Abstracted from the other thread discussIng what routes we are currently playing, thought I would start a wibble re my current idea of playing through TSW. Basically in the route menu use the A to Z option (well it’s more like A to W) and start methodically playing through each and every route in turn - no exceptions. It’s probably the only way to revisit old content that has fallen off the radar and otherwise gets ignored. Ideally use Journey Mode if you still need to advance that, unless of course it throws up a short run or something in the wretched Training Centre, in which case either call up the actual list and skip to something more meaty, or just use the Timetable. Progress so far has just brought me to Birmingham CrossCity and several routes before that (such as Arosa and Bernina), I haven’t touched in a long time. After BCC comes the two Boston routes and, while I played Sprinter a fair bit, haven’t spent much time on the Worcester Line. And yes, in a few days I will have to steel myself for the 25 MPH trundle across Cane Creek. The exception to this campaign might be if I buy a new route or train DLC, but the intention would always be to return where I left off in the list. You could also do this for individual train and loco types though that might be more complex, with multiple sub variants and deciding which route to spin them on.
It's a nice idea and an interesting concept. I'm playing in order of release date. Which is somewhat harder, due to having to play the old stuff first (barring the remastered WSR, GWE and ECW). It reminds me which routes I did like but haven't played in a while, on the other hand there is the reminder of why I really don't like other stuff I'm now halfway the TSW 3 era, having fun on Bremen Oldenburg, which turns out to be really good. One big thing reaffirmed for me: I don't like US freight....
I just a job on Birmingham cross city I thought the 323s had suspension. Does the Manchester commuter 323 have suspension.
I play routes A-Z, but just the scenarios. I'm currently in on WCMLS, and will start back down on the bottom of the list to get caught up with the others. Although, with the new Forza out, TSW isn't much of interest at the moment.
BCC really deserves a remaster. Playing it now and Journey threw up an evening run in the dark from Redditch to Lichfield. Unfortunately it really is in the dark, even the stations are not that well lit. This is the second city of England, but from Kings Norton into New Street there’s hardly any evidence of buildings with lights on or street lamps, let alone the ambient light pollution that would shroud the whole area. In addition, the 323 and stations need announcements, the tunnels and overhead structures need reverb and now we know it can be done, clatter over underline structures too. Still, it’s not a bad trip out in the 323 even if it is the ultimate bus stop route and with all safety systems on should net a nice haul of AP.
I have my own spreadsheet with a list of all the routes, including branch lines and those DLC with multiple routes. Occasionally, I randomize the order of the list and play a timetable service on each of the routes. Indeed a way to make sure I get to enjoy older content and routes I'd normally wouldn't drive. Sometimes these routes surprise me, and they're more fun than I had remembered. Sometimes not though, and I get remembered why I don't drive specific routes.
Thanks mate. Im guessing that route has never been upgraded or anything like that. Is slow route top speed.
Thanks by sound of all that I'll just stick with bernina I think. Whats the lighting like is like blinding the day pitch black at night.
If you run in snow at night not too bad, but it's same as any other older route so actually daytime isn't too bad if you avoid full sun at mid-day. Fairly certain you don't get the silly adaptive eye feature entering and leaving tunnels, either.
It does, but the enhancement pack on TrainSimCommunity really gives it a big new lease of life, as well as the timetables that are available. Regarding your idea, I can safely say I would manage a couple of hours before landing on an old route that I absolutely do not want to spend time on. Can I uninstall DLC before starting? JB
Ah, that would not quite be in the spirit of the exercise. Which reminds me, must check all mine is installed. At one point, I did rotate most of the US routes out. There’s are few that are my kryptonite like Cane Creek, but then the fun is to take the sour and the sweet.
Yes. You can't skip anything . I do pick one of the shorter services when I come across a route I don't really like, so it doesn't become complete torture.
I’m a fellow completionist who is in the process of doing something very similar to this (by country, and by game, not A-Z). One thing I’ve found very frustrating is that because I’ve changed platforms recently, I’m missing a lot of gold and green ticks in the menu. I really wish there was a way to do this. I’m not looking for the AP, or even the individual services to Mark as complete, but I would love to be able to Mark routes that I’ve finished on other platforms as complete.
Vern on Berninalinie its say one layer from arosa is that from the anniversary pack if can buy with the arosa route or do I need the route for it layer in . Thanks
Yes it seems to work without the Arosa line, but not sure what it does. Seems it only adds the panorama coach.
That's the "B's" done, then. Boston to Worcester is a nice route and I like it better than Boston Sprinter, though it should really have gone on to Springfield like its TSC counterpart. And while I like loco hauled trains, all stops with a F40 (which always seems to spawn in rather than the HSP46), stopping and starting every couple of miles with those ponderously slow MBTA trains elevates "bus stop" to an all new level. Anyhow, that means (Novo)Ca(i)ne Creek is only a Cajon away, so I will have my library book handy to read for that one...
Do you guys do the really short timetable services.. I mean those that are literally just a couple of minutes long? Doesn’t it take longer to load the game than actually play the ‘route’?
I like to do all types of service on a route, to get a good feel of all the operations that take place there. Also often chaining depot moves and subsequent passenger services.
For this exercise I'm more or less taking whatever the Journey throws at me, but in terms of revisiting the route I would prefer it not to be a shunting or quick ECS or light engine move but something that takes in a substantial part of the route.
I am working my way through timetables and scenarios on UK routes in release order, I am currently finishing off Cathcart. By doing this I get to complete the route, I learn the route because I am basically living in it for so long. This is not for everybody as it requires a lot of staying power because it can take months to complete a route, I get to know the train well as I served my time driving it. The A to W idea gets more variety for sure, but then I would be how do I drive this train again, leaving me hunting for buttons.
That’s a fair point about route learning… it’s quite difficult thing to do. I did Preston to Carlisle and think I got all of the sections where you have to power down… I had to watch the track all the time for 95 miles as I didn’t know where they were. (I know you’re meant to watch the track all the time but it’s dead easy to miss a sign board if you glance away.) I’ve got notes for MKeynes to Euston.. but there aren’t many speed changes on that route so it shouldn’t be too hard to learn.
Preston to Carlisle is not easy from what I hear, but that can make it rewarding to learn I am sure. I think once you learn a route and the train itself it makes playing the route more fun and it makes you feel like an expert. I remember I completed Bakerloo timetable and scenarios, then I went back a few months later and could I hell figure out how to move the train. Also, I would guess there are players who buy a route, play it once or twice, but never really get their monies worth from it, play the timetable and you get your moneys worth, you not just driver a train, but operate like a train company providing a full service.
Made it through Cane Creek, by virtue of some extreme fast running so next up is Cardiff City. Though a slight distraction is occurring having reinstalled MSFS2020!
Exactly.. I like Riviera, GWR, WCML and ECML the most. Bakerloo is also good and pretty challenging with the frequent stops and fairly low speeds and I’ve not mastered braking yet on that line. I won’t mention Class 66 braking which seems a nightmare to judge!
Bakerloo is easy for braking once you get the hang of it, try and aim to be doing no more than 20 mph at the begining of the platform as you arrive into a station. The class 66 braking alone isn't a problem, but if the 66 has a load of cargo behind it, you have to remember all that weight takes time to stop. The braking is also on a level system, the longer you push the brake the more brake applies, there are no notches. If you push the brake handle for 2 seconds you get something like 20% brakes, if you hold the brakes for longer you get more brakes applying, it feels weird at the start, but once you get use to it you csn see why brakes were done this way. Riviera, GWR, WCML and ECMLare all good routes, the GWR ties up well with Rivera even though it is kinda the wrong time. WCML I lived near, very good route, loads of things to do on it. ECML another soild choice. SEHS is a good route if you have all the add ons, it has a good variety of trains to drive, nice services. East Coastway is a nice sea side holiday route to chill out on, the standard gets the modern 377 electrostar type of train, but if you get the add on you get the 313 it replaces the 377 with the older 313 when they wanted the 377's for the Brighton to London route I think?East Coastway nicely connected to the Brighton line which I have started doing the timetable on now, the Brighton route gives a nice selection of trains to drive, it is a route that comes up often when remasters are mentioned and you can see why, such a nice route and you even get to drive GWE 166's although only for a short hop. West Sommerset railway is good, a real summer holiday type of route, Liam worked his magic on it, you have two timetables steam or diesel, the only problem with the route is the speed limit. I think Matt suggested you can ignore the speed limit.
Some great info there.. thx.. I do also have SEHS but haven’t used it much yet.. I’ve thought about the other routes you’ve mentioned but not jumped in yet! I guess I need more practice with the 66
The 66 took me a while to get the braking ok im still not that great at braking with it but i know how works now . Keep practicing you'll get the hang of it.
SEHS kinda reminds me of GWE, you have high speed runs in the Javalin and then the electric star 375 /395 and the 465 and 700 giving you start stop routes and the 66 for freight. The SEHS is due to get an performance upgrade or is in process. Plus the new route that kinda bolts on to it Medway Valley Line, it runs from some of the stations in SEHS to a new route which people are mad about.
I had a go at Bakerloo today.. and the PS crashed.. the first time that’s happened :-( Then I had a go on SEHS and somehow managed a SPAD right at the end as I stopped at the end of the platform. The red light is almost right next to the stop marker… boo hoo.. I did the service again and made sure I stopped bang on the marker. The speeds are all odd though.. kmph in the cab, mph on the hud.. with speeds on the hud that don’t apply.. so I relied on the trains speed display.. but missed a 25mph and got a speeding ticket.. :-( Finished off with the scenario missing track works.. so a mixed night.
The HUD gives speeds in mph because the current HUD can only display speeds in mph or km/h depending on the route. It wasn't designed for a route like SEHS where the units change depending on where you are on the route. The HUD always gives the line speed whereas TVM (the in-cab signalling system) gives you a speed depending on the signals, so it will show you a lower speed if you are approaching a train in front, for example. Also, there are a few areas that are signalled with another signalling system (KVB, I think it's called). As far as I understand this won't give you any warning but it will apply the emergency brakes if you overspeed (and I've been caught out by that a few times myself). It's installed around St Pancras and Ashford and possibly Ebbsfleet as well. I hope that helps.
I’ve use a random number generator to determine which route I play and do the services in time order. Whilst it doesn’t mean for most routes I’m doing the early hours night time runs, I do find these are generally more varied and interesting then the usual 9-5 as my interest is mostly shunting and freight services.
Yes, you can kick yourself for SPADing, but it happens, the main thing is you played the route again. Yes, it is a bit strange having kmph, but you get use to it.
Heat? My PC had a thermal shutdown yesterday evening, so this morning I’m going to open the case and go to town with the compressed air spray. Probably taking a slight break from my A to Z as my new joystick arrives today (subject to Amazon Prime) and it’s high time I got some flying done. Don’t know what it is, but hot, lazy days with clear blue skies and glorious sunshine always makes me want to dust off the flight sims. And Neofly offers the career/mission generator that default MSFS2020 lacks so looking forward to trying that.
I used to do masses of FS using Vatsim, I was a member of BA Virtual etc, plus played loads of good old combat FS and Sturmovik. Sadly my pc is really ancient, really ancient and my ancient Mac won’t run them… it was either a new pc I couldn’t afford or a PS.. so a PS5 it was and FS is hopeless on Ps5 without proper joysticks etc. Shame as I miss it but I’ve never heard of neofly..
I reached the start of TSW 4 in my chronological playthrough, and with Antelope Valley I thought it was time for a side step. I haven't really played enough of the newer (TSW 3 onwards) US passenger routes, so I decided to give that a serious go. Also picked up Stamford line on sale today I think of the 3 major blocks of adjacent routes (LA, NY and Boston) I'll probably like New York best. Let's see
