Hoodoo Pass 2.0 & 2.5 "Cascadia" Notices & Downloads
This page is dedicated to the PRRR Hoodoo Pass 2.0 & 2.5 "Cascadia" Route. I will be placing notices and certain downloads for the route exclusively. Because of the release (Jan 22, 2003), I must get things in order for "maintenance" of the route and maybe rolling stock. I already have a few files and notices to post now, some of them can be found on NERR, however I plan on centralizing all files (downloads) and notices here. All notices after #10 pertain to the release of HP2.5 at Train-Sim.
Notice#1: On the initial upload of HP2.0, there were some "bad" files that I had to edit. These are the *.SD files for 10 trees that I used in the route. The problem was that an error would pop up in the Sim if you were running an activity at night in the winter. The ESD codes were incorrect. This Zip file will overwrite the older ones and fix the problem. Just read the Install text. WinterNite_SD_Fix.zip (4k)
Notice#2: For some reason, some of the sound areas are producing errors. These are basically the Industry sounds that are used in mine and factories within the route. The main culprit is the "gen_mont_rur1.sms" file in the Sounds folder of PRR2 folder. These files are in the USA2 (Marias Pass) /Sounds folder. Just copy them and paste them in the /PRRR2/Sounds folder. For those that opted to "delete" USA2, I will upload a copy of the file. If other errors that pop up and are similar to the ones you have experienced, the same method correcting it is above. This may have been caused by Route Riter failing to either load or couldn't find the necessary files to copy from the default routes.
Notice#3: Along the Sprague Branch near the Wye along the double track, there is a string of permissive signals. This is wrong. They ought to be Absolute. Here's what could happen: If you are going East on the double line and are on the "left" line, the permissive signal will indicate a "yellow" (Slow Clear) for the Absolute signal that controls the converging track waaaay up ahead. This will force the Sim to change the speed limit from 65mph to 45mph for 2.5 miles! Hence...the need for an absolute (1 Head) signal. The best way to avoid that is to stay on the "right" per PRRR rules.
Notice#4: Because Hoodoo Pass 2.0 has the ability to show distant mountains, there may be a few areas that may "void" out at longer distances. Though the allusion of DM is constant throughout the route (if they are turned on in options), some areas where the distance is further will show a void reseeding. This is caused by areas of those mountains that have terrain textures other than "terrain.ace". Route Editor/MSTS only makes Lo_Tiles (Distant Mountain tiles) with the main terrain texture. There's countless areas where the mountainous places use other textures such as scrub or forest. What happens is that the sim "tries" to make the DM visiable by using terrain.ace, but the Lo_Tiles are made from another texture; so therefore it "voids" out. This is only in areas where the DM is at it's furthest. This does not affect the DM that is a little closer. Luckily, this doesn't really "ruin" the affect of DM, but if one were to notice this anomaly...the above reason is why.
Notice#5: When Hoodoo Pass was uploaded, there were 4 fir tree textures from Splitter Engineering that I used. On the download version of Hoodoo Pass 2.0 these trees were not included because Route Riter deleted them when making the Bat file for install. What happened is this: These 4 fir textures use the exact same name as the originals, so therefore when installing from the bat file the original fir trees were loaded whereas the trees I used were 'deleted" during processing. To update the trees that were intended download this zip file and read the install text. Right_Firs.zip (284k)
Notice#6: Because of an error (or two) concerning signals at and near Blossburg, a patch was needed to fix this for the downloaded version. The patch can be downloaded at NERR and it's about 500k.
Notice#7: At the Prosser Mine, there are some support columns that are too close to the track and trains will "pass" through them. Obviously unrealistic, it is harmless and will not cause any problems. If it bugs you, just turn your head for a bit. :-)
Notice#8: At Milepost 196.5, just west of Fredrick, there is a stretch of Dynamic track that can cause derailments depending on stock physics. Though some of the patches (at NERR) attempted to repair this error, others are still experiencing derailments. The future version 2.5 will eliminate this track piece. (Updated note: With the new 2.5 version, the error above is now gone.)
Notice#9: For those that have just received Hoodoo Pass 2.5 from NERR, there was a slight problem at the Ennis siding and Wye. There was (and still is) corrupted track (TDB) that could have been fixed, but opted for a quick band-aid solution. Here you can download the zip file that fixes the Ennis problem quite easily. Ennis_Fix.Zip (309k)
Notice#10 (14 April): Hoodoo Pass has been uploaded to Train-Sim. But...there was an "omission" of a consist that has caused a few "bumps" in the road and has since been uploaded. I will be posting at least 1 activity (default stock) just in case. I will be posting activities in the near future using PRRR/MC stock. To install these activities (all default) unzip the file in your systems root directory (Example: C:\ ). This will copy the files into the necessary folders. pr25Acts.zip (36k) There is an Activity named "Short Haul". This activity uses the SD40-2 that comes with MSTS1.2. You need to download the update before using this activity. All others use the original default stock from MSTS v1.0
Notice #11 (17 April): Now that Hoodoo Pass has been uploaded to Train-Sim (with considerable downloads I might add), I am in the process of doing two things: Uploading the PRRR/MC stock to Train Sim and making "good" activities to also upload. I am also making a CD version for a selected few. Just for the record: I am not doing CD distribution of Hoodoo Pass. It will take some time to get things uploaded because I need permissions and re-editing of files that is proper for download. For those that check the download list at Train-Sim, check periodically for newer uploads. Also, check the Stock Page for New Additions and "obsolete" older PRRR stock.
Notice #12 (2 May): There has been a few inquiries concerning a missing consist called "Hoodoo Pass Tour". Here is the consist file Hoodoo Pass Tour.Con (8k). Just paste into the consist folder of MSTS. The activity that may have come with the Hoodoo Pass route either by CD or Download may need this consist. Also, the download version has been received by over 1000 users with nary a problem! Many thanks to Bob Artim of NERR http://www.vnerr.com/index.html for the careful packaging of the route.
Notice #13 (28 May): There will be a small "Tour" Activity Pak available here that uses exclusively PRRR/MC equipment using the present downloadable stock from Train-Sim and here. Watch for it in the next few days. Also, Hoodoo Pass Version 3.0 is in the works and is planning a July release. More details on that later....
Notice #14 (1 Jan, '04): PRRR Hoodoo Pass 2.5 has been removed from Train-Sim until further notice. All PRRR and MC related stock items in the downloads will remain.
Notice #15 (18 June 2004): PRRR's Hoodoo Pass 2.5 "Cascadia" has been reinstated at their download site. A few minor changes in the documentation.