Australian Railway Tracks

[Erato]

You might find some inspiration from a couple of other sets which aren't in common circulation.

Korean Tracks v1.02: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/444
Advanced Catenary v1.0: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/441
Korean Bridges: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/2

Luckily these all have links to "Naver", where (at least) I have been able to download them without an account.

[GarryG]

I had a try of the Korean catenary .. they done well designing these with 4 catenary tracks A .. is one side of a double track, B is the other side, C is for single tracks, and D is just the wires which are good for across girder bridges and through stations.

There is a bit of a glitch with them unfortunately when a train passes a pylon. As shown here in image.

Catenary Tracks-1.png (97.47 KiB) Viewed 1303 times

I don't have that glitch, but the tracks have to be laid on the correct coordinates other wise the beams poke the wrong way.

The middle set tracks, furthers track is on even number coordinates and closest on odd number coordinate.

The track closest to you I laid those on the wrong coordinates.

I like how the Korean set shows the brackets off the beams to the wires. I'm yet to make these for my set.

I went train riding today to a place called Koolewong, just south of Gosford and got a variety of photos of the catenary with cross beams so I can design mine soon.

IMG_0642.png (124.66 KiB) Viewed 6927 times

Hope next week visit a place called Tascott where I can go up onto a footbridge to get a high view from above.

If any of the guys who designed the Korean K-Tracks and Advanced Catenary would like to PM me, maybe we can work on these ideas together and help each other.

Cheers all

[SimYouLater]

You might find some inspiration from a couple of other sets which aren't in common circulation.

Korean Tracks v1.02: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/444
Advanced Catenary v1.0: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/441
Korean Bridges: https://telk.kr/ottd/newgrf/archive/2

Luckily these all have links to "Naver", where (at least) I have been able to download them without an account.

This is correct, you can download them without registration by following the links!

[kamnet]

That's a refreshing change of pace from Naver, then. It was a pain in the asterisk for me to register a few years ago.

[GarryG]

In my travels yesterday on the trains I notice just a few locations they still had the old style railway fences.

Untitled-2.png (217.67 KiB) Viewed 6840 times

They had the railway track posts with the beam across then they had 2 some times 3 picket posts and then a single railway post and repeated this 6 or more times before the next railway posts with the beam.

so I thought why not have these in my railway sets for tracks built prior to 1980s. After that they installed the wire mesh fences to keep the very honest people away from the tracks.

and this the result.

Old Style Railway Fences-10.png (66.37 KiB) Viewed 6840 times

Hope to make some object sets of these fences like these as well.

[Pyoro]

Doesn't really have anything to do with the GRF, but what the heck is the point of building a fence like that? ^^;

[Quast65]

Guessing here, but maybe to allow small wildlife to cross?

[Pyoro]

Right. Forgot that this is Australia. They look about man-high, so probably for spiders.

[GarryG]

The days when those types of fences was made, they was made to keep livestock off the tracks.

Wildlife such as Kangaroos and Wallabies could get through the wire.

They wasn't worried about people as people them days had common sense to get off the track when a train come.

Trains those days was slower too and could hear a steam train cuffing along from a distance, so had plenty time to get out the way when heard one coming.

But these days trains are faster, quieter (a bit) and many people don't have any common sense to stay off the tracks, so they putting up wire mess fences closer to the populated areas.

[GarryG]

Started working on the track set again today.

Have the rail fences aligning with the Object Fences. Some minor work to do the the object fences still so they will match up with the rail fences in some areas a bit better.

Tracks and Fences-1.png (23.42 KiB) Viewed 6101 times

Tracks far left with dirt underlay are the pioneering Lines .. intend to make 2 types .. one with the dirt ballast which will be available in 1800 and another with stone ballast be available a bit later (haven't decided on the year yet).

Joining the pioneering line is Country Tracks. Both Pioneering and Country tracks will have the wire fences like they are in real here in my country.

The next two to the right are more modern types with wire mesh fences and wooden sound proof fences. Designed to be use in towns and city.

The early tracks that will be available in the 1800s will have slow speeds on them typical of those days. Tracks that come available after 1900s will have a very high speed on them to suit what ever train type your using.

One thing I not sure if to keep working on is the dirt maintenance vehicle roads along the fence lines. Not sure if to keep them or not.

Not sure how long it will take for a test version to be made available as the tunnels not looking good just yet.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Tunnels are starting to look better.

Can place them side like in this image.

Hope to make similar design for all the tunnels.

Some will have the brick and some be concrete.

[GarryG]

Progress is slow with building my track set to how I want .. but getting there.

Much thanks to Quast65 providing me with some new coding and graphic ideas it allows me to make things look that much better.

Only done 2 tracks re operational so far. One Electric and one non-electric .. once I get these to my liking will add the others shown in pics in previous posts.

AuzRailSet.png (270.75 KiB) Viewed 5973 times

Still a few touch ups to do to these 2.

Features:
Guide rails on bridges.
Overhead beams expand 2 tracks.
Wide tunnel portals so they join and look like one tunnel.
The overhead wires are green like they are in real. (Looking up at them from the ground they look black .. but when look down from a footbridge they are green looking.

Future ideas to these and other tracks yet to add:

The overhead wires make some single poles like in other sets. Make a rust set like above and not rusty set.
Make a variety of tunnels and depots.

Once I get these tracks how I want will make some adjustments to my bridge set to suit these tracks, especially the overhead ones.

I'll add a game file and sources files here too if any one like to try and maybe you see something I missed or suggest any improvements.

Cheers all

[Pyoro]

I'll give my 2cents on those (as usual they are just my opinion ^^):

- something about the bridge rails make them look thinner than the standard ones. It's probably just an optical illusion but it's a bit weird at a casual glance
- the tunnel portals look a bit like just standing in the landscape with no proper "back" or sides
- still don't really like those rock graphics as they don't look as if painted for OTTD, but that's an old complaint

Everything else looks fine

[GarryG]

I'll give my 2cents on those (as usual they are just my opinion ^^):

Thanks for your donation it will be well used.

something about the bridge rails make them look thinner than the standard ones. It's probably just an optical illusion but it's a bit weird at a casual glance

Optical illusion as I haven't shaded the rail faces same as the others yet (something I missed).

- the tunnel portals look a bit like just standing in the landscape with no proper "back" or sides

To have them joining like I got i a bit difficult trying to get a better effect. Might just have to make them single portal entrances so get a better look. It something I need to ponder on to see if I can come up with some better.

- still don't really like those rock graphics as they don't look as if painted for OTTD, but that's an old complaint

I d agree with that .. just haven't figured out a better way to make them yet. They are textures of rocky hills and cuttings from a distance and I shrunk them to try get an effect.

I think I need to go get some photos of some rocks up close and use that texture.

Everything else looks fine

Today is a cloudy day so I going train riding shortly and visit a few stations. With no bright sun should be able to get better effects of textures. The overhead wires for instance was taken in bright sun light so like to see how they look when not sunny.

[GarryG]

Things are looking better.

Tracks across bridges match the tracks either side.

Added some concrete to tunnel portals see if these look better.

One problem this idea with tunnels have .. is the fences. If I add fences to the tunnels then it will also show the fences in the middle when tunnels are joined.

Seee if I can come up with a solution over the weekend.

[SimYouLater]

Things are looking better.

Tracks across bridges match the tracks either side.

Added some concrete to tunnel portals see if these look better.

One problem this idea with tunnels have .. is the fences. If I add fences to the tunnels then it will also show the fences in the middle when tunnels are joined.

Seee if I can come up with a solution over the weekend.

Try moving the tunnel outward from the mountain more so that it begins at the edge of the tile instead of the middle.

M = Mountain
[ = Tunnel Entrance
_ = track
T = Tunnel Extension

Code: Select all

M[_

...should be...

Code: Select all

MT[

[GarryG]

Try moving the tunnel outward from the mountain more so that it begins at the edge of the tile instead of the middle.

Will try different ways and see what looks good.

Bring the out further would suit the city tracks for the entrance to underground railways with either some Parks or Road on top.

[GarryG]

Had a few goes at the tunnel if move the portals forward to front of tile. It looked a bit strange to enter the mountains so far forward with such a big concrete top. But bring the portals to front of tiles for entering underground railway system will look good.

Until I think of another idea for tunnels will leave them for now.

Playing around with the Catenary.

Made sets that need to be used with dual tracks so can get the beam to go over both rails and also a single track.

Catenary Double and single Tracks.png (57.73 KiB) Viewed 5595 times

So far there are 2 types .. rusty pylons and non-rusty ones.

Should I keep both pylon types or just have the one type? Any suggestions?

Rusty set has the wire fence and non-rusty has the security fence at the moment.

The crossover tracks depend where you put them to how good they will look as can see if sample above.

See if I get chance to do more tomorrow.

If like to test what I done so far and the source here is a copy.

[GarryG]

Still working on the Catenary for Multi-tracks.

Got a few ideas to work with.

Catenary Multi Tracks.png (105.16 KiB) Viewed 5500 times

This idea allows the girder to expand many tracks in multiples of 2.

Junctions are the problem at the moment.

Catenary Multi Tracks2.png (28.37 KiB) Viewed 5500 times

Shall keep trying see if can be improved.

EDIT: Woops .. forgot to add some:

If use the single catenary set at junctions can make them look a lot better.

Catenary Multi Tracks3.png (22.2 KiB) Viewed 5499 times

Cheers

[GarryG]

Still playing around with ideas for the catenary.

Managed to make a set so can have odd number of tracks.

Depends how you lay the tracks you could have a few problems with Junctions and tracks running north to south. But with trial and errors you can find away around those issues.

There are several Tracks combinations with the Catenary.
This image as the:
Single Pylon Track
Multi Track Gantry Catenary (Ends)
Multi Track Gantry Catenary (for Odd Tracks)

Catenary Multi Tracks4.png (46.43 KiB) Viewed 5407 times

This one has:
Multi Track Gantry Catenary (Ends)
Multi Track Gantry Catenary (Centre - No Pylons)
Multi Track Gantry Catenary (for Odd Tracks)

Catenary Multi Tracks5.png (58.66 KiB) Viewed 5407 times

Catenary tracks type not shown is:
Tracks with Invisible catenary .. this mainly designed for underground railway systems so that the pylons and wires do not stick up through the overlaps and station roofs.
and
Sidings with Catenary .. same as the "Single Pylon Track but has a very slow speed 40 km/h.

All tracks except the ones for sidings will have maximum speeds. As the trains you use have their own speed limits.

What I have done are all usable but have some additions I would like to do to them such as the tracks at junctions, tunnels, depots, fences and signals.

If you like to try what I done so far here the file.