Over the summer when I first started learning to use Blender and create meshes, I went a bit train crazy, then I kinda forgot about it. The set is far from perfect, but usable, and, sometimes, I just want to finish a project and get it out… clear the decks, you know? So, here we go!
Functional Steam Train Effect
First up, the top pic shows the working train. This is the Maxis train, obviously, liberated from its track. You can place the effect on a Criquette-style rail and, as long as you make it look like it’s going straight… making judicious use of tunnels and hills, it’s pretty darn cute. That one is found in hood deco effects.
Deco Trains and Cars
Because I wanted to build a rail yard, it was a given that I’d also need some old cars and locomotives to be sitting around it in, so I separated the cars and engine and set them as separate hood deco. They are in landmarks and placeable on lots as well, though they will hover and are pretty low poly. I can play with those if people want them more lot-appropriate.
Once I had a train, I needed a train station. Criquette has made some wonderful ones in the Ultimate Railway Set, but to my tiny, rural sim towns, they are “Big City” stations, much too large and fancy for my sims who live waaaaaaaaaay out at the end of the commuter line. So, I based a new mesh on Criquette’s single station, cutting it down, simplifying details, and redesigning the entrance a bit, so it’s more suitable for my commuters and sits a little neater next to the regular Maxis roads. Here’s a comparison between mine and Criquette’s largest one. This pic shows the size and has tracks next to the station, but, note, I have removed the tracks. I wanted to make it easier to place tracks exactly the way I wanted and to use my Steam Train effect on them.
Smaller, Simpler Rail Station
Simplified Tracks
Well, after all that simplifying the station, naturally, I needed simpler rails, too. I play pure Maxis-match on a laptop, so all those tiny vertical poles and railings on Criquette’s tracks and bridges just don’t look great on my tiny screen. I removed the majority of the poles on three sets of straight double track, so they aren’t in my way, anymore. I didn’t need more than this to clear up the view around my station, but if people need another piece, I could see making a few more.
Larger Tunnel
To accommodate the train effect and some double rail bridges I wanted to use, I also made a slightly taller, wider version of Criquette’s tunnel. I have another tunnel I like better, though, a version of the Maxis tunnel, that I’ll share soon, but here is this one for now, just in case you feel your steam train is a bit cramped by the original.
Steeper Bridge
I also needed a bit taller road bridge for my steam train to pass under, so I, in a truly beginner fashion, modified one of Criquette’s bridges. Criquette has a 5 and 7 tile bridge, mine is 6-tiles, more or less. I use it with a combination of real and deco roads. It’s higher, steeper, and a bit simplified from the originals, those tiny poles and rails, again.
Mine also changes the connection to the pavement to be a bit more Maxis-match because that’s something that bothered me. I’ve only tested it for this type of use so no telling what it would look like in another context, but… here it is, anyway. All my mods of Criquette’s deco are found where Criquette put them in the catalog.
Commuters
Next, I couldn’t see having a rural train station with no commuters waiting for the train, so I made three groups of very patient sims: Elders with News, Work Friends on Business Trip, and Ticket Buyers in Line. I chose passive poses, so it seems reasonable that they were standing still. They are all set at the height appropriate for the train station platforms. If simmers want ground-level ones, I’ll see what I can do, or feel free to adjust if you like. [This is an old pic, btw, the train station now has fewer signs, so it’s even simpler now.]
The three groups are created from heavily manipulating the meshes that maryata used for her “citizens.” The final single sim, Lazy Employee, is created from an extracted sim body, hair, face, etc., given an armature, and posed. He’s a little worse for wear since I was just learning, but I still like him. And he’s the reason all those sims are waiting in line. 🙂 They are all in the hood deco plant section, because… they’re alive… I guess?
Btw, all of these pics were taken some months ago, so may be a little outdated from the actual download. For example, I did fix the Lazy Employee’s hair a bit better since I first took the group pic.
Slope Tool
And, finally, and this is cool! If you want to use Criquette’s sloped rail, I’ve got a tool to make getting the right terrain slope super easy in SC4, so no more need for the neighborhoodterrain cheat! Life changing, I know, right? 🙂
As I’ve, hopefully, made clear, these are a bit on the rough side, since I was just starting out with many of these skills. I may update, fix, add on, and tweak over time, so do check back if you like, and, of course, let me know if you have any problems.