XML Deserialization {“Root element is missing.”} Error

Question

I'm adding a new project to my Solution, and have added the code posted below. The LoadXML() method, variable setup, and file deserialization is done exactly as I have done it several other times throughout this Solution, but suddenly now for this part it is throwing this annoying "{"Root element is missing."}" error - even when there is no XML present or when I use a different XML I know works. This means to me that the bug is obviously in the code, but since the code is almost carbon-copied from my previous file transfers, I don't know how that could be either. The other situations for this error previously posted on this website do not really conform to my situation, so I started a fresh one in hopes I might land closer to an answer!

    //fileName and XML variables for serialization/deserialization
    const string fileName = "SimulatedTrain1.xml";
    XmlSerializer xml = new XmlSerializer(typeof(BindingList<SimulatedTrain>));

    //Create BindingList object to hold XML data
    public BindingList<SimulatedTrain> SimulatedTrain = new BindingList<SimulatedTrain>();

    public void LoadXML()
    {
        try
        {
            using (var fs = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.OpenOrCreate))
            {
                var tempTrain = (BindingList<SimulatedTrain>)xml.Deserialize(fs);
                SimulatedTrain = tempTrain;
            }                
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.Message, ex);
        }
    }

The LoadXML() gets called on the form_load

Edit: Here's a part of my XML file (the rest is basically repeat data)

Answer 1

First, make sure that the XML file is copied into your build directory by selecting "Copy to Output Directory" to be "Copy always" .

Assuming that the file exists, you probably have a type conversion error in deserializing the XML file.

The following works:

SimulatedTrain.cs:

[XmlRoot("ArrayOfSimulatedRailCar")]
public class SimulatedTrain
{
    [XmlElement("SimulatedRailCar")]
    public List<SimulatedRailCar> Cars { get; set; }
}

SimulatedRailCar.cs:

public class SimulatedRailCar
{
    string Name { get; set; }
    // More properties here...
}

TrainProg.cs:

const string fileName = "SimulatedTrain1.xml";
XmlSerializer xml = new XmlSerializer(typeof(SimulatedTrain));

public SimulatedTrain SimulatedTrain;

public void LoadXML()
{
    Contract.Assert(File.Exists(fileName));

    try
    {
        using (var fs = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open))
        {
            SimulatedTrain = (SimulatedTrain)xml.Deserialize(fs);
        }                
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(ex.Message, ex);
    }
}