Australian AuzTrains and NSWTrains

[GarryG]

Hi fellas .. hope you all having a lovely Christmas and you got all that was on your wish list.

I started to play my games but there was something missing.

friss-stations gave me an idea .. they have some great line side objects but no signal boxes and I not seen any other object based newgrf files with any.

There are some in the Waypoints, but wonder if be nice to have some signal boxes as objects so can place near the tracks just to look nice.

I had a go at making Broadmeadow South Signal Box .. I chose this as I worked there as a block-boy in the 1970s.

The photo was found on the website http://www.nswrail.net/.

So what you think should I continue this project and do several types of signal boxes and stuff huts simular to what friss-station has done?

Friss-stations has what needed for CTC and modern day operations, just need some for the older days.

[GarryG]

Here is a sample of Auz Lineside Objects.

There are only 3 signal boxes and 1 staff hut for now.

AuzLinesideObjects.rar

Australian Lineside Objects

(16.78 KiB) Downloaded 134 times

Large Signal Box 1 - based on Broadmeadow South Signal Box
Large Signal Box 2 - based on Adamstown Signal Box
Medium Signal Box 1 - based on Broadmeadow North Signal Box
Staff Hut 1 - based on Goobang Junction Staff Hut.

Should I do more? Any suggestions for other signal boxes, staff huts and other lineside objects?

Credits
---------

Graphics: GarryG
and the following who designed friss-stations as it was their project that gave me the ideas.

Thanks fellas.

- johannes
- Kyosuke1989
- Terope

Code:
- FooBar (Jasper Vries)

Makefile system:
- planetmaker (Ingo von Borstel)


Special thanks to everyone whom thanks is due.

[GarryG]

Hi all,

Been playing around with Lineside Objects.

Made 5 signal boxes so far ..

Signal Boxes and Water Tower.png (311.18 KiB) Viewed 5718 times

Large brick and timber is Broadmeadow South.
Large all timber is Adamstown
Medium size brick and timber is Broadmeadow North
Small wooden one is Goobang Junction
and the small green one with thunder box is Wingen.

There are 2 water towers .. a single one and a the twin towers.

Auz_Lineside_Objects.grf

Demo version of the Lineside Objects

(23.79 KiB) Downloaded 133 times

Hope you like.

[romazoon]

nice work !

would you not prefer to have those signal boxes even closer to the tracks ? i think they would look more "linked" to the railway if the building was closer t othe tracks

I supose using overlapping tiles would be nice....but i m not too sure it s possible without hidding the tracks(Quast is the master when it comes to overlapping tile)... and i think the easier solution would be to move those signalboxes buildings to the edge of its tile (and so it might need 4 different rotation)

Good luck with your set, it s nice to see it progressing

[GarryG]

Hi Romazoon, thanks for your encouragement.

Been thinking about doing what you mentioned moving them closer to one edge. Shouldn't be to hard to do.

I got no idea how to overlap tiles .. yet. I intend to experiment see what happens if overlap the signal boxes along the edge of one side of the sprites and see if that works.

Need to think of things to fill the empty spaces around the signal boxes. The colour base tiles are ok, but like to put some other items in the spare space.

Some idea is the motor vehicle and thunder box. Has anyone got some other ideas?

[GarryG]

Hi all, I moved the signal boxes and staff huts closer to the edges of the tiles.

Many Stations and sidings had houses for Station master and employees, so I made 2 houses too.

Signal Boxes and houses.png (263.8 KiB) Viewed 5669 times

Have any of you used "Wired" by McZapkie? I think it a great set .. can use to control trains in advance, send telegraphs and messages and use as Telephone Poles and Wire Objects. I like to connect wires and poles to what I doing to be a dummy connection to the "Wired" (Can see some in the pic not yet connected to my creations).

Here's the next sample of Auz_Lineside_Objects.

Newest Version below .. 28th December

Update:

The Next sample release (not the one available here) will have the Water Towers closer to the edge of tiles same as Signal Boxes, another Station master House and a gate keepers House.

I tried a platform next to the Staff Huts and they almost fit together. This has given me the idea of making some more signal boxes and staff huts that will fit in with the platforms to make them look as if they part of the station. maybe have a go at making some different station buildings such as waiting room, booking office, etc. Do each building separately no more then 1 tile in size, so you can pick and choose what is wanted on the station. At least that the idea I have for now.

[Pingaware]

Just like to pop in and say these are looking great GarryG. Always nice to see a new face producing some excellent quality stuff.

[GarryG]

Thanks Pingaware for your compliment much appreciated.

Been playing around with McZapkie's Wired and added parts to the signal boxes.

Those who use Wired whether to control signals in advance or as objects should like these ideas.

Just not sure what the better .. running the wires parallel behind the signal boxes, or have it run out from behind the box to a pole at fare end, or include both ideas.

But remember these are dummy Wired connections. The communications that can do in Wired will not pass through these, they act like a block.

Also do I still include Signal Boxes without the wires?

Anyway here and Update Dec 29: it has Communication Wires with the signal boxes and Water Towers closer to edge of tile. They do not need the different colour tiles now, they build on normal ground, however, I haven't worked out the code for them to build on snow and desert yet.

Auz_Lineside_Objects.grf

(65.09 KiB) Downloaded 121 times

Any comments and suggestions for other lineside objects appreciated.

Cheers

[GarryG]

I been having a try at doing Station Building Objects to bland in with platforms.

The platforms used here are the Dutch Single Platforms. The buildings are from Friss-stations and the ramps from Industrial Stations Renewal (ISR) v1.0.2.

If any one like to test them with other stations for me see if they blend in with those too be great while I continue making more. Intend to start making my own Station Buildings too.

Station Buildings

Station_Buildings.png (252.35 KiB) Viewed 5563 times

Here's the sample newgrf with those Station Buildings.

Auz_Lineside_Objects.grf

(75.65 KiB) Downloaded 113 times

[V453000 :)]

Hi!
I seriously miss any form of shading in your work. The walls just look like 1-color areas without any variety or influence of shadows.

Try to add a LOT (you should feel like it is too much, do not worry you get used to it later and realize it is a good way to do it) of dark shades, on the darker wall, under roof, random bits breaking the uniformness of walls and so on.

Similar applies to the more complex objects like the pillars of the water tower, there it is more important to be able to present the shape you want to, but it still should be using way more colours than just one or two.

Hope my words are helpful!

V

[GarryG]

I seriously miss any form of shading in your work.

I understand what you mean and agree. Many of the building I been using from other sources and I not change any of the colours. Just been coping bits of buildings and joining them together.

The only ones I done of my own is the water towers and the smaller signal boxes.

Funny thing is the Station Buildings I started changing the shades in these not long before you message me.

My main objective build first and make sure they work and see what they look like in a game, than touch up the paint work where required.

Everyone suggestions are appreciated.

[andythenorth]

Yair more nice work GarryG.

Here's an example of the shading V is talking about Dark colours up by the eaves of the roof, and the left-side walls, and near the ground. The signal boxes have it, but more never seems to hurt.

[GarryG]

Thank Andy .. the Water tower be the hardest for me trying to pick the different shades of colours .. Bottom parts of the legs will be a bit easier as be making them a light grey to represent silver frost. The bottom parts of legs and cross wires where silver frost so people see them easier and not run into them.

But getting the greys right further up and on the tank itself will be a challenge for me. But I keep at it.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Are these close to what you guys talk about with different shades.

I find hard to tell difference when colours are closely the same.

Anyway time for some beauty sleep .. will do more tomorrow afternoon

Cheers

[andythenorth]

I poked at the signal box and water tower a bit

Didn't touch the station, roof shapes like that take a while to get right. Simple buildings like the signal box I can do in my sleep now, but complex shapes are still a challenge for me

[GarryG]

Thanks for the poking Andy, appreciate it.

Not sure what to do with the yellow Station Building yet .. they look nice but a bit bright.

Might do them same colour as signal boxes .. railways in my State usually painted wooden structured buildings all the same light yellowish colour with a brown trim around the windows and doors and usually a dark stained timber doors.
So might be nice if I did the same with the Station Buildings or paint them a brick colour.

I'll work on those over the next few days and see what I come up with.

If you or anyone else have suggestions for other lineside objects, let me know or your welcome to make them and send to me.

Cheers

[kamnet]

Relay boxes


Lookout tower


Fuel stands



Water towers

[GarryG]

Thanks Kamnet, some of those be ok.

Relay boxes can found in Friss-stations and Wired.

The windmill be a good idea if I can draw it to refill water tanks.

Need to ask any Aussies if they seen round water tower tanks in Australia as I've not seen any.

There4 is also round water tanks in DWE-Stationtiles in the Rail Station Selection, but might be nice to have as a object to.

The look out tower be good to in the hills of forests.

Here's 2 I like to add ground frame and water column, but they will be a bit small to do and maybe hard to see ..

Ground Frame

Ground Frame1.png (294.51 KiB) Viewed 5461 times

Water Column

Wtare Tower and Column.png (275.89 KiB) Viewed 5461 times

Bit of trivia for those interested .. the levers in signal boxes where painted 4 colours .. red to control signals, black to control points (switches), blue to lock points into place (also known as facing point locks), and white where spare.

[kamnet]

Need to ask any Aussies if they seen round water tower tanks in Australia as I've not seen any.

No idea if any of these were on or near the rail lines, but here's some to look at:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cate ... _Australia

[GarryG]

Need to ask any Aussies if they seen round water tower tanks in Australia as I've not seen any.

Only 2 what I seen are railway Water towers and both are square. The one at Byrock, which up near Bourke and the one at Western on the Cessnock line near Newcastle.