To Skyhook games Hi Jane, Thank you for coming to this forum and introducing yourself to all the users. As for myself, I worked class 158s all through the 1990s, right from the time they first started using them in the Westcountry. I used to guard these units from Exeter to Penznce and Exeter to Bristol Cardiff and Hereford. As I am interested in the 158, and only just purchased the DLC I thought I would do an early morning walk around at the depot and have a good look at the 158 that you have reproduced for the game. One of the problems of the real units that I worked on was the regular failing of the AC systems. When they failed it was the guard's job to restart the Air con. You were allowed three attempts to start it before putting a US label on it and booking it as a failure. So I was disappointed on my walk around the sim unit to find out that the cupboard for the Air con has not been included. The cupboards were in the end vestibules behind the second man's seat, but next to the guards door controls. It would be nice to have the cupboards there, even if we can't open them. Also having a drive of the sim unit, I find them to be a little underpowered on acceleration, taking a very long time to reach 80mph. If I remember correctly, their acceleration was better than you have reproduced. But any way thank you for reproducing the class 158 and bringing memories back for me, Regards, Terry
Any idea if the 158's you worked on were the 400 HP variants? The MML Class 158 is simulated after the 350 HP engine and the performance matches the data I have quiet well. Another thing is that the DMUs actually run quite heavily loaded with passengers on MML in the game, in contrast to most other DLC to TSW. Perhaps a little too loaded Two examples: 1. Accelerating after the speed limit changes from 25 mph to 40 mph at Nottingham the train should reach between 70 and 75 mph (if no running brake test is made) passing the gantries at Beeston South according to a EMR Class 158 driver. The in-game train is within these limits. 2. Going full throttle leaving Long Eaton in the direction of Derby the train should reach 90 mph around the 100 mph board before Spondon. Again the in-game 158 reaches this board at like 88-89 mph.
Hey Terry, I am sorry, I missed you posting this as I don't get to see all the threads. I really appreciate your feedback. I won't dig deep in to it as I see the amazing Will is on the case! Thank you for sharing, your comments are really fascinating to me as a fan as well as developer. Jane
Well there is a hill test if you can drive up the X City from Bromsgrove on fast lines. I used to be a guard when Regional Railways and Central Trains had 158s, both Cummins and Perkins types. When not stopping at Bromsgrove, and passing the base of the Lickey at around 80mph we'd get a balancing speed of around 45mph at the summit, and reaching 90mph passing Longbridge Jn. The scenario planner's path, I think makes you start at Bromsgrove station which was rebuilt slightly further north, so you'll probably make around 38-40mph up the hill if you're lucky, but still 90mph by around Longbridge station.
