I would help with modelling the stations for the Harlem line, as there was a short timeframe to complete the models.

Initially, I thought there would be only a couple to do, but I guess I ended up doing thirteen of them, plus other models. I would spend three days a week in the Auran office, and would work from home at other times, often spending more than 60 hours a week on the project, it was quite enjoyable.

I am emailing to thank you for the excellent photos you provided, they were essential to the project, covered the essential details, and a very good quality. I made most of the textures from the pictures. It took only a short time to sort out the station geometry from the pictures, and Google Earth was a big help in getting the scale and placement correct. For White Plains, it was a little difficult as the pictures from Google Earth focused on the top of the tall buildings, and the ground was a blur! For each station, I tried to do all the nearby buildings, I wanted users who knew the area to say "Hey, that is just like it is!"

The decision to make stations as one large 3dsmax model helped in getting the geometry correct, and used a minimum number of large texture for the complete station and buildings. It also allowed the stations to be placed complete when it was time to do the map for the route. I did extract many of the building and objects as separate models.

I feel after spending some months on the project, I know the area quite well.

I hope you think we did justice to your photographic efforts, and thanks to you and Linda for a great resource for the models.

Ian Manion

-------------------

Ian,

Thanks for writing, and thanks for the great work. I can categorically say the stations are what make the project. I recognize every one, including the surrounding buildings. I think putting the complete station and surroundings into a single object was a great idea.

I get the biggest kick from the Mt. Pleasant station, which is about the size of one of the platforms the rural trolleys used to use to pick up cans of milk for delivery to the morning milk trains. I was told by the proprietor of the gravestone place next to the station that the station was there only because of intense lobbying by the Archdiocese of New York City and that it was only used on an occasional weekend such as Memorial Day. Even Yankee Stadium in the Bronx was unable to get a station.

I photographed each station as though I wanted to build a model of it and this would be my only chance to photograph it. Special thanks should go to the powers that be for holding off the cold weather while we did our work. It was mid-December and by rights should have been very cold. We had only one cold day (bitter as I recall) - the rest were quite mild.

There are a few details that would go unnoticed to someone unfamiliar with the route. One is the heavy trestle bridge just south of Brewster. It's shown in the screen shot of the Genesis train. I wanted to take some pictures of it as we went by, but it's a heavily trafficked two-lane road with no place to stop, so I had to let it pass thinking I might get it another day with Linda driving and me shooting through the window. I never did. I'm glad to see it made it into the simulation.

Another item close to me is Reader's Digest Road in Chappaqua. It's a short road that joins the Sawmill Parkway at right angles somewhere between the Pleasantville and Mt. Kisco stations. I wasn't sure it would make the simulation, but it did. It's not really an important road except that it always catches my eye when I go by and Reader's Digest is where a neighbor of ours worked back in the '50s-'60s worked.

White Plains has completely changed in the forty years since I lived in Hartsdale/Scarsdale. The rest is largely the same except for the new stations, which are modular yet unique. The entire line looks good and runs on time!!!!

Al

Re: Creating the Virginia & Truckee for Trainz

Hi John

Just a quick thank you for publishing and editing the article on the Virginia & Truckee. One correction to the article is neccessary though reguarding the make up of personel for the group. The only other Sydney Trainzer involved in the group is Warwick (wazzer) Curtis (pencil) is from Portland Oregon as is Rich (slugsmasher) when he is at home, Linda (shortline) is from Norway though I think she would rather be in Holland again, Todd (prowler) is from upper New York State, Ben (bdaneal) is from Georgia (USA), David (dmdrake) Santa Cruz California, Giorgio (gizomat) Venezuela, and last but not least Max (elvenor) also from the USA who helped so much with early content and encouragement and whose death caused a lot of sadness amongst the whole Trainz Community. We have also had input from people in Sweeden, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, South Africa and New Zealand as well as Historical Experts of the Railroad from California and Nevada and even help from the Nevada State Dept of Transportation.

Since the publishing of your article we have also had 2 other Aussies join the group as content builders and a couple more from the US who are building connecting RRs. Thank you for the chance for us to show our project to the wider Trainz Community

Cheers

Collin

Re: Steam Locomotive Cab Simulator

At last! Somebody else has had the brilliant idea of building a locomotive cab to operate with train simulators. I've been toying with the idea since I first found MSTS. Being a real life train driver (I guess I like to take my work home with me) I have collected controls and bits and pieces from 1:1 scale locomotives over the years with something similar in mind. I've given it considerable thought since discovering Trainz and funny enough came to pretty similar conclusions as Doug Johnson as to how this can be accomplished. I just haven't had the time or the technical expertise to carry it out. I'll be looking forward to Doug's next instalment to see how he has tackled the issue of operating gauges.

I'd also like to say thank you for the terrific ezine you've produced. I originally discovered it last year with a link from the Trainz newsletter and haven't looked back since. I never really progressed much past playing with MSTS and even with Trainz I had trifled with some rudimentary layout building. But when I started reading your ezine it was like having the blinders removed from eyes and fully discovering the power of Trainz. Like a lot of people who contribute or read this magazine I started with HO scale modelling but could never really attain much due to space and money restrictions. Now I can have the layout I always wanted in much more detail than I could ever have acheived with plastic models.

Raymond Brooks
Senior Operations Standards Manager
Sydney Australia

Re: November 2005 issue

I really enjoy reading your magazine each month. Its great to have some coverage focused on our hobby. And what a pleasant surprise to see my L&PS route featured, and on the cover yet! Your photo essay was really well done and a pleasure to read.

I wish you all the best for the future of your magazine.

Wayne Campbell
London, Canada

Re: September 2005 issue

Another brilliant issue of VR mate. I had no idea there was so much in the way of SIMs out there for railways. Loved the interview too. One guy doing the lot I'm surprised the photo wasn't of a white haired stress-victim :)

Geoff Steele

Re: March-April 2005 issue

I just read Steve’s feedback and laughed. I was actually thinking I need to write these guys and tell them what a fantastic magazine they are putting together when I read the same article he did. So I stopped right were I was at and hopped over here to drop you guys a line to say WOW!! I was involved in model railroading as child and enjoyed reading the great magazines dedicated to the hobby almost as much as I did working on my own layouts. Reading your magazine takes me back to those days; seeing other layouts, looking at prototype rail lines and buildings that beg to be modeled and getting great tips to making my experience even better. You guys keep up the great work and I’ll keep on reading!

Dave Gerard
Logan, Utah
USA

Re: March-April 2005 issue

Hey, what a great little... (OK, not so little) virtual mag! I stumbled onto it today through the Trainz site, and the first thing I read was that you were saying how few comments you were getting. Well, let me add to the others to say what a great job you (and your team), are doing. I have been a Train sim fan for some years now, having started with Flight sims, and I must say how good it is to see BVE still rolling on. I had an early version on my old computer, and lost it when I up-graded over time. Needless to say, I have just down-loaded the latest version which I plan to run and enjoy again!

There is so much of interest in your mag, I have saved a couple of old copies which I will read later on, (if I can now find the time.) Also to add to your web sites, is a very good programme which runs on Trainz software, located at razorbackrailway.com . This is a fabulous Australian-themed set of scenarios, with so much to do and see. A very professional-run site, and a great way to lose days of your life!

Once again, congratulations on a great site - keep up the good work...

Steve Legge
Newcastle
Australia

Re: January-February 2005 issue

Hello: My name is Allen Connor, 65 years old and live in Lincolnton, NC. U.S.A. I just want to say thanks for the great magazine format and subject matter. It really is a lot of help in understanding Trainz, which I enjoy a bunch. Thanks again folks.

Allen Connor

Re: January-February 2005 issue

Hallo! My name is Wolfgang Hahn. I live in sunny Brisbane in Australia and am 70 Years of Age. I am sending a big thankyou for your very informative Magazine and for all the work you put in. Looking always forward to the next issue. TRS2004 gives me a lot of joy as it is so easy to absorb oneself in it and actually live the part. Your Ezine brings the community together. Again many thanks ...

W. Hahn

Re: November-December 2004 issue

I have read it cover to cover as usual and it is always interesting and topical.

I have reached the conclusion that your publication gives us and our hobby some type of legitimacy, some validation. It's as if without your respectable magazine we would just be a bunch of nerds in "Star Wars" tee shirts! But reading your words we are transformed into scientists wearing labcoats scratching our chins and muttering "...interesting....." to no one in particular!

Ed Wells (a.k.a. Euphod)

Re: September 2004 issue

Thanks for the plug of the flight control program and the ride car. Note the basic ride car is part of the BVE rollercoaster challange download from my download site, http://home.cfl.rr.com/bvefl/ under the CONTEST page I had never thought of the ride car as a balloon, but that works. My original flying was done in an Airship, by me, available at http://www.zodiac-infosystems.co.uk/rail/bve/ It also contains a flight control software just for the airship. BTW the fight control also works with the ride car (in fact with any cab). Just copy it to the ridecar folder and run. You can change the altitude and look down angle.

Thanks for the 747 too. I guess I am going to get known for non rail operations on rail sims. BTW also modified the Lear jet for MSTS to make it night flyable by putting lights on it. I like flying over these routes, (and, yes, I do have flight simulator :) ).

Sanford Mace

Re: September 2004 issue

Al and the gang,

Another great issue - lots of fun to read and helpful too. We are never too old to learn new tricks or absorb railroad history.

Thanks much to all.

Fred Gorham

P.S. Love the PDF format!

Re: July 2004 issue

Hi Al,

Just quickly scanned your July issue. Loved the articles/topics. Like the way you show lot of pics and explain the whole process (eg. Underground station / track laying) Am printing it out right now and plan to read them at leisure.

Your magazine hits a sweet spot between looking for answers in the forums and trying it out in Trainz.

Thanks and i shall be looking forward to all your upcoming issues.

Donald (a.k.a. naikrd)

Re: 1 Apr 04 posting

I got to say you have a knack for grabbing the reader and keeping them involved to the end of the article. Your latest article on Casey Jones was both informative and intriguing enough to keep me reading to the very end (As well as the other articles). I love to read, however I find that reading stories online, I tend to skip through most articles, but not with the VMR articles.

Very nice work, and it shows you love what you do with these articles as well as the site itself. I don't usually send "feed backs" per se, but felt your work and articles warranted a job well done. I've read some of your other articles in the past, I for one hope you keep it up.

In short thanks for the time and effort you've put into your articles so far, and once again, good job!

I'm looking forward to more info on Trainz items as well as more articles on real life trains as well.

John Camp (a.k.a. okiedustdevil)

Re: 1 Apr 04 posting

I just wanted to thank you again for VMRJ. This is the first E-zine I have ever been interested in where the interface did not drive me away. It is simple to navigate, has clean - no frills pages and is easy on the eyes.

Oh yeah... did I mention the content is top notch too?

Peter Fargo (a.k.a. Peter5)

Re: 15 Mar 04 posting

I just looked around the March issue –- the mag just keeps getting better and better. I definitely get a kick out of the film strips and, as some other readers noted, definitely see application possibilities beyond the world of railroading. Virtual walkthroughs for real estate, construction, architecture, assembly line procedures could all make use of the technology. A little creative thinking and the application of the Auran software just leads to all kinds of exciting possibilities. In the meantime, keep up the outstanding efforts!

Art Wilson

Re: 1 Mar 04 posting

Far's I'm concerned this is an outstanding edition. I really liked the exposition on steam engines. And I'm reading and looking for the elements for panorama videos.

Paul Abbott (a.k.a. Xerxes)

Re: 1 Mar 04 posting

I have never -- ever -- liked online magazines. I think mainly because they always seem (to me) to be excuses for advertising or gimmicks. I was an English major, and in school I read a lot of lit. magazines and journals, so perhaps that's why I tend to be critical. But VMRJ is so well written and looks so good I think it's probably the best online publication I've ever come across. Visiting the page(s) really feels like reading as opposed to merely warping from hyperlink to hyperlink. It is a consistently useful and informative journal and not just a fansite. It is tough (I think) to get people to "linger" on such sites; I actually look forward to VMRJ each month (whereas with a lot of online "magazines" I just don't want to bother).

Rob Crawford

Re: 1 Mar 04 posting

Saw it

Read it

Great as usual

:^)

Peter Fargo (a.k.a. Peter5)

Re: 1 Feb 04 posting

you wrote... One of the most important things to me is that Trainz' creator, Auran, is accessible and involved. You can e-mail real live Auran people at the Help Desk.

I'll echo that -- John Banks is super on getting back to you and it is alway personal, never a form answer!!!

Wayne Cooke (a.k.a. Cookie)

Re: 1 Feb 04 posting

Al, an excellent issue, congratulations. I'm biased of course, but I liked the article about the SR&RL, the one about using Trainz as a presentation tool is also very valuable, I have always considered Trainz to be more than a train simulator, I think it has the potential to be a World simulator.

I did enjoy.

Cheers

Peter Pardoe-Matthews (a.k.a. Narrowgauge)

Thanks,

Al

©2004-2005 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved.