Midland Mainline - Skyhook Feedback

For those of us still on the fence about buying this route.Who where waiting for fixes.Would anyone who are now experiencing the current list of 1st batch of updates say the routes now in a good enough state to buy or should one keep waiting?

 

Penalty notice for this guy on track at Loughborough

 

Hi Jane I too agree the patch is wonderful and I haven't even had a chance in the HST again yet.
I am on an xbox series s and I can confirm Ive got pride park not sure about the roundhaouse as my visits to derby have been for footballing purpses only! Here are two screenshots which may hopefully help.

 

Oh, it’s there now. I can see both

 

What are you playing on PC or Console.

I have done a run as a Passenger on the 158 seemd to go ok.
I had a penalty brake application on the HST about 7.8 miles outside Leicester and currently do not see any AI freight On COnsole (is there any?)
Just had a penalty brake application on the 37 hauling the GAtex Unit back to Stewarts lane before I approached Long Eaton.

I don't think i have all the update files for the PS5. RE the problem that Jane spoke of earlier.

Hentis

 

I have the stadium and what I assume is the roundhouse, I’m on Xbox series x

 

So from what I’m seeing above, it’s not as much that some files didn’t get through, it’s that random ones didn’t get through.

So has everybody, potentially, got a different patch?

 

what speed should i approach a red on approach control signals. ive been approaching at around 25-30 mph at about 500yds away and still get emergency braked. i always try to get down to about 10mph when about 100yds away from normal red lights

 

15mph as you hit the AWS magnet

 

Were the Derby station signal and the subordination signal revised?

 

Also Jane the patch for MML on PS5 was 305Mb in case that also helps

 

Hey, so can someone translate this part of the patch notes for me:

• Added 20 Ivanhoe services between Leicester <-> Nottingham, including 3 freight services

What are "Ivanhoe services"?

 

Trains that stop at Syston, Sileby, Barrow etc.

 

PS5 and can confirm Derby Roundhouse and Pride Park are there.

 

So...... My gut feeling was right if I've read Janes post right . I'm super intrigued now whether it is going to all load in as a route extension.

 

Thank you Jane, although I am somewhat new to the game, I too can see there is so much difference after the patch on my PC was installed. Cheers!

 

Thanks 4 the update. Just a small comment on the Class 43: the DSD switch is still labelled "DRA" (far right side of the cab) and the DSD cannot be silenced using the Circle O key (Playstation) like in other locos. I think this was shown/discussed already in the preview stream for MML.

 

When Syston, Sileby and Barrow upon Soar stations reopened in 1994 it was the first stage of "Ivanhoe" line services from Loughborough to Burton upon Trent via Leicester and the newly reopened to passenger trains Leicester to Burton line with stations at Coalville etc etc and also Ashby de la Zouch which is the main setting for the Ivanhoe novel, hence "Ivanhoe" line services. Almost 30 years later and there are still no services between Leicester and Burton via Ashby.

 

Just drove freight service 6F46 which is in the wee hours of the morning. For me, the night lighting is very good. The stations are brightly lite and pleanty of light from surrounding buildings as you pass. I drove with AWS off since I wanted to just get the flavor of the new patch. Will now do a daytime 158. SHG has done themselves proud with the route and the work that went into the patch. It would have been excellent if the files had not gotten screwed up by some file checker in the system

 

I think everything apart from the signalling/AWS etc has been updated (on my system anyway) - still patiently waiting for that to be sent to us.

 

Thanks for the updates, it encouraged me to buy yesterday in anticipation of the patch.

Just a note, the service 2D62 Lincoln to Leicester starting at 2309. It should be 2L88 2310 Nottingham to Leicester but routed fast lines throughout, there's an anomaly in that it always seemed to be advertised on P3 at Loughborough but was always booked to run FL. I'm one of the guards who worked the service regularly.

 

has the 158 PIS been fixed and the floating EMT decal?
has the HST coach labelling been fixed?

 

They have but there was a patch missing due to an error but I think they are looking into it there all still labeled A on mine the coaches on the HST

 

I'm impressed with how SHG is working to make the whole route experiece better, now when the windshield wiper bug is fixed I can consider MML as playable (I'm using dynamic weather). And a lot of other fixes and improvements. I'm not waiting for a sale anymore, download in progress.

 

Still no rain appearing on the HST windscreen unless you go to an external view and then return to the cab.

 

OK jury is still out here. Just did my first trip in long time on this route and it crashed within a few metres of stopping at Derby (it was the very last route on HST's journey mode).

So a little concerned as shelved the route due to the crashes on PS5. Just hope it's an unfortunate one off after this patch

 

I think that for the HST, although the DSD isolation switch label now matches with the UI (iso=iso, norm=norm), the mapping is wrong. I only got DSD to trigger in the iso possition. QA much?

 

That also explains why I have never had to acknowledge DSD with it in the normal (on) position.

 

jane-skyhook since the update on the class 158, you can no longer hear the AWS warning alarm/ping whilst driving and using the external camera

could this please be fixed, as i only drive using the external camera and now it's no longer possible to hear the aws this way, even if you open the windows or have the camera really close to the front of the train



If it helps this is what i mean by using external camera. I drive every route in tsw this way because it's better to see your surroundings than the traditional cab view. But it's not possible since the update to hear the aws (for clear, caution or danger aspects) anymore

 

You shouldn't treat "approach control red" any different than "normal red" signals. Always treat a red as a red!

EDIT: This is "the technique" that was described to me by Daisy:

1. When you see a double yellow in the distance, cut the power and coast.
2. If the signal stays double yellow when you pass it, start braking down to 75 mph (for example if the line speed was 90 mph)
3. Approaching a single yellow, brake to 50 mph and when passing it further reduce the speed to 30 mph.
4. Approaching a red signal, pass the AWS ramp at around 15 mph, prepared to stop before the red signal.

Of course this generic sequence is no substitute for route knowledge and IRL drivers will adjust based on signal spacing, line speed, traffic etc etc.

Important note: the TPWS grids are not placed directly at the AWS ramp or the signals (speaking of the OSS grids now, that are involved in the overspeed protection, not TSS grids that are placed at signals as well), this means that even if you brake harshly in a step-wise fashion, right before each of the "waypoints" mentioned above you can still get a penalty brake application (although quite unlikely to be fair since I don't think many OSS grids trip at 30 mph).

Brake smoothly and you will be safe. Regardless of TPWS, smooth/early braking is preferred since you have a larger safety margin in case of poor adhesion or bad brake performance.

 

Odd - all external warnings and sounds are fine on my PC. Are you on console or PC?

 

Can you confirm if you are on PC and console. Just checked on PC and all is good. If one of the consoles isn't working with this, we will get it fixed, no problem.

all the best
Jane

 

HST service 1B28:
Apparently random emergency brake application near the freight sidings after Barrow-Upon-Soar. No AWS, no DSD warnings, just the brakes come on. I think I recall it happening before the patch too. Am I doing something wrong?

 

The signalling patch didn't come through, hopefully Jane could give us a timescale?

 

heya, just as soon as I get word from the teams I will pass it on to all of you. We are not intending to hang around obviously and want it out to you all. There was still meticulous file checking going on as I left work for the day.

 

Does this mean I should be driving with safety features off until the next patch.? I use them on other routes but turned them off for MML at initial release. Thanks

 

I just want to thank you all for the feedback on the patch (even with the glitches, which we are sorting I promise!). I am so grateful on behalf of the team for all the kind words today. I really was keen that we delivered a strong patch and lots of new features and content!

The response from everyone has warmed my heart and really moved me as people have put blood sweat and tears in to this. The train teams at Skyhook have been phenomenal this last few weeks on the patch (thank you guys!)

So on their behalf, thank you all again. This is not the end of the patch process or new content!

Jane

 

If you're approaching at the speed you describe, you shouldn't be getting a TPWS activation. If you are, the TPWS trigger speeds at that location are set incorrectly.

As you approach a red signal, you pass over the TPWS 'grids' (normally about 400 yards from the signal) and then over the AWS magnet (normally 200 yards from the signal). The TPWS grids are the ones which will cause an emergency brake application if you're going too fast. The AWS magnet does nothing except cause the AWS horn to sound, regardless of how fast you're going.

If you're driving a passenger train, you should get yourself down to about 30mph by the TPWS grids. In reality the trigger speed is set closer to 40mph (in real life the exact speed varies by location), but aim for 30mph to be safe. By the AWS magnet most passenger operators state no more than 20mph. Some say 15mph.

If you're driving a freight train, the TPWS trigger speed is set lower, so better to aim for 25mph by the TPWS grids. Again, freight train operators vary in the speed they instruct Drivers not to exceed at the AWS magnet, but no more than 15mph is sensible.

If you're complying with the above and still getting TPWS activations, report it as a bug. Make sure to state the signal location as, since the patch, I've approached several red signals at the above speeds, and not had a TPWS activation yet, so it must only be some signals which are still an issue.

 

thank you for this fantastic explanation. I can only echo yes please let us know the details of any issues people find. We will sort them.

 

Honestly Jane, the addition of a guard feature with this update on the class 158 caught me completely off guard but I absolutely love it!!!!! Something I've been wanting for ages and it's finally here! Thank you Jane and everyone at Skyhook! I look forward to everything else that you will produce in the future!

 

No, this service does not terminate here. Well, it does for the player since this is Leicester, but the PIS message is wrong.
I arrive a minute early and somehow I'm expected a minute late while there's another train arriving on time at 10:13
I guess is either this or seeing that the next train to use the platform will be there in 5-7 hours

 

Some things in the signalling certainly appear to have changed. I just had a correctly signalled approach to Derby, which I'd never had before. However, I agree there are still issues. I still get an AWS warning or bell at every AWS magnet for the opposite direction along the single line from Leicester to Loughborough. I haven't had a TPWS activation yet, but I see a report above of some still occurring incorrectly, so I'm not counting chickens yet - I may just have been lucky.

 

The issues may be missing data or still some outstanding issues. (I dont have my list with me here), as there are still some outstanding signalling issues to fix that we ran out of time for. They have been allocated to patch 2. It may well be though, part of today's glitch what you are seeing. I am being very honest in that we are not complete yet on fixes, but the route has come along an awful long way.

 

We didn't touch station PIS messages in this patch (although scheduled for the next). As mentioned up thread we worked in order of priority. Still a fair bit to do but we are getting there and not stopping!

 

Hi Jane,
I have this issue on XBox.

 

Just thought that I should add that on the series s I have just had the TPWS activation at Mountsorrel sidings (I think they are the sidings near Barrow on Soar) towards Leicester on 1C24. My speed was 99mph at the time of the activation. In spite of this I am still smiling from ear to ear and proper chuffed with the update. Once again well done skyhook!

 

Will, I just wanted to thank you publicly for all you have done. You are the hero of the 158, thank you!

Gang, Will has put in an enormous amount of time and work on the 158. He has brought incredible realism and features to the simulation. He is one of the primary people to thank for the quality of the 158. Really proud to have him on the team!

 

Thanks Jane. The only thing I've come across so far is those incorrect AWS activations. It's great to see that so much has been improved, and there's obviously a vast amount of work gone into this patch. It's fantastic that Skyhook are taking the attitude of wanting to keep improving their routes, rather than taking a 'fire and forget' approach. I almost wished I hadn't bought the route 'Day 1' so that I could buy it in response to the patch and demonstrate that this ongoing improvement is appreciated! However, the difference it will make for me is that I'll continue to buy Skyhook routes on Day 1, as I know that if there are issues, they'll be addressed. With some other routes I've unfortunately had to take the decision not to buy until it's confirmed the issues have been addressed, as I've no confidence that will ever happen.

I also hugely appreciate the way you've communicated openly and honestly throughout the process - it's made a huge difference. Thank you.

 

Thank you so much and I will get that location checked!

 

thank you so much James, it means such a lot to me to hear this. We really do care. I am grateful on behalf of the team and grateful for the personal words for me. You have made my evening, thank you! It genuinely is wonderful to see your enthusiasm. It makes going to work really special to have these comments after a lot of hard work.

Jane