I was playing Boston Sprinter and trying out the minimal hud with all the safety systems on. ATC gave me a speed reduction but the speed limit shown in the minimum hud still showed the track speed rather than the signal speed, even though the signal speed was less than the track speed. Is this a bug or a missing feature? I feel as though the minimal hud should show the maximum permitted speed and take the safety systems into consideration as well. That way we can use the minimal hud with safety systems in the external camera. Could also be useful when driving on LGV or HS1 portion of SEHS.
Probably the way it was set up. Many routes are like this. UK routes, for example have separate passenger and freight speed restrictions, but on some when driving a freight service, it will give you the maximum line speed, rather than the speed your service is limited to.
The HUD only considers track speed limits and (on newer routes) the top speed of the train. It doesn't display signal speed limits on US and German routes.
This probably clarifies what was puzzling me while driving a F40PH-3C on a Boston-Readville timetaible run. The HUD often showed a higher speed limit than the train display. For example, the HUD speed lmit was 90mph, but the train was showing 45. I was pretty much driving on a yellow signal all the way. So, in this case, when the HUD was showing the line speed was 90, I should have been driving at 45 due to the signals?
that’s it you have got it. The track speed is the maximum permitted speed but if the signals are showing aspects which would restrict that speed you always go with the signals. As they are slowing you down.
Don't treat the speed limit as a target that you should reach. Drive according to whatever ahead of you.
Thanks for the clarification. Since I'm playing this as an enjoyable game rather than a full sim I haven't worried overly much about the reality, but I do want to 'play by the rules' to a great extent. The F40 makes it easier than other trains because of its highly visible panel in the top corner of the cab. However, if the HUD is inaccurate it makes it difficult for casual players like me to adher to the rules. I like playing the freight scenarios, I get fed up of the stop/start of passenger runs, and I know most (all?) freight speed limits are lower than passenger trains, but I'm now wondering if I should drive more slowly than the HUD implies. TBH I do tend to stay below 50 or so when driving frieght, though.
Yeah, I do know this, but does the HUD accurately show the speed limit for my current setup? If it doesn't how do I know what it should be?
it wont no the hud will show you the maximum speed allowed as per the track rule. it does not factor in the wagons or anything you are pulling.
Well, that's frustrating. As a casual player I suppose it won't matter too much, but I would have liked to have known what speed I should have been driving at. I'm currently having a go at the Cane Creek scenarios, but I'm not sure what I should be doing.
It's not really inaccurate - if anything, it's more realistic like that. In real life, you'd know track speed limits from route knowledge and/or the timetable, and that's what the HUD replaces. Your train's top speed and whatever the signals tell you comes on top of that, and having to keep all these different speed limits in mind and following the correct one is a big part of a train driver's job.
Was just about to say this. The HUD is not inaccurate per se, it’s just crucial to remember that the HUD is showing the line speed and not the signal speed and not any consist limits (with some exceptions like some newer German routes limiting freight speeds but those aren’t always to appropriate either). I can understand that this might feel frustrating when you’re starting off or have no deeper interest in trains but the HUD speed limit is doing exactly what it’s supposed to by design.
On Cane Creek, you should be doing 25mph with every train, I think. Especially on mountain passes in the US, I think it’s all “go as fast as possible” uphill and stick to around 25mph on significant descents to stay in the effective range of the dynamic brakes.
Thanks for all the input, but how would I know what the speed limit is out in the wild? I've always assumed that I should be driving below 45 on a yellow. I know I should be driving below a safe stopping speed, but I hop around from train to train and I'm not as knowledgebale as you guys on what is 'safe', so I'm often wrong. Thank you save game... Curiously, if the HUD is doing what it should, ISTM that the AP programming is broken. So long as I drive below the line speed I get 30AP regularly, however, I'm likely as not to be actually driving above the train/signal enforced speed limit.
If there are consist speed limits, there's nothing but research and background knowledge that will tell you. I don't think there are any such limits on the US stuff in-game right now (for freight - the NEC stuff has the limits on the HUD as well, I think? 125 for the ACS, 80 for the F40, ...) but this is a crucial topic if you dabble in European routes. For signal limits, it is down to you to know what the signals mean. These are the UP signals (for Cane Creek). The same website also has tables for the other Class 1s in TSW. And as far as my 25mph downhill comment goes - that's not an official rule but just friendly advice if you try to survive with 100+ cars freight trains.
Most of that went right over my head! Too much to take in for my gamer/trophy hunter mindset. If I follow your 25mph suggestion and keep an eye on the HUD, it'll be good enough for me keep enjoying the game since I tend to move on when I've got all the trophies for a route. I've just reached level 20 on the Boston-Providence route; the one that brought me here. However, as an aside, I do like to 'walk the track' by finding all the tasks even when there are no trophy for it.
