Steam Neutral Sections Implementation On German And Austrian Routes

Thanks to solicitr, a matter/bug has been brought to my attention, so I tested it out

He alleged that the neutral section on Semmeringbahn is purely cosmetic... I have always been following those signs showing neutral sections, so I thought they worked on every route and loco... so I tested this on St. Egyden - Neunkirchen section where there is a neutral section

I tested 4024, Vectron, 1116... then for good measure I checked 182 DB, 182 MRCE and then every German BR sth loco I could find, except ICEs... so on Semmeringbahn, 4024 and Vectron WORKED, aka when I didnt open MCB, those cut power and I had to close MCB a bit later to get power back (and BR442 worked somehow?)

and I was like, why 1116 doesnt react, it is a significantly redone loco with nice functionalities... so I wanted to know if this was a matter of loco or route

so I tested 4024, Vectron, 1116 and a couple other locos on Rosenheim Salzburg (Freilassing - Salzburg section) and Vorarlberg (Lindau - Bregenz section), because both have neutral sections that are well known, also cos they cross borders (I believe there are other routes with occasional neutral sections, but dont remember those)

the only loco/train that actually worked across the board was 4024 (tried both Vorarlberg and Semmeringbahn model/version)... others didnt react at all

My conclusion is that the neutral sections are actually implemented route-wise, but only truly implemented train-wise in 4024

This part is purely subjective and my own personal opinion/remark - since Vorarlberg I have thought that neutral sections actually work... so doesnt matter what loco I played on those routes or elsewhere where I encountered neutral sections, I did what signs told me to do - open MCB, wait, close it back... and I feel genuinely sad, like a complete fool... I mean, I know the game isnt the real thing, but still, I was kinda hoping that at least those things we get are kinda close to reality... and... neutral sections are a nice bit of challenge, or at least I thought they were... now I am sad, angry, kinda like when I found out that on US passenger routes (Antelope Valley, Peninsula Corridor) the safety systems arent really enforced

but more... I genuinely believed neutral sections work and welcomed it as another bit of challenge to keep me vigilant when driving those trains... and now I am really, really sad... enough to maybe keep off the game for at least a couple days... or longer :/

 

Cute pic!

I know about this anxiety/OCD stuff - but can you not just pretend it's there and open/close the MCB following the signs before getting depressed? So it won't be noticeable - same as wrong track speeds in the HUD which cease to be a problem when just ignoring it / turning off the HUD and follow the signals and signs as in RL? (I couldn't care less for debriefing scores - you don't get them IRL either, nor do you get platinum medals and achievements.)

You have to live with the lots of flaws TSW has or you'll get frustrated because there's a lot of stuff not working in this game...

Just trying to cheer you up a bit

 

I got over a lot of tiny things... the thing here is I thought it WAS working and was like, nice, cool tech implemented... and now I see that it wasnt there, only in one train... and then, y see, it isnt purely cosmetic, but it just isnt implemented properly.... as for Vectron, no idea why it doesnt work on that one, but it works on Semmeringbahn of all routes

and y know, I would be kinda less sad if they implemented it for the new Taurus, one of my all time fav locos...

 

That's because the Vectron was a complete new development. The Taurus is built on files originating from the RapidTransit BR 182 (one of the very first german TSW locomotives after the 185, 146 and 143), like the wrong lighting values for the reading lights, they have not updated everything for new TSW4 functionality - but most.

So the script to detect a neutral section was not present at that time, and probably too complicated to retrofit (see wrong PZB indicator behaviour after PZB Release).

 

yeah, but Vectron detects neutral section only on Semmeringbahn, but not on Rosenheim or Vorarlberg... which are also quite recent tracks... I dont get it really

 

To be honest, neither do I.

File a support ticket, that's all you can do.

 

As far as I know various trains are bugged and either getting power when they shouldn't, or not getting power at all (e.g. 442). For example, if you spawn a Vectron or another electric locomotive on a UK route that uses third rail instead of overhead lines, or a completely unelectrified line like Niddertalbahn, it will work just fine. If you open and close the circuit breaker it will suddenly realise its not supposed to be working. I think this only started happening after the patch a few days ago.

 

What I love about the Taurus, stop inside a tunnel, open your windows, get moving and listen to the gorgeous sound when the scale starts playing... whoah! (Needless to say that TSW sound without a subwoofer is pointless)

 

ticket submitted, will let you know if they tell me sth of note

 

so, in nutshell, they forwarded my message/ticket for further investigation and the ticket is now closed... I made an additional reply, will see where this goes

 

I just pretend like if I don't perform the correct procedures it will cause damage to the Pantograph even if power still is supplied.
The damage will then be recorded in my fictional performance review.

This worked for me at least... it's how I discount many bugs and inaccuracies in this game.

 

I reported this, along with the implementation (or lack of it) also on other routes, they just thanked me and apparently forwarded it to developers, I guess

well, I do open MCB, wait, and then close it again... and I guess I will have to pretend ... I am also trying to learn these days by being observant during my train rides and when I wait for a train - I watch how much they accelerate, how they manage their speed... and also when a train is pulling out of a station, how fast they disappear

 

thanks to cwf.green I found this out... bloody hell

 

update: thanks to this information from cwf.green, looks like stuff might be different in actual gameplay

so, I tested Vectron in Timetable mode, specifically services where Vectron is set to GER, aka Vorarlberg, Rosenheim and Riesa... and I can confirm that Vectron WORKS in all of them... in Semmeringbahn it WORKS as well

then I tested other locos in Timetable services... BR101 appears to trip only Throttle, so Throttle reset will give power back, as well as on ICE (406)... on Riesa (near Glaubitz station) also 146 WORKS

OBB 1116 DOESNT WORK even in Timetable... looks like it didnt receive the Neutral section functionality treatment like Vectron, which is kind of shame (along with that AFB reset after releasing from LZB thing, which we might get a fix of either later or with the advent of RailJet which hopefully comes sometime)

as a bit of disclaimer, sorry for the inacurate info, but I really havent been aware of that Free roam bug info until today... still, sorry for the inaccuracies

edit: tested BR111 and 103, both WORK (forgot to note if on BR111 you have to just reset the throttle or MCB as well... but on 103 you have to also do MCB if you fail to open it in time)