Can’t remember… I think it’s in the 3rd journey chapter with the Pacer. From what I can remember is that, it’s the 12:28 as this was a midday run.
I found a nice clash of seasonal services on BPO. The 8F railtour services are interesting. They require ECS runs bringing the coaches to Preston and back for storage and also require light 8F runs to turn the engine around. If you start the ECS service to bring the coaches from Preston to Blackpool north and run it during December, you will clash a bit with the increased Blackpool traffic during the Illumination. So, pick 5Z56 ECS Preston Parcel Sidings to Blackpool North with the 47. Make sure you choose December. I suppose it would work in Oct and Nov, but I didn't try that. Spoiler: Don't Open this until you run it! You follow a Blackpool North Pacer service out of Preston. At Kirkham, a returning Illumination Special holds up traffic and the dispatcher has to decide whether to let you or the Pacer leave first. You are handling vacuum braked coaches which makes things a bit tricky. Be sure to set the brakes to vacuum at the start. Also, once you are ready, just pull up to the red light at the platform and wait there for the service to start. You get some nice thrash with the 47 and get to assess your touch with vacuum braked coaches. The new high intensity light on the 47 is nice as are the glowing gauge lights.
Calling all switching/shunting fans! While starting to compile an alphabetical by route name list of yard work activities on TSW4, I quickly encountered a series of seven services on the Cajon Pass, all identically named. Here's the list, with start and ideal running times: Barstow Yard Switching 18: 13:01 / 01:11. Barstow Yard Switching 22: 14:39 / 01:09. Barstow Yard switching 1: 15:13 / 01:58. Barstow Yard Switching 16: 16:01 / 00:18. Barstow Yard Switching 12: 16:23 / 00:43. Barstow Yard Switching 9: 16:49 / 00:45. Barstow Yard Switching 11: 17:34 / 00:43. Keep in mind that you have the lowest priority in the yards -- which adds to the challenge.
I have Barstow Yard Switching 9 on the list. Should I add the others as a group or add 1 of them with a note about the others? What do you think?
I caught this 3 way meet at SWIFT Interlocking in Train Sim World 3. It's from the North Jersey Coast Line Train 3275 timetable service. You meet Northeast Regional 134 & a MidTown Direct / Morris & Essex Line Train. The Regional train stops to allow the MidTown Direct train to pass. In real life, the Regional would get priority. But it made for a cool meet in the videogame. Here's the video link in case the embed doesn't work -> watch here
The suffixes S (100 km/h) and SS (120 km/h) indicate that the wagons fully comply to the UIC standards of running goods trains at such speed which includes sufficiently strong brakes. If all wagons have that suffix, running at that speed is usually no problem at all. Some wagons are capable of running at higher speeds but have too weak braks for the UIC standard which are marked with one (100 km/h), two (120 km/h) or three (120 km/h and automatic load compensation) stars next to the ABC grid which may also include further restrictions like that wagons must be empty.
A BPO run that clashes with seasonal services: 0Z03 Ormskirk to Blackpool North at 14:38 with the Class 47 It needs the Illumination traffic to be really interesting. I ran it in November. It should also work in October and December. This is part of a series of light loco runs all across the route: 0Z02, 3, 4, 5, and 6. I am not sure what the timetable purpose of this group of runs is other than possibly track inspection or a superintendent tour. Regardless, 0Z03 is a good run and I am really enjoying the "refurbished" Class 47. On this run, there is a scheduled meet in Rufford. I guess this violates the token exchange that lets only one service on the Ormskirk branch at once. You still stop to drop off the token. There is also a scheduled wait at Preston. After that, things get interesting; be on your toes. Spoiler: Don't click this until you have run it! Player driven physics makes the run just a bit slower than AI which causes a red light at Kirkham and Wesham. You wait for a light engine that is headed to grab the cut of Seacows in the yard nearby and then continue waiting for a southbound Pacer. AI runs 0Z03 quickly enough to avoid the red. If you stay under the speed limits, you shouldn't. Edit: I originally got the run number and description incorrect. The service recommended is 0Z03. You can run 0Z02 before it and then just free roam into it if you wish.
After maintenance or refurb locos would be sent out on a run, sometimes as part of a service or light loco. That's what I imagine this is
Interesting video indeed in game if the announcements are working correctly Regional Amtrak Regional 134 Eastbound to Boston South Station stopping at New York Penn Station New Rochelle Bridgeport New Haven Old Saybrook New London Westerly Kingston Providence Route 128 Boston South Station is delayed by 5 minutes. due to the Morris and Essex line train from I-78 Exit 45 Summit getting the priority over the regional. For the developers if this situation were to happen again at this Junction by the sawtooth bridges they should know that Amtrak trains get the priority over the NJ Transit trains
My apologies, I was running the series of light loco runs and posted the wrong service number originally. I meant to recommend 0Z03 and not 0Z02. The original post has been corrected. Sorry!
An interesting BPO Freight run: 6F29 Burn Naze ICI to Stanlow at 12:50 with the 47 Blu There is a scheduled stop for Pacer Service 2J58 by Poulton Tower. If you are quick, but smooth after that you will deal with following that service to Preston and have some nice AI traffic. I ran this one during the Illumination period and during the summer and it didn't seem to be affected by seasonal services. I am more inclined to enjoy the German routes, but I am completely hooked on BPO. It is magnificent!
Yet another nice run on Blackpool Branches: BPO 5P95 Blackpool North to Longsight at 22:50 with the 47 It is billed as an ECS run, but it will start at the platform loaded with passengers, so I ran it in November and considered it an Illumination Season extra. Be aggressive, yet smooth or you might find some Spoiler: SPAD Potential! You leave just behind Pacer service 2J58 and catch up to it before the dispatcher routes you past at Kirkham and Wesham. Thereafter, 2J58 chases you. However, when I ran 2J58 as a player, I couldn't match AI physics and never caught up to the 47 after it blew through the fast track at Kirkham and Wesham. I ran it in November, but I am not sure that made a difference in the AI traffic. It did make it a night time run and I really love driving the "new" 47 on this route at night. Who would have thought I could be so entranced by BR Blue diesels? With that we have an update. As always, let me know of errors and omissions. Google Published Documents: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...4lUuBrw-k2_y7FxuzH6mZ1m3Qu4YTfLViTfxQ/pubhtml TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet..._wzt7qTCooxSTBW8pGAwYLs_ohsdDOcQOuZ4A/pubhtml Chaos Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...yCTbHVZrwBSBUUkPiiJGlTWfRXexfPn7kBVDw/pubhtml Excel Spreadsheets: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...ouid=108028767534258522758&rtpof=true&sd=true TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YgilvnKZFc7TJXyqftRJ0I5yTMlMf81/view?usp=sharing Chaos Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMKrwNA2OmZz8tVEQo1_FZnRZXpNT463/view?usp=sharing
Maintalbahn EZK 54864 Aschaffenberg Hafen to Aschaffenberg Hbf This one's nothing too complicated but gives a nice tour of the docks if you haven't been there before (was previously only served by Rivet's DB BR 204 DLC for MSB), and i saw plenty of varied AI traffic at the Hbf. I ran it with the G6, not the default 363, so not sure how they compare with horsepower but it required a bit of thrash to get the loaded wagons up the hill from the docks and the braking can be a little tricky too. I was happy i had sunshine and just a little fog at the end lol.
How to you use the sheet? I was looking at this HMA service RE57051 17:06 with the 182 but I can’t find it in the timetable and I don’t know what location?
It looks like I made a transcription error in reporting this run and it is a shame, because it is a good one. I have quoted the original post above. It also looks like you can have some fun at the start if you delay 57051 for a bit. I will correct the run number to the Cab Car and 57089. Thanks for finding this error.
Thank you! And thanks for doing this its much appreciated. Wouldn't it be good if TSW could get some random event generator inserted into the gameplay?
I have really enjoyed the free roam option where the train I am driving is the random event! However, I still like finding and driving Service Mode runs that surprise me with unique challenges.
Without checking to see whether anyone has mentioned them already, I want to praise the lengthy, interesting, and challenging shunting activities included with the new Maintalbahn route which, among other good points, have perhaps finally taught me how to manage a certain pesky German switching engine.
Thanks. I look forward to starting on this route. 54864 has been recommended. Do you have any specific ones that stood out for you?
I ran it with the 363 and definitely needed the low speed high torque gear. I lumbered into the Hbf significantly late and held up at least three services!
Not to be a party pooper again, but just ran this one and there's nothing stopping you from running to time--I departed on time, and the only cautionary aspects (on approach to Stoke Tunnel) were flashing yellows to signal the upcoming route divergence just after the tunnel, which you don't need to slow for as you're only doing c. 70 mph. After single flashing yellow the next signal is green with the feather. Unfortunately, I think there are virtually no 'real' adverse signals on the ECML unless you deliberately create them, because the service pattern just isn't busy enough for the amount of track. Almost all of the double yellows you see on a regular run are for level crossings.
A truly excellent run on DRA: Freight Dresden to Roderau at 09:45 with the Vectron The Vectron layer has added some nice wrinkles to the DRA timetable making it BML - esque. With this run, there is a logjam of freight and passenger at Dresden as you leave. Once it clears, Spoiler: Don't click this until you have tried it! . . . you will be behind two very heavy freights going down the avoiding line and will have to be on your toes for adverse signals the whole way. Run it in PZB mode M with a top speed of 120. The ending also has some AI waiting on you. If you set your distance counter to start once you clear the main, you will find that you your last car clears just as you get to the red. I can't remember a freight run I have enjoyed more.
1O99 Birmingham New St to Ramsgate on SEHS between May and August. Run between June and August to follow 1E93 from Rochester (it runs non-stop between Gillingham and Faversham) which it itself following another train (which stops at Rainham and Sittingbourne). I haven't actually done this, but I saw the 47/4 waiting at Rochester and saw it follow me. It should arrive at Faversham just after you.
Some enforced waits early in the run make it less than it could be, but it is still good. Spreadsheets are now up to date: Google Published Documents: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...4lUuBrw-k2_y7FxuzH6mZ1m3Qu4YTfLViTfxQ/pubhtml TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet..._wzt7qTCooxSTBW8pGAwYLs_ohsdDOcQOuZ4A/pubhtml Chaos Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...yCTbHVZrwBSBUUkPiiJGlTWfRXexfPn7kBVDw/pubhtml Excel Spreadsheets: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...ouid=108028767534258522758&rtpof=true&sd=true TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YgilvnKZFc7TJXyqftRJ0I5yTMlMf81/view?usp=sharing Chaos Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMKrwNA2OmZz8tVEQo1_FZnRZXpNT463/view?usp=sharing
Blackpool Branches. Service 2J58 Blackpool North-Manchester Victoria You drive a class 47 on service that should have been a DMU, so you stop at all stations (except Salwick) as far as Preston, but you have only two passenger carriages and a luggage carriage so it's lightly loaded. Plenty of opportunity for some decent thrash.
Yes. I have just played this (right- and bottom-HUDless), and it is superb. Keeps you on your toes from start to finish
Just curious, would this consist (empty container wagons) be doing 120kph in real life? I don’t think there are many places outside of LZB zones where freight reaches that speed.
I really enjoyed the [CL] 6M49 Grain Oil Terminal - Sinfin Sidings Scenario on MML that came with the Cargo Line Petroleum pack. Handling a train that heavy is tricky and there is a lot of AI traffic to see and deal with. You have signals requiring a response, including a very tricky one at East Midland Parkway; is this signal prototypical? It would be nice if there were tanker runs to and from Leicester like this in the timetable.
The thing to remember with that signal is that is has a co-acting signal. The big red signal that is at the Down end of the Up Slow platform is actually a repeater of the tricky one and applies to the Down Slow (the line the train is on); it does not apply to the line it is next to! You can tellt his because they have the same signal number, but the one on the right has the letters CA ("co-acting") after it. You can see that signal from afar. (The signal for the Down Fast at that station has the same arrangement, by the way. You can tell this by watching the HST leave ahead of the scenario train; both double-yellow signals return to red at the same time the HST leaves.) These arrangements were quite common in the UK in the days of semaphore signals, but are much rarer in the colour light era, especially for stop signals. All part of the driver's route knowledge UPDATE: I've added screenshots of these signals to my DTG Photos pages, as a picture paints a thousand words (in both shots, the signal to the right of the righthand track applies only to trains on the lefthand track. Note the co-acting signals can be viewed by drivers from much farther away than those on the left.): https://live.dovetailgames.com/live...546/shot/e7518fcf-974b-4d86-8fb4-4281d7f66710 https://live.dovetailgames.com/live...546/shot/1f8a4922-4abe-4cf4-b074-7f51bbf082ba
Another good one from the recent Cargo Petroleum pack is: [CL] 6A32 Theale Puma - Harwich Refinery, which runs on the GWE from Reading to Acton Yard Remember this is a Class 6 train, so 60mph max. Spoiler As well as the fun of handling this heavy train (correctly) set to goods braking mode, there are adverse signals with AWS action all the way. Oh, and you'll get a message at the beginning saying you'll be routed on the Up Relief all the way. Take that with a pinch of salt!
I've been having an interesting time re-creating the Class 47 hauled Cross Country services of the 1990s on the Brighton Mainline, using Free Roam. Running the schedule in timetable mode gives plenty of signal checks. It's not really a service mode run, so I haven't provided details in this thread, but I've provided a link to my post in the Free Roam thread below, as it may be of interest to some people who read this thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/free-roam-your-ideas.73430/page-8 (It's post #398)
What an excellent run, thank you very much. I ran it in December with some light fog. Together with the early (golden) hour, signal spotting was quite tricky, which added to the enjoyment. It had been some time since I was last on DRA. I spent a lot of time recently with the 8F and BPO; what little time was left was dedicated to LFR and the 110. Returning to DRA is always such a joy - and with an excellent loco and run to boot! Yes, it would. First off, the container cars are rated for SS, which means they’re allowed to go 120 even loaded. Furthermore, cwf.green already did the math so I don’t have to. It’s a P/P train with 100 BrH. That means, you’re essentially allowed to go 120 up to a falling gradient of 0.5% (including) and 115 up to a falling gradient of 1.2% (excluding). In other words, from Dresden up to ~km 22 on the avoiding line, you can go 120, then 115 from ~km 22 to where the two lines join together again, and lastly 120 the rest of the way to Röderau.
I am discovering more nice wrinkles in the DRA timetable that were introduced with the Vectron freight runs. Freight Roderau - Dresden at 14:47 Lots of AI at the start and some adverse signals as the dispatcher works their way through a log jam of Rodeau and Riesa traffic. Then a wait at an unusual location. A relatively straightforward run at the end. Freight Roderau - Dresden at 15:00 A 1900 ton train that is a challenge to handle. And, your handling will be challenged!
Played these both today... I didn't quite get stopped at the unusual location, but was creeping up to a red until it cleared. And, yes, I don't think I've ever been stopped there in that direction before. Very challenging indeed!
I am hella late to this thread but I have two services I really like, both are basically about the same-ish event. Southeastern Highspeed, Javelin (Class 395) service 5Z12/1Z12 "The Charity Javelin" you first drive the train from depot to Ashford Intl and then do the charity tour or whatever it was, heading to St. Pancras Intl. the funny thing is that at about 4:30, an ICE 3M will pass you on the right track, heading in the same direction (this will only work properly if you stay in time and don 't depart too early from Ashford Intl. you may still see the ICE 3M somewhere in your ride but I cannot assure that). then there is the service 1J72 (same route same train) which heads the opposite direction. after stopping at Stratford Intl the same ICE 3M will overtake on your left NOTE: only works around october/november I made an extended guide with more information all about this easter egg here
I'm going to recommend the two most 'difficult' scenarios on Maintalbahn. They are both different to each other, but each is challenging in its own way and both are great fun. Getting the Cold Shoulder (difficulty 4/5) This is a passenger scenario using the BR642 in the snow. There are some request stop changes that are made en route (this is not a spoiler, as the scenario tells you this will happen right at the beginning.) The weather is atrocious, and at some points you can hardly see a thing. Makes it great fun, especially if hudless. Spoiler There is also an unusual equipment failure scenario that you have to resolve. Fetch (difficulty 5/5) This is a freight scenario using the BR363 that traverses the entire route, collecting and dropping off wagons. If you sometimes like a change from A-B scenarios, you'll find this one immensely enjoyable. Allow 2 hours! Spoiler Two of the shunting locations are quite involved, but straightforward. One of them takes you deep inside the Glanzstoffwerke, which you'll find is very well modelled. There are a couple of propelling moves that, as a career railwayman, made me raise my eyebrows and think "I'm not sure that's allowed!", but in no way does it spoil the fun
Spreadsheets are now up to date. Happy Holidays! Google Published Documents: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...4lUuBrw-k2_y7FxuzH6mZ1m3Qu4YTfLViTfxQ/pubhtml TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet..._wzt7qTCooxSTBW8pGAwYLs_ohsdDOcQOuZ4A/pubhtml Chaos Runs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...yCTbHVZrwBSBUUkPiiJGlTWfRXexfPn7kBVDw/pubhtml Excel Spreadsheets: TSW3&4 Recommended Service Runs https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...ouid=108028767534258522758&rtpof=true&sd=true TSW Compatible Recommended Service Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YgilvnKZFc7TJXyqftRJ0I5yTMlMf81/view?usp=sharing Chaos Runs https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMKrwNA2OmZz8tVEQo1_FZnRZXpNT463/view?usp=sharing
Thanks for recommending. SPAD’d a few times on your second route. A real challenge which is exactly what I’ve wanted.
I JUST learned about safety systems as up until yesterday I was playing the routes without any safety systems on. And things started to get boring tbh. Then I accidentally looked into PZB/LZB/Sifa as I'm playing Mein Spessart Bahn, and learning about PZB gave a totally different perspective and fun to the game! It's a bit disappointing that they didn't introduce the safety system operations in advanced tutorials or something, as this really brings entire new dimension to playing. Thanks for this thread btw.
