Dtg Train Simulator Corrupted Update For 2026.

DTG Jamie we are getting close to 2 months into this fiasco.

 

Am I just being lucky or do I have a good solution?
I had no issues at all after this update and only found out that people have issues when I belatedly read this thread.
In my case nothing broke and, in fact, one route was fixed! That being Keighley & Worth Valley which had been crashing for months when loading scenarios due to problems with signals which were broken by a previous DTG update! (I believe the same issue occurs with the Stainmore route). As soon as the update was installed, the K&WV route worked again without fault. Of course that's not a DTG route but someting in the update fixed... something.

When I launch TSC I do it using a batch (.bat) file as instructed in a thead on this forum. I use these commands...

@ECHO OFF
IF EXIST "verify_cache_key" DEL "verify_cache_key"
Start "" "RailWorks64.exe"

As I understand it, by making sure the file called "very_cache_key" is not present in the game's root folder, Steam will not touch any asset or route files during an update (or at any other time). I have a full backup of the game and all content and after the update I did a full like-for-like file comparison. The core files were updated but no content was touched at all. I'm assuming this is why I haven't had issues. Can anyone confirm this or am I just being lucky?

I realise that this approach is of no use if a player actually WANTS content to be fixed or updated.

 

Or just execute the "RailWorks64.exe" from your pc toolbar (outside of Steam)

 

I don't understand what you mean by that. When I do that it just connects to Steam or tells me I have to run Steam first even if I've created a custom icon pointing straight to the .exe. Same thing if I start TSC straight from Elgato Stream Deck (button box). How do you run TSC completely independently of Steam? I'd still have to connect to Steam eventually wouldn't I, for updates and purchases?

 

Some people have a separate version of their game which Steam does not see or alter.

I have v72.3 on a different drive and if I wish to add things I purchased I just copy them across from the main installation..
Steam will never touch this other version and nothing will get overwritten unless I do it.

 

OK, you need to spell this out for me Peter.
I have (and always have had) a full backup (file by file) of TSC. It's a copy of the current TSC version installed by Steam on my PC, all routes, all assets and lots of third party stuff as well. This is on a external USB HD and I usually update the backup every month (if I remember)!

When I double-click the Railworks64.exe on the backup drive I immediately get a pop saying "Please Login to Steam". The same happens if I create a shortcut icon to the backup .exe. How do I get around this to avoid Steam? Or, are you saying that if I allow Steam to run, it will only ever touch the "main" installation? I've always assumed that if I run TSC from the backup, Steam would then "see" that version and update it.

 

You cannot play the game without logging in to Steam.

Steam sees the main version on your PC and because your backup has every file in the main drive Steam sees that too.
When you install another version on a different drive certain files are not installed so Steam does not update it.
https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...ly-install-old-ts-versions-next-to-tsc.71041/

"This guide will create a second (or more if you wish) TSC/TS20xx installation, which is completely independent from your main installation, so it's not dangerous at all. And it will never be affected by Steam updates or file verifications."

 

Ah yes. I remeber reading the guide when it first appeared. Back then I decided it was "too much bother" unless I wanted an old version installed (which is what the guide is specifically for). But deleting verify_cache_key and having a full not-bang-up-to-date backup is doing the job for me at the moment.

 

I don't think updates are ever carried out on anything other than the default installation.

You can go "Offline" in steam to avoid updates. But your system works for you, so I would stick with it.

If you get updated, you can copy across the missing files from a backup. They won't be interfered with by updates.

John

 

How many uk routes payware and freeware are affected? My tsc is solely setup for the uk, picked up JT complete midland package during the resent JT sales and haven’t had a single issue, same with a number of ats merged routes, western mainline electricfied mods a couple of decent routes from the workshop and so far so good…(so will go check these others out)

Mind you I did do a complete uninstall reinstall of tsc including all my dlc along with all the AP enhancements and so far so good loading from steam..

im more nervous with the recent sales and with a couple of dlc I have ear marked to grab when back home, as for some reason whenever I’ve bought new DLC as of late it feels the need to reinstall/verify all my steam dlcs files rather then just install the purchased DLC which then breaks a lot of my AP and ATS stuff requiring reinstall of those again!

 

It only affects the Steam versions of certain third party DLCs, as well as the DTG Class 142 and LIRR. Anything that wasn’t bought on Steam will not be affected in any way.

 

No worries, I don’t use the 142 nor anything from the usa..I still have quite a number of dlc from steam but yes mainly are just to ensure I have the assets for updated 3rd party lines/enhancements

 

The JT Common Library and Im Koblitzer Bergland are the ones that are the most annoying for me, although luckily I have a backup of IKB and I haven’t noticed any issues with the JT assets I’m using on the route I’m building.

 

This! People always say: "just do a backup". My TSC install is so large, I can´t just copy it somewhere and back it up. I don´t even bother with reinstall anymore at this point. If I notice something has been reset, I do it on the fly. Only AP Weather, Signals etc. are done right away. Thankfully all the AP trains stay the same after these stupid file verifications.

 

I have two Railworks folders on my F & G drives.
The G drive is the one that has been there for years and get affected by the file verifications that Steam does.

My F drive TSC is not affected by Steam - nothing gets updated unless I copy files from the G Drive.
In the Sale I purchased a couple of things that got copied from G to F and work perfectly.

If you were to do something like that you would not have to bother with any more file verifications

 

I am afraid I am one of "those" that says exactly that. Having spent over 20 years self-employed in the IT world, I couldn't think of not having backups of everything. A suggestion based on my experience:

Many years ago I purchased an external USB device that you could insert old HDDs into, it wasn't expensive. I used this for a computer upgrade to replace a client's dead one. I now use several HDDs extracted from old PCs to back up my PC, which has a lot more than just TS on it. I have enough from discarded PCs in my own household to hold two backups of everything - as is said in the trade, have a backup for your backups! And just to show what a luddite I am, I keep them off-site too.

You may feel that's a bit over the top, but maybe you can pick some ideas out of my way of work.

Here's a link to a range of devices on Amazon, but one doesn't have to buy there of course:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/usb-hdd-adapter/s?k=usb+to+hdd+adapter

John

 

To add to that, I have backups of every 3rd party installation file, freeware and payware for the past 7 years that I have added to TSC.

 

This is getting like a "my backups are better than your backups" game!!! But, I also have a backup on HDDs of every drive/volume on my system. Some stuff gets backed up several times a week, other stuff once a month and other stuff only if it significantly changes - and that includes TSC. But, I am so paranoid I also have another HDD that has backups of the backups of my most important items (like my million and one personal photo collection). I keep that drive locked in a cupboard well away from my PC room in the hope that if the PC got damaged or (somehow) stolen, the backup of the backup would still be safe. Someone said that i should use cloud backup in case the house burned down (!) but, I kind of think my PC might not be my biggest concern at that point.