[Hobo]

I've seen examples of wagon files for steam tenders that contain light sphere and light disc . The disc part has never been a problem since the MSTS days .

The application for the light sphere is on a steam loco tender . Many have a ( Backup Light ) and is very useful in a dark yard.
I have tried some of these example files and have never had any success with the ( Sphere ) part . Is ORTS still limiting light spheres to ( one only - and only on engines ) ?

I've tried many , many times with these files and no success . I must be doing something wrong !

Any help or advice would be very welcome ! Thanx in advance !
Rod

[charland]

Light spheres are still the same as in MSTS, and engine can have two spheres of light, one pointing forwards, the "rear" sphere is also pointing forwards, but is places around 400 feet behind the engine. I've tried each time I've built a steam engine to add a sphere to the tender and as you know, it doesn't work. Part of the reason for not being able to get a sphere of light to work from a tender is how to control it from the engine I would suspect.

I am surprised that after all these years someone at Open Rails hasn't figured out at least how to get a sphere of light to face backwards so we could at least have a decent backup light.

Paul :-)

[Hobo]

Thanks Paul ! Those are pretty well my thoughts on the subject . One of the files is the " Test Shay " from " Coals to Newcastle " . I couldn't get it to light up either .


See Ya !

Rod

[Weter]

But MSTS Bin reverts it, right?

[charland]

Bin fixed a lot of things and made many others possible but no, still pointed forward and had to be placed about 400 feet behind the engine.

Paul :-)

[Weter]

Really? What a loss!
Even after cab change? (what I really have meant)

[charland]

If you changed to the rear unit of a consist, all the controls changed to that unit, so the "forward" headlight became the front headlight, so it did work properly that way.

Years ago someone put out experimental lighting for night switching. Think it was called the Brakeman's Light or something. The light shown down at the end of the cut of cars you were working, not huge, but big enough for you to see when you were about to couple to something when it was dark out. Worked well, then for some reason it was dropped.


Paul :-)

[Weter]

So, defining the sameenginename_rv.cvf file for your steam loco will give you what needed.
You will be able to control light, will have an opportunity to get different cab view for backing your engine up, but the coordinates of light-cone will be only inverted around vertical axis, relative to original sphere of light's coordinates, so you can't tune its position separately.

[Elmo313]

charland, on 18 July 2021 - 08:18 AM, said:

I am surprised that after all these years someone at Open Rails hasn't figured out at least how to get a sphere of light to face backwards so we could at least have a decent backup light.

Paul :-)

Paul, I find that comment interesting. I've been using light cones on my rear facing headlights for years. Have a look at the attached file.

Douglas

Attached File(s)

•  CNR_43.eng (18.59K)
  Number of downloads: 268

[Weter]

Both bim&bright are for headlight (2)?
Yes, unit (5) is what we need.