Help Me.!

[Anonymous]

I downloaded an SD40-2 CSX repaint, three CSX hoppers, and a CSX coal car off of alabamarailfan.com and one of those files has contaminated MSTS to the point where I can't even run it anymore. I have uninstalled the game, reinstalled it, even done a recovery on the computer to go back in time essentially on my computer and still, I always get the message that says "Error reading file Trains/Trainset/csx789/csx789.eng" and then it asks if I wi***o continue, which I do, but the program does not work, it says that microsoft train simulator encountered a problem and needs to close. Has this happened to anyone before? This is not typical of a virus, nothing else on my computer is affected. Why would this one file make the whole game inaccessable? Stay away from alabamarailfan's site unless you want to loose all access to your game.

[StillGrande]

It does not sound like the error is with the stuff you downloaded. Did you get a new activity from somewhere? It sounds like a consist is looking for a locomotive you do not have. If you did not get the sd70mac repaint, you need to get and install that one. It may solve your problem (it is what the program is looking for).

If it doesn't:

Just remove the locomotive from your trainset file.

There could be a number of problems other which could generate the error. I am not on the computer I have MSTS on, so I can't be too specific right at the moment.

If you have it in a consist, MSTS may be having difficulty recognizing it and kicking it out. This WILL keep MSTS from launching.
If you have conbuilder (and you should if you don't. It is free from train-sim.com), you can pull up the consist and reinstall the locomotive. If I remember correctly, Alabamarailfan downloads have a consist with the locomotive and this may be the problem.

You should also check the download file readme and be sure you followed the instructions correctly. Some are different from others in installation and additional files may need to be added for the locomotive to work. Some of the downloads require a different locomotive for shared files. With a bunch of the repaints, they require the original locomotive for a file. Make sure you have the original or it will crash MSTS. If I remember correctly, conbuilder will let you know a locomotive is missing something and will tell you the general problem. Some of the models are not based on the default sd40-2, and you may need to track down the right loco first. The SD40-2 could be using the SD70Mac for a default sound or cabview, which could be another reason it is searching for it.

I also recommend Route Riter (also free on train-sim). It has a utility which allows you to check the locomotives for errors and then it tries to fix them for you. It does work.

I haven't had a problem with any of Alabama's stuff, and I have it all.

Don't panic. MSTS can be very finicky. I'll have to look when I get home tonight and see the exact files.

[StillGrande]

Also, if you have a bunch of downloads already on your machine, you may have exceeded the ability of MSTS to run with everything installed. If you have downloaded a bunch, you really need to get Train Store and use it. It allows MSTS to only load what it needs for a particular route or activity. You can also explore routes with traffic (from other activities). I started getting those messages at the capacity point and was very upset. Luckily, it was the capacity problem. Since installing TStore, I now have probably tripled my locomotive inventory and rolling stock with no problem. I have also added a bunch of routes. With Train Store, MSTS will load much faster too. You can also get to conbuilder and route riter from within it, so you can load new activities, check for missing items, replace them with things you have (or go get them) and play.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that I can't remove the locomotive from the trainset file because I can't find it anywhere, it's like it never existed. I never had it in a consist that I created, unless alabamarailfans download already had a consist with it. If it is using default sounds etc. from the SD-70 mac, what controlls does it use, is it the default Dash-9 stuff from the BNSF engine? I think my problem is consistant with what you are saying, since I have the MLT Michigan Iron Ore add on, I un-installed it, while still trying to activate MSTS, and MSTS said it couldn't read any of the files from MLT, since I DID actually have LS&I alco's in custom consists. I got the same message as with the CSX file. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

And another question about the SD-70 mac repaint, would just the repaint be enought to make the system work? I was under the impression that repaints didn't necessaraly come with their own adapded sounds, controlls, or even bodies, and that those needed to be found elsewhere (take KLW?'s site that has a few repaints for the gp-38, and it used the default microsoft controlls, sounds, physics, etc. I don't already have an SD-70 mac on my computer right now, so do I need to download one from train-sim.com to even be able to access the repaint from alabamarailfan.com?

[Anonymous]

Okay, so the SD40-2 that I downloaded was a repaint of Jason Dilworth's engine from Maple Leaf Tracks, and the SD-70 mac was from Train-Artisan. Does that mean I have to get a MLT package with an SD40-2 in it for my system to work? (and I would not be at all opposed to purchasing another MLT program)

[StillGrande]

Not necessarily. Though it is true that some of the repaints do require the shape files to work from the original company (there are several of these now from MLT for cascades units) most of them contain all the files to run okay. They are repaints and are acknowledging the original works because it is wrong to imply they did all the work. They just put on the paint. Someone else developed the item and first made it available. Often, repaints are just new numbers on a locomotive or car. Lets you have multiple units that have different numbers. Alabamarailfan has blank textures for locomotives on the site so you can paint you own.

Some of the downloads do require a file to work. Most often, people just upload everything but the sounds and cabviews. They often use the original cabviews and sounds, which you have to copy to the new locomotive. Others are aliased to a different loco and will not work without it (though there is often info in the readme file on how to get around this). From my memory, none of the Alabama railfan ones require another file to work (I got those some time ago and they may need the generic cabviews from the Dash 9, GP 38 or SD40). Always check the readme files before installing anything. They will tell you if you need another locomotive for "parts". I have gotten into the habit of just opening everything into a temporary location and then pulling other needed files to it before moving the new locomotive or car to the trainset file. I don't have to hunt it down in a giant list, I can get all the patchs for some of the more detailed locomotives installed all at once, and I control where it is installed. I have seen about a dozen different locations for installs. I now only let the autoinstallers go straight to trainsim. (I set up a shortcut to the trainset file so I can open it and move things quickly.

[StillGrande]

The missing locomotive is being looked for by something. It may be referenced by another download. The SD-70 it is looking for is also on Alabamarailfan's site. I would try installing that one first to see if it solves the problem. The utilities are still highly recommended (they are much better at making changes than MSTS editor is). I just upgraded to TrainStore 3.2 last night. That program is a lifesaver and eliminates the limit on the number of locomotives, cars, and routes you can have.

If you don't have Sandpatch yet, MLT is running a special right now for the CD in which you also get the B&O heritage set free with it.

I got MLT Kicking Horse because there were a number of locomotives which needed a file out of their SD40-2 to work. I have noticed a number of newer locomotive repaints needind Cascades for the shape file to work. They may have a secret plan to make repaints available but needing the route to work so they can sell more. Okay by me as long as the repaints are free.

[Anonymous]

Well, I went back to alabamarailfan, and the file that I downloaded WAS the SD70 csx repaint that is bringing up the error, as opposed to the SD40-2 that I thought previously (that's why I didn't want the SD70 repaint, because I didn't actually have the actual engine) So if that was the file that was causing the problem, what should I do. The SD70 was from train artisan, and I went to their site and didn't see it. Where did you get your SD70 from to make the repaint work?

[Anonymous]

IT"S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And fully functional!!!!!!!! YOU WERE RIGHT 100% flawless. I downloaded the SD70 mac from alabamarailfan and it ALL WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your help, you have no idea how much I appreciate it (literally, the game was a waste of 50 bucks up untill you came along). Thank you for saving my game. Thank you thank you thank you.

PS- I apologise for my rather rash comments about alabamarailfan's website. They really do do a bang up job over there, and if I wasn't so absent minded when it comes to computers, I would have figured that out a long time ago.

[StillGrande]

One thing I have figured out with MSTS is that it ALMOST always tries to tell you what is wrong. The trick is to try to figure out what it is saying.

I still recommend the utilities mentioned above. They are a lifesaver and have been know to fix freeware routes with a minimum of hassles (Route Riter has saved my set up more than once by making the editing of loose consists easier. I was once stuck because I could not find the error in an activity I got until I looked through the loose consists).

[wctransfer]

OMG!!!!! LOL, that happened to me too, its a pain in the rear, so i just redownloaded it , and kept it there.

Alec

[StillGrande]

I have been switching out some of the loose consists in the newer activities because I have yet to fork over more money to MLT for their SP heritage sets. There are plenty of good freebies available for the same stuff, so I am less inclined to get theirs (will someday though, I am sure). ConBuilder is great for the regular consists, but it is a pain to change loose consists in it. Route Riter is a little better, plus I can see all the errors in one spot and fix them as I go through the list. I would be sunk without those utilities. The ones that come with MSTS are not nearly as easy. (If you have not gotten the upgrade that expands the list when you are looking a the engine lists in explore, you are doing things the hard way!!)