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Where a steam loco already has a Freight Animation, it has become widespread practice to place the crew on the footplate using a Freight Animation linked to the tender. This works without any problem with MSTS, but under Open Rails, the crew are sometimes shown against or within the front of the boiler or smokebox. The "sometimes" is when the first parameter of the FA is non-zero, which is used to accurately position the crew. Also, some of the FAs have 2 and some have 3 parameters. This was originally reported as bug 1322334 (22 May 2014) and fixed 10 Nov 2014; it reappeared and was re-reported as bug 1417231 (2 Feb 2015).
I did some in-depth testing and created the report shown below. Please note that my tests were to determine the effects of various parameter values when using MSTS in order to provide a base-line for Open Rails.
Quote
FREIGHT ANIMATION
After the recent problems encountered with Open Rails when using a Freight Animation (FA) in a tender to place the loco crew on the footplate, I thought I'd try and solve the one main question I had. Checking all the documentation available on the internet together with trawling the UKTS and trainsim.com Forums and not finding the answer, I did some testing myself.
My question was :- Why are there sometimes three parameters after the shape file name and at other times, only two?
The documentation I found gave the first as the shape's starting position, in metres, relative to its origin and the second as it's final position, again in metres, relative to its origin. There is no general mention of a third parameter, except in the odd Forum post, where it has been called "step".
In my tests, I have discovered that Freight Animations are treated differently for tenders than for other vehicles.
Tenders
First numeric parameter : Shape starting position relative to its origin, in metres
Second numeric parameter : Final position of shape, relative to its origin, in metres.
Third numeric parameter : set to any positive value, or omitted, causes the shape to drop - see below.
As long as the second parameter is lower than the first and the third parameter is either omitted or has a non-zero value, the shape will drop, based on distance travelled.
If the second parameter is not lower than the first, no movement will take place irrespective of the 3rd parameter.
The value entered as the third parameter doesn't seem to have any effect on the rate that the shape moves down, but needs a great deal more testing to be certain.
Numeric values of zero, eg ( 8F.s 0.0 0.0 0 ), is valid, and it's not necessary to show decimal points - may be ( 8F.s 0 0 0 )
ODD fact : If the first parameter has a negative value, to place it below its origin, and the third parameter is either omitted, or has a non-zero value, the shape will rise, presumably to it's original position, irrespective of the value in the second parameter. I can't think of a use for this, but no doubt, somebody will!!
Other Vehicles
First numeric parameter : Not used, but must be present as a "place-holder" for the second parameter.
Second numeric parameter : Must be any non-zero value - has no effect on position, but if zero, the shape doesn't show.
Third numeric parameter : Not used.
Conclusion
I discovered why some have two and others have three parameters; also, that some which have three only need two, eg 8F.s 0 3.0 0.0 could be 8F.s 0 3.0, 8F.s 0 1, or even 8F.s 0 0. In those examples, the 2nd parameter is NOT less than the first, so no movement will occur and the 3rd can be omitted, even though it defaults to a positive value.
After the recent problems encountered with Open Rails when using a Freight Animation (FA) in a tender to place the loco crew on the footplate, I thought I'd try and solve the one main question I had. Checking all the documentation available on the internet together with trawling the UKTS and trainsim.com Forums and not finding the answer, I did some testing myself.
My question was :- Why are there sometimes three parameters after the shape file name and at other times, only two?
The documentation I found gave the first as the shape's starting position, in metres, relative to its origin and the second as it's final position, again in metres, relative to its origin. There is no general mention of a third parameter, except in the odd Forum post, where it has been called "step".
In my tests, I have discovered that Freight Animations are treated differently for tenders than for other vehicles.
Tenders
First numeric parameter : Shape starting position relative to its origin, in metres
Second numeric parameter : Final position of shape, relative to its origin, in metres.
Third numeric parameter : set to any positive value, or omitted, causes the shape to drop - see below.
As long as the second parameter is lower than the first and the third parameter is either omitted or has a non-zero value, the shape will drop, based on distance travelled.
If the second parameter is not lower than the first, no movement will take place irrespective of the 3rd parameter.
The value entered as the third parameter doesn't seem to have any effect on the rate that the shape moves down, but needs a great deal more testing to be certain.
Numeric values of zero, eg ( 8F.s 0.0 0.0 0 ), is valid, and it's not necessary to show decimal points - may be ( 8F.s 0 0 0 )
ODD fact : If the first parameter has a negative value, to place it below its origin, and the third parameter is either omitted, or has a non-zero value, the shape will rise, presumably to it's original position, irrespective of the value in the second parameter. I can't think of a use for this, but no doubt, somebody will!!
Other Vehicles
First numeric parameter : Not used, but must be present as a "place-holder" for the second parameter.
Second numeric parameter : Must be any non-zero value - has no effect on position, but if zero, the shape doesn't show.
Third numeric parameter : Not used.
Conclusion
I discovered why some have two and others have three parameters; also, that some which have three only need two, eg 8F.s 0 3.0 0.0 could be 8F.s 0 3.0, 8F.s 0 1, or even 8F.s 0 0. In those examples, the 2nd parameter is NOT less than the first, so no movement will occur and the 3rd can be omitted, even though it defaults to a positive value.
To complete the "picture", the screenshot shows the effect in Open Rails of having the first parameter non-zero, but the FA's new position bears no relation to its value. All crews are shown correctly when using MSTS.
