North American Roads Set v0.8c [30 May 2008] - ** Update **

[OzTrans]

... we do actually have quite a number of American trams drawn, and more that could be; any possibility of coding them?

Not anytime soon ... we do have other and more urgent projects to finish first, but by all means put those things together with all stats and I'll see what can be done.

[krtaylor]

They can be found, such as they are, here:

http://www.as-st.com/ttd/usa/trams.html

Some of them aren't drawn, but they're all pretty easy; anyone interested?

Also, what stats are required for trams? Just top speed and pax capacity? or more?

[Ameecher]

they're all pretty easy; anyone interested?

If they're that easy, why don't you give them a try?

[krtaylor]

Because I'm no artist.
A regular rectangular trolley is obviously easier to draw than, say, a steam locomotive.

[krtaylor]

OK, site is updated with the new roads version. Great work guys!

[OzTrans]

Another update of the North American Roads Set; now with some North American Streetcars ... you have asked for them, and due to some queries, like "I have tram tracks, but I cannot build them ..." or "There are tracks, but where are the trams ...". No more complaints, ... a selection of streetcars have been included in the set. There are 3 of them by DanMack (they were supposed to go into the Canadian Trains Set, now they are here). Then, there are a few by CharlieMTA. All are simple, non-articulated, and may not necessarily be representative by description and specifications; but they all transport your passengers, including tourists, around your Canadian or American Cities; further there will always be a few of them available at all times throughout a game.

At the moment, all these streetcars are very quiet and don't make any noises ... if someone has a suitable sound [trambell], and as we are looking to add one for tram stop departures; this is an opportunity to have it added.


Enjoy ... downloads in the next post and please report any problems here ...

[OzTrans]

North American Roads Set v0.8a [22 Feb 2008]; now with streetcars :


Additional Credits :

- streetcars by DanMack and CharlieMTA.





@krtaylor : the downloads are ready for upload (version v0.8a, dated 22 Feb 2008)
@lifeblood : can you update the topic title : 'North American Roads Set v0.8a [22 Feb 2008] - ** Update **

[CharlieMTA]

I plan on fixing the articulated tram sprites so that they can coded as soon as my work schedule allows.

[krtaylor]

AWESOME!!! US Streetcars, finally!

I did some research and came up with American streetcars for most eras and all climates - they'd need to be drawn and researched, obviously, but I know what they should be. This is maybe half. You can find the list here:

http://www.as-st.com/ttd/usa/trams.html

It's now available on the US Set site.

[OzTrans]

Just a minor update of the North American Roads Set v0.8b [7 Mar 2008]

What's new ?

. street car alignments fixed.
. tram bell, supplied by DanMack, added.
. all other sounds for trams disabled, in particular the breakdown one; the street cars still break down, if you want or let them to.

BTW, There are no material changes to the User Guide.



@krtaylor : the downloads are ready for upload (version v0.8b, dated 7 March 2008)
@lifeblood : can you update the topic title : 'North American Roads Set v0.8b [7 Mar 2008] - ** Update **

[trainmaster611]

Finally US streetcars Did you ever think of making an interurban streetcar?

[OzTrans]

Finally US streetcars ... Did you ever think of making an interurban streetcar?

I included what was available to me from DanMack and CharlieMTA. If anybody wants to contribute more of them, please do. I'd like to see some other Light Rail Vehicles [LRV] too.

[DanMacK]

Well, heavy interurban cars are already in the US, Canadian and NARS sets... but some more interurban styles could possibly be done.

[krtaylor]

Did you include everything found here?

http://www.as-st.com/ttd/usa/trams.html

Of course, some of them have yet to be drawn, and some are articulated which I gather isn't quite ready for prime-time yet. But the research might be helpful as a little guide to Googling, if nothing else.

[DanMacK]

The line between interurbans and trams is rather blurred. The London and Lake Erie Railway for example used the St. Thomas, Ontario streetcar lines through town. As a general rule however, bigger interurban cars weren't usually run on city streets due to the tight clearances and curves.

The Electroliner for example wouldn't have been seen in city streets that often, and wouldn't be able to negotiate the tight city curves. The North Shore line did run single truck and double truck city streetcars however.

[krtaylor]

The Electroliner was designed to operate on the El tracks, what we'd now call an elevated metro line, though obviously it couldn't go full speed there. A very fascinating hybrid, too bad it's long dead.

[OzTrans]

Did you include everything found here? http://www.as-st.com/ttd/usa/trams.html ...

Currently, the six non-articulated street cars from that page are included in NARoads. I did not take any specifications into account. Only the 3 by DanMack had their specs taken into account, as he supplied them. All others had them 'invented' from the name to the specs. Years of availability has been set, such that there are 2 to 3 street cars available at any one time in a game, from 1921 to 2050 and beyond.

Once I have more of them to add, I will merge some of the already existing ones (make them refittable); so that we use about 10 vehicle IDs max (currently 9). But, I need the specifications, which I am not going to google myself, I'm only the coder.

[krtaylor]

My feeling is that, since TTD towns are so very very different from real ones, we should not worry overmuch about having our tram stats exactly true to history. We should do what makes sense for gameplay. So I wouldn't sweat the research that much, especially since I think it might be rather difficult to find anything really definitive. As long as they look right and play well in the game, that's fine by me.

[OzTrans]

... We should do what makes sense for gameplay. ... As long as they look right and play well in the game, that's fine by me.

Fully agree ... and that is what I have done ... those street cars in NARoads are suited perfectly to transfer passengers (and tourists) to the main station at the edge of the city; at the same time keeping the authorities happy - why bother with buses.

[wallyweb]

...- why bother with buses.

Because the automotive industry, oil refining industry and tire (UK=tyre) industry conspired to influence the transportation industry to opt for buses sometime beginning in the 1930's.
Look here for the dirt on this scandal.