Norfolk Southern
Horseshoe Curve 
Version 1.0

June 10, 2011

For Microsoft Train Simulator

A Route by: Austin Yoder
Custom Objects by: Vincent Lanza

1. Overview/ Description
2. Copyright and Disclaimer
3. Installation and System Requirements
4. Known issues
5. Signaling and Track
6. Alternate Autumn ground textures
7. Credits/acknowledgements
8. Environment
9. Contact details

1. OVERVIEW

Description "Horseshoe Curve Version 1.0”

The world famous horseshoe curve does not need much introduction. The railroad line from Altoona, Pa, to Johnstown, Pa has a long and interesting history. From its faithful beginnings as the Alleghany Portage Railroad, in its heyday with the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad, to the long but not forgotten Conrail days, and now part of the modern Norfolk Southern system; the line has always been a major artery of the eastern United States railroad network. Crossing the Alleghany Mountains from points on the east coast, the line is a direct link to the midwest.

This route is an accurate representation of the postmodern era of this line from Altoona, Pa to Johnstown, Pa. From the last days of Conrail to the modern Norfolk Southern, the route encompasses well known locations, and some of the best places railroading has to offer. Amid a flood of traffic that includes anything from hot shot intermodal, general freight, unit trash, autoracks, autoparts, unit ethanol, and coal traffic, as well as two Amtrak trains there is always action on this busy line. Helpers are a requirement for trains crossing the mountain and the grueling westbound grade can bring any train to a crawl. Added with the scenic beauty of Pennsylvania, and favorite locations such as Johnstown, South Fork, Summerhill, Cassandra, Cresson, Gallitzin, Alto Tower, The Horseshoe Curve, and locations around Altoona make this route exciting and yet challenging to run.

2. COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER

The use of this document is solely intended to aid the MSTS route user, and has no direct affiliation with Norfolk Southern. Though the route is highly accurate, this timetable and route is a representation of the depicted line to the best of its creator’s abilities. At no time should this document or the route be used improperly, real railroading is serious.

The route content is copyright by Microsoft Corporation and Kuju and also (c) by Austin Yoder 2011. This route is freeware and may not be used in any commercial project or re-distributed for profit. Nor shall anyone change the route without author’s direct acknowledgment and redistribute a change without approval, including any non-personal updates. The route and objects provided are "as-is", without any warranty of any kind and are credited to their respective creators. I am also not responsible to any damage to your computer.

The use of Norfolk Southern, Conrail, there logos, and respective names remain the rights of thereof, and has no direct affiliation with the route or its creator. The usage of names and logos is used only for the basis of modeling.

3. SYSTEM REQUIRMENTS & INSTALLATION
System Requirements

This route requires a high end computer system to run. Frame rates decline on slower systems, and varying on your MSTS detail settings due to the large amounts of details on this route. In high density area’s (Altoona, Cresson, and Johnstown) some users may not be able to run, and loading those areas will cause MSTS to dump to the desktop. Hopefully most users have a system capable of running this high-end route. As any current user of MSTS knows, it is full of bugs, as well as its graphics engine as MSTS is now considered an obsolete program at best. If you encounter slow performance or an in-ability to load certain areas, please check your computer specs, MSTS detail settings, and then refer below for setting your computers virtual memory.
The route runs extremely well (13fps to 50+fps) on my computer system which consists of:

System Information
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit)
Processor: Intel i7 940 Quad-Core @ 2.93 GHz
Ram: 6GB
Video Card: ATI Radeon 5870

Installation

This route does not require X-Tracks or New Roads. The route was created on a basic install of MSTS. So it is compatible with even basic MSTS, and therefor requires no modification to MSTS/ Global folder or Tsection.dat files. You are not required to download any additional content for this route to work, but it is highly suggested that you install the current version of MSTSBin.

http://mstsbin.uktrainsim.com/index.html

This is a Self-Installer version made to vastly simplify the installation process.  Just run the 3 EXE files provided in the downloaded Zip file.

There is no INSTALLME.BAT with this route, once the files copy over, it is ready.

Install Steps:

1.	Run Horseshoe.exe
* The default unzip location is “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Routes” If you have MSTS installed in another location change this when prompted. If you are installing using Win7, right click and “Run As Administrator”.

2.	Run Terrtex.exe
* This is the main Terrtex folder, and includes the summer Mosaic textures.

3.	Run Snow.exe
* This is the set of Terrtex Snow textures, which by default unzips into Horseshoe\Terrtex\Snow

*If you do not have Microsoft Train Simulator installed in the default location, change this to your MSTS installed location during the executable files startup.

Once the route is installed, load the route up in Train-Sim. Train-Sim will generate terrain buffers, let it do this. This is a good time to take a look at the documents provided and get acquainted with the timetable. 

The route should load up and be ready to run.

Virtual Memory Hack

Since MSTS is considered an obsolete program and is more of relic then current software, it uses your computers “virtual memory”. In many cases a computers system is more than enough to handle this route. A simple memory hack has been proven to overcome MSTS’s loading problems.

This is un-documented switch and the number value should not exceed half of the systems memory. For example; on my 6GB of RAM, the value added should not be more then 3,000. 

Use this shortcut to start MSTS and allocate memory. In your start menu select “Run” and add this shortcut:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Train.exe” –mem:512

Again you can put a higher number then 512. You can put up to half of your systems RAM. What this does is allocates more virtual memory into running MSTS. This does this on your hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive is recommended and a good habit to practice.

In addition I have found shutting down useless processes helps.

*I am not responsible to any damage to your computer by use of this.*
Use at your own risk. If you do NOT understand how to do this, then please ask on the forums at www.Train-sim.com for additional help.

If the route fails to load and MSTS shows errors or missing files, please note these when contacting me. This will help me understand the problem. My contact details are at the bottom of this document. Again, when making an error report, please indicate in as much detail as you can about your problem, listing missing file name(s).

4. KNOWN ISSUES

1. New Roads mess up the roads at places, the only suggestion I can give, is if you have NewRoads, download the newest version. I think the newest version fixes this. If not contact the creators of New Roads and ask about this.

5. SIGNALLING AND TRACK 

I paid close attention to track work. There are few if any bumps in the track due to the grades and MSTS. Grades were adjusted over increments to avoid the "jumping up and down" feeling you get on other routes. The grades are accurate.

The signal system used on the route is an advanced system by; Joseph Hoevet (jovet@cox.net)

6. GROUND TEXTURES FOR AUTUMN

One of the most profound missing aspects that MSTS did not include was a separate terrtex folder for the season “Autumn”. MSTS dose load snow ground textures, but does not have the ability to load a set when running in autumn. A beautiful seniced route looks horrible with summer ground textures and fall trees.

Because of this I have created a simple “.EXE” file for swapping out the summer for autumn and vice versa. When you decide to run the route in autumn (which you’d be missing out on if you didn’t) open up the route folder “Horseshoe”. Inside the main route folder you will find two executable files.

Instructions

RunAutumn.exe and RunSummer.exe

Click and run “Unzip”. 

If you are running Win7 please refer to your administrator settings if it fails to unzip. Let it copy over all of the files. When you want to run summer, just run the RunSummer.exe again.

This took me a lot of time due to Mosaic ground textures, but the look is well worth it.

8. ENVOROMENTS

The route uses default MSTS environment files. I highly suggest using environment control programs such as Kosmos and SkyConductor.

7. CREDITS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First off I would like to thank all the great people in the train-sim community. Also all of the great people that have created objects and add-ons for MSTS, and those I have worked with.

Special thanks go out to Vincent Lanza for custom objects, and providing a ton of the background information. Without his objects and help the route would not be what it is! 

Also a thank you to Joseph Hoevet for these amazing signals, I will be a repeat customer.

Every beta tester, who ran though the route with a fine tooth comb to insure we have a quality product.

Thanks Dad for the train trips, and many more.

Oh, I guess Microsoft for the buggy arse software…it is an addiction.

Nels at Train-Sim for doing all that you have done over the years for us.

Everyone that added the Blue Ridge Rails fan page on Facebook, all of the encouragement!

To everyone who waited for this route to be completed…yes it took awhile.

The countless musicians and bands who provided tunes while I worked on this route.

Here is a list of those wonderful people whose objects I have used, if I forgot please forgive me as the list is long:

Marc Funk					Enocell					Terry Thornton
John Milligan					Ron Picardi			       Wayne Campbell
Ed (Hawk) Hawkins				David Rowe 				    Rich Garber
Robert C Mapplebeck				Gary Sprandel				   John Tackett 
Bruce Bridges					Don Brynelsen				  Roger Hinton
Stephen Shoemaker				William A. Barbur Jr.			   Ted Curphey
Jonas Mannion					Michael Gilmore			    Mark Blum
Sean Lim					John L Fleming				  Larry Friddle
Ron Paludan					Brian W. Dougherty			Cal Rasmussen
Joe Cooney 					Okrasa Ghia				 Gary Boardley
Gary Sprandel					Randell Carnley				  Paul Charland
Mike Stephan					Luca Marzano				     Curt Esser
Robert Murphy					John Scruggs			      Martyn T. Griffin
Bill Bzak					Ron Mays				      Rene Bos
S. van de Laak					Sean Lim				  Tom Galbardi
James Hinman					Caldrail					   P.C. Wise
Hauke Hey					Nick Kelsey				J. H. Sullivin
William A. Barbur Jr

To Everyone else I forgot sorry…

All works used by them in my route are subject to the same rules. Anyone else's objects I failed to mention are also credited to them. There are a lot of them to keep track of, if you spot anything wrong or that needs added, let me know. Every single person who creates objects for MSTS should be credited, for without you none of this would be possible. Thank you to every object creator!

8. CONTACT DETAILS

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions contact me.

I can be reached at: 
NIN4Ever666@Yahoo.com or at the Train-Sim Forum. 
My user name is NS4Life. 

You may also contact me at; www.facebook.com/users/blueridgerails