Building a BVE route

[ChrisA]

Ok. I quite fancy the idea of building a route. (Nothing massive, just to see how i get on). How would i go about doing this? Which programme do i use and where do i get it from?

Thanks people

 

[Coxster]

For a simple(ish) route, you can use RouteBuilder from http://routebuilder.bve-routes.com. I (as do many others), do it the harder way by hand coding using Microsoft Excel or Notepad.

I have made a couple of things for my website to aid the route building process (one is a re-published version of Tim Corbett's guide).
http://www.virtual-rail.co.uk/bvecsvcommands.htm
http://www.virtual-rail.co.uk/bvefaqs.htm (for a list of utils)

 

[eezypeazy]

Hi Chris,

I am using RouteBuilder to build Tyne Valley and used it to build Aln Valley. If, like me, you don't want to fathom out the codes for handcoding, it provides a method for doing it graphically. You can even scan in a map and use it to "draw" your railway. I'll disagree with Damon again about "simple" though - I believe it's possible to construct quite complex layouts in RouteBuilder... for example, this screenshot shows my interpretation of Pelaw Jct between Heworth and Sunderland:

And RouteBuilder allows objects to be placed simply and accurately, like this new overbridge (with thanks to Craig Allan for the bitmap for the bridge parapet)

But more importantly, using RouteBuilder's route definitions enables you to define which track the train will run on, and define lots of variations if you wish, very simply... I believe handcoders have to recode the whole route just to get a train to use a set of points and run "wrong line"....

If you are interested in using RouteBuilder, I'll happily act as a "mentor" to help you get under way....

Regards

eezypeazy

 

[Guinness]

The problem with Routebuilder I find is the amount of bugs in the program.

 

[ChrisA]

Thanks folks

eezypeazy, thanks for that.I may well take you up on that mentoring offer sometime!

 

[Techniquest]

RB got on my nerves, and I couldn't get anywhere with it. I prefer hand-coding. The man's way of manufacturing a route. How I'll fare building my latest proposal I don't know, but it's easier in that a fair amount of it is single-track. Until I reach Malvern Wells that is.

Good luck ChrisA with whatever method you use. Either way will result in hair-pulling at some point.