Yes, I was going to suggest splitting this off, too... as this "off-topic" (=meanwhile topic of its own) seems to grow bigger and bigger 
Ok now, where to begin...
Makeobj does not give any errors, it just stops:
(Identical setup)
v51:
Makeobj version 51 for simutrans 102.3 Nightly and higher
(c) 2002-2006 V. Meyer , Hj. Malthaner, M. Pristovsek (markus@pristovsek.de)
Image size is set to 128x128
writing file ./building.Depot_Train.pak
v50:
Makeobj version 50 for simutrans 102.1 Nightly and higher
(c) 2002-2006 V. Meyer , Hj. Malthaner, M. Pristovsek (markus@pristovsek.de)
Image size is set to 128x128
writing file ./building.Depot_Train.pak
reading file ./TRAIN_depot-STATION.dat
packing building.Train_DEPOT-station_A
packing building.Train_DEPOT-station_B
reading file ./TRAIN_depot.dat
packing building.TRAIN_Depot
But I found out that I can compile makeobj successfully only with MSVC2010.
(Ok there's a warning at the end, too:)
1>LINK : warning LNK4098: Standardbibliothek "LIBCMT" steht in Konflikt mit anderen Bibliotheken; /NODEFAULTLIB:Bibliothek verwenden.
1> Makeobj_VC2010.vcxproj -> E:\Simutrans Materials\_SVN_Simutrans\simutrans\trunk\Debug\Makeobj.exe
========== Erstellen: 1 erfolgreich, Fehler bei 0, 0 aktuell, 0 übersprungen ==========
Under MSVC2008 (the project file seems to convert ok there, too), I get more warnings and some errors during compiling and it fails:
1>------ Build started: Project: Makeobj_VC2008, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
1>Compiling...
1>way_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>way_obj_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>vehicle_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>tunnel_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>tree_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>text_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>tabfile.cc
1>sound_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>skin_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>simtools.cc
1>simstring.cc
1>simmem.cc
1>simdebug.cc
1>sim_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>searchfolder.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>root_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>roadsign_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>pedestrian_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>obj_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>obj_node.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>Generating Code...
1>Compiling...
1>makeobj.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>log.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>imagelist_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>imagelist2d_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>image_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>groundobj_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>ground_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>good_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>get_waytype.cc
1>get_climate.cc
1>freelist.cc
1>factory_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>debug_helper.cc
1>crossing_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>citycar_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>building_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>bridge_writer.cc
1>D:\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\include\xlocale(342) : warning C4530: C++ exception handler used, but unwind semantics are not enabled. Specify /EHsc
1>Generating Code...
1>vehicle_writer.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "public: void __thiscall xref_writer_t::write_obj(struct _iobuf *,cl**** obj_node_t &,enum obj_type,char const *,bool)" (?write_obj@xref_writer_t@@QAEXPAU_iobuf@@AAVobj_node_t@@W4obj_type@@PBD_N@Z) referenced in function "public: virtual void __thiscall vehicle_writer_t::write_obj(struct _iobuf *,cl**** obj_node_t &,cl**** tabfileobj_t &)" (?write_obj@vehicle_writer_t@@UAEXPAU_iobuf@@AAVobj_node_t@@AAVtabfileobj_t@@@Z)
1>tunnel_writer.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: void __thiscall xref_writer_t::write_obj(struct _iobuf *,cl**** obj_node_t &,enum obj_type,char const *,bool)" (?write_obj@xref_writer_t@@QAEXPAU_iobuf@@AAVobj_node_t@@W4obj_type@@PBD_N@Z)
1>factory_writer.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: void __thiscall xref_writer_t::write_obj(struct _iobuf *,cl**** obj_node_t &,enum obj_type,char const *,bool)" (?write_obj@xref_writer_t@@QAEXPAU_iobuf@@AAVobj_node_t@@W4obj_type@@PBD_N@Z)
1>crossing_writer.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: void __thiscall xref_writer_t::write_obj(struct _iobuf *,cl**** obj_node_t &,enum obj_type,char const *,bool)" (?write_obj@xref_writer_t@@QAEXPAU_iobuf@@AAVobj_node_t@@W4obj_type@@PBD_N@Z)
1>sim_writer.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual void __thiscall xref_writer_t::dump_node(struct _iobuf *,struct obj_node_info_t const &)" (?dump_node@xref_writer_t@@UAEXPAU_iobuf@@ABUobj_node_info_t@@@Z)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "public: static unsigned char umgebung_t::verbose_debug" (?verbose_debug@umgebung_t@@2EA) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::debug(char const *,char const *,...)" (?debug@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "bool __cdecl dr_fatal_notify(char const *,int)" (?dr_fatal_notify@@YA_NPBDH@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "bool __cdecl check_pos_win(struct event_t *)" (?check_pos_win@@YA_NPAUevent_t@@@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void __cdecl display_poll_event(struct event_t *)" (?display_poll_event@@YAXPAUevent_t@@@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void __cdecl dr_flush(void)" (?dr_flush@@YAXXZ) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void __cdecl dr_prepare_flush(void)" (?dr_prepare_flush@@YAXXZ) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void __cdecl dr_sleep(unsigned int)" (?dr_sleep@@YAXI@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "bool __cdecl win_is_top(cl**** gui_frame_t const *)" (?win_is_top@@YA_NPBVgui_frame_t@@@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "int __cdecl create_win(int,int,cl**** gui_frame_t *,enum wintype,long)" (?create_win@@YAHHHPAVgui_frame_t@@W4wintype@@J@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "short __cdecl display_get_width(void)" (?display_get_width@@YAFXZ) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "short __cdecl display_get_height(void)" (?display_get_height@@YAFXZ) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "public: __thiscall news_img::news_img(char const *,unsigned short,unsigned short)" (??0news_img@@QAE@PBDGG@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void __cdecl destroy_all_win(bool)" (?destroy_all_win@@YAX_N@Z) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>log.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "int __cdecl is_display_init(void)" (?is_display_init@@YAHXZ) referenced in function "public: void __cdecl log_t::fatal(char const *,char const *,...)" (?fatal@log_t@@QAAXPBD0ZZ)
1>image_writer.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _load_block referenced in function "private: bool __thiscall image_writer_t::block_laden(char const *)" (?block_laden@image_writer_t@@AAE_NPBD@Z)
1>way_writer.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 17 unresolved externals
1>Build log was saved at "file://e:\Simutrans Materials\_SVN_Simutrans\simutrans\trunk\Debug-makeobj\BuildLog.htm"
1>Makeobj_VC2008 - 21 error(s), 28 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========
But Simutrans compiles on both versions (and both versions seem to work as well).
Oh to make the information (hopefully) complete, I use the precompiled libraries for OpenTTD (v3.2) plus the libbz2 stuff you posted here. But so far nothing more than that. Actually I merely followed VS' instructions from here. Anything missing/wrong/outdated on my part there?
I hope I attached the correct files...