Transport Tycoon Forums

Despite the age of the game, I still enjoy using Locomotion from time to time, and I've decided lately to take the plunge and start experimenting with mod creation. Being a steam guy, I've opted to learn how to create new steam locos--or rather, how to create mods by modifying existing MSTS locos--in spite of the difficulty and challenge involved. I spent my free time during the holidays trying to learn from several tutorials, pages, threads, and methods to figure out how to make it happen. (***NOTE: I will obviously not be releasing anything without gaining the permission of the original creator of any file!)

The first locomotive I have tried modding is this, a Denver & Rio Grande Western T-29:
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/index. ... 0-and-793/
(Also found at TrainSim.com)

My first attempt, using MSTS2Loco went moderately well, but I was disappointed to find that the program doesn't allow for animated steam. So, on I went with my search to find a different method. After discovering Shape Viewer and the "Camera Angles" method (see viewtopic.php?t=50278), I've spent further time experimenting with that, and finally got something that would run in the game, despite a few issues (including a pair of blue spruces sprouting from the tender, in place of bogies...). After ironing out those bugs, I finally arrived at this result: Correctly "set" on the track, fully animated, and looking good/running well with no errors. However, after successfully using the model in one test scenario, and saving one game from said scenario, a new issue arose. I have noticed a pattern that repeats itself over and over:
If I try to open any scenario that uses the locomotive I created--whether starting new/from the beginning or from a saved game--Locomotion instantly crashes upon trying to run that scenario. However, if I first open the Scenario Editor, then navigate to Vehicle selection in Object Settings, view the locomotive I created, exit out of the Scenario Editor, and then open a scenario using the locomotive, the error disappears and I am able to continue on as normal. I can't imagine what might be causing this to happen, and if anyone has any advice on what I could do about that, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Now, I wonder if I'll try another locomotive sometime soon?...

I congratulate you to your first steam locomotive.
Do I understand it right? A finished scenario crashes you. But if you first considered the locomotive in the editor, then it works?
That would be strange and a mistake which has not yet occurred. At least I hear about it for the first time. I have no solution for you. But I can look at the XML if you want it.

Thank you. I especially appreciate the tutorials that you provided on your website; they have been very helpful as I have been learning.

I think you understand correctly, though I'll explain again to be sure that I haven't left anything out. With the scenario I created using the loco, it worked the first time without any issue. But, if I save a game, exit Locomotion, start it again, and EITHER 1. Start a new game, or 2. Load a saved game with that specific scenario, the game crashes. The game does not crash if I use any other scenario without the locomotive I created. However, if I open Scenario Editor and simply view the locomotive, the issue gets resolved. I do not need to create a new scenario using the locomoitve, it only needs to be viewed, as seen below: I will attach the .xml below. It is different from the original version that Vehicle Creator made, though it was only to make changes to correct minor problems. I compared it to other .xml flies of other vehicles (including the Special 2-4-2 and steam locomotives from the North American Megapack) to see if everything was placed correctly in the file.

I have compared your XML with one of my steam locomotives. The two marked lines are the some serious difference to mine. What happens if you leave these two lines away? Either that's the mistake, or it has no influence.
If this is not the problem, so I would examine the pictures or reassemble. But that's the last choice.

Thank you for taking the time to look at that.

It appears that I goofed badly on this one . I think I must have accidentally copied those lines from the Special 2-4-2 .xml, while I was using it as a comparison. Having discovered the TT-Wiki recently, I looked up tonight what those lines are for (https://www.tt-wiki.net/wiki/Variable:L ... -_Vehicles), and found that "field_B4[0]" and "field_B4[1]" are used only when the file has bogey sprites separate from the locomotive/tender. Because my locomotive does not have separate bogeys, it makes sense that including these lines would cause errors.

Everything seems to be fixed now! I no longer experience any crashing with any usage of my locomotive. I'll be sure to be more careful with my .xml files in the future!

No problem.
I actually wanted to convert this locomotive. But that is no longer necessary. Can you tell me which steam locomotives do you want to build? Then I consider myself with this if it makes sense to convert themselves. We are not many anymore. And now not our time wastes the same locomotives twice.