| A Busy Day at Union Station (D'Angelo, 4 October 2007) |
 John D'Angelo builds a perfect train watching route complete with signal box that lets you view all the action and control routing.
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| Adventures in CMP (D'Angelo, 2007) |
 John D'Angelo explains how to deal with an uncooperative CMP.
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| Adventures in Trainz Artificial Intelligence (D'Angelo, 2006) |
 John D'Angelo comes to grips with some of the intricacies of Trainz AI rules. This is MUST reading for anyone exploring Trainz AI.
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| Automating the M-Line (Barten, 2007) |
 Describes use of the automated features incorporated into M-Line PE, which is an enhanced version of the M-Line 2006 route.
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| Building Special Sharp Rail Objects for BVE Using Curverail Editer (Cartello, 2006) |
 Curverail_Editer Ver 4.6 is a handy utility designed by Advanceboy, a clever Japanese programmer. You can get it free here.
By tweaking your objects a little with this program, it’s possible to build some interesting things. Here is an example about how to build a mountain tramline curve having a 25-meter radius (metric gauge). The object is composed of a road with tram rails placed at the left, a mountain at the left side and a slope at the right: PDF
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| BVE Creator-Converter (Mace, 2006) |
 I recently released several objects for BVE. I have received some comments on those objects, which implied that I was a pretty good object builder. The truth is that I cannot build up objects. I just cannot quite grasp how objects are created. No, the objects are not pirated, I did create them, but not in the traditional form. I used two programs that I wrote, plus Notepad and Structure Viewer to create these objects. PDF
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| Calculating Diverging Curves For BVE (Beevers, 14 April 2006) |
 One of the more tricky things involved in BVE route construction pertains to the offset of diverging curves at a junction or similar. I'd previously been stuck with using trial and error, but whilst musing over a mathematics question, I thought of how the general equation of a circle may be used to create an equation in order to find the offset. I knew taking A level maths had its rewards!
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| Converting DEM Files to Trainz Maps (Slack, 3 April 2006) |
 When you want to create a Trainz model based on actual terrain, you may need to use DEM (Digital Elevation Modeling). My approach is certainly not the only way to do it, but I like the method I learned, and I can do it fast.
In the beginning, you have to have an idea of just what terrain you want to duplicate. There are a couple of sources of DEM for the area in which we are modeling the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - NASA, GIS Data Depot, and MapMart. All three sites allow free downloads, some with restrictions. Of all of them, I find that Mapmart is the easiest to specify what you want.
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| Creating a Scenario and Map in Locomotion (Barten, 2006) |
 One of the most satisfying things in Locomotion is creating your own scenario using your own map. Doing so has the added benefit of enabling you to set up a map and other game parameters that favor the type of operation you have in mind - commuter services, long distance passenger operations, ferry boat lines - you name it. The best thing is you can do it without special skills or the need to purchase software. Everything you need is either on your computer already or can be gotten free on the Internet. HTML
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| Creating Simple Objects For Rail3d (Perryman, 2006) |
 I’ve been with the Rail3D project for just over 5 years (since August 2000). And it has been a very worthwhile project for me to be part of. I’ve learnt a lot about computing, game design, and been able to offer ideas. I’ve also been modifying and creating stock and scenery files for almost as long. Today I’m going to walk through how to create a small object – my parent’s garden shed. PDF
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| Dogbone Traction, Part 2 (BVE) (Mace, 2006) |
 Sanford Mace responds to Dogbone Traction for Trainz with Dogbone Traction for BVE. The article includes complete instructions and downloadable reference files.
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| Dogbone Traction, Part 3 (MSTS) (Mace, September 2006) |
 Sanford Mace responds to Dogbone Traction for Trainz with Dogbone Traction for MSTS. The article includes complete instructions and downloadable route.
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| Dogbone Traction, Part 4 (R3D) (Mace, September 2006) |
 Sanford Mace responds to Dogbone Traction for Trainz with Dogbone Traction for Rail3D. The article includes complete instructions and downloadable routes.
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| Downloading & Installing With CMP (Olsen, 2006) |
 Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 has a new way of getting third-party content from the Trainz Download Station to you computer. It’s a nifty bit of programming that needs some explanation. Jarl Olsen created this “how-to” for his father, Norm, who passed it along to us. – Ed. PDF
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| Getting And Keeping Their Attention:
A Good Use For iPortals (Barten, 27 September 2007) |
 THERE'S NO BETTER WAY to sell a train simulator than by demonstrating it. When at a train show I make sure at least one of our laptop computers is being used to properly convey the concept of what a simulator is all about. That requires keeping personal or tight control over the activity on that computer.
The National Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland. Maine last month gave me a good reason to try out iPortals.
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| Let’s Add New Trucks to Your GG1 (D'Angelo, 20 April 2008) |
 John D'Angelo shows how to change the trucks on a GG1 in Trainz.
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| Modeling an HO Scale Railroad Using Trainz: Where the Ruler is King! (D'Angelo, 8 September 2006) |
 John D'Angelo describes the building of a basement-size simulation in HO scale using Trainz.
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| Operations on the Rockbottom & Beatte 2007 Railroad (D'Angelo, 8 June 2007) |
 Here's a Trainz layout with loads of action. It's based on an HO gauge layout but takes advantage of the features that only virtual railroading can provide.
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| Shooting the TC Harlem Line (Barten, 14 November 2007) |
 Grab your virtual camera and join us in photographing the Trainz Classics Harlem Line.
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| Steam Locomotive Cab Simulator (Johnson, 2007) |
 Doug Johnson builds a 3/4-size working steam locomotive cab simulator for use with MSTS and RailDriver.
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FEEDBACK letter here.
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| The Never Ending Operation (D'Angelo, 27 May 2009) |
 Like most of us, I have used the Save option in Trainz to save a session in progress for later playback in order to pick up where I left off, but I really wanted to do more.
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| Using SCABs for the Darjeeling Himalayan Model Railway Project (D'Angelo/Pardoe-Matthews, 2006) |
 "The model of the route Bill Slack created is over 50 megabytes in size and the large size created problems when it came time to share the file for detailing. It just is not easy to send and receive a 52 megabyte file amongst a group of different people. Something had to be done to create a system where folks could work on sections of the route, then contribute that work to the main body."
This article describes a creative solution to the problem of collaborative work on LARGE routes. It is being successfully employed by the Trainz Narrowgaugers on their DHR project.
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| Winterizing a Trainz Layout Using TrainzObjectz (Eckard, 2006) |
 Do you have a favorite layout that you would like to transform into a winter themed layout? Have you found foliage that would look great on your layout, but you simply don’t want to put the time into replacing all those trees? Fortunately, we can easily transform layouts in Trainz using a great utility application called TrainzObjectz. PDF
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