BNSF 2098 - Replacement Textures for the Default GP38-2
Copyright 2001, Judd Spittler
Web Site: www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/
E-mail: engineering@juddspittler.com
Or jspittler@earthlink.net


<  Installation Options: >

There are two installation options for this locomotive.

RECOMMENDED:  Use this locomotive as a replacement for the default GP38-2.  This is recommended since it allows the locomotive to be used with the default activities.  Remember, you can easily restore the original GP38-2 later if you change your mind (assuming you remember to back it up first!).

OPTIONAL:  Add this locomotive in addition to the default GP38-2.  The problem with this is that you will need to create your own consists.  This may not be a problem for experienced users, but is somewhat inconvenient.


<Recommended Procedure - Using BNSF 2098 to replace default GP38-2: >

a) Locate the "\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET\GP38" subdirectory.  This is where the default GP38-2 files are located.

b) Make a copy of the GP38 subdirectory, but be sure to store it somewhere OTHER than the main "trainset" subdirectory.  I recommend creating a "backup" subdirectory, and copying other subdirectories there.

c) Unzip the contents of the BNSF2098.zip file into the GP38 subdirectory (overwrite contents, if prompted).

d) You are done.



<Optional Procedure - Adding BNSF 2098 as an additional locomotive: >

a) Locate the "\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET\GP38" subdirectory.  This is where the default GP38-2 files are located.

b) Make a copy of the GP38 subdirectory WITHIN the "trainset" subdirectory.

c) Rename the newly created subdirectory "GP38_2098" (or any other preferred name).

d) Unzip the contents of the BNSF2098.zip file into the "GP38_2098" subdirectory (overwrite contents, if prompted).

e) Copy the contents of the "GP38_2098\Standalone" subdirectory to the main "GP38_2098" subdirectory.

f) Delete the Gp38.eng, Gp38.s, Gp38.sd, and Gp38.ace files.

g) You are done.


<Optional Feature for Either Installation - Flashing Ditch Light: >

Those who prefer flashing ditch lights will be pleased to know that we have redesigned the ditch light logic to achieve a much more realistic effect.  In order to use flashing ditch lights, copy the gp38.eng or gp38_2098.eng file, as appropriate, from the "Flashing Ditch Lights" subdirectory.  (This subdirectory is located with the files installed with this locomotive.)


< Fairly Permissive Legal Notice: >

This work is Copyright 2001 Judd Spittler, and is provided as freeware.

You are invited to use any parts of my textures or ".eng" file for creating your own custom locomotives, as long as your work remains completely FREE (and as long as you change it enough so that you aren't essentially just claiming credit for BNSF 2098).  We especially recommend using my trucks, wheels, windows, "alpha channel" and the reflective lighting effects in the ".eng" file.

We would like to ask that you give us credit in your readme file for any parts that you borrowed from this work.  Thanks!


< Credit to Other Designers >

Though the vast majority of BNSF 2098 is the original work of Spittler Engineering, we would like to acknowledge the work of others whose work we used for parts of the design"

Wurger: Thanks for the "Physics 3.0" files which was used as the baseline for the physics portions of the ".eng" files.

Whoever it was that figured out the dynamic brake noise and compressor noise fixes.  (Anybody know who deserves credit for this?)

Whoever figured out that putting a disk light in front of the number board would make it look like it was backlit.  (Anybody know who deserves credit for this?)
 

< Known Issues >

Night Glint: The reflected glint does not turn off at night.  Although we set the appropriate "bit" in the ".eng" file, the glint for the hand rails and wheels, etc., do not turn off at night.  This appears to be a MSTS bug. Actually, we found that this unintended "night lighting" didn't really look as bad as we thought it would.  It is possible that MS/Kuju may fix this bug in the future, so this issue may possibly go away by itself.

Rear Headlight: We haven't incorporated any way to turn on the rear headlight, since there doesn't seem to be any really good, well-accepted way of doing it.  If you have a "favorite" criteria for having the rear headlight go on, feel free to customize the ".eng" file, but beware that MSTS seems to have a limit of 49 lighting objects, and we are pretty close to that limit already!
