It was rather fun to keep up with the actual exact service I was sitting on, in TSW. A special shoutout to the driver coming the other way on Thirdrails who passed me precisely as the physical oncoming train did! And props to BeenTrain for making those little encounters possible.
And now we're pulling into Darlington 15 minutes after we were due to reach Newcastle. Thanks to Signalling Issues, a Trespassing Incident, a Points Failure, AND an Emergency Services Incident. In addition to my refund, is there some form of prize for completing this Bingo card? Tell you what, though, good bit of inspiration for potential random events to inject into gameplay to add complexity.
Yes, random events and subsequent delays, cancelations and diversions would be a giant leap forward in the game. Could be togglable, like dynamic weather, for those who like smooth sailing. But can DTG do it, technically?
I give you props... I've tried doing the same with my laptop a couple of times on the NEC now, and get so freaking motion sick...
I am like, the only person in my friend circle who is immune to most motion sickness triggers. It was really intertesting this time around though, because I was keeping such good time with the train that I would engage the brakes when I felt the driver doing it, and was able to really use that sense of deceleration and acceleration to know how much force to put on when.
I'm *usually* not bad. Riding backwards, especially in a car, gets me more often than not, and reading a physical book or magazine in a car on occasion will do it to me. Also, depending on the driver, the back seat of a car can be a bit hit-or-miss lol. It's amazing how much of a difference the sensations of accelerating and decelerating make when it comes to perceiving motion. I was once watching a documentary on the London Underground, and they were discussing driver training, and how you can have guys who have been running these damn things for years get tripped up in the simulators because there's no sensation of force. I know I'm guilty of applying brakes a bit too hard, too early the few times I've run streetcars in real life; years and years of sims have taught me more bad habits than good, haha.
For this reason, I find it difficult to play driving simulators with a view from behind the wheel. I have absolutely no idea what is happening with the car, because a large part of the sensations from the car I get not only from my vision. PS. Funnily enough, I drove a train a few weeks ago. Yes, it was a small narrow gauge locomotive and 5 wagons, with a total train weight of 90 tons. It's very similar to what I do in the game. I did much better than those who started training, which the driver-instructor noted. The tactile sensations of acceleration and inertia when braking - this simply changes everything. The train loses speed at every turn due to the additional resistance. It is a completely different sensation, which which the game cannot convey. There are also disadvantages: there are not enough stop markers with a counter of the remaining meters. The brake handles are very stiff and require significant effort. The throttle is similar. The gamepad is much more convenient
Same, games like Forza or NFS I always switch to an external and above camera I've had the same comments from instructors for the streetcars I've run, that I pick up on it quickly and really well for someone who doesn't drive regularly. Granted, streetcars aren't the same realm as other trains, narrow gauge or standard, but the operating principals are the same. Most of the throttles I've experienced have been pretty smooth through the notches, occasionally you come across a little resistance. While the brake handles I've used haven't been stiff, they weren't notched either, and require you to feel for your release, hold, and apply positions. There's been a couple times where my first time driving after a year or so I've just about put my instructor and I through the windshield lol. Luckily, I've had a few really cool instructors that, knowing I have experience running the equipment, have given me stopping challenges beyond what the typical program participant gets (line your door up with the switch stand, pull into the bay platform up as close as you can to the derail, etc.) The other sensation that's odd getting used to, and you wouldn't think it, is coasting. Like you said with the turns, you feel every single gradient rise and drop.
I'm really sensitive to subtle differences in vibrations, like, feeling an off-kilter AC unit on the next floor down through my feet kinda sensitive. It really threw me when the transition from platter based hard drives to solid state ones took place, not just the annoying whine many cheaper ones have that nobody but me and dogs can hear, but the loss of feedback on what the drive's doing just from the vibrations coming through the desk from it.
Love this idea! Unfortunately, my local routes aren't in TSW so I can't try it for myself... unless that changes in the future and DTG add Shrewsbury (Come on DTG! ) Did you get anyone asking you in a panic why you were driving the train from first class instead of the cab?
No, but there was the hilarious moment when a passenger near me's satnav kicked in on their phone and advised us "In six hundred metres, take the first left onto Bedford road", to which of course we were like, "I'd be pretty worried if the train did that"
I will say, Guard Mode in TSW really does not capture just how frustrating it can clearly get when the same passenger keeps on blocking all the trolleys from moving down, not to mention emergency exits, with their large luggage, putting it back in the way every single time staff tell them to move it..
Haha on Amtrak we get "This train is going to be full! Please leave empty seats open and place your belongings in the overhead racks!" only to have passengers cop 'tude when the conductor comes back around and makes them clear the spot so some little old lady doesn't have to stand halfway down the Corridor. The Harlem is another fun one where passengers don't pay attention... I can't tell you how many times the conductors start announcing that trains go express after White Plains, and to change either there or NWP for local service, only to then have half a dozen people panic that the next stop is 125th Street...
In fun news, after the delays, and not stopping at our destination station (Had to try to explain to some passengers who were giving the trolley service staff an earful over it that we can't simply wait behind the TPE train occupying the platform because that would incur additional delays for EVERY train behind us on the route) we got our tickets 100% refunded overnight, which was nice.
