Mar 27, 2005: Fixed a debilitating Win98/WinME resource leak which was causing some users a lot of grief. Fixed version has not yet been posted.
Mar 26, 2005: Enhanced record/playback features: we now have pause, fast-forward, and record-from-here.
Mar 23, 2005: Posted a couple of layouts submitted by Robert Daniels.
Mar 22, 2005: Posted version 1.0.53, along with Wolfgang Dudler's layout. The latest version uses a better method of handling graphics when stretching bitmaps, making light-colored layouts like Wolfgang's look better on the screen.
Mar 21, 2005: Enjoying working with Peter Prunka on optimizing the train-recording capabilities. As he puts it:
You can use the recorder to test and demo all kinds of things - yard sorting, meets and passes, timetable ops, switching problems (think TimeSaver contests or Inglenook puzzles)...
Peter is developing some great sequences we will be posting, once we get the kinks worked out.
Mar 20, 2005: Nice quote from Robert Daniels:
I downloaded the demo and am amazed at the quality and depth of programming exhibited in a newly introduced product.
We'll be posting a couple of Robert's track plans soon.
Mar 19, 2005: Posted version 1.0.5. Record/playback!
Mar 15, 2005: Moved web site to new hosting service (fatcow.com).
Mar 06, 2005: Posted version 1.0.4. New scheduling features!
Feb 24, 2005: Posted version 1.0.3. See Readme for details.
Feb 22, 2005: Quote of the day:
Love the "Ignore" comment on the registration screen, Dad! -- Casey Dill
Feb 21, 2005: Posted the Santa Maria Valley RR, by Byron Henderson.
Feb 19, 2005: Posted version 1.0.2. Bugs fixed are listed in the Readme.
Feb 17, 2005: Visited Kalmbach and obtained written permission to use the layouts as currently posted during the beta period. Other arrangements will be made for release. Had a great lunch with five legends of the MR industry: Dick Christiansen, Terry Thompson, Jim Slocum, Michael Stephens, and Erik Bergstrom. Saw up close the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy and the Turtle Creek Central. Absorbed the aura of Al Kalmbach.
Feb 16, 2005: Thanks to all of you who are responding and enjoying the program! More nice quotes:
This is the first program that just lets me run trains for no other reason than the love of trains running; I don't have to "develop" my entire layout in excruciating CAD detail first. -- Robert Stanley
It captures the feel of the layouts of my youth. I loved the operational side of the hobby then and still enjoy the demands of switching and dispatching today. Your Player is exactly what I have been yearning for since I first set up MSTS. No more dull, hour-long hauls to the next siding, no more brain-teasing examinations of myopic yard scenes in order to find the correct turnout. And, it has the "top-down" view that I enjoyed with my first tabletop layout. I can see it all, estimate times, plan moves, and enjoy the whole session in a compact package. -- Steve Daly
Your software seems to be geared JUST to the model railroader who wants to operate a model railroad! No grandiose scenery or “real time” 2 hours needed to get from point A to B. -- David Smith
Feb 14, 2005: Posted the first user-submitted plan, from Chris Gilbert, who wrote the following, and then sent us his track plan:
Guys,
This is fantastic
Great
Well done
What more can I say.
Looking forward to when you get "Running Your Own Layout" part runningQuote from Mike Tennent:
You've done a great job. The interface is intuitive and simple, (I jumped right in and ran a few trains before looking at the docs) and it's fun to play.
Thanks!
Feb 14, 2005: Fixed several glitches: layout installer failed with dir names containing spaces; uninstaller not working. Had some trouble with the registration screen, disabled it, got a fix from the server, reenabled.
Feb 13, 2005: Posted announcement to rec.models.railroad
Feb 13, 2005: New demo version posted, with 14 layouts
Feb 7, 2005: Site opened for selected demos and beta testing
