Digital Rails

File: Stac_Pac_2/Readme_Stac_Pac_flats_MOP.txt

MSTS Stac-Pac 89' flatcars and automobile containers--Prototypical set

SP 517303 and 517330, SSW 80331 and 80334, and TTSX 803092

Original shapes by George Mathews II
Original textures by George Mathews II
Repainting, texture modifications, and wagon modifications by L. W. Shell.
Text and photo research by Jim Eager and Lee Gautreaux.

Unzip this archive to your Trainset folder, add the cars to a consist, and enjoy.

These cars utilize 2048 x 2048 texture files! Although my testers and I have seen no reduction in frame rates, be advised that these cars are a bit resource-hungry.

I have done my best to field-test these cars, so that coupled length is pleasing, coupling and uncoupling is effortless, and that mass and braking are decent (my physics are not quite as realistic as 4.93; if you are a stickler, feel free to substitute plainsman's values. )

FIRST FREEWARE VERSION! Please report any problems to L. W. Shell at the email below.

These cars and their freight animations are FREEWARE--no commerical use is allowed without the express written consent of contributors Mathews and Shell. These files are not to redistributed through any file sharing system, except as repaints as permitted below.

Repaints are allowed, but must be freeware, must include this file in its entirety, and must be uploaded ONLY TO MOPHOUSE. Uploading of these files or subsequent repaints to any other file sharing library is NOT permitted.

L. W. Shell
shell1reed@yahoo.com
17 May 2009

Prototype notes by L. W. Shell, 17 May 2009

Stac-Pac railcars were 89' flatcars equipped to carry four 20' containers, each container holding three automobiles (usually GM Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles). Along with the related Vert-i-Pac railcars (which carried 30 Chevy Vegas vertically, nose down!) these railcars were in use only in the 1970s, short-lived experiments in the progress to design modern enclosed autoracks. Both Stac-Pac and Vert-i-Pac designs were collaborations between Southern Pacific and General Motors.

SP, SSW, and ATSF used their own flats to carry these containers. SP and SSW flats were mineral red. Other railroads with these containers used yellow TrailerTrain flatcars with TTSX reporting marks.

Ribbed containers were made by Gunderson, and were perhaps used only by Cotton Belt (and lettered with the "two lines" small letters version of "COTTON BELT").

Smoothside containers were made by W&K (Whitehead and Kales) and others, and were painted in a variety of road names, including ATSF, SP, SSW, FEC, MDT, DRGW, MILW and RI. MDT refers to Merchants Despatch Transportation. There were also plain containers--no heralds or railroad lettering--that were owned by GM.

MILW containers were yellow; DRGW containers were orange; most others were mineral red.

These cars would be seen in trains with older open autoracks, Verta-Pacs, auto parts boxcars, and similar rolling stock. The Stac-Pac and Verta-Pac experiments were concluded by the mid-1970s and the cars rebuilt (most became enclosed autoracks).

George Mathews' 89' flatcar is not a perfect match for the "low bowl" low profile flatcar actually used. We may offer a more accurate replacement flatcar at a future date.

CONTENTS:
Five flat cars SP 517303, SP 517330, SSW 80331, SSW 80334, TTSX 803092. Two of these have empty versions. Painting and lettering for SP, SSW, and TTSX cars is reasonably protoptypical, based on reference photos that are old and not always well-detailed.

The freight animations (the containers) included are all prototypical, and match reasonably well the containers seen in the few photos known to exist of these rare and vanished cars.

Each car can have only one freight animation, but you are free to mix and match by editing the freightanimation section fo the wag file. (As many others have said before, BACK UP your wagon files before trying this!)

Bonus materials:
George Mathews has graciously included two "landed" containers and a container loader. (Note: not included with this early version). These models can be placed onto the route of your choice.....but I'm not the person to supply you with instruction to do that. See various tutorials at Train-Sim or Steam4Me.

George Mathews' original "My readme.txt"

--------------------------------------------------------
TTX_911592_FlatCar
--------------------------------------------------------

An add-on for Microsoft Train Simulator
Created by (c) George R Mathews II, 2009

Version 1.00 - (Released to Wayne Shell)

January 24, 2009

Original Model by: George R Mathews II
Original Textures by: George R Mathews II
Original .wag File by: George R Mathews II
Some Textures used from Photos by David R. Olsen

Original Model created using Abacus Train Sim Modeler v1.1
Original textures created using Adobe Photoshop 6.0

INSTALLATION:
-------------------------------------------------------

1. Copy the folder called TTX_911592_FlatCar to your ...\TRAINS\TRAINSET folder. Assuming a default install, the full name would be:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET
2. Add the Hopper to a consist using the Consist Editor.
3. Start MSTS and enjoy!

LEGAL:
--------------------------------------------------------

- This model is released as freeware.
- This model is available exclusively for a TEST VERSION ONLY--DO NOT
REDISTRIBUTE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES and is not to be distributed in any
other way, commercial or non-commercial, without prior consent from the original author, George R Mathews II.
- Modification of the original shape file included is not permitted.
- Retexturing of this model is permitted, however proper credit must be given and this read-me must be included with any files to be distributed.
Please note that this is only the first version of this car and therefore
the texture maps may not be the most desirable for retexturing.
- Use this file at your own risk. While I take precautions to avoid any potentialfor harm from this file, I cannot and will not be held accountable for any damage which may result from its use.

--------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for downloading the TTX_911592_FlatCar. I hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

If you have any questions, comments, or wish to distribute this file, please contact me at wctrr@hotmail.com

THIS MODEL IS IN NO WAY ASSOCIATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY THE TRAILER TRAIN COMPANY, TTX COMPANY OR TTX CORPORATION.