Alan Thompson Simulation Route Discussion/speculation Thread

Definitely 25s and 31s. I have a core memory of getting to sit in the secondman's seat of (I'm fairly sure) a 25 at Bangor during a stop - I got to toot the horn lol. Couldn't have been more than 4 or 5, so 85 or 86. Not sure when the 37/4s took over most of the Regional Railways stuff. 156s were on the route from new, followed by 158s. Even young me knew they were evil.

Still lots of loco-haulage down the coast well into the 90s (think the 37/4s lasted beyond 2000 even but I'd moved away by then). Sometimes the London-Holyheads still had the 86/87 tucked in behind the 47. There's photo evidence of a 90 making it to Bangor before someone at control realised it wasn't cleared for the route.

 

I don't really see anything wrong with the Class 33 as it is.

 

I think a class 37 in a different livery/spec would definitely be the highlight for me out of those since the 47 and 101 have been in basically every BR route, however I do love the 40.

I'll be honest I've barely heard of a class 25 but it looks like a nice medium sized loco similar to the 31.

 

Yes an unrefurbished BR blue class 37 would be great. The class 25 was a type 2 as was the class 31, I have always loved the sound of the class 25 and would love to be able to drive one in TSW. I always thought they were more interesting than the class 31.

 

So allegedly on the PC version of Manchester Airport Commuter there are hidden references to a Class 156 that can be found in the layer selector. I can't see this for myself since the console version doesn't have it but that's quite interesting. Maybe someone on PC could check?

 

The Scotrail 158 runs those services, at least in xbox

 

Likely just the name of the layers, similar to other TSW routes.

Looks like the diagrams for 156, 158 & 156/158 accordingly.

That being said I’d love to finally get a Northern DMU & given DTG + Rivet can’t seem to get a grip on the 150 & Skyhook not developing new traction, I’d rather ATS take a shot at my favourite sprinter.

 

Slightly off topic but this is the sort of thing that's always stopped me from getting into TSC. I see so many routes that I'd love to drive, only to then see a huge list of extra add ons that are apparently "required" and even more ones that are recommended to have a half decent experience. It just becomes prohibitively expensive.

That's why despite it's faults, I'll always prefer TSW. Apart from it being easier for me to access on console, every route for the most part is largely designed to be played straight out of the box.

 

I've had TSC since back in the day when it was titled Railworks 2. I still play it because I have a large collection of routes and stock that I am very much not done with yet. For a "veteran" like me, that makes sense. But if I was new to train simulation, TSW would be a no-brainer because of all the points you make. And, smoking hot take - the average DTG train in TSW is a match for the functionality AP or Christrains or VR offer in TSC (just my opinion, be nice haha). Add to that the way layering works, silently adding more AI as you acquire DLC, as opposed to TSC's much clunkier way of managing your collection, and of course availability on more platforms.TSW gets critique for its UI, but TSC, whilst a good and very versatile simulator, is a horrible, archaic user experience and a pita to manage once mods, freeware and third party payware enter the equation.

 

Not to mention half the time the dependency sites are gone, link to a placeholder or even worse somewhere that’s going to search your HD for your email and debit card details.

The scavenger hunt is why I now, with a few exceptions, only go for what’s sold on Steam even if that means missing out. I never did get the Czech route mentioned a few weeks ago on the TSC forum downloaded let alone installed.

So I still keep a curated collection of TSC stuff installed, mainly for the type of routes and rolling stock which will never make it into TSW (such as more steam). But I rarely play it, more likely to fire up SimRail or Run 8 as an alternative to TSW.

 

Frankly, AP has done great damage to TSC.

 

Tbf, AP do that same with their own packs.

 

How?

 

You know, it would really help your case if you actually provided evidence for these claims you like to make.

 

Yes - especially after the 'incident'

 

The class 33 is way too quiet. You can barely hear it over the sound of the mk1/mk2’s. Obviously it goes without saying that it requires a BR blue paint job.

 

Definitely br blue and maybe a few others

 

A ‘headcode’ version of the class 37 would be great. I do feel we need the Armstrong Powerhouse enhancement though, as the current soundpack is underwhelming to say the least. This may prove difficult, however, due to the “great damage AP has done to TSC”

 

Agree. If you ever got behind one of these when they worked Cardiff to Portsmouth or even better Waterloo to Exeter, then the TSW sounds are a shadow of what they should be. Storming up Honiton Bank with 8 or 9 coaches on, full throttle, flat out they rasped away to some fine tune!

 

What incident? For those of us who enjoy drama but don't have time to follow things to find out about said drama.

 

They have erected - aided and abetted by the rest of the community - an absurdly expensive barrier to entry for UK content.

 

The big drama, or incident is someone is not happy because of the price of stuff, you can't make this stuff up it's so insanely nuts.....


You just got to love madness of humanity......

 

ISTR there were grumblings over the quality of their 745 (?) for TSC along with a bit of dirty washing in public re development hell.

 

Yeah, not only that, whilst travelling as a passenger in TSW, the 33 is sounding at full throttle even when slowing down to 5/10mph - needs a serious sound upgrade, especially if it was to make an "upgraded" reappearance

 

Anyone who hasn’t clocked it yet, ATS are making a Class 90. So the rumours of them abandoning are indeed false, and the rumours of them making a loco dlc are true..

 

I know I said this, but after the class 90 announcement today I'm having a bit of a tinfoil hat Voyager moment.