Did Dtg Give Up On Us Fright Routs Are They Not Profitable No More It Seems Like It's Just Been Pass

I was just wondering if dtg decided to quit or reduce the us Freight routes they used to be a lot more common

 

They just release different types at time. We already have quite a lot of US freight, so I think they wanted to do more passenger which was the last one "NY-Trenton".

 

Actually the last one was Metrolink Antelope Valley Line in TSW4.

I would bet another US freight route will come at some point. When and what, who knows? Quality and accuracy, who knows?

 

I can definitely respect that they want to add more us passenger routes to the game I was hoping they didn't give up on the us freight I enjoyed all the us freight that they done in the past

 

So it was, completely forgot about it lol.

 

I don’t think DTG really have a consistent order for release of either US passenger or US freight. I forget how many US routes are currently planned for the future but I would be surprised if at least one wasn’t freight.

 

Well, personally, although I enjoy freight, I really don't need another freight route meandering endlessly through the Sierras or Rockies.

I'd much prefer an industrial route with lots of shunting and pick- up freight.

Better still a mixed freight/passenger route just about anywhere.

Let's leave the NEC for at least a little while.

 

It’s very sad that Dovetails own community has acknowledged that all future U.S content will probably not be up to par and as good as other countries in terms of content

 

I wouldn’t say any country has it perfectly. Theirs flaws for all.

 

Hopefully not for awhile till everything is rethought out and built to a single standard.

Right now with Free roam and formation designer in the distance, its a mess

-Alot of the Gp38-2's and SD40-2/SD40s don't work in free roam
-Some locos have issues working with each others (IE I can have a UP SD70Ace lead a UP AC4400CW,but not the other way around)
-Cant spawn certian paint schemes (Dirty UP AC4400CW and CSX YN2 GP38-2)
-UP Heritage Liveries still suck

Part of me thinks I should take Matt's offer to be on the beta team to help, but Im not sure on it.....

 

When it comes to the US content. There's no pleasing both sides. One side is gonna get mad and upset either way EVEN when both freight and passenger are included in one route. It's a losing battle either way when either one side or both sides are unhappy with the choice of American route

 

I wonder if it has something to do with the 3rd party Developers not working properly with what dovetail makes themselves which would will be weird given that it's all made on the same engine

 

Well in the ballpark of 85 to 90% of America's trains are Freight it will stand to reason that a higher percent of rail fans in America are fans of heavy haulers and it's well documented that the United States has very poor passenger trains Asia and Europe are far ahead of the United States and in Europe and Asia passenger trains have a bigger presence in transportation

 

Yeah, it's the same for all the regions, TSW2 and 3 both launched with high speed German routes so for 4 they decided to do a UK high speed run and a commuter focussed Austrian/German route. These forums had plenty of people bemoaning the lack of German high speed and UK commuter running.

Personally I think DTG do a pretty good job of providing variety, although for someone like me who plays all the routes regardless of region they can time their releases poorly at times, we didn't need a single track German commuter route immediately after the predominantly single track Blackpool for example.

The only thing I would like more of, but I'm not sure how popular it would be generally, is shunting, something heavily focussed on yard work would be perfect for me, but then plenty of people would prefer something longer distance.

 

Yep something along the lines of SPG or Clinchfield with plenty of shunting would be lovely!

 

What they could also do is retro packs for the already existing routes, like the GWE Diesel Legenda pack. A few reskins of locomotives and freight cars, a new timetable and a few scenarios. Or entirely new retro locomotives if they want to go the extra mile to make it s porper add-on (instead of just easy reskins).

Like I believe a Chessie System retro pack for Sand Patch Grade would be quite an obvious choice, for example. Personally I would love it.

 

For US freight i really want SD70 Ace in NS livery for Horseshoe Curve and F7 on Sand Patch Grade

 

Nah, what we'll get is some half attempt with wrong cars or incorrect paint, like the Stealth CSX SD40 or ATSF F7.

 

Quite likely. But if done properly, these could be really good.

 

There was another thread recently where Matt was canvassing for the sort of US route customers would like to see. Elicited quite a cross section of views but the general sentiment seemed to be, unless something very iconic we are a bit jaded with the run uphill in Notch 8 at 25 MPH for 40 mins, followed by another 40 mins running downhill at 25 MPH in dynamic braking (if it works).

 

I've got that covered.

 

The popularity thing is the problem. I once advocated for a yard task DLC on a stream, since Matt's a shunting fan also, but he said the audience for that is way too small for it to be feasible. So once the editor is fully operational, maybe we can create our own.

 

Such a shame, learning from your SPG and Clinchfield streams is the most fun I've had with TSW (although I'm liking passenger stuff also, can we at least hold out hope that enough tools/support for existing stock is provided for us weird folk to create our own scenarios and free play?

 

I still think a TSW version of TSC's Boston and Albany would do well, particularly the period setting. Good mixture of express and commuter passenger traffic, plus freight including the little branch line.

 

But you have to factor in that DTG would need to make their own versions of the locos includeded, the ALCO RS3, the FAs, the PAs, and the HH660. Not to mention the passenger coaches and period correct stock.
It's a lot of work that DTG cannot dedicate the time to do, or cannot get the correct references to make them up to TSW standards.

 

Yes sadly that would probably be the case, though the new assets particularly the Alco locos would be useful for future projects. This brings us around neatly though to the issue being discussed in another thread that it is time for fewer route releases but more quality and length.

 

Would also like content for UK freight perhaps some sort of freight pack containing locos other than the 66! Preferably that can also sub into other routes, but perhaps also with some freight scenarios/shunting across various routes to make use of some of the sidings etc.

 

We have 3 American routes with the typical nort American 50 car + consists only (SMH, HSC and CJo). . That's really not a lot.

 

Hi Matt.

Where is are the playing times statistics from? Is it steam only. Or do you consoles playing time too?

 

Based on DTG's past actions any new historic US route would probably be a route that could use the F7.

In any case write me down as someone wholly uninterested in US freight for a long list of reasons, which go far beyond its enjoyability in a simulation.

 

I think DTG's biggest problem when it comes to US freight is that, for PC at least, they can't really compete with Run 8. And to some extent I burned myself out on the scene playing that, which TBH I haven't touched in several months.

 

Which is funny cause Run 8 has some horrendous off looking models and terrible route building.

 

I'm not a big fan of US freight, but after reading Matt's comment, I'm half tempted to spend hours just running the game on Sand Patch Grade (The only US freight route I have) idling (Ok maybe I'll try a run from Rockwood as well...)

 

SPG, Horseshoe Curve, and clinchfield are really the only Freight routes I play anymore. I love freight routes that are set in mountains and valleys surrounded by lush forests and small towns every few miles. 60-80 miles of straight desert in the west is just so boring because the scenery is bare and there’s nothing to really look at except sand..

 

For my opinion, Peak Forest have intense shunting and go with "All mixed up" scenario, this route is one of the most successful for freight, specially with only steam engines

 

Probably doesn't help DTG didn't do a very good job on the scenery for Cajon Pass itself

 

I’ve never compared in-game vs real scenery on CJP. That is … certainly not favourable.

 

Yeah, as someone who has been to Cajon in real life, TSWs rendition of it really sucks, which is a shame cause they did a really good job at Victorville, but the pass, bad shrubbery, bad ground textures, missing landmarks.

But I've already complained about those in the past and they arnt getting fixed....

 

Wow I had no idea the scenery in that route was that far off from the real thing. I’ve never been that far out west so I had no idea it was that incorrect. The landscape in the photo actually looks very cool to look at..

 

Except all the steam engines are fundamentally unfinished and thus unfun to drive...

 

I have plenty of fun driving the steam engines. They could obviously still be better, but they're still plenty of fun.

 

Indeed.

I enjoy trying to drive them, they are complicated things.

 

See my posts.

Us freight routes come out once for every three US routes. So every 3 USA routes you will get one freight route in general.
So two passenger routes and one freight. And I think Matt and DTG is being generous with that even.

 

There are several US routes that have a reasonable balance of freight and passenger activity and I would imagine those routes would be the best use of DTG resources. An example would be the Miami-West Palm Beach TSC route. This sixty mile route has 16 Tri-Rail commuter stations, four Amtrak stations, a large CSX freight yard in Hialeah and numerous CSX industry spurs along its length. The main downside is the terrain is flat, so not much of a handling challenge for players that way. Less than a mile away and running parallel to the CSX route, there is Brightline passenger service running 32 daily trains on the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way along with all of the usual FEC freight operations that serve 3 sea ports and a large yard in Hialeah as well. Another great mixed use route opportunity if licensing can be secured by DTG. Of course I'm biased as I live in the West Palm Beach area.

 

Thats why I wish we had an editor like TSC where we could fix those issues.

 

We do have an editor, and you can use it to add landmarks and foliage to existing routes.
You just can't edit the terrain or extend the track.

 

With some basic assets to download (I am sure half are available already for community not payware), and people willing to use the editor, there are endless possibilities for people to make US and Canadian (even Mexican) freight routes.
Of course it won't be so detailed, but if the community had some 3d artists willing to build some assets.....
Still I wouldn't like to build a complex item like a station. Although for a 3d artist who has some experience it shouldn't be too hard.

With the editor Train Sim World players can now build ANYTHING as long as they have assets.

So if they want to build that Flagstaff mainline or that midwest highspeed route with Amtrak passenger running between Chicago and Los Angeles...... they can.

But like Matt said the demand is very high for passenger.

 

I hope they do some more retro US freight routes as we have all the modern names. Baltimore and Ohio, Penn RR that sort of thing.
It also seems inexcusable that now they have their mountains sorted out we don't get a CP route through a part of the Rockies. They were some of the best routes in TSC.

 

Unfortunately, based on Matt's previous comments, older locos are harder to do cause of the lack of access of equipment plus running any vintage equipment at track speed.

Which realistically only leaves the late 60s and early 70s as decent candidates for a route as that was when EMD introduced the GP38/39/40 and SD38/39/40 line as well as the later Dash 2 versions on top of whatever railroads still held on to their F units from the 50s.

Which really doesn't give the true mix of power for that Era due to the fact you still had ALCO and FM units around, with GE just getting started in the industry.

We would also need more period accurate stock from that Era like 40ft boxcars, proper tank cars, flat cars, and correct road specific cabooses.