Ahh that would be telling I will post another picture soon with another train which shouldn't move, but will. No, 100% Free Roam. I have added something to the off topic section under the post I made of It Shouldn't be there.
The ability to add or remove end of train devices similar to adding and removing cars would be nice to see.
Give proper formations editor or the ability to select livery for the entire train just like in scenario planner . For example if i want to use a Railjet or OBB consist formed off Vectron/Taurus + IC coaches (from 101), bad luck its not gonna happen. You could only use the Vectron (since only that has an IC consist) but you cannot select a livery for the entire train, only the loco and that cancels the entire consist and leaves you with a loco. And for Taurus there is no pre set formation of IC coaches at all, and you cannot even create one in the Formation editor (available to activate on trainsim.cz). So unless you want to place a train that has been already created for you (and there are not to many) you are back to Scenario planner. Quite a shame it would be nice to take advantage of this feature place your desired trains, schedule the stops and than enjoy the already build timetable.
Free Roam is a big step forward for TSW. I'm particularly impressed with the way in which you can add trains in Timetable Mode and run alongside timetabled AI services. To feel confident in doing that DTG must have made some significant improvements in the way their 'dispatcher' works - or possibly just gained more confidence in their existing dispatcher - but either way it's really put to the test when you add another train into an already busy section of railway, and so far I've been impressed with how it's performed. Today I took a Cross Country HST from Lichfield City to just beyond Bromsgrove, calling only at Birmingham New Street (well, actually it's a GWR HST on loan to Cross Country, but a correct 2+7 formation is selectable and it's an MTU, so it's all good). It was a very different experience to driving this route with an EMU on a stopping service. Manoeuvring a high speed train through the numerous low speed restrictions and gradient changes is a very different sort of challenge, feeling much more cumbersome than the sharp acceleration and braking of a 323. We had a clear run as far as Gravelly Hill, where we caught up the stopping train ahead. From there it was a crawl, on its signals, riding the yellows and double yellows, for the remainder of the way into Birmingham. At New Street we were put into a parallel platform to the 323 we'd been following, and I wondered whether we were going to be allowed to overtake it, but the Signaller had other ideas and we stood at the red and watched it depart in front of us. Once the signal cleared we drew out of New Street and continued to follow the stopper as far as Kings Norton. There it was routed onto the slow lines, and the signals cleared to green in front of us as we were routed onto the fast. Initially our acceleration was restricted by the 45mph PSR around the curve on approach to the station. As we rolled through the platform, we could see ahead that the stopper had just departed. Initially we were catching it and almost alongside, but as the rear of the HST cleared the curve and we opened up, and waited for the big MTU engines to spool up, the 323 with its rapid acceleration started to draw away from us. Once the HST found its feet, though, we had a 90mph line speed and a clear line ahead, and began to gain on the EMU. As it shut off for Northfield we screamed past, and a lineside photographer captured the moment. From there we bombed through Barnt Green, carefully controlled the speed down the Lickey incline, and opened up through Bromsgrove for the 100 mph section beyond. A tap on the shoulder indicated my relief had arrived to take over for the remainder of the run to Bristol Temple Meads, and I reached for the paper. This was a great experience, of a kind which wasn't possible previously on TSW - a big thank you to the DTG team for making it happen. The next step for me is to be able to choose any train I want to operate on an existing schedule in timetable mode. We can already create, place and delete trains, so to be able to delete an existing timetabled train and put another train onto its schedule doesn't feel a huge leap away. I'm hopeful it may be possible with the editor, but we shall have to see. In the mean time, I have lots more things I want to do with the existing Free Roam.
As a person from Selly Oak, that was great to hear. I like the story and I can't wait to replicate that this weekend but I may go via the fast lines instead as I feel a HST on the slow would not be appropriate. Great work mate.
Interestingly, I didn't set any particular line. I specified only the start and finish points, and it chose to put me in a different platform to the stopper at New Street, and to put me onto the Fast Line at King's Norton. To what degree this was luck, I don't know. No doubt we'll learn from experience quite how intelligent the route-finder is, but the early signs are good, and if we don't like what it does I believe we can force it by placing intermediate passing points.
When your in the game after placing your train on tracks go to the track map (touch pad on console, 9 on keyboard), then click on your train, select the set path option, then chose the point on the map ypu want to drive too, hover over the piece of track on the map and hit set destination, this will turn signals green all the way there for you. No Ai is probably because you are in free roam mode which is just you and the route. If you instead chose to operate a timetable service on the route then choose to start on foot you can then place a train and drive free mode amongst ai traffic.
So this didn't turn out quite as good as i hoped, but still a fun trip. Thameslink 11:28 Brighton-Bedford via London Bridge Route: London Commuter with Class 700/0 DLC, Class 313 DLC, Class 465 DLC, SEHS, and GWE. Time: appx 1 hour Difficulty: Medium (not for the drive itself just having to keep track of the stops with limited in-game help) Your assignment is a late-morning all-stops run from Brighton to Gatwick, then continuing as express to East Croydon where another crew will take over. Spawn on foot at Brighton at 11:20 or 11:25, and then spawn a Class 700 at an empty platform. Set a path to East Croydon platform 1. Departure at 11:28. Scheduled arrival at East Croydon 12:22. This is my first attempt at a TL service on LC. I didn't mess around with waypoints, but feel free to as i'm sure that will create a bit of chaos. The run itself ended up being rather vanilla with a lot of greens, BUT i did get to "race" the Class 313 ECS move to Selkirk Depot for a couple miles, which was cool. I realized i was routed just ahead of a Southern 377 service to Victoria most of the way (they ended up being 8 min late to EC lol), so if i ran it again, i'd probably try to get it to overtake me (maybe an extended stop somewhere?) to aee more adverse signals. Cool thing to me was being able to keep exactly to the official timings (at least according to TL website for today's date). That's not saying the TL services would slot in perfectly in the timetable, but the presence of the Class 700 didn't cause my laptop to meltdown, just sayin'! Less cool is not being able to set station stops for ourselves in free roam. Even if we could set go via waypoints and have them show up on the distance counter that would be almost as good. Sad is going back to TSW2 skies, lighting, and no tunnel/bridge reverb. In particular the latter is very noticable on this route. Maybe someday LC will get a facelift even if an extension isn't in the cards.
I have been having so much fun. Although as stated in another thread, I think we need something to let us know where the maps end. Such as some of the sidings on TVL, I can see them on the map and also place a route into them. but when I got onto the line to the sidings, I got the out of area message, and spawned at the junction, with no way to get to my train. To which I had to go into the map and remove it. On the other thing with the 314 on Isle of White. There was no power in the unit, I just put it on a hill, and let the brakes off. Then let gravity do its thing. I posted again on my thread showing more of what I have been doing.
I was hoping trainsimcz's out of bounds wall remover mod would work in TSW4 but unfortunately it doesn't, hopefully it will get updated and we can drive in these areas at some point.
Really good point about having a countdown to waypoints. That would be extremely helpful in addressing the intermediate station issue. Having passengers load and unload once you arrive is a ‘nice to have’ but the distance countdown is the critical bit.
I have noticed there are some areas where there are tracks, you can also create a path to them, but when you reach them, surprisingly there is an error message, something like, you can not go on over it!. One easy and simply example is Koln Aachen Route. I wanted to take a picture of my train over the "famous" Hohenzollern bridge, but when starting to pass over it, the error message appeared! Also this happens on some yards too, or special areas. For example on Main-Spessart Bahn, if you want to go to the port interesting area, you "suffer" the similar situations. You can not even reach the ones available on some Scenarios, or does not allows you to go to other ones, not included. So please kindly ask DTG, to allow, us to use every track you have made for any route, on Free Mode. Thanks!.
Another issue I noticed is about modern trains on GWE route. I have used some scenarios created for other members using the BR Class 395 "Javelin", which the overhead lines ends, you can continue driving it on electric mode, without changing nothing.. But on free mode, I tried to do the same with the Class 800, but when arrived to that point, the train does not have power any more! There is something I have to change on the controls?
In scenarios, it has 'off the rails' this enables any train to run on any track no matter the power source, example electric trains can run on diesel only (not electrified) routes. Where as in free roam mode 'off the rails' is not active, this means trains need the correct power source to operate. As GWE is set in 2016, it was before electrification so it is a diesel only route. The preservation team reveled the overhead wires on GWE are just scenery, they dont contain a power supply so even trains with pantographs can't run under them. Adam said power cant even be turned on to them, to electrify GWE would require all the current overhead wires pulled out and completely restarted. Speaking from experience, the class 800 runs on GWE like a dream in scenario mode tho.
Running of the former Vulcan Rock train from Palmdale to Sun Valley (Symbol RVUSV), almost got to Lang before my PC decided it wanted a break. Formation was 2x32x1x35x2 (Based on a google map image of the train)
Here is a few ideas i plan to try 1 operate NS locomtives long hood forward on horseshoe curve route .( ns and the Norfolk and Western & Southern RY operated this way regulaly back in the day) 2.. Place and operate retro paint schemes on Sand Patch and Clinchfield and other routes.
They introduced the very best feature i can immagine for a sim like this. Also the paths are working suprisingly well. Currently im testing how the dispatcher reacts when splitting the services. --> Also enjoy the dispachter is clearing the shunting signals, even if there is already a vehicle. (Not sure this is on all routes)
I'm hoping it will rekindle interest in loco DLC. It makes them a much more attractive product than before IMO.
The only issue is some freight waggons that operate in pairs are unable to be shunted together as you can't connect the drawbar, it would be good if you had a way of creating formations in TSW before placing them. The other thing was with the RHTT, the class 66s placeable in free roam do not feature the RHTT remote control, also the only RHTT formation is a single wagon rather than one generator/pump/tank and one with extra tanks. Other than that the mischief is fun... These were all at Edinburgh... Not sure if the images will show or not as I have been struggling to post images recently
Found out a few interesting things 1 found that in free roam timetable mode you can access the Ratcliffe power station on midland main line spawned a class 66 set route around the loop track and was in the power station is massive in scale def plan to do more free roam timetable mode there. 2 found can go to far east end of cumberland yards on sand patch mexico tower ther are B&O style color position light signal s there for photo mode props.
I'm going to build the longest and heaviest freight train in the game and I'm going to upload the entire procedure on my YouTube channel. I am going to do it in cajon pass, with the UP SD70ACe, I am thinking of using grain trains that are the heaviest, at least I am going to use 200 or 250 wagons which I calculate will measure around 4 or 5km long and at least 37,000 tons of weight. For power I am thinking of putting 4 locomotives in the lead and placing 2 locomotives every 50 cars, in total there would be 14 locomotives.
In case someone wants to let their computer suffer, here's an Idea. Try to fill the entire outer Ring from the Training Center with one really long Train and then try to couple the last Wagon of the Train with the first Locomotive.
Did a full run from Peterborough to Doncaster in the 387 had roughly 7,000 action points not sure if it counted
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this yet so if so I apologize but I found out you can drive on the tube lines on GWE so I drove a 166 from Paddington as far as Westbourne Park where unfortunately is the end of the representative area, but it's still a short fun little run to try! The 1972 stock won't work here as the line isn't electrified in game so you will need to use a diesel.
I try to run a freeroam with an CSX SD40 or GP38 on Sand Patch or Antelope but my locos don't moove, because no power with the throttle. What do I miss?
How about running a diesel on the Bakerloo overground bit on the lines that run alongside (Is that GWE or something else?)
It is sort of possible, in that you can spawn a train and take it for a drive. Even fairly well modelled. However, none of the wcml tracks appear in the 2D map, so you have no way of setting a path and consequently face red lights.
Interesting, there is a class 66 freight consist that runs up and down those tracks at times (on the new timetable), I wonder if the lights change for that, maybe you could latch on that consist somehow?
Here’s just some of the shenanigans I’ve got up to yes that’s an Avanti IET in America DONT question it XD
Today I had quite a journey, as I replicated the 3:45 am Southwest Chief service from Barstow to San Bernardino. If you set the month to June, you will get a beautiful sunrise. I managed to be on time for Victorville and got to San Bernardino around 20 minutes early. Livery: https://creatorsclub.dovetailgames.com/creations/110290 Barstow: Victorville:
I had been trying for ages with my TSC install to place a train during a timetabled scenario. Had limited success. The TSW version is far more user friendly. A consist editor is now pretty important to help us get the most out of free roam. Also we could do with some more UK loco DLC. I would think free roam opens the market up a bit and reduces the ties to one route. A Class 56 and Class 25 would be useful as would more variants of 37. Do the Devs release how big a following 37/4s have? These are not just suggestions but possibly essential for variety purposes.
Capitol Limited Eastbound, Part 1 (got as far as Mance and had to save) I'm a little overpowered with two F125s, but it makes for a relaxing drive. I'd probably add a couple more coaches if i do the WB run. DTG (or a 3rd party), please sell me an Amtrak Diesel pack with baggage car, viewliner, etc. Maybe with TOD4 for Sandpatch and HSC? Btw there are formations already in free roam for a lot of Amtrak trains- I guess all the ones that run NEC? Edit: due in Cumberland at 0920, probably not gonna be on-time. Wasn't really sure when to start at Rockwood, so i did 0800, but took me a while to set it up lol.
I had posted sunday about doing some NS trains in HSC long hood forward ..I tested it got to work .To start i spawned a 50 car empty coal train with 2 NS ES44ac then uncouple them from hoppers de spawned the 2 engines then spawned 2 NS es44 s but spawned them both lead front facing the empty hoppers to get train to run long hood ( radiator rear as front ) just set reversor handle to reverse then go
forgot to mention after you spaw the 2 engines front of locos facing hoppers pull forwards to couple then after to run train long hood set reversr to reverse ( then basicaly reverse is forwards ) i tested train on the south fork branch to Winber mine area
Think i'm gonna try this, but with the GP38-2. The GE's just look weird to me running long hood forward lol.
Looks stupid, but Norfolk Southern is the only railroad where their road engines can do that at track speed due to them mounting ditchlights on both sides of the locomotives.
They still run some trains long hood forward in the last 2 years ive caught several NS and even a few CSX trains on video in my local area 1 NS train had a GE ET44ah long hood forward a friend has gotten SD70aces running long hood forward back in earlier years i got oldr GE and EMDs on NS when the practice was more regular
the Norfolk and Western and Southern Ry in US were the 2 rr that operated long hood forward then when they merged to form NS it continued but after time they mostly stopped the long hood forward operating except on occaisions they still do ..NW and SR initally did it as it was thought would help protect train crew in event of grade crossing collision .but the other side was not as good visibility for crews . sSR even had some engines equipped with dual control stands so the engine could be run either side of the cab
. Until we can get up the incline on TSW4.. I spent 12 years on Train Simulator creating the Bromsgrove - Mancherster - Sheffield Route, that has the incline you could try, it was hard though getting an engine to get up it. You can download it here free. https://www.wotawallysbits.net/jetgriff-routes.html
People have some amazing ideas here. Here are mine: 1. Flying Scotsman + IC Coaches on Linke Rheinstrecke/ München-Augsburg 2. 4F + 2x N-Wagen coaches on Peninsula Corridor 3. 314ScR + 313SR on LU Bakerloo Line (Wilesden Jn. to H&W) 4. DB 406 on LGV
I am currently running the DB 110 Wurzburg to Kassel stopping in most loops to be overtaken by ICEs. Nice to see the route at a slower pace in daylight.
Just got into Munich on a TGV and having stopped at Pasing and Augsburg I know what I am doing on my return from holiday next week!
