Flexible sleepers

  • Whereas normal tracks are mounted on sleepers which have a very specific shape and length and the fastening elements at very specific points, in contrast - also in reality - in switch and crossing areas it is necessary to produce the sleepers individually, with different lengths and placement of the fastening elements.

    1 Concept


    For the sleepers of the tracks in LOTUS, a distinction is made (as in reality) between the standard sleepers and the individually built sleepers. The two types are configured/built in different ways:


    • the standard sleepers always belong to a certain track and are therefore one of the characteristics of a track (as well as track gauge, rail and ballast type)
    • Flexible sleepers represent a separate quasi-spline type that is created separately in the map editor. Accordingly, the (standard) sleepers must be switched off in the properties of the affected tracks.

    2 Construction

    First the tracks are laid as normal. Areas in which the tracks should each have "own" standard sleepers are configured accordingly, and all areas in which tracks overlap so that flexible sleepers are required are not given any sleepers.



    Next, the mode is switched to "flexible sleepers" on the left. On the right, the sleeper type to be laid is then selected. Then all those tracks that are to be attached to the sleepers to be created are marked secondarily. Secondary objects/splines are selected by holding down also the [Ctrl] key while clicking.



    Now the sleepers are placed by constructing one (or more contiguous) line(s) along which the sleepers are to be placed - as if you would create an invisible track consisting of sleepers only. LOTUS Construction automatically adjusts the width of the newly created sleepers so that all previously selected secondary tracks fit onto them and are fastened with mounting material. In addition, the necessary slide chairs are automatically placed in areas of switch blades.