Search the Community

I have been playing RT2 on and off for a long time, but only just recently found this site. I hadn't necessarily noticed the errors that remain in the latest official patch, but as an engineer I like things to be correct when possible. Using data from the 'Modding RT2' and 'Historical RT2 Mod' threads, I started a few small projects. And a huge thanks to everyone who contributed on those threads, particularly JeffryFisher and jcco. JeffryFisher created his historically patched exe which corrected the data errors, but also made changes specific for his US History scenario, or for historical accuracy. I could not find anywhere that someone had corrected the errors without additional changes. I therefore created this patch (replacement exe for RT2_PLAT.exe) to fix the errors without further changes. Since it builds on the official 1.56 patch, I called it 1.57ddh, with the ddh suffix to distinguish it from anyone else's 1.57. The version is changed internal to the file as well and the Main Menu properly reports 1.57ddh. Versions added for GoG.com platinum installations (1.57gog) and Gold CD installations (1.57gld). The content of the readme follows: Note: From my recent experience, guests can download from the download area, but cannot download files within forum posts. If you then create an account to question or comment on this, you'll notice that you can download from forum posts once you have an account. RT2_PLAT 1.57ddh.zip for standard CD installations of Railroad Tycoon II - Platinum RT2_PLAT 1.57 GoG.zip for GoG.com installations of Railroad Tycoon II - Platinum RT2_Gold 1.57.zip for standard CD installations of Railroad Tycoon II - Gold

I've been playing RT2 on and off since it first came out, and I find it quite more-ish ... except for the lack of what I consider proper control of the trains. Once I end up with more than 100 or so trains, I battle to keep everything running the way I want it. In very large part, this is, of course, a matter of personal preference. Some people, I am told, run with thousands of trains, and - so they say - micromanage each train with hardly any loss of sanity! What I'd like, by way of an entry into the wishlist for a new super-duper RT2, is have the train list dividable into 'runs', with the train list 'tabbed' like a modern web browser. Failing that, I am thinking of creating a relational database - perhaps as a sort of 'train dispatcher's office'. Would this be a good thing, do you think? My thinking so far is to create a DB in OpenOffice Base, to make it more-or-less universally accessible, on all platforms, and then to focus on train and route management. I envisage the following tables: Engines: the DB would include a simple list of all engines, with the start year and fuel for each - plus other information if anyone things that necessary. Players would then manually nominate which engines would be available or not-available at any given time. I.E. since the RRT2 game does not talk to the DB, YOU have to tell the DB which trains that you wish to be available at any given moment.Trains: this would be a list of the trains you are running at any given moment. Provision will need to be given to allow trains to be deleted either through crash or player action, with subsequent renumbering.Tracklines: this refers to a particular strip of track between Point A and Point B, on which trains might run. (Circular tracks are a side issue.) (Is there a better or more conventional name than 'tracklines'?)Route: this refers to a particular train route, which would presumably be along a particular trackline. E.g. if one had a trackline running from NYC to Seattle, one might have Route #1 with passenger trains doing a long haul coast-to-coast, and Route #2 with a freight run covering only a portion of the trackline.Stations: this would list all available stations, locating each upon a given trackline, and also linking each to different routes. Thus, in the above example, a 'Chicago' station would presumably feature in the NYC-Seatlle trackline, plus also in Route #1 (NYC-Seattle passenger run) and possibly in Route #2, if its freight train stopped off there.Finally, a diary, to remind you of forthcoming events and to-do items.I am not entirely sure if such a DB would solve my personal train management issues, but would it be useful to anyone else? If so, what tweaks might also be good? Also, any related thoughts on dispatch management? I know some people use spreadsheets, and I'd be interested in opinions as to their merits and drawbacks.