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[Anonymous]

I selected "Explore Route" with 2 GP38-2s, 35 mixed and decided to run the train from Whitefish all the way to Shelby. From neccessity (but mostly just for fun), I split the train up along the way, parking cuts of cars in various sidings on the way to Summit. Once past Summit, I re-assembled the whole train and headed for Shelby. Everything went fine until I got to the bridge at Cutbank. As my train was crossing the bridge, it seperated into about 5 different parts. I tried to re-assemble everything, but the train still came apart. I parked parts of the train in some sidings, but no matter what, I can't seem to pull the last 15 cars or so past this bridge.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've had similar problems but not at that spot. I've had certain trains break apart at certain locations in certain directions and have heard of similar complaits from others but not all complaints are exactly the same from person to person; just the fact that the train breaks apart somewhere, somehow and sometimes.

My problem was heading from Shelby to Whitefish somewhere before the Summit. I reduced my speed and that seemed to work.

Try taking different kinds of trains through the same spot or don't begin with Whitefish but somewhere closer to Cutbank. That way you know if the problem lies with one train or all trains.

You also said you can't "pull" the last 15 cars past the bridge so maybe if you find a way to position the engines so that you "push" it across maybe that will help.

Since TrainSim is so new there haven't been any officially revised, updated, or expanded versions released yet so I would suggest letting Microsoft know precisely and specifically where and what kind of problems you are having so they can be fixed for future additions.

By the way, I've run the Orient Express on parts of the Montana Route and Northeast Corridor and it broke apart too. Overall, the sudden uncoupling of cars doesn't occur very often. I've attemted every freight assignment with no problems. The biggest problem with my program is that a few of the Amtrak assignments derail 2min 59sec into the game whether the train moves at 100mph, 2mph, or not all.

[Anonymous]

I'm still working on Cutbank. No matter what I try, it seems as if MSTS isn't going to let me take more than two cars (from the last half of the train) past this bridge. Thank goodness, Cutbank has lots of sidings... I have cars sitting around everywhere there. Still have some of the train sitting on the mainline and it's getting dark...

[Anonymous]

The problem you ara having sounds like the "uncoupling bug" -- at certain points in the route there are "track problems" that reach up and split the cars apart.... a usefull fux it to change the break values in the .wag file... bump up the coupler breaks from 1.1kN to 5.1 kN other breaks besides the bridge: The east approach to Cutbank going across the crossovers
The crossovers at Pigan (name?)
MJL
KUAT Rail Yards

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info, but how do I access and change the .wag file? I don't have a clue...

Steve

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem you describe, but with one GP38 and fewer cars. I started with a string of empty wood chip cars and was leaving them all over the place as I explored the line. I had 5 or 6 left when I got to the bridge at Cutbank. All this time I thought it was just my bad operating (I was ignoring all the speed limits). It took me at least 5 tries to get all the cars across the bridge, up the hill and into the yard. It was snowing and dark by the time I finished. I was tired, parked the GP38 on a quiet siding for a nap and didn't wake up until first light! Eventually I got all the woodchip cars to selby without further incident.

[Anonymous]

to change the .wag and .eng (car and engine) coupler break values....
1) go into the Trainset folder, located in the main MSTS folder -- in the trainset folder is where all of the cars/engines for all of the routes reside

2) its best to go thru each and every car/egine folder in one sitting and change all of the coupler breaks at once,(doesn't take long once you get the hang of it) and then all new stuff you bring in, change the breaks as well, that way all of the equipment will be even, and you don't get any surprises

3) to actually change the values, in the trainset folder, open each subfolder..(i.e. GP38)..in the sub folder you will see a mess of files but be on the lookout for anything with a .wag or .eng file extension ......some folders will have one or the other (engine vs car)... while other folders might have several (I think the Acela, and some of the European stuff) this is because the folder holds the engine, tender, and maby some passanger cars

--open each and everyone of these files that you see..BUT you MUST USE WORDPAD to edit them or a compribile UNICODE editor (whatever that is) --if you use NOTEPAD and save it, it somehow jacks up the file --so you might want to make a copy or somehow back up before playing around..(I haven't had this problem but have heard bad stories).... the way I found that works is when I first clicked on the .eng or .wag file my computer didn't recognize it, and asked "what program to use with this file" scroll down and pick WORDPAD - should be a default windows program........that way when ever you open a .eng or .wag it automaticly picks the right program

4) once you are actually IN the .eng or .wag file you can either hit CTRL-F (find) and type break or scroll down the first few lines till you see the word break.... the line usually goes like
BREAK("1.1kN 1.1kN") or something like that .. I dont have one in front of me.. the important thing is to change it so the first number becomes a 5 BREAK("5.1kN 5.1kN") --- dont do anything to any of the other characters, everything in the .eng and.wag files has some sort of meaning...

then save the file and give it a try

for better, quicker service go over to
www.train-sim.com -- the main train-sim forums, search thru the posts there...and when you post a question, there is usually a reply within the hr.... plus they have an e-mail notification, so you can see when someone replys to your message
pretty handy...usually I just come over here to trains for the excellent news wire..but happened to be poking thru the forums section one day
Matt, MJL
KUAT Rail Yards

[Anonymous]

Matt, thank you for the info. I followed your suggestions and changed all of the .wag (wagons; cars, oh I get it) and .eng files to the value of 5.1 (Kilo-Newtons?) I restarted my saved 2 x GP38-2, 35 mixed train at Cutbank, and was able to pull the whole train over the bridge. I did notice some rather severe bumping and pulling from some of the cars, but the train did stay together. Perhaps there is a programitic "dead spot" there?

Thanks again for your assistance as well as the train-sim.com link!

Steve

[Anonymous]

Always glad to help... as you gain more experience , you will notice more and more quirks in the game.. the game maker KUJU is British, so all of the names/force values reflect that. yeah, when you watch the cars you can see them streatch apart and then accordian back together again.... still driving BNSF GP38's?? go get some Alcos, or GP-9's
MJL
KUAT Rail Yards

[Steve4031]

Well,
I have not even bought the train simulator. However, I can't see any operational reasons for a 35 car train to split why crossing this bridge. Doesn't BNSF routinely run longer trains over this route?

The comments on this website tell me all I need to know about Microsoft Train simulator. It's not worth the 50 bucks that they are asking for!

[Anonymous]

it is worth the $$$$, although it does have a few hiccups in it, BUT it does have the community at
www.train-sim.com that is rapidly solving proplems, coming out with new models, new paint schemes, sounds, routes and everything else under the sun which more then makes up for its initial short-comings....
Matt

[Anonymous]

I am having the same problem with Amtrak. On two runs- morning in maryland and short passenger run. After 2min 59 secs the train will derail. I just thought it was my computer. If anyone knows how to debug this thing please let me know.