Sherman Hill is currently free. Is it worth it at this price? What should I do first on it? What should I expect from the route that isn't mentioned on the store page? That price question was a joke, by the way. The other two aren't.
When I was in my freedom train phase I quite liked the route. Signalling is buggered as far as I can remember though.
It’s okay and for free take it regardless. At launch it had some dreadful performance issues, largely down to the route builder placing high poly grass with no LOD’s way out from the track. That was sorted out in a patch. Operations tend to be the usual US heavy freight - 40 minutes ragging up the hill in Notch 8, then 40 minutes descending the other side fiddling with dynamics. However unlike some other US freight routes, line speeds are quite high and if not careful the train can get away from you going downhill. Unlike TSC, you don’t have the GTEL or the Big Boy to liven things up (unless one or both is the big Christmas reveal of course!).
For context, the only US freight route I've played is Sand Patch Grade. It seems like a pretty decent route from what I've read - I might get to try it later today. I remember it featuring 100 car trains. I'm enjoying the memes/jokes/puns!
Its kind of meh, nothing really exciting, nothing major outside the mainline, and Track 3 on the east slope is missing due to time constraints.
By all TSW weaknesses SMH is good if you want to drive a bit more realistic long american freight trains.
Is it any good for layers on other routes? Currently for the US I have San Bernardino, Cajon Pass, Boston-Providence, MBTA Commuter, New York-Trenton, and LIRR Commuter.
This thing is broken. It shows -100% on the shop page, but when you added it steam wants you to pay full price.
If you own Cane Creek you will get UP AC44 and SD70Ace for Intermodal action at Antelope Valley Line and as AI at San Bernardino Line and as AI on Cajon Pass to. The improved SMH UP SD40-2 will be available at Cane Creek.
This sort of turned me off from Sand Patch route. Just back and forth, back and forth, back and forth got too much for me lol.
I’m not a fan of shunting but some of these US freight routes are quite scenic. As it is free, I have picked it up and will likely as not run an HST along the whole route. If you read the original post, it says that there are two versions listed, one paid and one free. Just select the free one.
There is the only one version for TSW5 and it's not free(look at screenshots). Only way to get it for now - grab a TSW2 version. Ofcourse it will be possible only if you have TSW2 copy in your collection.
I got the TSW5 Version Free on PS5. Perhaps which version depends on which platform. The TSW3 and 2 versions now also show 'purchased'.
I will never say no to a freebie... Does anyone know if the stock from it layers onto any other US routes?
Cajon Pass, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino Line, MBTA: Boston Worchester. Note, only 1 has a playable service, 2 are AI only, and 1 is just rolling stock substitution
There is no problem with the free version on Steam. I managed to get it OK and I don’t have TSW2 on Steam, just TSW4 and 5. I typed Sherman into the search box and all the versions, free and paid, came up.
Played the intro, SD70Ace tutorial, Hill start tutorial, and then the first service in the journey, and I LOVE IT! The train takes an age to fly down in free camera, the horn sounds cool, and on that journey mode service, I was braking to stop before the red signal (the last instruction before the service ended) and was overtaken by another freight train that was also braking for the red signal on the neighbouring track. Obviously, I made a successful effort to stop my intermodal exactly next to it. Also that yard is BIG. Way bigger than Cumberland! I almost feel bad for getting it for free! Happy to hear that there is switching. I like switching.
