Rail Trestle Over NAM Puzzle Pieces

[JayStimson 211]

This thread is to support my recently released Rail Trestle Over *   series BATs.

The problem some people were having with the Highway version should be resolved now and a new updated file has been uploaded for your downloading pleasure.
I apologize for any inconveniences. My Orthogonal Jetty Walls have the same problem. I will fix those as soon as possible.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Grd_Hwy_Complete.jpg align=baseline>
The reception to this BAT was surprisingly good and I'm really glad so many people like it. Thank you all for the nice comments.

Some people have asked for additonal versions and so I created an Over Road version. Here's a pic:
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Grd_Road_Complete.jpg align=baseline>
The files are ready and I will release this soon.

Please post any problems you have with these creations here. In game pics can be posted here and would be appreciated. I'd like to see how people are using these.

And lastly, many thanks to the expeienced people that help me as I learn to BAT. It's great that these busy folks take the time to help a $%&^!. Says a lot about the ST4 community (IMO).

[JayStimson 211]

Here's the Avenue version in its early stages. Thought I'd try another texture just for variety. I like it but I'd like to hear other people's opinions.
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Avenue_01.jpg align=baseline>

[freedo50 1]

i like the idea of the new texture but maybe if u make the size of the individual bricks smaller. I love these bridges btw thanks

[chapmanclam 3]

Wonderful!!!  I certainly think you should make some stretches, striaght sections of track.

Looking good!

[joeynymets 19]

I'm confused... in you picture it show the bridge on-slope, will the bridge show i dont have a slope on each side of the highway?  BTW where did you get the Friendly's?

[JayStimson 211]

Date: 2/1/2006 8:09:11 PM Author: joeynymets I'm confused... in you picture it show the bridge on-slope, will the bridge show i dont have a slope on each side of the highway?  BTW where did you get the Friendly's?

quote>
Not sure what you're asking but the trestle is designed to work in 2 different ways (which really result in the same thing).

1. Either the highway is 15 meters below the rail (sunken highway approach ... pretty popular)
or
2. The rail is 15 meters above the highway (raised rail approach, not as popular)

Hope this helps.

Also, I believe the Friendly's is a kevdan25 BAT.

[Duke87 1,070]

I think what he's asking is what will happen if you attempt to place the bridge on highway in the middle of a plain- with no slope on either side of the highway.

I'm guessing that it will look goofy, and not work because the rail and highway need to be at approximately the right levels in comparison to each other.

 

Right?

[joeynymets 19]

ok so it would work with the rail over highway puzzle piece?

[JayStimson 211]

Date: 2/1/2006 9:03:37 PM Author: joeynymets ok so it would work with the rail over highway puzzle piece?

quote>

Yes. As long as the rail is 15 meters higher than the highway, it will fit perfectly. It doesn't matter whether you lower the highway or raise the rail. Either way works.
The reason 15 meters was chosen is because that's what the NAM pieces are designed to. Also, somncrie's hole digging lots (sunken and lifter) lower and raise the elevation exactly 15 meters. Kinda interesting they match, eh ? hmmmm. Sounds like a conspiracy doesn't it ?

[fitchy 3]

Very nice work, these inject some life back into SC4 transportation!

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I gotta say that I really like these additional overpasses. As for the alternative texture, you should ideally have one that includes the arches like the first version.

Try finding a picture of an old brick tunnel portal and converting that into a useful texture. You may also find some useful reference at sites that offer accessories for model railways. Or maybe you find a useful photo of an old city gate, something like that... Have a good look at the portal and try to imitate it as good as you can, and you will have overpasses that look even better. Often the bricks or stones for the arch are of a different colour than the rest of the structure, too. This might look pretty interesting on your model as well.

Try this link for an example of what I'm trying to explain:

Or this one:
http://www.daetwyler.net/d/produkte/pyrofil/konzepte/img/tunnelportal_freggio_notbeleuchtet.jpg

[JayStimson 211]

Here's where things stand at the moment:
ST4 is back on-line !!! Wahoo. I wonder if dirk has any hair left. lol

The Over Road version will be released shortly. It works over roads, streets, and one-way roads. Here are some pics:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Road_Trestle.jpg align=baseline>
The road dips 15 meters to go under the trestle. No tunnel making needed. The trestle acts as the tunnel.
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Street_Trestle.jpg align=baseline>
Here it is over a street. I have Trolca's dirt road mod installed. Usually placing tree lots or something changes the street back to gray but it won't do it on the tile the Rail Over Street NAM puzzle piece is on. Sorry. If someone knows how to get around this, post it here please.
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_OneWayRoad_Trestle.jpg align=baseline>
And over one-way roads. In this pic the rail is raised 15 meters above the one-way roads.
Hope the pics help people use the trestles. I am guessing that this Over Road version will also work over rail too but I haven't tried it yet.

And lastly,
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Avenue_Complete.jpg align=baseline>
The Over Avenue version. I decided to stay with the same textures and design theme as the other two trestles for consistency in the set.
Notice the north bound lane on the avenue. The avenue texture doesn't line up precisely under the NAM rail over avenue puzzle piece. I'm sure this is on someone's to-do list in the NAM group.
In the future I might release other versions using different textures or simply release the gmax file so people can apply whatever texture they like.

The Avenue version is done but I still need to create the readme and package it up. Should be released soon.

Now it's off to upload the Over Road version to the STEX.

[espee04135 47]

As posted with your BAT's on the STEX, I just wanted to say Great Job on these bridges. I hope you will continue to come up with new versions. Thanks for getting that house off the tracks in your first version so fast. What was causing some of us to get that and others not getting it?

 

Have liked your work from the days you made those great lots for the police and fire stations.  

[Nardo69 51]

Great job - I was looking for them for quite some time since you can see them

[JayStimson 211]

The Over Avenue version is released and available on the STEX.
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Rail_Over_Avenue_Complete.jpg align=baseline>
This completes the current version of the set. For rail, I think the set should cover all the bases.

espee04135: Thanks for the nice comments. As far as why some people had the problem with the Highway version's initial release and others didn't is beyond me. It really shouldn't have worked for anyone. I forgot to include the dummy building model file in the release. duh ! lol. In the end it was probably a good thing as I ended up making a new dummy building for the lots that is more appropriately named.
Nardo69: I'm glad you like the set. It was better received than I expected. Always a nice surprise. As far as other versions go ... I'm undecided at the moment. I may make a modern concrete version of the set (if I can find the right texture) but that would probably be it. I have other projects I'd like to get moving on.

[stormrider 0]

Great work there. The fourth piccy in for rail over road so reminds me of rail lines in neighbourhoods in the UK.
Just need a station that has little ramps down to the road and it would be complete.

[joeynymets 19]

wow you have done a great job on these but i got one more question on the street texture will it be the dirt road under the rail?

[JayStimson 211]

stormrider: Glad you like it. As far as the station with little ramps ... probably not. I've already started my next project. Sorry.
joeynymets: Glad you like it too. The road texture is somehting I have no control over. As I mentioned, I have Trolca's dirt road mod  installed and so when the NAM puzzle piece is set in place, you get the dirt road on that tile. It really has nothing to do with the trestle. I'm guessing it's because tha NAM puzzle piece is set to low wealth (or some such type property) that makes the dirt appear. If you don't have this mod (or any other dirt road (street) mod) then you shouldn't see the dirt street. You should see the usual grey street texture. Hope this answers your question.

[Gnargenox 6]

I really am thrilled to see you've made these trestles. I tried them out on a sunken highway, and they fit perfectly and easily. It was a beauty to behold. Something struck me as odd though. On the longer trestle, there was a building sitting square in the middle of the tracks (on the placement tile). I didn't recall seeing that in your screenshots. I know I have alot of plug-ins, about 3GB. Just wondered if anyone recognized the building itself. Is there a confict? I'd rather it not be there. Any ideas what's up with this?

 

Oh, also I understand the order in which pieces should be placed. However, if I happen to drag the long on-slope rail NAM puzzle-piece over the trestle, the game crashes. Dragging the trestle over the NAM slope is ok though. This can be dangerous, if the last time you selected a rail piece, was a NAM puzzle, re-opening the menu might start you off with a bomb in your hand. I'm sure this is not your lot's problem. That long on-slope rail did that to me before on some other lot.

[JayStimson 211]

Gnargenox:
1. To get rid of the building on the track you need to delete what you installed and download and install again. A file was missing in the first release. It's explained above in an earlier post. Sorry for the inconvenience. My bad.
2. As far as dragging a puzzle piece across the trestle, it's actually because you are dragging the on-slope piece across the rail_over_highway NAM puzzle piece. If you did this without the trestle, the game would still crash. The trestle is just a prop. There's really nothing that can be done about this as far as I know. There's a technical explanation in one of the GLR (Ground Light Railroad) threads somewhere. Same problem with the GLR pieces. I discovered it by surprise when I was first doing testing. That's why I put special notes in the readme file. You did read the readme file, right ?
3. Glad you like the trestles. Enjoy.

[profecy 2]

i love it, thanx dude

[shanghai kid 6]

Date: 2/5/2006 1:13:06 AM Author: JayStimson Gnargenox:  2. As far as dragging a puzzle piece across the trestle, it's actually because you are dragging the on-slope piece across the rail_over_highway NAM puzzle piece. If you did this without the trestle, the game would still crash. The trestle is just a prop. There's really nothing that can be done about this as far as I know. There's a technical explanation in one of the GLR (Ground Light Railroad) threads somewhere. Same problem with the GLR pieces. I discovered it by surprise when I was first doing testing. That's why I put special notes in the readme file. You did read the readme file, right ?

This is because puzzle-pieces can't be hovering over Transit-Enabled(T-E) lots, the same thing goes for Grl-lines hovering over a GRL-station the game will crash.

 

I'm not sure, but belive i read something about this a long time ago that it's something in the SC4.exe file so this can only be fixed from Maxis/EA

[espee04135 47]

Maybe it's just me but when I installed the avenue version the highway version stopped showing up in my game. I still have the ICON for the highway but when I click on it I get nothing but a indicatior. When plopped there is nothing. I had one placed ingame and it is gone now also. Before I noticed the highway version was gone I used the avenue version and it worked fine (and still is working fine). I have all your bridges in a single folder and in that folder are the folders containing each version. Highway and road verions have 4 files and the avenue has 5. Is there a conflict with having both the avenue and highway versions or did I miss somthing?

[JayStimson 211]

espee04135: Not sure what's happening for you. Can't imagine what might be causing the disappearing trestle. I do have a suggestion and some added info. Maybe it'll help.

Within each of the 3 zip files (highway, avenue, and road) there should be 5 files. 2 of them are for the building (every lot must have a building) and these 2 files are the same for all three trestles ... hence, you only need 1 copy of these 2 files in your plugins folder. Maybe a pic would help.

In my plugins folder I have a subfolder named JS_Rail_Trestles. This is what it looks like in that folder. The .SC4Model and .SC4Desc files are for the building that all 3 lots use so only one copy is needed in your plugins folder.
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//JS_Trestles_Dir02.jpg align=baseline>
This is the contents of the avenue trestle subfolder. The highway and road subfolders look the same (3 files). The model and desc files in here are for the prop itself. Try arranging your folders like this and see what you get. You could also simply put all 3 sets of files in 1 folder which would also insure you have only 1 copy of the 2 building files. Sorry I couldn't be more help. If you're still having problems I'd appreciate it if you could post pics of your folders and their contents like I just did. it would certainly help in figuring out the problem.
EDIT: One other suggestion. Delete all files associated to the highway version, download it from the STEX again, and re-install. If you have the original version (not the corrected one) of the highway trestle you will have problems. The original highway zip file didn't include the building files and all 3 versions now use a new (different) building. I'm suspecting that this is what's causing your problem. If it is, then you'll also need to bulldoze (in-game) your existing highway trestles and re-plop them.

[espee04135 47]

OK, I have re-downloaded the highway version (you stated all 3 versions on the STEX are supposed to 5 files in each zip, however the highway and road versions only have 4 and the avenue has 5). Had a problem when I tried to move the 4 files out of the zip with copy and paste and put them into a folder, only 2 files would copy the other 2 acted like they were never there. I then tried saving the whole zip file into the folder and was able to move all 4 files out using copy and paste into the folder and delete the zip file. With the files replace for the highway I started the game and got the same result. Had the icon in the parks menu and when clicked on got the blue square with the arrow and yet there was nothing to plop, tried the other 2 versions and they worked fine.

Next I made my folder(s) look just like yours, folder with 10KB model and 2KB Desc with the 3 other folders. In each of the 3 folders there are the Model, Desc and Lot files for each version just like your picture. BTW, how do you take a picture of your folders like you did? I didn't know you could do that.

 

Anyway, started the game and got the same results. I then tried removing the other 2 versions (road & avenue) out of the game and going with just the highway version. No luck still nothing but a blue square with an arrow in it.

 

If I am the only one who's having the problem then I must have a MOD or building/lot that is causing the problem. Regardless, your lots and BAT's are great and as I have said before thank you for making them.

 

[JayStimson 211]

espee04135: Firstly, any mods you have installed should have no effect on the trestles.
Secondly, you're right about the avenue zip file having 5 files while the others only have 4. The avenue zip file has the .desc file for the building which isn't needed. Not sure why I included it in the avenue version. Probably just grabbed everything when I made the avenue zip file. Here's a pic:

The highlighted file is the one you don't need. Otherwise, I'd suggest deleting everything again and re-downloading and installing. The only thing you've said that strikes me as odd is that you copy and paste from the zip file. Preferrably you want to extract the files. It's the 5th from the left menu icon at the top of the winzip window. Also, make sure you delete all previous occurrances of the trestles in the cities in your region. Save each city after you delete all of the trestles. Then do the re-download and install. If this doesn't work I don't know what to tell you. These are extremely simply creations. You shouldn't need to do all this just to get the correct version of highway trestle working.

[elle_driver 2]

The problem I have is that when I place the rail trestles (as shown in the readme) the track going over the bridge is "raised", it rises up slightly from either side giving it a rather odd look. Can anyone shed any light on this and help me correct it? Thanks

[Okwari 0]

This may sound dumb, but where do I find the NAM railstraightslope and rail over highway pieces? In the Highway menu? And yes I've installed the NAM.

Thanks...

[shanghai kid 6]

It should be in the rail menu, at the top(there should be a image/icon of a elevated rail button) and after clicking on this, clicking on "tab" on the keyboard you should get differnt elevated rail options - railstraightslope is at end(if you hold shift or ctrl while clicking on "tab" the cycle will go the opposite way starting with the onslope pieces).

Ps: the use of "tab-button" is the same as for the nam - road files.

[Okwari 0]

Okay, I'll have a look...thanks.

Is it something I needed to check off when install the NAM?