Trainz

TRAINZ is a series of 'virtual reality' rail simulator computer games with over a million users world wide developed by Australian game developer Auran Pty. Ltd, and now N3V Games. The game system is extensible and has a large active user base creating new content world wide. Unlike a typical dwelling, want-a-be model railroaders don't need modeling skills, a whole basement and ages of time to satisfy the need to do railroading. The new user starts with a dozen or so debugged ready-to-run railroads and can begin to learn how to make their own by modifying those and following well written .pdf file manuals. There are even now several versions that run on various smart phones. Many Trainz releases can be bought online and downloaded, or by CDROM/DVD in most game software retailers.

Since 2001, the game has been updated and released in several versions—almost annually with major releases about every second year. These run under various operating systems such as MAC OS X, Linux and especially the ubiquitous and various Microsoft Windows versions, each release featuring new extended content and evolved features bundled (as a starting point) with each release.

Multilingual language support has been built into Trainz since the hugely popular TRS2006 release in 2005. Trainz Simulator 12 is the latest Microsoft Windows installment in the franchise which was released in April of 2011. Since its release, the game has attracted a large fan base due to its compatibility with third party user-created content (Train Cars, Buildings, Locomotives, Track types, trees, bridges, etc.) for which access and support in a huge database called the Download Station' is provided for by the developers.

About this Book

• Introduction
• Authors

Getting Started

A Brief Description Of Trainz

• Things You Can Do In Trainz
• Versions Of Trainz
• Virtual Railroad Magazine

Installation

• Hardware Requirements
• Using wide screen monitors
• Installation Under Microsoft Windows
• Installing Service Packs
• Trainzoptions.txt

Some Essential Do's And Don'ts

• Essential Hints

Tips And Tricks

• Tips And Tricks
• TS2010EE - Trainz 2010: Engineer's Edition
• TRS2012WBE - Trainz 2012: World Builder Edition

Driver

The Driver aspect of Trainz permits operating virtual trains on modeled railroads. It is the simulation of routes and can be both interactive and automated. All editions of Trainz are supplied with atleast one route and driver session for immediate use.

• Basics - Train operation and the basic model railroad control.
• Driving Steam Engines - Operating steam locomotives from the cab.
• Driving Diesel Engines - Operating Diesel locomotives from the cab.
• Industries and Products - Lars, ProtoLars and Multiple Industries New.
• Driver Mode Keyboard Shortcuts - Useful hotkeys to enhance your Trainz driver experience.

Surveyor

The Surveyor aspect of Trainz provides tools for creating the world and the rails for virtual railroads. While in surveyor, the size of the layout, the weather, the landscape and all your assets can be experimented with until your route is ready to drive.

• Fundamentals - Basic elements of world building.
• Advanced - Gradients, radius, junctions and track marks.
• Notional Railways - Creating a believeable fictional railroad.
• Prototype Railways - Modeling real world railroads.
• Signalling
• Surveyor Mode Keyboard Shortcuts - Useful hotkeys to enhance your Trainz surveyor experience.

Asset Management

Managing your assets becomes essential when your 3rd party and DLS content begins to build up. With more than 100,000 items available from the DLS, and built-in content shipped with every edition, the amount of faulty/missing dependencies or items requiring updates or attention quickly becomes a mammoth task to deal with.

• Hierarchy Of Assets
• DLS and FCT - Download Station and First Class Tickets.
• Locating locos A catalog of practically every loco created for Trainz
• KUIDs and how they work.
• TDH
• Trainz Objectz
• The Trainz Asset Repair Library (TARL)
• TrainzMap
• CMP - Content Manager Plus (TRS2006+).
• Downloading From Third Party Trainz Fansites
• Where to find none DLS assets
• Finding Missing Dependencies
• Fixing Broken Assets
• Changing An Asset's Dependencies - For Example; Replacing a Locomotive's Hornsound.
• Backing Up Downloaded And Self-Created Assets - Creating Archives and Zip Files of Content.
• Copying Assets Between Versions And Copies Of Trainz - For Example; TRS2006 to TC.
• Converting steam locos to run in TC3 - Converting steam locos to run in TC3.
• Removing Unwanted Assets - Deleting or Disabling Assets.
• Changing the default cars on roads
• Changing the default passengers in coaches or at stations

Asset Creation

Many users of Trainz choose to become content creators. This can be seen by the popularity of the DLS and the large number of contributors. There is a steep learning curve associated with content creation and often many ways to produce the same result. Creating content can be incredibly rewarding but the road to a completed model may be long and frustrating.

• Before you start Performance and other issues
• When to use lod
• Software Used for Content Creation
• Content Creators Guide
• API and Scripting Guide
• Setting Up Software For Content Creation
• Sources for textures
• Basic Reskinning for beginners
• Tutorials for Content Creation
• Tutorial for Blender
• Tutorial for adding night mode with Blender
• Tutorial for Normal mapping (TRS2009)
• Tutorial for incorporating normalmaps using Blender (TRS2009)
• Transparent Windows using Blender
• Polished metal using Blender
• Recommended Tutorials for GMAX
• Adding a background image to GMAX
• Tutorial for Modifying the reskin mesh in GMAX
• Tutorial for Creating a Three Plank Wagon From the Reskin Mesh in GMAX
• Tutorial for Reskinnng a Locomotive using Paint.Net
• Config.txt Files
• Overview of Attachment Points
• Adding a Second Mesh
• Shape File Viewers
• Using Content Creator Plus (CCP)
• Uploading Assets
• Importing Across Platforms
• Creating Coaches
• Hints and Tips for 3D Modelling Software
• Useful bogeys
• ACS Coupling information
• Creating Normal Maps with Blender

Scripting

The implementation of scripting in Trainz has added increased flexibility and interactive possibilites with assets, particularly with animated objects. Scripting in trains adopts the TrainzScript language and requires a basic understanding of programming to follow.

• Driver Sessions and Rules
• Scriptable Assets
• Scenarios (Scripted Activities)

Other Information

• Taking Screenshots

• Taking Videos

• Using the Trainz Discussions Forums

• Rendering

Additional Resources

• Version And Build Numbers
• Main Menu Options
• File Types (File Extensions)
• Performance Hints
• Glossary
• Index
• External Links (tutorials, fansites, etc)

Completion status must be 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%!