Nec: New York - Stamford

MAX said 2020 in an earlier post, so no Budds

 

I honestly hope they provide the correct power for CSX freight. They've been running SD40's and AC44CW's lately, but I could see DTG just throwing a Geep in and saying "Have fun!"

 

We desperately need some new US freight locomotives. *cough GP40-2 cough*

 

I agree, but not for this route.

Now across the river, and on the freight route between Selkirk and Jersey, and the Newburgh Secondary... absolutely lol

 

The thumbnail for the route when it was teased was an SD40-2, so there is a chance its the loco coming for the route, if DTG doesn't just use layers for it. However, If they do include a SD40-2 with the route, I would prefer a YN3 version of it, so its at least somewhat different from the SPG SD40-2's (On top of any other changes necessary)

Would of been nice for HIS's SP route, but they chose a GP35, a loco they done to death on TSC in pretty terrible quality.....

 

Although I'm glad to see DTG is somewhat paying attention to doing freight again, I still think the route was a missed opportunity to bring back the GP40-2 locomotive considering it (along with the NEC: NY route) hasn't returned since TSW2020.

 

Again, though, it's not typical power for this route

 

I know I’m gonna have to wait till the live stream but now I’m curious to know why the New Haven route is so short when one of the newest routes is 108 miles long

 

Quantity of stations and urban scenery. WCML TV has 9 stations, which is much less than NEC Stamford, and is in a much less urban environment.

Also worth pointing out that WCMLTV is made by a third-party who are willing to push the boat out unlike DTG.

 

While the full route is only 72 miles, it’s also 30 stations which is a lot to build. You also have 4 larger city assets you need to build other than NYC and manage the extra stops on timetables between the locals to Stamford an the express that go local from Stamford to New Haven.

I’d love to see it as it would add more for the Amtrak part of the route (2 more stops), but that just seems like a lot to build IMO.

 

A lot of misinformation going around in this thread lol. Quite a few diesels run on the New Haven line. Especially nights and weekends. They even threw a diesel set on rush hour New Haven semi local a few days ago.

 

Not typical, but CSX does have a few GP40s that are still qualified for Metro-North trackage. (PTC + Third rail notched snow plows).

 

I should’ve put “I think”.

I’m still new to commuting on the route so I only put what I saw, but thanks for clearing up where I was incorrect. I come here to discuss trains and routes and I stay for the education sessions!

 

Well now it’s just a question if they’ll add it with or without the center doors if they add them

 

That raises a good point... do they model the SLI and II's, or III's and IV's?

My money is on the III/IV, since that's what's already in TSC.

 

Why not both?!? (Insert that meme here)

I’d take either, then they can hopefully add them in to the NJT routes (I’m no expert, as was shown above, but I believe there are slight differences, correct?)

 

I don't see DTG doing both, at least at first.

The biggest visual differences between the earlier Shoreliners and the newer ones are three sets of doors as you mentioned on the later-builds, as well as two cab windows vs. just one on the earlier builds.

There are differences between the Shoreliners and Comets that NJT uses, but they are the same platform.

 

Yeah I meant further down the line. I’ve been using the MBTA BTC/CTC for the NJT Comets since I started using both routes as they are somewhat visually close.

I’d just hope down the line we’d get some authentic versions even though they are kind of being phased out.

 

The Shoreliners aren't being phased out just yet. The Adessia cars are a few years out, and initially slated to just run the Hartford Line. The Shoreliners will continue to be refreshed and upkept until then. I rode ones out of Wassaic not long ago that received M7-style seating.

 

Yup, I would definitely like to see Shoreliners I-IV. The Shoreliner I's and Shoreliner II's do not have center doors, they just have side doors at each end of the coach/cab. Shoreliner III's and IV's both have center doors but shoreliner IV cab cars do not have a side door at the engineers cab

There are a few Comet II cabs that were formerly used on Metro North West of Hudson service that have been no center doors but a foreman's window in the cab, similar to what is seen with the Shoreliner III and Shoreliner IV. They have returned to EOH operations i believe somewhere around 2006-2008. These former Comet II cabs sometimes have the nickname of Shoreliner IIS. They don't have a center doors, resembling Shoreliner I ans II's when seen from the side

 

Matt said on the roadmap stream today that there is roughly 14 hours worth of freight services on the route

 

But as we've seen with HIS's ATSF pack, just saying numbers don't mean much. The ATSF pack had a ton of services but all runs were cut into 3 plus helper moves. 14hrs of freight services don't mean much if they are nonsensical movements. Just hope DTG delivers on it....

 

Given there aren't that many CSX services at Oak Point to even fit in a 24 hour timetable, but what's gonna be what for the route is nothing but guess work at the moment.

 

Was surprised to see this thread didn't get a bump after the roadmap -- but I guess we only got one screenshot.

The M8 is looking good! I think its amazing how much a bit of design goes a long way -- sure its just another extruded box like most other single-decker EMUs in New York, but the extra flourishes of color and the rounded headlight enclosure are just peak form over function, classic Cesar Vergara.

Someone did note in the Q&A thread that the destination boards should be centered. I'd also like to see some tweaks to the reflectivity of the material for the front (especially the black painted regions) could be in order - they're pretty shiny and darker colored even when dirty, and not as matte as pictured. This is something that's pretty rough across the board on older vehicles; and of course a balance between portraying the paint as factory-fresh vs needing-a-wash or sun-battered. But Metro North keeps these units pretty clean (...on the outside).

...but most importantly, we learn that the route will feature the BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD as a collectible -- that's right, New Haven's own Apizza! Hopefully they choose the traditional white clam pizza as the prototype.

Looking forward for more on this, and surprised/excited that it already jumped into the 0-3 month timeframe!

 

Inaccurate about the best pizza in the world, everyone knows pineapple on pizza with some pepperoni and corn is the best /j

 

Can I have Fish and Chips with mushy peas, please!?

 

Did I hear correctly in the roadmap stream that Rivet have done the timetable for this route? I wasn’t aware they had completely taken over development from DTG while they do their other games, I thought they were just mainly doing UK route building. I guess with no DTG developed UK route on the roadmap they have had to do something. I thought they must be working on a UK route that for one reason or another (GBR branding) couldn’t be announced yet but now I’m not so sure. Or was I hearing things? It’s not a problem, I know DTG wrangle a lot of external partners who actually make much of the content, just a bit of a surprise that Rivet would be working on US content. Have they built the route and trains as well? Please no Rivet bashing, this is not the intention of this post.

 

I pray for your soul and tastebuds, you and Star. =-)

 

While the white clam pies are good, traditionally New Haven style is plain. Pepe's didn't start doing the clam pies until the 60's.

And now I'm hungry... lol

 

I'm gutted.

My excitement went from 10 to zero. Morristown is one of the best US routes IMO and now we're taking 8 steps backwards.

With mandatory safety systems, the timetable and signalling have to be almost perfect, and Rivet's track record is anything but perfect. I'm expecting worse than Trenton so at least maybe i'll be pleasantly surprised. What a bad decision!

 

Honestly i feel the same way. But, Brandon (Cactusjuice) is doing the signaling for this route so safety systems should work as good as they do on LIRR Commuter. It’s just too bad it’s his last U.S route..

 

The safety systems have to work flawlessly if it’s mandatory to use them. That’s my biggest worry for the future but Brandon worked on this route so I have faith there. I can’t say much about Rivet’s involvement as they have certainly stepped up the quality this year and have a new timetable dev so hopefully they have pulled it off but Matt said they reported it’s the most complex timetable they have done so it could get messy. If it turns out as good as LIRR2, and that wasn't perfect, I’ll be happy enough.

 

It has to be as good as LIRR2, and should be better since they've had time to learn from any mistakes there and this one is being built mostly from scratch whereas LIRR2 they had to bolt the new section onto the old route, which i'm sure caused challenges with the signalling.

Hearing that Brandon was involved makes me feel much better (so sad that he's done after this one- really hope he maybe joins the 3P scene at some point), and Rivet's BCC timetable was pretty good but them jumping to a new country, with completely different systems, on a complex route makes me really nervous.

Also begs the question- what ARE the first-party teams at DTG working on right now? They claim Metro Rivals and Sodor are separate teams, so the only announced things in the pipeline are this (which seems largely subcontracted) and the DB BR 147.

 

The recent Rivet timetables have been very good so not sure the grumpiness is necessary.

Tyler seems very passionate.

 

Brandon is doing the signaling, but I thought dtg/third party does safety systems. Hopefully it works as good as it does on Morristown.

 

Actually when I lived in New England, I recall the fish and chips being very good in a number of places. Thankfully there were no mushy peas.

 

Depends where you go. I got some at a diner a few weeks ago that were pretty "meh." They didn't even have malt vinegar...

Now, one of my personal favorites is a nice, warm buttered lobster roll. Connecticut style with just hunks of lobster and drawn butter, no frills, just simple goodness.

 

Hey my pizza is good, seriously try it, it sounds bad but is surprisingly good.

Anyways fish and chips is a meal worthy of the gods

 

Anyhow, back to the route. I have a feeling this is going to be for a sale only. Too similar to what we already have and TBH I barely played Morristown. Mandatory safety systems is a definite killer for me, I detest it on LIRR. As TSS said on his overview of the Roadmap, I find it hard to conceive how these Railroad companies are insisting safety systems are included - surely that's the last thing you want people to know how it works, if you want to prevent unauthorised people entering the cab and driving off with the real thing!

 

Not sure if even was an option you would be able to drive without the safety systems off you would want to.. I still remember playing complaining on Harlem how they had no warning and crashing into AI. I guess it’s very similar experience if you drove a German route without safety systems on.

 

"Separate teams" doesn't mean that people haven't been transferred over from the TSW team.

 

The mandatory safety systems are so there's no gameplay videos of their trains doing 120mph around a 60mph curve or whatever. It's their brand, they set the rules- on the unbranded Metro Rivals we get all kinds of crazy nonsense.

I do have to ask why mandatory safety systems bother you so much? I believe you've complained numerous times about "simple one-handled trains" (i may be slightly paraphrasing lol), so i'd think an accurately modeled safety system to manage would be a good thing? Really not trying to call you out, btw, just curious

Personally i don't run with safety systems off ever. Especially on something like LIRR2 where there aren't always lineside signals it makes it so much of a better drive imo.

 

I wish all trains started with safety systems on.

 

although you have a very good point, the fact that the security systems are mandatorily activated is due to the railroad operator company not wanting it to be possible to know how to deactivate them (given what happened when two teenagers robbed a train on the NYC subway) and if I'm not mistaken they managed to get past the red light barriers because they knew exactly how to disable all the security systems in the cab
for this reason, this rule was imposed on the LIRR commuter route

 

That's why the brake charging and door controls were changed.

 

yes

 

Metro North signaling is very easy actually, much less complicated that LIRR.

 

Having an option in TSW to not use safety systems would not in any way show you how to disable them. I'm with Vern. It's a level of too much "realism." I also don't want to be forced to take restroom breaks and have annoying kids screaming in the back. Sometimes too much realism can make a game less fun =-)

 

I understand you perfectly, I hesitated a lot to buy the LIRR commuter because the security systems are mandatorily enabled
however, I got used to it and there's also the fact that, if it weren't like that, the LIRR commuter route wouldn't exist on TSW (nor M9) as well as ny-stamford route and M8

 

I'm actually more surprised that more operators don't enforce that. As an operator , I wouldn't want to see youtubes videos on my trains crashing into things