Hello all,
Most of you out there have probably heard of Transport Tycoon or have played it. It's quite an old game, but there is still lots of development going on in the open source version:
OpenTTD.
A few years ago I discovered the Japan Set and started playing with that add-on. Not very long after that I started to be involved with sprite designs and data research on Japanese trains, stations and whatnot. About two years ago I stopped with this project, since I got interested in other stuff. Now, I got started again on the Japan Set for OpenTTD as one of the previous developers. The reason for this was that there was still work going on, but at a pretty slow pace (or so it seemed to me). Most of the work is being done on the background, but there is still lots of work going on.
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At the moment I'm working on a somewhat private project called TIAS (Toei Interlocking Add-on Set) to add an interesting set of standard-gauge rolling stock to the bunch. Now there are only a few Shinkansen and a the Hankyu trains (made by our own forum staff
stevenh ) that run on the normal speed tracks, so there's not so much to behold. In the TIAS will be trains from these companies: Keisei RR, Keikyu RR, Toei (Asakusa-line), Chiba Express RR, Chiba Newtown RR, Hokuso (Kaihatsu) RR, Shibayama RR and Shin-Keisei.
In the attachments there is a screenshot of the complete database of the set, with the same database of in file (for those of you who'd like to sort data and compare). Next to that is the first finished train (Keisei 3500 Type) in three different versions.
About the database: it's really difficult to group trains in a way that it's usable for gameplay and in such a way that there aren't too many to choose from. Like in real life, the choice of trains in the 1950s to 1970s is very large, since at that time Keisei was sorting out the Aoden (those trains who couldn't enter the Asakusa-line), the Akaden (those trains who could enter the Asakusa-line), developing new train types and sending older types to the Shin-Keisei lines. In the 1990s there is also a slaughter of trains when older types are replaced with contemporary types.
Another difficulty with this database is that Keisei and Keikyu developed differently from each other before they got connected in late 1950s through the Toei Asakusa Line, but this shouldn't be much of an issue I think. I thought about concentrating on Keisei line trains only, but than you would miss out on some Keikyu trains that I like (2100 Type, 4-door types, 2000 Type, etc.). If possible we could decide on making a parameter that can switch to a Keikyu or Keisei foucs (the latter rendering out Shin-Keisei trains).
Next to that side-project, I'm also working on a 20kV, 50Hz AC-part (Tohoku focus for the Alpine Climate) of the general JapanSet, but this has a lower priority in my list. There is also the need for early station buildings and platforms, so that's more important for now.
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Anyway, I'm posting this here since I'm asking for your help on the data for the TIAS. There is quite some data missing or maybe even wrong. For instance, I have no clue how much tractive effort trains deliver and I'm missing out on some weight and kW data for some trains. My question is: where can I find such data on the internet (I tried my best, honestly) and who is willing to help me on my quest? Otherwise I have to guess the data which will probably be less accurate than anything.
Cheers!
Toni
