So after several weeks of playing TSW 3 I find myself playing the Bakerloo line the most, follow by SEHS and then Kassel - Würzburg Route, I’m not into freight so I haven’t played cajon pass.
Cajon Pass is getting nearly all of my play time at present. I do drive the other routes but Cajon Pass is just so good that I am drawn to it every time I turn on my PS5. Household chores are being left not done because I spend so much time driving those orange trains.
I started a new profile and at the moment I'm playing SEH the most. My second place SOS. I hope new steam locos are coming soon. The third place is Cajon Pass. After initial hesitation I tried it and it is so much fun. It takes time to learn, but I like it. I have finished one scenario on Kassel-Würzburg after I tried it several times and always failed because I was too tired and overslept (litterally) the red signals. My first impression was - it is sooooo boring, but I will give it another chance soon because I like the scenery and I like the ICE1.
I'm mostly playing Cajon Pass, because American freight is my thing, particularly switching operations, and this route is turning out to be much better than I originally thought. I'm glad I was able to upgrade my hardware last year, these new routes are pretty demanding if you want to play them at ultra settings.
Kassel Würzburg because German trains are my thing. Since I have TSW3 I find it difficult to finish TSW2 routes. The lighting is so different compared to TSW3 routes.
Of the new routes, probably Wurzburg the most, SEHS the least. SoS not at all. I've actually been enjoying running older legacy routes in the new game engine, probably RSN the most also done a bit on NTP and TVL. Though ironically since finding on Steam the £34.99 Chinese Pack for TSC contained 8 routes I don't own and buying same, I've actually started playing TSC exclusively and TSW3 is on the backburner, though that may change when the save game comes back hopefully this week.
Southeastern High Speed’s been on top for me. Even after 1 and a half years, the route is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the game. The 465 is always a pleasure to drive, and the Javelin goes fast and stuff. And freight is there, and working level crossings… it’s amazing. I would’ve wanted Cajon Pass to be at the top, because I love American freight, and was especially excited to see BNSF in the game. But on the first two services I’ve driven with the ES44C4, I’ve encountered a terrible infinite horn bug that ruined my gameplay experience. Tough to trust the route after that happens twice. The SD40-2 has still given me a great gameplay experience though.
SEHS is the most I have played, due to it has several different things to do!. Driving local trains like the Class 375 and 465. Plus enjoying freights with the Class 66. Finally the high speed route with the Javelin Class 395, now on longer journeys. In this last case is the only one I have not a fluid performance, with several interruptions on visual and sound. Is really a peaty! I have also drove the TGV there, with one of the included timetables departing St. Pancras from main platforms. Furthermore even I run an ICE3 there - not performance issues with it! ( so it seams the Javelin is much heavy for resources ) using a Scenario. Second Cajon Pass. It is really entertaining driving those monster, going up and down. The scenery is fantastic also. BNSF locomotives are really nice too. Surprisingly so easy to start moving, as no previous set up as you have to do with the SD70ACE. Different types of freight trains makes a different run each time. Even if you have or not locomotives pushing at the rear end. Finally the german High speed route. Frankly speaking it is a bit boring. Just accelerate and after a long time, you reach the maximum speed, and keep it all the way long, with no other situation, like a red light or something different. Even the scenery is monotonous. tunnel + bridge + tunnel + bridge almost all the time. Could be a high speed route with some tunnels and bridges, and then goes on "ground open terrain" with some landscape. I have even tried a freight train there. It is at night, so no much to see, and as it is heavy - so slower too - it took much time to make the route. Even no special situation about you have to go to a siding to make another train to pass. I remember on the route presentation DTG mentioned something about it, ... but may be only happens on one particular scenario.
Haven’t really touched Cajon yet (not a freight dude), but I’ve played a lot of SKW and SEHS. Also unexpectedly fell in love with SOS, which was included in my deluxe purchase. Haven’t messed around on Training Center apart from the tutorials. Being unable to spawn old locos without scenario planner really hurts it imo. From the preserved content, I’ve really enjoyed Bakerloo with the new timetable as well as Tees Valley, WSR and LGV (which are all still quite fresh to me as I bought them on sale shortly before TSW3 was announced).
Switching / shunting activities in Cajon Pass and Southeastern High Speed, including the one in SHS in which after the first pickup (of a single freight wagon), I find myself being pursued by a freight train that eventually traps me in a siding. I haven't figured out yet where that train comes from or how to avoid it. I'll try this again as soon as the Save/Resume feature promised for "this week" becomes available, which reminds me of an adage from my time in advertising: "morning lasts until noon".
I never favor one route over the others. first thing I always do is the training missions. Then I do the scenarios. After that I do the timetable for all of my routes in one hour increments. For example I did 12-1am for all my routes then 1-2am etc. I was doing 4-5am when tsw3 released. I’m going to catch up to 4-5am for the new routes (plus the two new routes I bought in addition to tsw3) and then continue. I don’t own any routes I don’t want to play. Hard to get tired of the same route this way.
Across both TSW 2 and 3 my most played route is Hamburg-Lübeck, because that is my local so to say. But I enjoy alot of different things. Sand Patch Grade got me into US trains and I love the feel of the route. I have most of the DLC’s installed and try to vary things up as much as possible. As far as the TSW 3 routes go, I have really been enjoying all three for different reasons. The sheer speed of the ICE 1, the challenge of Cajon Pass is always a buzz and SEHS there is so much variation, it’s great.
Of the new routes, Cajon Pass mainly if I’ve got time for a long run. SEHS getting some decent time too for shorter services. Don’t have either of the other two launch routes installed, but that’s PS5 64GB-related.
SEHS has been my #1 by far- just has so much variety in the gameplay- high speed, commuter, freight, and soon some MOW action. 2nd is probably Cajon, which is great, but just haven't gotten to it as much as i'd like since it's such a time commitment. 3rd is probably a tie between Kassel and Bakerloo. Kassel looks really good, but i do find it a bit boring. Wish there was some commuter or daytime freight tbh- but blasting the ICE1 down the line is quite fun from time to time. Bakerloo is great with the new timetable and added AI services. Haven't really been playing any TSW2 routes as going back to the old lighting system is just too painful IMO. I wonder if DTG would consider upgrading some of the newer routes to TSW3 standard. Maybe they could do a poll and do the top 3 or 5? Rush Hour routes, Harlem, and HSC would be my top requests.
I upgraded from TSW 2020 to TSW3 with Cajon pass. However, most of my time is spent on CN Oakville as I am Canadian I prefer to run Canadian National as it’s always been my favorite. But I have been thoroughly enjoying Cajon pass with all its various opportunities. Especially with the ability to run my own liveries. I just wish I could access the CN Oakville locomotives to be able to paint and use them in my livery in that route as well. Hopefully they (and other locos) will find their way into the livery designer in due course. Maybe even become useable in Other comparable routes.
