Route Peak Forest Railway: Ambergate – Chinley & Buxton Feedback Thread

Well they have left lots of services out of SOS and Peak Forest, which as they obviously looked at the timetable they would have spotted them. If they have not made provision for them then that is not exactly good future proofing is it? Especially with the hype surrounding SOS's release and the large amount of DLC posibilities.

 

Thought I'd drop these here, they reflect the atmosphere of the route nicely.

 

Well obviously the timetable will have to be revisited if there were no layers (or hidden layers) ready to incorporate future DLC's but we have seen in the past when a new loco DLC is sometimes added to a relevant route as an extra layer. Anyway, I thought this what the old preservation crew were for, to add these kind of things? Shame we don't see Adam on the roadmaps anymore to see what the pres crew (or whatever they're called now) are up to!

We really do need a timetable editor so we can add services ourselves

 

I can't think of any logical reason why they couldn't add new layers, etc. – why it would need to be planned in advance. If they can build a time table for a route when creating it, they (if inclined to do so) can completely rebuild any time table for a route, for existing or new locos, and patch the route, i.e. overwrite the existing data. Just like changing anything else when a game is patched.

 

Adam left & there is no pres crew anymore.

 

I didn't know Adam had left, I thought the pres crew were still there but just under a different name? explains a lot

 

We have the special projects team, but I think that’s just a fancy name for a small team of people that have to fix all the shortfalls of DLC’s which have been released.

They’re currently listed as working on timetables, post release patches, livery designer & steam physics (which have since released).

To me it just sounds like the regular dev team, since that’s a broad range of things they’re working on, for current content.

 

Just one of many occasions in the game where a "FFS" key would be useful.

 

Really enjoying this route, managed to stop and get some screenshots (signal tutorial, route intro & a Jubilee service) well done to the devs for this route!

 

Would it be that hard to create a driver assist warning for low coal? There seems to be one for everything else and it would still be valid when manual firing is implemented.

 

I wasn't planning on buying this but having seen the level of detail that seems to have been put into the route I decided to give it a go, fully aware of the various shortcomings of steam in TSW having driven SOS extensively. Not dissapointed with the route, it has a really good cosy tranquil vibe that SOS was missing.

First port of call was the journey mode. I like to start with this as I feel like it is a kind of 'curated' experience by the developer and other DLCs in the past have had a sensible, structured progression (and others less so). So having driven the wheels off SOS I was eager to get hold of the 4F but in journey mode that is locked away behind 8F & Jubilee chapters - frustrating but easily overcome. Off to the timetable I went. What dissapointment awaits, other than shunting & connecting to the back of a train (because I can't for a second imagine driving from the rear loco, you surely have to switch to the front loco for it to make any sense) you seemingly have no other use of the 4F. No opportunity to a) play with the new toy & b) no opportunity to stretch its legs a bit, no local stopping passenger, no local freight, nothing.

Scenario planner to the rescue I guess, set up a brief run from Buxton to Chinley and wow that 4F is an absoloute pocket rocket. Different, fun to drive and feels so right in the setting. Few observations, the sound changes noticeably at 20mph and almost mutes completely by the time you get to 30. No matter what you do, I can seem to get the boiler pressure to drop. In the banking scenario the 8F has quickly dropped pressure to <~150psi and the 4F is still blowing off. Even on my scenario planner run, throttle wide open at 50% cutoff can make it drop.

Nice to see (as annoying as the sound is) that the safety valves seem to operate more realistically, dropping the pressure and then letting it build before dropping again rather than the other two locos that seem to sit either constantly blowing off or making a weird 'pst pst pst pst pst' as the valves open and close constantly.

All in generally positive but it feels quite frustrating to waste such a pretty route with such & bland & lackluster timetable. Some cite realism but I dont think any amount of fantasy could be sillier than a Jubilee with 4 coaches.

I'll not get started about the lack of diesels, but with decent use of the 4F and a green 45 + 101 this would have been the best route to date.

 

In theory they could, but they don't do it very often.

 

What's worrying is that the usual silence is emanating from DTG. Loads of issues and points being raised here, even by those of us who are genuinely enjoying the route - but being met by the classic stonewall (again).

I hate to say it but where their own DLC is concerned, best to assume what we see is what we got and that will be it. Moving on to the next roadshow which will be the mini route from Manchester to Hadfield.

Would be nice if they could actually learn from what Skyhook are doing with MML, engage with the community (actually, paying customers) and at least give us some idea of what will and won't be fixed or added to the route. But sadly it seems the wall (flywheel?) of silence (or is it arrogance) prevails once again.

 

Matt said they hired some new person to do that on the release stream? I would have liked to read/hear something about everything discused in this thread and also maybe some news on further TSC classic patches (sorry for off topic). But as you said: It´s been crickets the past days again.

 

im enjoying the route so far. i agree with everybody else about the lack of a diesel and poor timetable.
one thing i noticed was i heard cows and a car when i was passing by a field. loked around for the cows and the car but i didnt see them because there was non and no road for the car because there was no car. and i think when you are near chinley as you go on theat 15mph section i hear dogs or a dog barking but i didnt see it.

 

That would be my teeth grinding hoping the brakes get the speed off in time!

 

No, I'm talking about the addition of the ROG 37 and EMR HSTs at St Pancras. Those were added in an update and were not present in the timetable at TSW3's launch.

 

Obviously I have no inside information but I’m calling it right now, a big BR Green loco/livery DLC with big timetable additions is going to drop SOON(TM) and it’s going to be like $15 USD

The route is nice as is but it’s going to be GLORIOUS when it drops. Get tf in lads

 

Probably the best DLC I've downloaded in a while for TSW and I have most of them. I have enjoyed MML lately as well but the crashes, nuclear lighting and lack of other services have deterred me. The scenery is great, I'm loving the truly authentic feel the era its set in and enjoying the change of pace with the fowler 4f and shunting. Especially loving the double header locomotives and the royal route scenario

BUT

More then ever, it does truly highlight the issues TSW faces. I've felt lately that as far as the game goes, it's a perfect scenario of "so close, yet so far". I'm not expecting Rockstar levels of polish, but it's frustrating to see a game that has the niche of the market and yet constantly falls over its own tied shoe laces. Prime example is the Fowler 4F's superb whistle, yet both the 8F and Jubilee are left with the same lack luster note.

Frustratingly this is what SOS should have been from launch, and we all know what a swing and a miss that was. I don't tend to become too vocal on here as I'll be perfectly honest with you guys, this forum can be caustic A/F at time, But I do understand it. My bug bare? Still waiting for blood and custard coaches, notice there is a distinct lack of them too.

I truly wish from the bottom of my heart that DTG, Skyhook, Rivet all of them do take the time and hopefully just up the levels a bit more, as in my view they are knocking on the door of having the majority market set, but the constant churning DLCs out with mistake after mistake is beginning to take its toll for me

 

I really hope you are right mate. If this happens not only will I buy the packs but the route itself as I really do want it but not willing to buy it with the lacking timetable and no diesels (both a peak and dmu be it the 101 or 104).

 

I hope so too. I don’t blame you for holding off in its current state. The route is too good to just leave to steam, with all of its wonky physics and fireman stuff, etc. Some appropriate diesel action would really do this route some justice.
And this, coming from an American- I’m not some UK diesel fanboy (actually I’m an everything diesel fanboy lol) but even I’d be all over that.

 

The route is great I'm enjoying it but I agree we do need some diesels and the 101 and 104 and the route will be even better I think they will have alot more sales if this happened

 

From Bescot. 4F safety valve racket reducer.

https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/m...fety-valve-volume-reducer-peak-forest-railway

 

This is really noticeable on Horseshoe Curve as well.

 

Has anyone gone through the "All mixed up" scenario? During my maneuvers at the Peak Forest station, a message appears - The scenario has failed. I've tried it several times. Is this a BUG?

 

Same answer as previous. You either need to enable auto firing or if in manual mode hit “F” or mouse/pad the firebox door open to trigger the fireman stoking. If you don’t do that, even though it looks as if he is shovelling coal they aren’t and the scenario will eventually fail due to the fire going cold.

 

Absolutely beautiful route

 

Completed last night with no issues, really did enjoy the variety shown in this one. Anyone else be weary of sudden reds where its wanting you to back into a siding. Luckily I'd saved about 5 minutes before otherwise that would have been an hour wasted

 

Thanks for the reply. This helped, although I can't imagine how I could have thought of it, because the pressure in the boiler was maximum, and nothing foreshadowed the "extinction of the boiler"..

 

Completed with no issues on PS5. Well, other than nearly SPADing after passing the first ‘go via’ rather enthusiastically and then needing to drop anchor.

 

Glad it helped. I think the situation is arising as I said, because when you start a run in "Manual" the firebox door is open and you can hear shovelling but in fact nothing is happening. Almost a bug in fact.

 

I found this AI train last night it runs across the hole route with no stops. What's odd is that it follows the 17:45 from Buxton, which will wait at Millers Dale for around 15-20 miniutes! So the AI train could just pass it on another platform.

Picture note:- Matlock around 18:38.

 

Not entirely sure how I’m sat here playing this (really my first foray into steam) but I am, and having fun.

Generally it’s lovely route and the standard of scenery is better than we’ve seen for a while. Very quiet timetable aside, there seem to be quite a few assets that don’t appear to have had a light bake at all, from vehicles to buildings to stations. I’d also say some of the cab texturing is very low resolution, particularly the stuff right in front of your face (Large Ejector particularly) and the steam particles are really not up to scratch. It also feels generally too bright, particularly under overcast skies bright.

Also, not really knowing steam engines, did the Jubilee really not have any way for the driver to tell what speed he was going? I find that almost impossible to believe.

All of these niggles could do with sorting out but other than that it’s a very solid DLC which I’m surprised to say I’m enjoying.

 

Thanks for the clarification Matt. The route does look wonderful and even based on the "base your decisions on nothing is happening" I think I might now have an excuse to purchase it.

For my part as I have complained about the timetable, I have never made the assertion that any laziness is involved as I think it is a very insulting term to use.

 

The Special Projects team do things like the Training Center, new features (such as the escalators and lifts we have now) and retrofitting features like the Pres. Crew did (eg Livery Designer for the HST)

 

Hey Matt,

First time quoting you and I'm sorry its going to come across as a shot across the field, but I've cherry picked this one bit because I feel its important. I want to start by saying my overall feeling of the game is good, I wouldn't have purchased so many DLCs if I didn't enjoy it.

But,

Its these serious of unfortunate decisions that just keep on happening, DLC after DLC. I feel its this that's beginning to really alienate the player base, myself included. I want you guys, this game to be the success that it CAN be. Why do they keep happening, release after release, does the left hand not talk to the right?

I appreciate tinkering, patches, and all the hard work that goes into this as I couldn't do it, hold my hands up nor do I envy your position. But I do honestly wonder when I read "this works in our build" but "not in the player release" I think to myself are we actually playing the same game? Lately I've become increasingly frustrated with paying on average £25-£30 per DLC to be told if you dont like it, dont buy it, with MML being the catalyst. I'm happy to say that Peak forest has gone some way to ease that feeling but it's still not without its frustrations.

I guess that's the point really, I'm sure I speak for many when I say I want you guys to succeed. But not if that means routinely banging my head against a wall and switching your game off I'd frustration because I've just paid £30 to derail, SPAD or hard crashes.

Been wanting to say this for a while, I hope I've not offended anyone.

 

DTG Matt

Hello, I was wondering why this bridge at Monsal Dale looked very well made in the first article while in game we got a much basic and worse looking version, how can this happen? Thank you

See the comparison below:

In the announcement article

In game :

 

Well, it's got a paltry 8 reviews after 3 days. Based on this article, that gives a rough estimate of 160-440 copies sold (probably fewer, given how it's not a AAA game), giving a revenue of $6400-$17600 (again, probably on the lower end). You tell me if that counts as a good DLC launch

 

i really loved the Chinley Gala scenario. Can't wait to do the all mixed up scenario next. Fun route so far.

 

I mentioned that already here; hmm identical screenshot

 

I missed your post and I grabbed the screenshot on Discord. I think what's important is that the point is being made.

 

Wow! I had no idea. I’m not entirely sure what to make of that, the concept seems nuts in this day and age but there you go.

Thanks for the information/lesson!

 

I think this was another area the GWR/WR were ahead, as certainly the King class had speedometers. When they were scrapped in the early 1960's their speedometers were fitted to Castles.

I think other GWR or ex-GWR express passenger engines had them too.

 

Most steam locos lacked speedos. Pretty much all diesel and electric locos, on the other hand, had them from new.

 

I was thinking more of player experience than financial return. In any case, to extrapolate a revenue return from the number reviews on one platform is likely to give a high margin of error.

 

I am enjoying this route, therev are some very nice touches, and the occasional sound of an explosion in the quarries..
But, one of the things that I find disappointing is the implementation of the invisible walls. The DTG team have done a great job at modelling the stations and their surroundings, would it not be possible to move the walls further back to allow us to see and walk around the whole building, to appreciate the work that they have done?

 

Arriving at Matlock yesterday I had a 'One Under' incident, a woman passenger standing on the platform turned and walked straight out in front of my train as I pulled into the station. Anyone else had passengers stepping out in game? there's no excuse DTG has provided passengers with a footbridge they just need to educate / programme the passengers to use it. Also at Whatstandwell a few yards after going under the road bridge towards Cromford the river on the right side is far to close to the railway line, there was / is in reality a caravan and camping site there and also the river is straight there, there is no bend in the river Derwent in that area. Other than these few minor details and as someone mentioned the missing towpath besides the canal near to Cromford it's a decent route.

 

I do feel that it would be nice to at least walk outside of stations into the neighbouring street or field etc at least.

On routes like WSR and the steam period routes in particular young enthusiasts can/were seen watching trains from field and country lanes.