It's been 5 years since Train Sim World was released as CSX Heavy Haul on Steam (Mar. 16th). And I know many of you on here have not been playing it for that long, let alone when TSW2 was released over a year ago. But still gonna be saying this question no matter what, which is; How is your experience with TSW/TSW2 so far? And to put in some detail onto this: What's the favorite route you mostly play on? The most played loco you have driven? The best service/scenario you do find enjoyable? (optional) The worst experience you've gotten or don't like? And lastly, What's your wish would be for TSW? So hopefully, your experience have been good so far for the past few years or so with TSW. If not, well I ain't gonna be judging that for sure. Your experience is your own.
I got into TSW when it was released for the PS4 in summer 2018. I can still remember the "Microsoft Train Simulator" for PC and had played it many times a filled eternity ago. So I was very happy to see a very good made train simulation coming to console for the first time. You can really tell how the game is evolving when you look at the improvements and additions that have been made year after year. Of course as a German player my first favourite route was "Rapid Transit" and Dessau Hbf is not far away from my home town. I can still remember how I came to the forum. I had a suggestion for improving Dessau Hbf and since then I've somehow been one of the regular forum users and also make pretty collages. But it is the variety that characterizes TSW, so "Sand Patch Grade", which was the first route 5 years ago, has become also one of my favorite US routes. It's nice to see that more and more players are coming and that the community continues to grow. In the future, even more routes from other countries or regions could be integrated. I think the Netherlands or Australia are long overdue.
I got tsw 2 in March 2021, a bit after I got my ps5, I knew it was on ps4 but It never crossed my mind to buy it untill I did. For my favourite route I'm not sure what that would be, one of my favourites (though I enjoy many) I quite enjoy Tharandter Rampe which I brought recently, the route itself is beautiful with winding track in a valley with bridges and tunnels and the 612 is amazing to drive. I also like most other German routes and british routes, especially old British routes. No idea what my most used loco is, never checked and I can't figure out how. But I imagine most locos will be farley equal excluding American locos. Not sure what my favourite service would be None stand out in particular all the services in LBN are quite fun but I've also enjoyed quite a few on other routes For my worst experience, nothing really bad has ever happend, maybe when my console crashed and I lost a livery I was making but I wasn't that far throw and I knew to save frequently then, but no I've lost the livery since transferring from the ps4 version from ps5. Also almost every time I play a German route I always trip the pzb in the first 30 seconds as I forget to not go over 45, but hopefully I'll eventually always remember. For something I'd want in the game, more different countries, as much as I'd enjoy my home country being added (New Zealand) I doubt it would happen considering the one released for ts classic came around 10 years after it released and the 3rd party that made it I doubt would come to tsw2. But other countries I'd enjoy would be the Netherlands, with their amazing railway network, Australia to, also maybe Austria.
I’ve been playing TSW since February 2020 if memory serves. I knew of its existence before as I saw it every so often in the Playstation Store, but always thought it was some cheap arcade knock-off thing. I decided to give it a try when I saw advertisements for Oakville on YouTube and did some research to find out that it in fact wasn’t some arcade thing but a proper train simulator on console. Needless to say, I’ve been hooked ever since. As to what my experience was/is like - I’m still in awe of TSW. Sure, there are simulators which do certain things better than TSW (e.g. Zusi when it comes to German signalling and safety systems), but TSW is the only real train simulator on console and it’s good at what it sets out to do. I still have TSW to thank for getting me back into trains. In my younger years, I was really into trains but lost interest as I got older. It was TSW that reawakened my interest and I’m grateful for that. Now, onto the fun stuff Most played one is likely DRA at this point. Don’t know if I’d say it’s my favourite as I’m really bad at ranking stuff, but it’s certainly up there if it’s not number 1. Across all of my profiles (TSW, TSW2 PS4, TSW2 PS5), my most driven loco has to be the Br 155. I think I’ve got something like 8000 km under my belt on her, if not more. That’s a tough one, I said I was bad at ranking stuff. The G6 has a fantastic timetable on RRO. For best scenario, three come to mind - Limited Power on CRR, the one diverging you to the S-Bahn for the 101 on HRR, and the line closure due to storm on RSN. Looking back from today’s perspective, just generally playing on the base PS4. It was fine for the German stuff, but SPG and CRR being stuck at 20-25 fps was a chore. Personally, I’d like to see random events and a more dynamic dispatcher (to let freight trains get overtaken for example). A functional EBuLa wouldn’t hurt either. As far as specific content goes, I’d love to see a German vintage route (or at least more vintage locos still in service) and a US vintage route with F/E-unit passenger trains. Funny you should mention it. I remember how it happened for me as well. I came on the forums when TSW2 was released to ask if there’s a way to turn on the alerter on the AC44 without an external keyboard. Somehow, I never left afterwards
Wow, some good experiences so far. Might as well put in my own then (which I should've done that sooner, ah well). I'm probably one of the few that got CSX HH when it was first released (before switching to Xbox a year later with Founders Edition). I myself have played a few Train Sims like Trainz and MSTS (been a while since) before managing to get myself TS1 back in 2013, that is when years later they announced TSW and that's when I knew I just had to get it. To start, while I do have the top 5 routes that I do play, but my top fav will still have to be Sand Patch Grade. I've always been a fan of Freight, no matter what country they're from (or speed for that matter), but of course my high top picks are from the US which are, of course, Sherman Hill and Clinchfield at the moment. And yet, I still find Sand Patch still being a favorite of mine. No matter how many issues it has, I still find that route being the most enjoyable to drive on. But I do guess I enjoy the mountain scenery that any other environments. As for locos, yes I have driven many diesels from the US and UK (electric, not so much). But as a US man myself, I do enjoy more with the EMDs and GEs that are available. And funny enough for my top pick for that is, oddly enough, the AC4400CW. Of course, my others on the list are the Dash 8, the GP40-2, and the GP9 (and that's a few on my list), but the AC44 is my overall top played at the moment. Ok, I'll admit this one, did not think this through on this part for services and scenarios. But I'll guess for my pick for this is gonna be the Limited Power scenario. Challenging to get it right with screwing up, but a lot of fun when finishing up near the end (especially when I lost the brakes going down hill near the end). For the worst, well I haven't really gotten that much of experience per se on that. But I would go for some SPADing without even noticing (which is rare for me, luckily) and some physics just jumping off the rails at me without reasons (from coupling to other cars and such). And lastly, for my wish on this, is just not only more US routes, but more loco add-ons in general (not just for the US) to be made. I know that does sound bias in some ways, but a lot has changed when they were plenty of routes and locos (depending on the route) made side by side at times. Nowadays, it's just more development time they need just to make more routes, like Spirit of Steam and Horseshoe Curve. Which I know that's not a bad thing, but it just feels like there's little to no variety when it comes to the locos that are included, just reusing the same model just to save time (except for SoS, which is completely different, I know). But that is my experience with TSW so far. Again, I know many of you have not been around for that long, but for some like me that stick around for half a decade, it's a heck of a journey to be part of. To see that a lot has change from the original release, for better or worse, and evolved from it since. All I can say is that it's been an experience just to play this game and seen how much it has grown over the years. Which is funny enough to see how it would look for its 10th anniversary years later, now that would be something to remember by down the line (pun not intended).
Favourite route: Northern TransPennine, I spent 3 years living in Manchester so having Manchester Victoria in the game, where I first started trainspotting is excellent, and to have it in the BR era is better still. I love the route, the scenery the grimey stations and driving some of my favourite classes of locomotives, it really is excellent and is my biggest draw to play the game some more. In terms of locos, the Class 31, yes it's a Tees Valley and not a TransPennine loco as much as I hope it will be, but for me, the 31 is excellent, perhaps even my favourite BR era diesel and the in-game representation is fantastic, I certainly can't wait for it to become livery editor compatible, there'll be even more fun to be had. Best service or scenario, honestly no idea, I'm happy with almost anything involving an old BR era train. Worst experience: well it's not the games problem for sure. That'll be my computer going kaput in November and me not being able to play TSW2 on PC since. I've been stuck playing it via the games pass on the Xbox One without all my add-ons. As much as it's been nice to sample the American and German content I just want to get stuck in with all my favourites once again. For my wish, well quite simply, I'd like to see the Great Eastern Main Line in the game in the BR era, the sectorised period being my preference. I want first generation AC EMUs, Class 86s, all my favourite BR diesels all together on one fantastic route (which happens to be quite literally above my head as I type this post out).
I got TSW where it was first released in 2018 for the PS4, when I saw it in the Game store I’d never been more excited at the time. I'd always watch YouTubers like Moleman and Qwertyafro play Train Simulator because I didn't have a computer/PC, at the time I never considered myself part of the Train sim community, I was just a guy who liked trains. But when I heard of Train Sim world, and got to grips with the class 166 it really spark my passion for trains and made it bigger than ever, and the more I explored the more I learned not just about the game but about the real railway as well as exploring more Train Sim YouTube's. I finally felt like I was part of a community, I found people who had the same interests as me, it was incredible. Discovering TSW has been one of the best experiences ever and it's led me to where I am now. So I can only thank DTG for making TSW compatible with consoles, I would be here now typing this if it wasn't for you guys! Now, what's my favourite route? Well tbh, it isn't just one route Northern Trans Pennines is one of my favourites because it's close to home and the feel and experience of the route is very enjoyable. I also enjoy London commuter and Cathcart circle for many of the same reasons the experience, the trains and the route itself. My most played Loco, well currently in-game it's the class 387 but others include the class 465, 31, 20, DB Br 101, Br 442, 425 & 423 are all the most enjoyable train I'm my opinion. I don't really have a favourite scenario or service, I enjoy all of it. The worst experience I've gotten from TSW is the crashing from both games, especially the crashes that make my save date to go corrupt because it means I have to start over again. What do I wish for TSW going forward? Well I wish their was more functionality in the cabs overall, more variety in trains that come with the route and not just train we’ve already seen. Basically everything everyone else says.
Got TSW with GWE in a sale back in July 2018. Had it on PC since. My favourite route is Brighton Main Line. So many services on 4 Different operators (yes on layers). One downside is that it crashes (way too often). My favourite services are the Greenford Services. I like them most with the FGW mod, which lets me use GWR 166, FGW166, and the Scotrail 314 (yes i know) What do I wish for TSW? Better modding tools (route editor/builder, updated livery editor, etc), multiplayer, and most importantly, stable routes that are finished (properly)
TSW 2020 LIRR Due to it lacking PZB Sifa Main Spessart Bahn AWS TPWS GWML London Paddington to Reading TSW 2 Riesa-Dresden Most played loco 146.2 Riesa Dresden ECW & Riesa Dresden early morning trips Worst experience I had was running US Freight Q261 Cumberland to Rockwood by causing a Stop Signal Overrun the US NTSB Terminology for a UK RAIB & In-game SPAD Signal Passed at Danger. Wish for TSW are German Democratic Republic Routes and OBB both will change existing German routes
I had the CSX: HH beta for a bit before realising my potato PC couldn't really handle it. I've then played it since it released on console in 2018. Previously I've been playing both RW and MSTS since I was a little kid. --What's the favorite route you mostly play on? My favorite routes are SEHS and DRA. My most played route (by distance) is SKA, followed by SEHS, LGV, HRR and DRA. --The most played loco you have driven? It is the TGV Duplex 200, followed by the BR146, Talent 2, BR143, Clasa 395, DoSto cab car, BR155, BR422, and BR101. --The best service/scenario you do find enjoyable? That's quite hard, not sure about the scenarios, since I rarely play them, but in terms of timetable my favourite services tend to be the back to back ones. For example the services to Seaford on ECW (Brighton>Seaford>Brighton), the services to Rainham on SEHS (Gravesen>Rainham>Gravesend)and all the S-Bahn on SKA. I have yet to try doing that on the Meißen branch though. --The worst experience you've gotten or don't like? Driving the BR112 and BR187 before refunding both, the "accurate stopping markers" on the Meißen branch, broken CSS on SMH and PZB/Speedo (182) on RT. --And lastly, What's your wish would be for TSW? Remaining vague I'd like TSW to either focus on being a "real sim" so thinks like safety systems are taken more seriously (so broken CSS would prevent SMH from releasing for example), or if they can't manage that I'd prefer if they just stop trying. For me if you decide to do something you have to do it well, so saying "oh we have all these complex safety systems" and then CSS doesn't work, ACSES and ATC on Boston Sprinter seem lacking, TPWS is missing, etc... makes me quite frustrated. Hopefully Harlem and Luzern are good from this point of view. My other wish is that they can sort out the way they do testing, it seems counterintuitive how it looked like the change that affected all routes (the distance at which trains stop from signals) got relatively limited testing (with the result of breaking a ton of services), while smaller things are held in testing for what seems like forever, surely things like the platform climb-up feature or the new sky can't be as game breaking as whatever made all the speed board reset to 0 can it? But I'm no expert so I won't judge it case by case, I will just say, I hope they find a more efficient way to do testing so that important things get tested properly, while stupid superficial things can be released more quickly. In terms of feature/routes I'd love EBuLa being implemented (even if in a more basic form compared to RL), I'd love a new and upgraded dispatcher, and more real timetables with real timings. In terms of routes my dream is as always an italian route (non high-speed), realistically I'd love if they manage to connect the whole Rhein-Ruhr area with route Extensions, I'd also love any route with another ICE (preferably and older one), or something where the BR101 can stretch its legs. Other wishes are for WCML, no matter whether it's the APT or Class 390. Trains, I'd love a british Siemens Desiro, a Vectron or a good Traxx 3.
I started with TSW on Xbox one which started as the founders edition which included Great Western express. Free roam and timetabled mode was very impressive. I like modern uk routes so when East coastway was announced I was excited. For me the experience has been good and hope TSW continues to evolve into the best possible train simulator dtg can offer. But it does seem now at least from my point things are starting to be taken away like Xbox achievements only for routes now. Roadmap streams now monthly. Third party developers not bothered in fixing there content. Scenario's seem less engaging. Like why can't all the scenarios have voice overs. -- So I hope the audio is greatly improved There's more cab functionality More UK modern content Routes that make you go wow Next 5 - 10 years Multiplayer makes an appearance Xbox audio fixed Audio in the menus
I started with TSW2020 on XBox via Game Pass, which included GWE, NTP, LIRR and MSB (CSX/HH was part of the PC base game, but not for console). NTP and MSB are still two of my favorite routes. Wound up changing to PC at the time of the TSW2 release.
Well, today's the day. 5 years of TSW and some of you in here looking like you had yourself a good journey so far. So here's to another half a decade or so down the rails (if it last long enough, that is), with new experiences to make along the way. [Edit: little disappointed the Anniversary Stream have been rescheduled to Sunday due to Creators Club from today's update (bad timing, as usual).]
route I play the most 1. I switch between my collection a lot, so it ends up being the routes I own get quite an even play each most used train 2. DB BR 403, probably due to rather quick journeys, enjoyable speeds, decent service numbers worst experience 3. I think I would put that down to the announcement of the Dresden cutdowns, that rather hit heavy if it was game related then probably the Xbox Series X texture glitch wish for the game 4. Probably continuing development and improvements like features, and some routes I wish to see along with locos
I first started playing TSW on PS4 back in September 2019 when it was TSW2020 and was included in one of the sales. I then upgraded to TSW2 when it went on sale around November 2020. 1: I really enjoyed GWE as I got to drive an HST and a modern(ish) diesel commuter train. I do enjoy NTP as it is the line nearest to me and I also enjoy TVL as I have family from Middlesbrough area so the route is also familiar to me (although I don't really like the class 101). 2: Most used loco? Either the HST or Class 166 across both TSW2020 and TSW2. Just for fun I made scenarios on TVL and NTP just to hear the modern diesel. 3: I haven't really found a favourite scenario or timetable service yet although I do like driving railtours on some routes using classic diesel traction. 4: Worst experience? Not being able to complete services due to red lights or random crashes of the game after you've spent an hour or more driving the service. 5: I'd like to see more development happen to routes so that scenery etc (proper route appropriate PIS systems on platforms) get improved. Also maybe some longer routes and more modern diesel traction. More routes away from London/South East would be nice too. New and improved features including GSM-R or NIN radio as well as functioning banking comms on US freight routes. An improved dispatcher with the ability to learn and modify platform allocations (dynamic) as well as random events like loco malfunctions. Better weather and dynamic weather. Lastly, some improvements to the UI. It's hard to see the scroll bars when selecting weather and it would be nice to see route appropriate dioramas on the loco select screen instead of the current abandoned indoor train station.
I got into TSW as soon as it launched on console back in 2018. I loved it, despite the bad framrate I still found it enjoyable. I had played TS classic before for a year or 2 on an old laptop but that laptop was running on its last legs and needed replacing but I never bothered. So I was glad to see something on console. After a few months of playing on console, very much casually, I wanted to learn a bit more about the railway themselves, signalling systems etc. Over the next few years I picked up more and more information about how trains work and was able to drive them more and more realistically. Unfortunately, that's where alot of my initial enjoyment was crushed. Because I had learnt all about the railways I started to see all the flaws in the game and noticed there was alot of inaccuracies. Nevertheless, I carried on buying into the routes and yes I had fun with them, but there wasn't really anything to make me come back to them routes after I'd done a few Services so I got a bored very quickly and spent most of my time waiting for the new routes. When TSW2020 launched I thought; ok, this is a fresh start let's see how things go. I feel like at that point was when the game started going downhill more and more, so much so that I ended up unistalling and calling it quits because I was fed up of the bugs and the lack of variety and gameplay. Then comes alot TSW2, it looked promising but as we all know it was a bit of a disaster when it launched, for a few reasons. I was getting frustrated and told myself I would only buy routes and trains that had good reviews because there was so much broken stuff in the game. And that TSW2 was going to be the last straw; if anything like TSW2's quality released again I would be done with game. So over the year between TSW2 and RH launching, I purchased only a few routes and didn't play as much as I used to. I upgraded to a Series S so the gameplay was alot smoother though. Rush hour comes along and we are promised London Commuter and a good looking American and German route. The routes weren't perfect when they launched but I think we all expected that. However, I really enjoyed London Commuter and still think it's the best route they have ever done. Despite the crashes, that were avoidable, I was amazed at the busy timetable and the proper 'alive' feeling that the route has. It made me regain interest in the game. Over this Christmas just gone I didn't find myself playing the game very much but that was just because I was busy and it wasn't on my priority list. But I still payed close attention to what was being developed. The announcement of steam trains was a really nice addition, and whilst I'm still worried about bugs and such when it launches, I can't help but look forward to it. And in the last few weeks I've had a bit of free time and decided to learn PZB and German signalling. It's been really really fun and it's making me play the game alot more. Yes there are still things that irritate me like the 'xbox sound issue' but because I'm focusing more on the driving I find it easier to forget about the problems. I want to see this game succeeded and I know its got the potential to. We just need to keep seeing these added features like the busy timetables, more in depth scenarios, better tutorials, bugs being fixed (thank you so much for the preservation crew). I'm excited to see what's next!
1. What's the favorite route you mostly play on? The route I enjoy playing on the most is kind of hard. I would probably say LIRR is defiantly my most played, as I've played through the journey 3 separate times including the M3 DLC (once in tsw2020, once in tsw2 on xbox, and finally tsw2 on pc). But as far as my favorite route, it would have to go to one of the following: Sand Patch Grade, Ruhr-Sieg Nord, London Commuter, Harlem Line, or Rhein-Rhur Osten. (Horseshoe Curve might be added to this list seeing as I love NS and the route represented. It just depends how well it is). 2. The most played loco you have driven? Again probably the LIRR M7 & M3 in terms of straight up time. As far as favorite locomotives to drive, I really like the BR Class 20, CSX SD40, CSX C40-8W, Amtrak ACS-64, and DB Class 155. 3. The best service/scenario you do find enjoyable? Hard to say. I really liked "Limited Power" from the Clinchfield Railroad, "Stars and Stripes" from the New Journeys Expansion, and "Christmas Delivery" from the Arosa Anniversary Collection. When it comes to services, I like evening services as well as winter services. I just find them to be the most beautiful. 4. The worst experience you've gotten or don't like? I know this might make some people mad, but I really didn't like the Bakerloo route. I played this route a little on xbox and I just can't get into it. I think the biggest reason is I just find the actual underground part really boring. On a more broad scale though, defiantly spending a hour on a service, only to have the game bug out or crash, making you redo everything. 5. And lastly, What's your wish would be for TSW? I think my biggest wish for TSW is to expand more. I would love to see more countries be added into the mix of routes. When I first got into tsw2020, I really only like American trains. But since playing tsw2020 and tsw2, I've come to find myself liking trains from all over the world. It would really be cool to see more countries be added so that we get to experience trains that we may never be able to see in real life.
