Hi, what do you think is the best german route and loco (and a good scenario / service) for practicing PZB? How do you practice PZB? Any advice? I watched a lot of tutorials and I think I'm ready regards benuildo
I always stood by RSN being the best introduction to PZB. It's a slow-paced route without any significant kinks in terms of PZB. It allows you to focus on the basics. The freight trains are nice for this: Not as complicated to drive as the 143+DoStos combo and the RSN physics are rather dated meaning that the freight trains are quite easy to control. Once you're comfortable with the basics, HRR will really test your knowledge of GPA magnets. HRR is very tricky if you don't know what you're doing. I will freely admit that I have trouble recommending newer routes since I've never seen them through the eyes of an initiate. BRO might also work, but I don't think it's as good as RSN. RSN for the basics and maybe HRR if you need a closer look at GPA magnets.
The route doesnt really matter, but for training at least the paths should work properly. In rheinstrecke there were (still are?) Many broken & wrong pzb approaches, you are guided at 100kmh into a 40kmh diversion with no warning and straight green, thats highly disappointing and confusing for players learning the safety systems. Tsw is tending to greenlight runs, so for practise i would choose short runs too, this because the red signal at the end requires pzb wachsam / befehl interactions.
I'd try the short BR628 runs on Mainz - Koblenz. If you get the "Zwangsbremsung' - and trust me you'll get a lot in the beginning - brake release and pressure recovery is rather quick. On a freight train it can take ages. Have fun and good luck!
I learnt on Schnellfahrstrecke Koln-Aachen (but that was the route that came with TSW2). It has a section of LZB to practice with the ICE, and then you can practice PZB with the ICE and it's bulbs, and the Talent 2 with its screen. I also used Matt's tutorial on Youtube. Also the route is pretty much a straight line, with a couple of signals showing speed limits. It gave a nice variety of training signals.
the problem here is that we have a different signaling system which might be confusing as it’s only on theis route and on a few meteres of Tharandter Rampe… I would suggest RSN, MSB (regional services from Aschaffenburg to Gemünden) and Hamburg Lübeck (IC service from Hamburg to Lübeck). RSN has the advantages someone posted above, MSB has a few signals to aknowledge when going to Gemünden and the IC service from Hamburg to Lübeck follows an RB service until Ahrensburg so there is a lot of Pzb action. If you are familiar with the signaling system on DRA, then this route is perfect too!
The best route/loco for learning PZB in TSW are the very short 10-15-minute Gemunden-Lohn Bahnhof return services with the 146/Dostos.
Thanks for all the good advice. I tried RSN first and it worked very well. It is an easy start. I think next will be MSB and HRR.
MSB servicea aschaffenburg - heigenbrucken and back. 20 min run, a lot of signal to acknowledge, a lot speed changes e some train you need to wait too. Also, you can practice how to change cab because you need to wait just few minutes at heigenbrucken before the return service. After practice a good fiel to try a run can be the regio service koln - aachen. RSN is good for the "how follow a train" becuase a lot of freight are behind a regio and you will get a lot of yellow and some red too where you need to stop.
Thanks. The MSB 20 min runs are perfect for practicing. I think I finally understand pzb now. It's not as complicated as I thought.
As said, at the end it is easy. After understood the base rules it became fun to drive and honestly every german routes with the pzb get a surplus of enjoy
Try the Short Riesa-Dresden RB31 runs to Coswig to practice your PZB. For Hudless run try watching PTG Rail guide on Riesa-Dresden for the correct AFB cruise control setting 5 km/h below line speed
