Happy Accidents

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by operator#7940, Mar 11, 2026.

  1. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    “We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”
    ― Late painted Bob Ross

    I noticed the other night that the Santa Fe Dash 8 subs in for the old Dash 8 on Sand Patch Grade.
    It wasn't a planned substitution.
    It doesn't "fit" at all.
    It's not realistic or intended.
    It was an accident.
    However, it was fun to see it there.
    It really stands out as a bright red addition to the lineup and it's better than the original Dash-8 in my opinon..
    I found it enjoyable and sort of a "hidden gem" instead of just a mistake.

    Has anyone else found any unintentional things that turned out to be enjoyable for you to find?
     
    • Like Like x 4
  2. eMAyTeeTee

    eMAyTeeTee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2025
    Messages:
    1,371
    Likes Received:
    2,427
    You can drive the 166 in place of the 378 on Mildmay line.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  3. R3DWolf91

    R3DWolf91 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2022
    Messages:
    992
    Likes Received:
    1,361
    I wouldn't say it's entirely unrealistic, you'd be surprised how far foreign power can travel lol
     
    • Like Like x 1
  4. trainsimuser

    trainsimuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2025
    Messages:
    682
    Likes Received:
    1,003
    Blurry texture on console. Guess we just have to accept them now as a “happy little accident”
     
    • Like Like x 3
  5. Killer-Of-Night

    Killer-Of-Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2025
    Messages:
    534
    Likes Received:
    789
    Think its only unrealistic in Modern times, since BNSF has pretty much junked their C40-8Ws

    However in a 90s era it wouldnt be out of place.
     
  6. Double Yellow

    Double Yellow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2021
    Messages:
    2,267
    Likes Received:
    3,627
    I’m not sure why they added 166. A different train, preferably a EMU would’ve been a better choice.
    I don’t know the history. Did the 166 run on these lines in the past?
     
    • Like Like x 5
  7. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    If it was planned then it's not an "accident." =-)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,235
    Likes Received:
    4,293
    I took a mate's ex for a coffee after bumping into her in the high street in Colchester. She was feeling down about being dumped and also about returning to her hometown after graduating, so I promised her 2 guest list spots for her and a mate for the venue I was DJing at the following weekend.

    Anyway, fast forward 21 years and she's just arrived home from work. We've been married since 2009.

    Does that count?
     
    • Like Like x 16
  9. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    If you're happy then yes =-)
     
    • Like Like x 2
  10. trainsimuser

    trainsimuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2025
    Messages:
    682
    Likes Received:
    1,003
    That’s a epic story and congratulations
     
    • Like Like x 2
  11. eMAyTeeTee

    eMAyTeeTee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2025
    Messages:
    1,371
    Likes Received:
    2,427
    I honestly have no idea
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. dal#7945

    dal#7945 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2024
    Messages:
    3,827
    Likes Received:
    2,202
    It looks really out of place to me.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  13. eMAyTeeTee

    eMAyTeeTee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2025
    Messages:
    1,371
    Likes Received:
    2,427
    agreed
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    That's not the point at all though.
    The point is it's not a "planned" placement, but an "accident."
    And I kinda like having the fun out of place option, even on accident.
     
  15. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2024
    Messages:
    706
    Likes Received:
    755
    Class 47 on the Night Riviera (even if it's not far from the loco actually used).
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028
    That wasn't a happy accident, it was planned because there is no class 57, and the 47s worked the service for many many years.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028
    On Midland Mainline, you can drive the WSR 52 or 47 on tanker trains. That was a happy accident as I think some code (or whatever the language is) got put in by mistake.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  18. antony.henley

    antony.henley Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2019
    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    Somethings are meant to be :)

    Hentis
     
    • Like Like x 2
  19. antony.henley

    antony.henley Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2019
    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    Back in the 80's we had a regular flow of Nuclear waste from the Dragon Nuclear plant at Winfrith in Wool. Most of the time this was either a 33 or 73 or the odd class 47 bringing and take it back. On this day I noticed it was 31111..... When I saw it i shouted out Ducking* Hell its a 31. (*sounds like) At that point the teacher shouted at me to get out of the class and report to the Head of year's office. I ended up with 30 minute detentions for a week.... But it was worth it seeing the 31. Occasionally in the mundane of normal local allocated class of locos, theres an odd shiny jewel that passes through. Happy Accident nah just a welcome change to the mundane and a bit of notieriety for swearing in class lol. Didnt stop me from being put up in a class at the end of year though, where I met one of my best friends and who I still see today..

    You gotta understand that Class 31's were rare as rocking horse poo around my area in the 80s.

    Hentis
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2026
    • Like Like x 6
  20. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028

    Many years ago, I was on an all line rover, I'd booked a berth from Dundee to Euston on the Sleeper train. 67s had taken over as traction a few years earlier from Aberdeen. So anyway I'm sat at a cold Dundee station waiting for my train when a hear a familiar two tone horn from the direction of the tunnel, that made my ears prick up. In rolled a res 47. That also made me say "ducking hell" *, needless to say my head was hanging out the window upto Edinburgh. It was replaced by a 90 at Edinburgh and I finally went to bed. A bit later I woke up to see us passing through Manchester Piccadilly which was odd as at the time there were no wires between Preston and Manchester. So I toddle off to the corridor window, stick my head out to see what's going on.....only another 47 on the front. I think it was taken off at Crewe but two unexpected 47s for haulage on a train I wasn't expecting anything other than a 67 and a 90. Double bonus.

    *It wasn't ducking I said.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  21. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,235
    Likes Received:
    4,293
    Back in the late 80s my sister had boarded her train home to Chatham at Victoria, having got that train with her many times when I spent the weekend with her I can confirm it was a 12 car Class 411 consist, usually in the sublime "Jaffa Cake" livery.

    The first stop was Chatham.

    One evening two elderly ladies boarded at Victoria and sat opposite my sister, she described their "non-stop conversation with no time to take-in air", just the sort of noise that you don't need after a busy day in the office. The women continued their diatribe as the train slowed due to congestion in the Bromley area (some things never change, eh?) the train came to an unsheduled stop with the back few coaches sat next to a platform at Bromley South. One woman looked through a window out into the darkness to see where they were "Oh we're here already" she said so she opened the door, they stepped out and disappeared off, still deep in conversation.

    To this day (if they are still alive of course) they had no idea they were on the wrong train, could well have injured themselves if the signal cleared while they alighted and were a red signal away from ending up in Chatham.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  22. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    So it was a platform, but not one that train ever called at?
    I wonder how far they got before they noticed.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  23. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,235
    Likes Received:
    4,293
    Yes. Some trains from Victoria stopped there but not that one. It's likely they just weren't listening to announcement and went to the wrong platform.
    In the days before non-stopping trains were ordered to stop prior to the platform if there was a red signal beyond it, it was not uncommon to have a stampede of suited gents running up Platforms 5 and 8 at my hometown station, Barking, with briefcases and umbrellas swinging around trying to jump on a through train that was waiting at the signals under the flyover where the Up roads from Upminster and Tilbury converged.

    A health and safety nightmare. Meanwhile the sound of kicking could be heard from a District Line train as passengers attempted to open the stuck sliding doors. Unfortunately the chassis on the old R and CO/CP District Line trains tended to flex when the trains were fully loaded causing the doors to jam closed, open or partially open. I sound like my grandad but those old trains had loads of character.

    Traveling by trains these days is far safer, but less fun.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2026
    • Like Like x 2
  24. eMAyTeeTee

    eMAyTeeTee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2025
    Messages:
    1,371
    Likes Received:
    2,427
    On the topic of people getting the wrong train, I remember last spring I was sat a on a train at Bradford (Interchange, I think) heading towards Blackpool, having changed at Leeds, at some people got on trying to get to Leeds. Unfortunately for them they didn't release this wasn't a Leeds train, and had to wait to the next stop to get off to get a train going back the other way.
     
  25. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    Lots of accidents...but are they "happy?"
    I guess the sister who got rid of the chatty ladies would have been very happy!
    The lads trying to get to Leeds probably weren't very happy at all.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  26. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2024
    Messages:
    706
    Likes Received:
    755
    In fact, there is never anything truly unintentional in the choice of stock used in the game, even if it is a mistake in terms of historical accuracy or compared to real life, because it doesn't appear at random, there's a developper choosing to put this or that stock...
    There is always someone thinking "this will do the trick"...
    The only alternative is to put nothing in at all !
    :o
     
  27. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    There is though, when some locos "substitute" when it wasn't intended.
    Sometimes it's just a matter of layers lining up and triggering it.
    I don't see High Iron advertising anywhere their stuff layers into Sand Patch Grade.
    It was discovered later.

    If it was intentional, they'd have advertised it as a "feature" like everyone else does for every little thing =-)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Helpful Helpful x 1
  28. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028

    About twenty odd years ago I was on class 37 hauled Railtour heading to Swansea and some freight only lines. I can't remember the exact circumstances but we came to a stop at Gloucester. I think it was a scheduled stop for driver changeover. Behind us was a Cross Country train bound for Cardiff.

    As some of you will know, the old carriages didn't have Central door locking and despite frequent announcements from the station staff and the train staff that it wasn't a public service, a family still got on. Next stop for us was Swansea, they were charged Railtour prices and would have had to buy separate tickets to get from Swansea back to Cardiff. Always remember that.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  29. Strat-tastic

    Strat-tastic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2024
    Messages:
    652
    Likes Received:
    565
    GWE too.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  30. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    There weren't any 37s on services at that point?
     
  31. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028
    There were plenty on railtours.
     
  32. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    Yes, but I mean regular runs that they might be confused with?
     
  33. marcsharp2

    marcsharp2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2019
    Messages:
    3,174
    Likes Received:
    6,028
    To normal passengers, a train is a train.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  34. trainsimuser

    trainsimuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2025
    Messages:
    682
    Likes Received:
    1,003

    R stock trains and co/cp had interlock so they wouldn’t have moved if a door was open thankfully which sounds like was needed giving how busy they would have been.
     
  35. trainsimuser

    trainsimuser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2025
    Messages:
    682
    Likes Received:
    1,003
    This is the thing and many train enthusiasts don’t understand this because they know (or think they know) everything so does Joe Public. I have zero interest in rugby but people who do will talk to me about rules and points etc like I should know because they have it as a hobby.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  36. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2024
    Messages:
    706
    Likes Received:
    755
    Ah ok, apparently there are some game mechanisms I've missed...
    I thought every service (and the corresponding traction) were consciously chosen beforehand.
    So how does it work ?
    Is there, for example, a category, like "British DMU", and the game pickup randomly any stock from that category (and we end up with a 166 on the Mildmay route for example) ?
    Or is it an automatic mechanism for those who don't own all the layers required for a route?
    I'm struggling to understand how this could happen in a truly unintentional way ! :o
     
  37. Rob39

    Rob39 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2018
    Messages:
    1,961
    Likes Received:
    2,160
    Substitutions are dictated by train length, power, number of axles. Also a region tag that every train carries. As a method for subbing, when you get to 100 or so relevant dlcs. Its not really fit for purpose and is a bit of a minefield. If specific loco types were listed in the region box. The system would work flawlessly.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  38. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    Yeah, I don't know all the details. It has to do with the tags/labels and how they're put in. But also that relates to what they're based on. So if you are using the "base" of say the Dash 8 and didn't change it, then the "updated" version would likely (as the ATSF Dash 8 does) sub in for the Dash 8 in CSX colors on Sand Patch grade.
    It's not planned...they just didn't change the label (I think)
    It is weird that it doesn't go the other way though.
    You can't then take the CSX Dash-8 into Cajon Pass where the ATSF Dash-8 goes.
    It'd still be weird either way, but I wonder why one works and the other direction doesn't.
    Or why the CSX Dash-8 can layer onto MBTA and the ATSF not.
    It's just odd how each is programmed differently I think.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2026
    • Like Like x 1
  39. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    13,970
    Likes Received:
    21,380
    Well, SPG is set around 10 years ago, when BNSF Dash 8s were still around, in fact being pulled out of mothballs and recomissioned*- many of them still in faded Santa Fe warbonnet.

    *regulations can produce odd results sometimes
     
  40. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780


    I hope they don't edit this out arbitrarily.
    This could be very easily a "game feature" by just expanding the destination folder.
    Could even go the other way quite easily.

    This tells us so much about how the game is made too since they use basically the same template files as TSW. Is Gordon just a Scotsman with different UI and outer appearance? Is Diesel just a Class 8?

    Looks like so much fun and improves the playability of SODOR immensely!

    Aren't there even locomotives mentioned in in the lore that visit and don't have faces?

    edit:
    Most are not in fact usable. I'm not sure if it's the files or something in the Thomas game. After driving them for a short while, the controls become "untouchable" (you can't interact with them anymore.)

    Oddly, this has happened with Thomas characters too on occasion from the base game, even without any of the TSW locos involved. It seems to happen more often on the TSW ones though, which is expected since there's probably system dependencies involved that aren't even used in Thomas.

    Not sure what's causing it in the Thomas characters though but at least it's much rarer.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2026 at 3:12 AM
  41. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    I may have figured it out. If you go from "8" view external back to "1" the controls lock out.
    If you go from "2" or "3" back to "1" then they return.
    Weird.
     
  42. antony.henley

    antony.henley Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2019
    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    I will mention then what ever you do, dont press the "T" button, it permanently locks your controller out and yeah you have to close the game and start again lol.
    I have mentioned this to Jamie

    Hentis
     
    • Like Like x 2
  43. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    2,780
    T as in the normal key for the list of upcoming stops?
     
  44. antony.henley

    antony.henley Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2019
    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    4,314

    Yep... What ever you do DO NOT PRESS it lol.

    Its like a "Wet paint" sign. You will touch the painted area to see if its wet....

    Honestly you will press the T Key... you are itching too now...

    Hentis

    :D
     
    • Like Like x 2

Share This Page