What plugins are these?

[zoller018 0]

Ok, I need to know, what plugins do I need to create rail embankments like this and to sink my highways even lower? What bridges will I need to go along with this? Also, what plugin should I download to get the power catenaries for my trains?

Thanks for your help!

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

NAM for the overpasses, and Hole-Digging Lots for the embankments and trenches.

The catenaries can be either lot-based or T21. I could only find the T21 version; What that means is that catenaries will always appear on every piece of rail. There's a lot-based version where you have to place the things by yourself. (I couldn't find it, though.)

The catenaries require this to work; It's called a dependency.

  Edited July 29, 2012 by Ganaram Inukshuk  

[zoller018 0]

Awesome! Thank you!

Does the hole digging plugin come with the retaining walls, or will I have to get those seperately? Do you have a link?

Also, can anyone recommend a large (6-10 platform) main train station?

  Edited July 29, 2012 by zoller018  

[Lost Realist 762]

The ploppaple catenaries are by SFBT:

https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=925

You have to get an account over at SC4Devotion and register for the LEX. Don't know wether these are on the STEX, too.

Now that we're here already, I also have a question about the picture above. Does anyone know wether there's a mod somewhere public that replaces the rail dirt with that shown in the picture? It's the texture used for diagonal stubs and fillers and it looks pretty useful as rail dirt but I can't find the mod that does that.

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

Does the hole digging plugin come with the retaining walls, or will I have to get those seperately? Do you have a link?

Embankment walls are separate.

To operate a hole digger or ground lifter, you place the lot on the ground, then drag Road (or whatever network it specifies) through it. The ground should raise or lower, then you level it further by clicking individual tiles of Road. Once you have a desired effect, you demolish everything and make way for, in your case, Rail and other decorative items.

Here's a set of highway walls; Rather basic compared to other sets:

[zoller018 0]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I think I have everything pretty much figured out except for the bridges and sunken highway ramps.

How do you make attractive looking on/off ramps from a sunken highway?

I have the NAM, but how do I get bridges that look like this?

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

I have the NAM, but how do I get bridges that look like this?

The NAM has an "Function before aesthetics" policy. What that means is that most of the NAM overpasses (Well, all of them, actually) will never be that ornate or intricate on its own, as shown by that picture. The reason is simple: To keep things neutral and simple. That doesn't, however, mean that third-party modders can't do a thing about it. That example is known in the trade as an "Overhanging Lot".

Unfortunately, I don't know where to find that... But even without (and I personally prefer this for simplicity), you're already set.

EDIT: For sunken MHW systems (MHW = Maxis Highway)

  Edited July 30, 2012 by Ganaram Inukshuk  

[Ltw 401]

Some large train stations I like:

Two terminus stations:

Gare du Nord

Helsinki Railway Station

This large station is very nice, but takes a lot of space and you have to install a lot of dependencies:

I have the HSRP Transit Hub in my plugin folder which is a combination of rail, elevated train and monorail. I couldn't find the one with EL and monorail though (only High Speed Rail). But if you have time, this may be worth looking for, especially when you want to combine those three.

[Markus J 242]

I've been looking for that bridge as well, which no one seems to know the link either...

[Ltw 401]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I think I have everything pretty much figured out except for the bridges and sunken highway ramps.

How do you make attractive looking on/off ramps from a sunken highway?

I have the NAM, but how do I get bridges that look like this?

Couldn't find it either. Where did you find this picture? Maybe that helps.

You could use some mods to make your highways look different, that has also some influence on the ramps.

You could try this mod:

RealHighway Mod

This mod is nice if you want a more European look of your highways.

This mod has some mods which change the look of it:

There are some more available, if you search on the STEX you could find them.

[Magneto 316]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I think I have everything pretty much figured out except for the bridges and sunken highway ramps.

How do you make attractive looking on/off ramps from a sunken highway?

I have the NAM, but how do I get bridges that look like this?

This is from Buddybud's

You can also find links to the concrete walls that goes along with the bridges in the description

Cheers

[Lost Realist 762]

Now that we're here already, I also have a question about the picture above. Does anyone know wether there's a mod somewhere public that replaces the rail dirt with that shown in the picture? It's the texture used for diagonal stubs and fillers and it looks pretty useful as rail dirt but I can't find the mod that does that.

Don't mean to hijack this or anything, but this really matters to me, in case anyone knows.

[Ltw 401]

Now that we're here already, I also have a question about the picture above. Does anyone know wether there's a mod somewhere public that replaces the rail dirt with that shown in the picture? It's the texture used for diagonal stubs and fillers and it looks pretty useful as rail dirt but I can't find the mod that does that.

Don't mean to hijack this or anything, but this really matters to me, in case anyone knows.

When you search in the you see that there are three options given. The first two are to remove the dirt on the side of the track. The last one is a mod which combines three existing mods and the default Maxis rail to one uniform rail. That one you need to create a rail like above. If you look at the picture you see that the rail splits, that's because there are two single tracks placed next to each other (to download that mod individually, click here).

[Magneto 316]

Don't mean to hijack this or anything, but this really matters to me, in case anyone knows.

I can't really see on the picture above, I don't see the dirt

Could be PEG's alternate railway mod or with semi transparent mossy earth maybe

Closer pic would help

[Lost Realist 762]

Don't mean to hijack this or anything, but this really matters to me, in case anyone knows.

I can't really see on the picture above, I don't see the dirt

Could be PEG's alternate railway mod or with semi transparent mossy earth maybe

Closer pic would help

Found some pictures:

Any guesses, or might this just be an unreleased thing of some sort? If so, can anyone point me into the direction of how editing the rail dirt works, so I can have a go at it myself?

[Ltw 401]

Don't mean to hijack this or anything, but this really matters to me, in case anyone knows.

I can't really see on the picture above, I don't see the dirt

Could be PEG's alternate railway mod or with semi transparent mossy earth maybe

Closer pic would help

Found some pictures:

Any guesses, or might this just be an unreleased thing of some sort? If so, can anyone point me into the direction of how editing the rail dirt works, so I can have a go at it myself?

Have you tried the Rivit's Rum mentioned by Magneto and the no dirt mods in the Can't find it thread mentioned by me? I'm pretty sure you will get the same result with those mods. Looking at the close up pictures you see that the side dirt is removed but the gravel in the middle is still there, you could remove the side dirt with the first two mods mentioned in the Can't find it thread. The single tracks are made with the Railway Addon Mod (which is included in the Rivit's Rum).