Irish Rail 29000

Working on a replacement CAF 29000 set. You can follow the progress on Faceache - https://www.facebook.com/Celtictrainsim-219222831500959/

I expect it’s going to be good. Do you have plans for building any routes and trains for the DART? I’m a big fan of the 8100 series and I really love the trains you’ve built and released so it will be nice that the 29000 is getting an upgrade

If I lived on the east coast I probably would attempt a Dart route. Dublin's too far to go for long surveys and photo shoots, so the answer really has to be "no".

Unless I ever get round to installing OHLE on the "Waterville suburban" bits - that's about as near as I would go, and it won't happen soon!

I understand. Good luck with the 29000 series!

I thought about the Feckinswell Area Rapid Transport, but the acronym struck me as... unfavourable =P

I thought about the Feckinswell Area Rapid Transport, but the acronym struck me as... unfavourable =P

I rather agree!

More pics up on the Facebook page. The front car is done (apart from interior detailing) and I will soon be looking to start the first trailer car.

Looking good! I still think you should make an electrified Irish route, I know there aren’t many but you could do a fictional one. And if you don’t think you’re up for making a DART train I’ll do it and save you the work

 And if you don’t think you’re up for making a DART train I’ll do it and save you the work

Have you ever made a route?? Making a train is a piece of p**s by comparison. By all means make yourself a Dart train. Then make a route to drive it on. See how long it takes. Then we'll see who's "up to it!"

Anyway, back to topic (and staying there, we hope) The 29000 set has 4 cars, which is as it should be, and is mostly finished apart from interior detailing. Some screenies of it on "Kilmagranny"

Ok I don’t want to be involved in an argument so. Yes I do know it takes ages to make a route. I’m thinking of doing it myself actually. Anyway, Loving the 29000 Class so far. Keep it up. Do you plan to upgrade any more trains?

Rolling stock improvements are always a possibility, when time and the right photographic material is available. The 29000 was due for an upgrade - the original "bog standard" basic one was made in 2011 and animated doors were added in 2014.
This new external is completely built from base up, all new mesh and textures, so it ought to be a lot better!

Just finished detailing under front buffers, added destination panel detail . . . . that's pretty much it now apart from needing interior detailing.
The new mesh improves appearance as the car end textures are pinned properly by coordinates (and custom normals are used to soften hard corners) - the old version (which I made in 2011) used transparency to fit the ends, which left jaggy edges.

Will there be working destination displays? For the Kilmagranny Route?

Will there be working destination displays? For the Kilmagranny Route?

I would like (eventually) to have automated displays for the trains on all routes, but that's a big wish right now.

Work goes on with some interior detailing, Just made a set of coat racks for the trailer cars - no elaborate textures needed.
The inside walls will be detailed more fully when I grab some interior pics. I will be needing to take a train ride before long!

More done to the inside. Preliminary trials with prototype indicate no adverse effect on fps rate. I'm getting similar rate to the older simple 29000, even though the new model has many much larger png textures. (and the interior alone has over 6,100 lines of code per car)

Latest screen shots of new 29000 unit see all at this URL:
https://www.facebook.com/Celtictrainsim-219222831500959/

The interior has been a LOT of work!
I had to take a ride on a 29000 unit last Sunday, with a camera, to get some interior details to use.

I can see that the effort paid off. Good job.

graymac wrote:
The interior has been a LOT of work!

Judging by the pics, well worth the effort though. Can't wait to see it

New panel2 cab for the 29000 unit. The old one had some inaccuracies, pointed out to me by a driver, who would know!

Playing with an 8 car set.
The train.dat files have been modified for me, thanks to Taffy Cross for that. More realistic behaviour. New train is no longer capable of 125mph

A short clip to show the new CAF  unit (in 8car consist) undergoing trials in service on Kilmagranny 2016.

Progress made on the 04 294xx  units

Aren't you afraid someone is going to nick that luggage left on the platform ?

Not really, they're very honest people in rural Ireland
There's a case to answer, though.
If you've had much experience of either my routes or the real Irish railway system you'll know that car stop signs are as rare as hen's teeth. So, to help the player I leave luggage on the platforms to use as markers. Long train, look for the furthest suitcase.

Hmm. Interesting. I haven’t been to Ireland in years and the one thing I remember about the Railways was the fact that the platforms never had a stop market even at some big stations. So is this in the updated Kilmagranny? Anyway, Good Job and keep up the amazing work