Lumber loading! v5.24

Continuing the theme of freight loading from the last update, this next update focuses on the lumber industry and adds animated machinery for loading logs on to freight wagons!

This update also includes "steam donkey" engines, a new skeleton log car, and automatic loading/unloading functionality for any props you want.

[h2]Automatic loading & unloading[/h2]

There is now a feature to automatically load freight wagons in a chosen location with props. You can place a "loading source" prop on your map (e.g. next to the tracks in a yard) and then choose which props you want the loader to add.
When empty wagons move past, they are loaded with a random prop from the chosen list.
You can also make these into "unloaders" as well, and they will remove props instead of add them.

[h2]Animated lumber loading[/h2]

This update focuses on the lumber industry, so of course there's a unique loader/unloader prop for loading logs! Simply place the prop on to some track (it snaps on to track) and it will automatically load any empty wagons that support freight loading.

You can also switch it over to an "unloader" instead, and the animation will pick up and remove a log from the wagon instead of adding one.

These loading props are in the "trains -> loading/unloading" drawer:

These loaders aren't just limited to logs though! You can put whatever props you like in there:

[h2]Steam donkey engines [/h2]

In addition to the loading machinery (pulleys and ropes) you can also add an animated "steam donkey" engine to complete the scene!

These steam donkeys were incredibly common in early steam-era logging around America (and a lot of the rest of the world). They are a very portable and useful small steam engine, and they were used for pulling logs along the ground as well as loading them on to wagons.

The steam donkey prop snaps on to the log loader prop, and as long as it's close enough to the loader prop it will automatically play animations in-time with the loader!

[h2]Skeleton log wagons[/h2]

This update also adds a new "skeleton" log car, another very common sight in the logging industry.
You can find this new wagon in the "trains -> USA freight" drawer:

[h2]Vehicles with display points[/h2]

All of the road vehicles have freight load display points now too!

[h2]Other fixes & features:[/h2]

[h3]fine-tuning room bounds[/h3]

You can now change how large the adjustments that the room bounds buttons make.
This means you can make smaller adjustments, like 0.1 and 0.01.

[h3]Snappable shipping containers[/h3]

All of the shipping container props now snap together!

And a bunch of smaller features & fixes:

You can now adjust the horizontal offset for freight loads (in the freight load display menu).
Fixed 3D model shading on a bunch of different props.
The bulk move tool can now only be used when "placed", not just "dropped" on the ground.
Holding shift while placing a prop in an objects inventory (or any equip slot) will now correctly keep a copy in your hand.
Fixed number positions on the DX livery.
Fixed various minor mesh issues (on shipping containers and the Dom tower easter egg prop).

As I've mentioned in previous news posts, all of these logging themed features are working towards Rolling Line's next big map release, the Sierra Logging expansion!
I'm incredibly excited about this map, and I can't wait to finally release it. There's still lots of work to do though so the full map release is at least a few months away still.

But since the scenery fits this update so well, I'm releasing a small diorama called "Slice of the Sierra" which takes a chunk of the larger map (one of the logging camps) and posting it to the Steam Workshop. If you would like to play an example diorama using the new logging machinery, you can download it here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426362092

Have fun!!