Reliable diesel locomotive

[yozh]

Hi, all.

I'm a big fun of OpenTTD, but I'm newbie on this forum.

I'm complaining about a problem.

I'm playing in 1996, and the best locomotive available to buy has only 76% reliability (not counting doubles that are slightly better). So all my trains are constantly crashing.

I could make all trains and tracks electrifed, but I don't like too. At least because is is misconception that there is no place for diesel trains in XXI century. There is a large area in Siberia (or in USA) where railways are very very long, and won't be ever electrifed, because rail electrification is expensive and worthy only for high traffic lines. And because of this reason, Siberia coal won't be ever transfered by monorail or maglev trains.

And I don't believe, that modern industry cannot provide reliable diesel locomotive.

So my feature request is: please keep at least one reliable diesel locomotive forever. Such locomotive should not be so fast as electric to keep the game balance.

Thank you.

[FHS]

Three Options:

1. Electrify
2. Use a NewGRF
3. Disable Breakdowns

[yozh]

Three Options:
...
2. Use a NewGRF

Is there simple howto or something? I've installed UK Renewal Set using in-game installer, because it is "most probably the most popular". Game told me, that some train length is wrong, and game may crash (and I should not fill bugreports). I answered, I agree, continue. And then game crashed.

[Gremnon]

Were you trying to add a NewGRF in a running game? Sometimes when you try that, it will cause a crash.
If you are, there is a possible solution - don't take my word for it that it works, I haven't tried it, but I think it'll work.
Make sure in Advanced Settings the switch "Enable Multiple NewGRF Engine Sets" (Or something similar to that, I can't remember the exact wording) is turned on.
Add the Original Engines GRF (Should be on Bananas, if not, try GRFCrawler) - don't hit apply yet though
Then add the train set you tried before, and hit apply.
In theory, this should keep all your existing trains, via the Original Engines, and also add the UKRS ones from the set you were trying to use. As OpenTTD warns you though, it may well cause crashes.

[yozh]

Add the Original Engines GRF

Is it the same as "Original vehicle names"?

[Gremnon]

No, that's entirely different.
the GRF "Old Wagons with New Cargos" should do the trick as well, as it too uses the default vehicles, which is what you need to keep the current ones as they are without any problems.

[yozh]

No, that's entirely different.
the GRF "Old Wagons with New Cargos" should do the trick as well, as it too uses the default vehicles, which is what you need to keep the current ones as they are without any problems.

When I add both "Old Wagons with New Cargos" and UKRS game crashes after about 30 seconds.

I cannot "Enable Multiple NewGRF Engine Sets", game tells me that "there are vehicles".

Yes, I'm trying to add new locomotives into the long running game.

[Gremnon]

Can you provide a screenshot of the exact error it gives when you try to enable the switch?

Otherwise, I believe the only way you'll be able to play with UKRS, or any train set, is to begin a new game, I'm afraid.

[yozh]

Can you provide a screenshot of the exact error it gives when you try to enable the switch?

Screenshot of error: http://screencast.com/t/YmXGGYC3 (Train ... has invalid length, this may be caused by problems with NewGRFs. Game may desync or crash).

[Yexo]

It has been said often enough on the forums: Changing NewGRFs in a running game is not supported. If you want to try out the UK Renewal Set, do so in a new game. If you really want to play in your current game, first sell all vehicles and then add ukrs, that might work.

[yozh]

Thank you for the explaination.

Why not change original vehicles set a bit: keep one or two diesel engines available and reliable forever?

[PikkaBird]

No-one's pointed this out yet, but you can't change maximum reliability with a newgrf. The maximum reliability of each vehicle type is randomly set every time you start a new game.

If you turn on "Vehicles never expire" in advanced options, your diesel locomotives will be buildable and retain their maximum reliability as long as they're in use.

[yozh]

No-one's pointed this out yet, but you can't change maximum reliability with a newgrf. The maximum reliability of each vehicle type is randomly set every time you start a new game.

AFAIU, reliability decreases over time. You tell that it happens for all vehicles. So even new super-duper maglev locomotive maximum reliability will be low after tens of game years, and then that locomotive disappears? So it is not possible to play single game forever? That's sad.

If you turn on "Vehicles never expire" in advanced options, your diesel locomotives will be buildable and retain their maximum reliability as long as they're in use.

Unfortunately, my locomotives are completely expired (not available to build), and after setting the option they haven't return.

Isn't it possible to get my locomotives back? Maybe game year can be adjusted to have the locomotive reinvented?

[petert]

Unfortunately, my locomotives are completely expired (not available to build), and after setting the option they haven't return.

Isn't it possible to get my locomotives back? Maybe game year can be adjusted to have the locomotive reinvented?

No, it isn't possible. Sorry.

[PikkaBird]

You tell that it happens for all vehicles.

I didn't say that at all.

No, it isn't possible. Sorry.

Open the cheat menu and go back to a year when the vehicle was available. Open the console and type resetengines. Use the cheat menu to move the year forward again if you like.

[dihedral]

you do know that trains need servicing??

[yozh]

You tell that it happens for all vehicles.

I didn't say that at all.

If super-duper vehicles do not expire, why not make some diesel locomotive not-expiring too?

BTW, what are exact rules, what happens with vehicles over time? I could write them to http://wiki.openttd.org/Vehicles .

No, it isn't possible. Sorry.

Open the cheat menu and go back to a year when the vehicle was available. Open the console and type resetengines. Use the cheat menu to move the year forward again if you like.[/quote]

Thanks!

[PikkaBird]

BTW, what are exact rules, what happens with vehicles over time?

http://wiki.ttdpatch.net/tiki-index.php ... on0General

Read the section on model life, property 04.

[SirkoZ]

What about vehicles_never_expire patch configuration (if you want to increase reliability just reset_engines a few times to get to the desired number and have your trains visit depots once a while)?

[frosch]

@yozh:
"resetengines" will also rerandomize the reliabilities of all engines.