General North American 3rd Party News

That really is looking incredible, just goes to show how an actually talented dev that cares about the product can elevate this sim.

 

This is DLC worthy of the description 'pro', unlike many other ...

I did notice however, like on many other recent models, there is no shadow texture under the locomotive anymore.

I seem to recall the recommendations have changed since apparently shadow rendering under different weather patterns has made the fixed shadow texture obsolete. Plus it was tricky to design and set up so it didn't 'float' too obviously.
Yet still it looks odd when the ballast far under the locomotive or car is still at the same illumination as the near shoulder.

 

"like on many other recent models, there is no shadow texture under the locomotive anymore."
Like on what? I have not noticed that.

 

Blows TBTs out of the water! (And hopefully out of the game)

 

About 99% of models have that "softshade" texture that creates a shadow under the locomotive, I'm guessing it's a leftover from the early days before dynamic lighting.

 

My question is how performance is affected compared with TBT and others.

 

Watching Seans' stream earlier, he was getting around 45-50 FPS while streaming. Personally I get about the same when not streaming.

 

The Saluda Route is out and all I have to say is wow! The scenery may be the most immersive done for TSC and is just beautiful. Some real effort went into reflecting the area where this runs. So far the two locos I have run are very nice and running the roller coaster is real fun and challenging and I haven't even gotten to 'The Grade' yet. This one gets five stars from me so far.

 

Here is the Steam Link to it. Train Simulator: Norfolk Southern Saluda Grade Route Add-On on Steam (steampowered.com)

 

The route itself looks nice, ignoring the timing circuit issues, it's just a real shame we have very little quality stock for it, with the only options being the VRC C39-8 and (if you're willing to squint) the Searchlight NS SD40s.

 

The locomotives aside from Mike's brakes aren't even remotely close to a "Pro Range" level, it's not even funny. You can't even put down power against the brakes properly so you can get a train started upgrade.

 

But I do exactly that in the tutorial video. I don't know if I'm doing it the way you would (unlike you, I'm not a real world locomotive engineer) but what I do works. I put it in run 2, bail-off the independent, increase throttle to run 4, release the train brakes, wait about 10-12 seconds for enough cars to have released brakes, increase throttle to run 6 and we pull slowly away up the grade towards the crest of the hill.

 

You should be able to put the throttle against any amount of brake cylinder pressure. Doing it in the way you describe would be a sure fire way to get a knuckle. Aside from the ACS-64 and SC44 locomotives of the modern day, there isn't a single locomotive in the US that can't power brake.

The locomotives power output and dynamic brake output being somehow tied into the controls like they're a rheostat is also far from what I would expect from something labeled "Pro Range" along side yours or our homebrew products.

 

Just wondering, it might be related to the core behavior that above a certain brake threshold, engines do not output power.
It seems fairly universal, including the threshold. I can apply power against minimum brakes and up to about 20 psi.
Even with old locos where the air and electric brakes are combined, if you can remove the electric (BR 101), you can apply power iirc.

About driving standards, I actually like to start in notch 1, stretch, and then move to 2, given the power curve it's like 50% effort anyway.
Certain up-grades require more but even then I try to be gradual. (Such puns!) I understand rolling back (apart from a bare minimum) is a no-go for (most) electric traction motors and even triggers log events. (Our trams roll back on starting, so.)
Is that how you would do it, or have I been taught to be overly caring?

 

Based what I've seen from SP's videos......

Route is ok, it works but its pretty much similar quality to the other routes from the same dev group. It just works.


The stock, pointless especially for something labeled as Pro Grade, it isn't just the physics themselves. The loco modeling is..... And no proper Southern Woodchip hoppers?


Overall from what I've seen, definitely not worth the $40, not to mention there is no launch discount.

 

It's also worth mentioning the route's had a price hike for customers outside the US

 

It's a toggleable option in the sim BP to disable power cut with brakes. Something the end user shouldn't have to modify for $40.

 

[Edit - Getting Personal - Jamie ]

 

Not very positive first reviews, apart from the known fanbois whose naphtalin 5 stars here and on Steam are of no value at all.

Schnauz took his time since this region apparently is well known to him.
No mountain laurel and kudzu vegetation covering those lush southern hills?
Did I even notice some coniferous trees in the video?
Track and industries seem fairly complete allowing for some switching scenarios. Otherwise it is single track so you're mostly the lone player train?
The custom assets like depots and signs do look nice.
Freight cars are meh, 75ton hoppers models labelled as 100 tons and set at 110 ton in the blueprint (but there must be unit conversions at work here)
Locomotives do look nice from a distance but poor and rough close up. I gather DTM is on a learning curve with new software and still we are charged full price plus pro label surcharge?
Horns wrong both in model, size and sound, engine sounds stock, physics and scripting ??? and not everything can be modded, so you're stuck with it.
Has anybody tried the prototypical SR 13000 tons coal trains since none of the features that made Saluda a special, interesting and challenging operation are present?

Now we wait to find out wether the developers take any critique to their heart and improve the product to the level declared in the hyperlative Dolzall sales blurb.
Otherwise it is probably another 'fire and forget' effort.

 

[Edit - Getting Personal - Jamie ]

 

So does that mean you turned it back in and got your money back? Or didn't you buy it at all? Have you discussed this with any of the authors? Inquiring minds want to know?
Signed,
Fanboi of great additions who admittedly is not a rivet counter

 

No I just think one of the more productive third party authors should be encouraged in most forums. They are the lifeblood of our hobby and those who create nothing and just sit back complaining about each and everything should mostly sit down and shut up. Legit criticism should be directed to the authors to do what they will with them and not just be bellowed at constantly in public forums just leading more people to just give up and say it's not worth it.

 

{Edit Getting Personal - Jamie }

 

Also if you don't mind me asking did i get softbanned or hardbanned?

 

IMHO these are not productive discussions just sitting around arm chair quarterbacking everything.

 

Sorry, but with how long DTMs been in this game he shouldn't be making the modeling erros he's been doing with the locos for Saluda, not to mention the inconsistencies with the audio between the locos.

I'm just glad Diesel Workshop is gaining ground and producing some decent quality stuff for good prices. Hopefully his work encourages competition and gets DTM to actually do better.....

 

[EDIT - getting personal - Jamie ]

Also in other news, it seems searchlight will likely be bringing their older SD40-2s back up onto their storefront, which is honestly excellent in my opinion. (source: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1901296408)

 

In fairness to DTM, he does seem to be 'trying' to get better, now using substance painter and all, but that does nothing for the underlying model, physics, and scripting issues (even aside from the fact that he's not really utilizing substance well.)

 

Schnauz mentioned DTM's original GP30, Southern had nice looking high short hood GP30's ..
Which I also think is still an excellent model, despite it being loud like a screaming fighter jet in its original incarnation.
But I seem to remember these were done by a Lord Mannu, while DTM nowadays is a certain Cesar Pach?


my only other Southern locomotive in the game, a 'hammerhead' SD45.
Both could do with a serious make-over to current standards

 

Cesar Pach is/was Lord Mannu.
Not everyone wants a Rolls Royce, if they did there would a lot of people walking to work just like the pre Ford era.
If the only DLC was made by Searchlight Simulations, and I applaud their quality, how many are content to see one loco per two years. Most would give up and do something else.

 

We don't want SS quality for everything (although that would be awesome), but Diesel Workshop puts out a couple locos every year at better quality than most of what releases on steam, so it is possible to make several good locos a year.

 

Doesn't have to be all SS quality, just give us locos that are correct to their respective railroads, DW started in 2021 and has got this down (Especially with their RS-3s) and their locos aren't really that advanced. It's just frustrating to see DTM keep putting out these locos with some of the most basic modeling errors (Like the air hose cutting thru the plow)

 

I know I sound like a broken record but if you folks feel that strongly then vote with your wallet. It's the only thing that works, .......................unless of course you are a tiny minority.

 

{Edit - Getting Personal - Jamie}

 

Sooo...
Update on DW's C424 in EL:


Plus a screenshot from Milepost's Facebook:

 

Worst kept secret of TSC recently.

HIS Southern Retro Pack Preview.

There is also 1 new loco to TSC that will come with this pack, but is not yet shown.

 

LOL, as to be expected.

And the Southern "tuxedo" colour scheme looks good. A high hood U-Boat wouldn't go amiss as 'mystery locomotive';-)
But no, DTM/HIS do not deserve my full price support, too many recurring issues, defects and no apparent desire to improve on them.

There still are old Southern GP9, GP30 and SD45 models, a new RS3, so plenty of stock.
Perhaps some repaints of freight cars into the Southern "Green light" scheme to substitute for the blank blue and green that came with the DLC?

With the current price hike in almost all aspects of life, I have to carefully consider my gaming budget.
Picked up Run8 Pittsburgh Line East and some nicely discounted British, German and Dutch stuff already, and there is still a Bank Holiday sale coming up ...

Saluda will have to wait until the next DTG sale when there are sufficient fixes available or freeware repaints.

 

Still don't like the texturework, but DTM definitely is improving his textures over time. The F unit looks ok(ish) especially compared to DTM's prior F units. Curious to see if they'll still have slot car physics.

 

In actual quality content news: Diesel Workshop has just released their EL Alco C424

https://www.dieselworkshop.net/product-page/century-424-c-424-erie-lackawanna?currency=USD

 

This is a rendition of JR's 10 year old model of Southern SD40-2 for Trainz:

It looks surprisingly detailed and eye pleasing, and is even more detailed than DTM's. But ... Trainz models in the game on screen hardly ever look this good and their physics aren't up to standard anymore. However, I still have a working Trainz on an older computer and must try to revitalise it
Seems DTM missed out on the -dash 2- spotting feature from Kalmbach's "2-nd Diesel Spotter Guide" and locomotive encylopedias, the water sight glass in the long hood ...
IIRC, JR used/uses a lot of subtle texturing and tricks like edge enhancement to present a model with more 3D details than the actual shape file provides, like hinges and latches

 

Kudos to DTM for removing the ugly substance painter edge wear on the carbody but the underframe still has it all over. Brake hoses are still clipping through the plow and the locomotives are still have a handful of missing/inaccurate details such as:

• No rear (or in this case front) roof awning on the SD40-2.
• Inaccurate horns. Southern used Nathan P5's, all the locomotives have S3L's modeled on them instead.
• Misshapen plows. Southern installed IMC 11107 Universal Plows on many of their SD40-2s.

On the plus side, they have the chance to fix the operational errors on their locomotives such as the notched dynamic brakes (and hopefully add a power script too).

I've attached a few images of the details that are missing or wrong, and a Nathan P5 drawing I have :^)

 

We'll see what HIS manages to achieve with DTM.

According to the HIS Facebook, they are aware of some of the issues.

Southern 'check codes'? http://southern.railfan.net/check.htm
Will require a five position cab number, an alphabet of characters and some extra scripting ....
But is so typical Southern it has to be included, "ultimate realism" you know ....

 

Any idea when this will be available ?

 

AFAIK from https://www.facebook.com/HighIronSimulations/ it is still WIP and no ETA. Don't know how to cleanly link to a posting, I can share but not link?

HIS Facebook is heavily 'sanitised' since it is his shop window, but you can notice certain questions are skipped and others are answered.

 

Ah ok. I don't do Facebook. Will it be days / weeks / months ? What is your guesstimate?

 

a couple of weeks I'd guess. The route appeared pretty fast after its announcement.
Swapping physics is only a copy-paste action any player can already perform now. Doing some touch ups to the model by DTM himself might take some more time?

 

Has this effect been achieved in TSC, reflective decals?