Developing trains - Overview

Trains consist of a series of individual configuration files accompanied by bitmaps and sounds. The following is an overview on which files are required and what they represent.

■ Characteristics

train.dat:
This is the core configuration file for the train’s characteristics, and is mandatory.

■ Panels

panel.animated:
This file allows to create a fully 3D cab. If present in the train folder, this file has precedence over the panel2.cfg and panel.cfg files.

panel2.cfg:
This file allows to create a limited 2D cab. If present in the train folder, this file has precedence over the panel.cfg. The panel2.cfg has fully superseded the panel.cfg as it offers greater functionality.

panel.cfg:
This file is outdated, and allows to create a limited 2D cab. It has been fully superseded by the panel2.cfg file, which should be used instead.

■ Sounds

Default sounds:
If no sound.cfg is present, these are the default sound files that are being looked for in the train folder.

sound.cfg:
This defines the names of the sound files to use. The file is required if plugin-specific sounds are to be made available.

■ Safety systems

Built-in systems:
The built-in safety systems ATS-SN, ATS-P and ATC are only used if no ats.cfg file is present, and if the train.dat is configured to define which of these systems should be available.

ats.cfg:
This file defines which external train plugin to use. For information on how to create plugins, see here.

■ Miscellaneous

extensions.cfg:
This defines additional characteristics that are not covered by the other files.