Dovetail Games Metrolink F59phr - Preview Q & A Thread

Looking forward to the stream!!
My questions are the following:

- Are there plans to bring in the old Metrolink livery (blue and white)? In general out of interest: Did Metrolink not want to have the old livery included? Or was it a DTG decision?

- Is the loco getting a completely new timetable for both routes? If yes, could you add the substitution for the Union Pacific SD70ACe on San Bernardino? It’s only available on Antilope so it would be very nice to have it here as well!

- Given the fact that with this loco we have almost the entire Metrolink stock in game, will we ever see another Metrolink route? Or will the DTG plans shift towards another area of the US?

 

Is the side door usable, or can you only get in from the front?
Will it come with a cab car?

 

What a lot of us American players are interested in is if this loco DLC will include a cab car to go with the bilevels.

 

I’m really looking forward to this DLC and hopefully future Metrolink DLCs!

My question is, will Antelope Valley be receiving any scenery updates as part of this DLC release? For example, the entire area around LA Union got a really nice update for San Bernardino Line. If not a complete update, will we at least see some scenery fixes? For example, could we see the big hole next to Metro Headquarters (the tall building right next to the station) filled in?

Another question, if we get an update to the timetable, can off map destinations be shown like they are in San Bernardino line? Currently most of the trains leaving LA Union will just show “Not in service”. In addition, the Ventura line trains only show “Burbank” on the screen when it should say that it’s going towards East Ventura.

 

Do the exterior blinds work?

 

Which safety systems will the F59 PHr have in TSW?

Will there be more traffic at LA Union in AVL like in SBD?

When will we get back the fast moving external camera on consoles via gamepad?

 

It layers on Antelope Valley route?

 

Is this available for 8th gen Xbox One S?

 

1. This pack seems to include the “grey bilevels” does that mean the blue stripe ones, the ribbon ones, or both? And does it include the ex-cab cars. I am assuming yes to both since they are already in SBD but just confirming.

2. Is DTG aware of/planning to correct the issue with the bilevels in game only pulling from 10 different unit numbers, meaning they repeat often right next to each other or in the same train. In real life Metrolink has quite a few more unit numbers.

3. Does the MP36 on AVL require the F59 dlc? Yesterday patch notes said it would add MP36 to AVL but so far it’s not working/showing up.

4. Any hints or plans for future LA area DLC that can use the now fully complete Metrolink roster?

 

will F59PHR be compatible with rotem cab car? so that we can create mixed formations of rotem cars with bombardier cars and the rotem cab car at the other end as seen in real life

 

They already said no in the roadmap

 

Any sound improvements for existing rolling stock? After MBTA Commuter The Rotem cars feel completely silent. And if they do make some kind of sound, it sounds very quiet.

 

Will there be a pre order for the f59phr

 

Is there a backup horn and can we see the fuse panel

 

I decided to find out when the stream will be and...

There is definitely something wrong with that date.

Allright, youtube as always forgot to notify me. And now I have a very important question:

Where is the current speed? It's unreadable, don't you think?

 

Dtg is aware of the speedometer issue

 

It's been pretty clear that no-one proof reads DTG copy. Errors like this, spelling and grammatical mistakes are frequent.

 

That’s Ok, l don’t need to buy it twice, just for Steam then.

 

Just as a note to add for those unfamiliar. With the release of this F59PHR, this is when you will now use those white spot signs at all of the stations. There are white and blue signs at each station stop with the car numbers on them. The white signs are for the F59 and the blue signs are for the MP36 and F125. The F59 is several feet shorter than the F125 and MP36 hence why there are different signs with different colors.

 

With this in mind, will the stopping points in game be updated to the correct stopping points for the F59? Or will the services still use the MP36 and F125 stopping points for the stop marker at station stops?

 

I wouldn’t get my hopes up, I think a lot of them are wrong even for the current stock. But there’s nothing stopping you from stopping at the correct sign.

 

No glass in the side mirrors???

 

Nope. As always.
In fact, nothing prevents them from making mirrors optional in the settings. With a choice of reflection resolution and distance(usually a mirror is just a second camera that renders the image behind in low resolution with little range and low detail level). For powerful PCs this is real, for weak ones and consoles(coz memory limit) you will have to turn it off, which will cause intense negative discussions. Apparently, that's why they don't do it.

 

So many comments and no one noticed the error in the month?! What the hell...

 

It was noticed and posted already. Just a careless error, but should have been proof read.

 

I mean, nothing prevents you from stopping in the correct spot. Pretty sure the stop markers are wrong even with the current DLC. It really only matters if you care about the points and scoring system. I’m not playing an arcade game so the points and scoring were turned off almost immediately for me.

 

#mindblown

 

Not sure if the stream has gone due to the incorrect date but a couple of belated questions from me. To the non US customer and as one who has removed most of the North American routes to save disc space, this is just another GM “box”.

So please to explain…
How did this add on fulfil the LAMPOIL benchmarks?
Why is the US getting yet another loco but you ignore repeated requests for something other than the 66 to haul our UK freight - a 56, 60 or 70?
This appears to be the only North American DLC currently in production so what’s the point in another loco if you are not building any more US or Canadian routes? And rather than this, why not an Amtrak Superliner set and P42 or at the outside a reworked F40?

 

I am under the impression all USA licenses are under scrutiny. BNSF, CSX, UP, we haven't seen any new for quite some time, and what we have in Cane Creek for instance is rather stale.
No Amtrak Superliners, F40, P42 for the western lines? No AEM, new gen Acela, Siemens Charger for the lines east? These are Amtrak's flagship services and one should think they want it promoted for a bit.

The fact that DTG is UK based does seem to be making acquiring/extending licenses difficult.

 

Also I wonder if Run 8 etc. are competing for exclusive licences? I saw a veiled reference on the Hy-Rail FB page this morning that they might be working on an Amtrak F40. Even though I haven’t played Run 8 for a while and the new Savannah extension for the south east still looks like graphics @2002, they are at least pushing forward quite nicely.

So rolling back on to topic for the Q&A to DTG - are the North American licences generally now in some jeopardy?

 

well, dtg was given the chance to record and get reference material for the f59 so why shouldn't they make it? Plus it basically completes the metrolink loco collection. Would you rather have zero loco dlc?

 

the new gen acela doesn't even run yet, so making it would be pointless. Aem would be difficult since they can't access one in real life anymore and it would need a backdated nec route.

 

There’s still a few in existence

 

Not quite a problem with licensing itself.
In the preview stream for the F59PHR it was discussed why no new Class one freight routes have come to the game in about two years now. The main reason was actually not the license but rather the fact that the class ones are so busy and don’t have time (or maybe don’t want to due to safety regulations) to be able to provide DTG with recordings for the locos.
Now routes themselves are actually not as big of a problem since many routes available for TSC are not build for TSW. But the fact that the class ones don’t want to/can’t provide audio recording sessions or information on the track themselves makes a new freight routes so much harder to be made.

I have thought a lot on this and to be honest I would also be fine to get at least new routes with the existing rolling stock being upgraded, rather than not having anything. I mean: The last CSX route was published as the FIRST EVER route for TSW, actually even before TSW itself! A new TOD 4 route with the existing CSX rolling stock being upgraded to TOD4 and TSW5 standards would be crazy!!!
I actually really like Sand Patch because of the landscapes. But the rolling stock from this route is amazing! Why? Because we have many different locomotives types with many different liveries! And that’s what Cajon for example is missing; we only have one BNSF livery for all the BNSF locos we have- although there are many more!
And another thing: We also don’t have a Norfolk Southern route apart from Horseshoe; why not do the same procedure and make a new NS route with upgraded locos and introduce the SD70ACe in NS livery? That way we have a “new” loco without the need to record sound…

Regardless, I’m looking at the coming months since the last Player Feedback thingy was almost only about US freight routes- I hope that we’ll see some more in the near future!

 

But aside from the SD40-2, there isn't any other liveries that DTG can do for the other BNSF locomotives, the ES44C4 and SD70ACe were only delivered in the Heritage III paint. To get things like the patched Warbonnets, H1, H2 or the 10 "Sticker" locos, DTG would have to make a C44-9W or ES44DC/AC.

Though the latter should be done at some point, there isn't any reason DTG can't make the other GEVO types aside from playing the "Lack of research" card.


Hell, Kat, one of the more prolific modders on TSW, toyed around with a UP ES44, and it looks great from the shots they shared on the TSC discord.

There's alot that could be done by DTG, but they dont due to the "research" card and the profitable side of the business......

 

Thanks for the additional information- I’m not that deep in the American stuff so I might do some mistakes hahaha

What I can definitely say though: I just gave Sand Patch Grade a full run again and I have to say it’s really nice!
I mean: Soundwise and in terms of “graphics” the Cajon pass stuff is better; but as I said: The amount of liveries and locos makes this one a lot of fun!
Can’t believe DTG apparently never really considered to remaster this route…

 

Given the stream actually seems to have happened several days ago, why on earth haven’t DTG locked this thread to further comments and questions? Feel a bit of an idiot posting earlier then realising the time has already gone. Not that the questions would have been answered…

 

Why does every single thread in this place need to be turned into questions about why UK players haven’t got the Class 1545 Clanker Hoggenbottem loco and every single section of rail in the UK? There’s plenty of UK rant threads to ask about UK content in.

 

I completely agree. However, what really needs to happen IMHO is for the physics on the big freight locos to be upgraded. So many of these locos have issues with braking physics. The big offenders are a too large initial set and dynamic brake behavior.

 

I hear you but how would you feel if all you had for the USA was one type of freight loco?

Anyhow the point is moot now as the stream has already gone and as I said DTG just ignore the awkward questions which don’t belong with the high fives and silly headphones…

 

I have no problems with another UK freight loco and want them to do one I just don’t get why so many UK posters feel the need to incessantly turn every thread into another one griping about demands for UK stuff.

US content is still the most lacking in the game (although improving with DLC like the F59) but I wouldn’t go into UK dlc threads saying why are you building this UK train when you haven’t given us X or Y US train.

From the point of view of someone who plays US trains I’m very happy with a F59 PHR, it is unique from what we have before and Metrolink access has already given us 2 of the best modelled/sounding locos so this one hopefully lives up to that.

 

Oh I agree, there are loads of US locos I would love to see such as some Alco’s and the famous Budd Railcar. I also have a real concern about where DTG are going route wise with the US. Thousands of miles of untapped gems, whether contemporary or historic which is why I also posed the question about that. Anyhow it looks as if the stream has gone and no feedback to the questions before or after either…