[Csantucci]

Probably this topic is of interest to few people, but I'd like to share it.
There are routes that have been built with the standard gauge tracks (1435mm), but that in reality have another gauge.
An example is the very old freeware Albula line, that should have a 1000mm gauge instead of 1435mm.
Optionally modifying features already available within superelevation and dynamic tracks, and adding a route option in the .trk file, I managed to get the route at 1000 mm gauge without modifying the .tdb file, see picture


This was the original standard gauge


I have only one problem: the switches; they can't be automatically converted, and I should build a couple of 1000mm gauge switches that have the same geometry as the original MSTS 10 degree standard gauge switches. Not easy for me. Does someone have a suggestion on how to proceed, or may someone point to a couple of existing 1000mm switches that can replace pin-to-pin the original standard gauge MSTS ones?

[Kapitaen13]

A tough job for Sunday morning, ideal.
The only alternative I found was a switch in Via Metrica. Via Metrica
You can either insert these shapes as static objects using the original TDB, or the Via Metrica must be inserted into the Global Tsection. I used the standard XTrack tsection here, because I didn't want to insert the Bernina tracks.
It results in the following track list for replacing the A1T switch.

https://up.picr.de/38557504vs.jpg

VM1t1_64mstrt.s
VM1t1_08mstrt.s
VM1tPNT150Rgt.s
VM1t150r1d.s
VM1t1_38mstrt.s
VM1t10mStrt.s
VM1t2mStrt.s
VM1t1_84mstrt.s

After working on the Route (had to reinstall it first) the following picture results. The track textures are a separate work.

https://up.picr.de/38557505cn.jpg

https://up.picr.de/38557506nk.jpg

Greetings, Jan

[Csantucci]

Hi Jan,
that was a great job, thank you! I'll study now how to apply it. As first choice I'd like to avoid laying out tracks with TSRE, so I will investigate if it is possible to to create a "compound" shape that includes all those single pieces. I'm using a standard tsection.dat; I didn't need to insert the Bernina tsection.

[Kapitaen13]

The length specifications of the BE tracks are very imprecise, but the following possibility arises:
from rigt to left

track4m_wt.s - track1m_rm.s - track1m_rm.s - switch_right_aut_nb.s - track9m_rm.s - track0_8m_rm.s

branch - track4m_wt.s - track1_5m_wt.s





Greetings, Jan

[Csantucci]

Thanks, Jan,
that's even better for me.

[Csantucci]

The approach seems to work: here a picture with the pin-to-pin switch replacements. It's not yet perfect

No need to change tdb, no need to use route editor, switch animation working.

I followed Jan's suggestion, started with Bernina tracks that I'm allowed to modify and had a not yet fully completed fight with ShapeConverter and gmax.

[Kapitaen13]

That looks very good!
The tracks are on the line up to Davos, who's going to build it further? :discuss_gathering:

Greetings, Jan

[darwins]

I am very impressed to see multiple gauges in action.
So metre gauge is now a reality.
Perhaps an Indian or Sri Lankan creator will come up with broad gauge and we can put both together.

[slipperman]

Hi Darwin,

Quote

So metre gauge is now a reality.

We've had Via Metrica since 2007 (according to the file dates) and I used it in 2012/2013 in a feeble attempt to create a route!!

Cheers,
Ged

[Csantucci]

Yes, that's correct. What is new here is not the metric gauge, but an automatic gauge conversion from standard to metric for a route that in reality is metric, but had been developed as a MSTS standard gauge route. Building MSTS routes with the wrong (standard) gauge was not so rare, starting from the legacy Japanese routes, that should have a 1067 mm gauge.

[ebnertra000]

A 1067mm gause set of default track replacements was made several years back. I expanded on it a bit, but have yet to release it, pending a few corrections

[joe_star]

Hi,

I saw this feature mentioned in the Monogame change log somewhere.

How does it work & enabled? Does it only work with regular (i.e. non switch) track sections at present?

[Csantucci]

You need to
1) insert in the .trk file following line

	ORTSChangeTrackGauge ( 1 )

2) create a track profile as explained in document "How to create track profiles...", available by clicking on the "Documents" button in the OR stable or testing version
3) create a second track profile in file TrProfile.Tun.stf for the track profile of tunnels
4) set the "gauge" parameter in the Experimental Options equal to the value you want (and which must coincide with the gauge you have used for your track profile
5) act with the method explained here http://www.elvastowe...post__p__258856 to generate also narrow gauge switches. That is one way (attaching together existing narrow gauge shapes); the other one is to generate the narrow gauge switch shapes from scratch, keeping in mind that they should keep the geometry of the standard gauge switch as defined in tsection.dat
6) replace in the .w files the references to the standard gauge switch shape files with the ones to the narrow gauge switch shape files you generated in point 5.

[darwins]

It might be a long time till I get round to trying such things. In the meantime, two thoughts. Firstly is it possible for any of the adjusted routes to be shared with others? (This would presumably need permission of original route authors - or perhaps issue as an "unofficial" patch that can be added to the original route.) Secondly has anyone had a try at broad gauge - Ireland, Finland, India, Russia?

[Csantucci]

Hi Darwin,
I believe I'm the only one who modified a route that way (the freeware Albula Line), because no one asked for help up to today :) . I did the job on a route whose landscape I had already modified, so for sure I'd need an OK by the original author (Michael Vone, don't know if he is still present somewhere) to share it.
I don't see particular problems in using the feature for a broad gauge route; of course the original track layout should feature parallel track distances broad enough to accommodate the broader tracks without bad visual effects.