MSTS program needed or not needed?

[Sarah Taylor]

I thought Open Rails was standalone and could run without the MSTS program being installed. But the documentation keeps saying things like "Open Rails uses data from the MSTS installation and expects an MSTS data directory structure."

How can I use Open Rails without MSTS? What data structure is required? Is there an automated procedure to set up the directory structure without needing to install MSTS?

I have downloaded all the data files that are here on this site. (As well as some others that might be needed only for MSTS?)

Thank you for any help in getting this running.

I have been virtual model railroading for years using the Auran Trainz series, so I have some general experience.

[Paul Charland]

Hi Sarah,

Sorry I didn't answer this earlier.

Open Rails is a standalone program and will run without any MSTS program being on your system. The only thing OR needs is the same file structure that MSTS had and you just need to create folders with the same names used by MSTS routes.

I wrote the instructions out but the forum will not let you upload a PDF or Word document so the links are there but they'll need to be copied and pasted into the address bar of your browser.


Installing Open Rails Without Microsoft Train Simulator

The following instructions are to aid in creating the necessary file structures in order to install Open Rails, routes, and rolling stock on a system that does not have Microsoft Train Simulator installed.

Creating the Necessary Folders

You need to create a directory and set of files in order for Open Rails to find it’s own files, installed route, rolling stock, track sections and roads. It is best to install Open Rails in Drive C, outside all programs files.

You’ll need to create a main folder with a relevant name, for these instructions I’ll call it “Open Rails Train Sim”, but feel free to name it what you wish. Inside you’ll need to create four folders, named GLOBAL, ROUTES, SOUND, and TRAINS. Inside the GLOBAL folder create two folders, named SHAPE and TEXTURES. Inside the TRAINS folder create two folders called CONSISTS and TRAINSETS.

Open Rails Train Sim

GLOBAL, inside add SHAPES and TEXTURES folders
ROUTES
SOUND
TRAINS, inside add CONSISTS and TRAINSETS folders

Inside the main Open Rails Train Sim folder place a simple text file with anything even a single letter and name it “train.exe”. Some downloads you may need will look for anything called train.exe before they will install.

Installing Open Rails

From the Open Rails website at http://openrails.org/ follow the link near the top of the page to the Downloads>Program section. Choose the “Stable Version” and download it. Once this is complete, unzip the downloaded program and copy and paste the Open Rails folder to the Open Rails Train Sim folder you created earlier.

New Roads and xTracks

All routes require roads and tracks. Both can be found in the library at https://www.trainsim.com/vbts/forum.php Search the library for newroads.zip and xtracks.zip. Download each, follow the instructions to install them, and make sure you change the path to your Open Rails Train Sim folder.

Installing Routes and Rolling Stock

Installing routes and rolling stock takes two forms. Some can be just unzipped and installed to their correct folder and others come in a self-installing exe. If you have one with a self-installer you’ll need to pay attention when the installer asked where you want it to install to and change the path to the correct folder in your Open Rails Train Sim folder.

If you need help just ask,

charland517@gmail.com

Paul

[stem]

Did you get it up and running Sarah?