They first came out in Inter City Livery later Virgin livery for use on XC services when the last of the Mk1 buffets were withdrawn. https://www.flickr.com/photos/timhorn/6325612570/ Some of those in charter train use are in Blue/Grey 1200 - https://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/29208/category/270-uk_coaching_stock 1200 - https://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/29209/category/270-uk_coaching_stock 1254 - https://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/24883/category/270-uk_coaching_stock
That is up to you and the type of train you want to drive. There are two types of pack. Some are an Enhancement pack where you need to own something first. Others are a Full pack where nothing is required beforehand
Depends on which item you buy..what do you have in mind? You'd be able to find out exactly what each does, and doesn't, affect at Armstrong Powerhouse
Things like the weather and vegetation pack change everything you've got installed at the time. There is no ability at install to select specific routes.
..and tells you whether it's a standalone package or an enhancement to another provider's offering....
What’s the difference between Armstrong and RW Enhancer 2. I read that RW does a lot of enhancements in a single bundle for a cheaper price.
The two are not really directly comparable, they do different things, RWE2 is primarily a shader tweaking tool which also has a new UI game overlay and also offers a few other off-game features (like a consist creator), AP make a wide range of enhancements and products for TSC rolling stock, routes and even the game world. The closest comparable thing of APs to RWE2 is the visual enhancement of AP's Sky and Weather pack which improves the games look and lighting (and obviously the sky, clouds and weather). Honestly we could write a 100,000 word essay on the differences and the advantages of one or the other but your best bet is to just look at the two websites, they each have videos showcasing their products and you'll soon see the difference for yourself. https://www.rwcentral.com/store/product/4-rw-enhancer/ https://www.armstrongpowerhouse.com/
They're always looking for things to improve and add to the game. AI sounding horns is a massive improvement in immersion for me, just like the AI in Run8 correctly sound their horns when starting off or approaching crossings. Nice one.
I really appreciate the fact that we keep getting new features at no extra cost. I didn't realise how much I would like this one until I tried it last night. I really adds to the atmosphere. A few extra downloads is a small price to pay.
spending all day redownloading the entire AP catalog every time they change something is a problem... why don´t they just make one big update insted of changing this little bit and that little thing every couple of weeks. Oh, gradients for all = download everything again, scripupdates = download everything again, ai horns = download everything again. Seems like AP is trolling!
All day? AP has good bandwidth, you can simultaneously download all packs while going for a walk. And it's not mandatory - you could wait yourself with downloading after it has enough new features making it worthwhile for you. Bit of a luxury problem having to download something and double click an installer. It's not like these repainters that can't even make a simple bat using 7za.exe to extract Geos..
yes, all day! Maybe you can download everything, but afterwards you have to click and install each pack seperate and all the branding packs after... that takes ages. So I´m going to do that every time they change something now? I think it´s best to just wait for one year or so until they have finished updating random stuff on the entire catalog.
Yes, it's up to you. Surely not taking all day. Each installer takes roughly 20 seconds to install. "All day" is an exaggeration and you know that. It's surely not "trolling" on AP's end. They don't wanna keep people waiting for improvements like TSW players. Life's short...
I know some people don’t trust it and don’t want to use it which is fine. However, I‘m using the AP updater on the TSC website. Took less than 5 minutes to install the latest updates. The big set of updates recently took less than 20. I had to do a complete reinstall of TSC recently and reinstalling everything manually that is currently available only took an hour. It took me longer to do all my Just Trains DLC which asks for a password for every DLC. These types of update are the reason I like AP. They may be expensive, but they often retrofit any new features. It keeps TSC up to date and moves the features forward which is more than DTG seem to be doing (though I’m happy to be proved wrong)
To me one of the downsides to AP's updates it the "All or Nothing" principle. It would be good if the installer gave you the options of which alterations you want. There has been a number of updates that I have not bothered updating may Downloads with. Now if I want the AI Horns then those updates which I might not want also get installed.
What updates would you not like apart from scenario requirement changes if you don't own the new requirements? If that's the case, just install the pack to your Desktop and only copy over the Assets folder to your Railworks directory. That way you'll avoid any scenario updates.
I'll just praise AP for further improvements on some old purchases of mine. This will really improve my enjoyment of TSC. However, I will say that updating so many folders so often isn't as easy for me. Due to a disability, the process of doing so much mouse work is a problem for me and causes a lot of pain, I generally end up doing a couple per day and I'm really behind on updates now. So while I agree that the negative response to having to do more downloading, unpacking and filing can seem ungrateful, for some of us it's the choice between being able to cook myself dinner or use up the little strength I have updating AP packs during winter months when my condition is disabling. Sometimes what can seem like a "first world problem" for most of us are a big deal for others.
I am sure with a little bit of foresight the last 2 upgrades could easily have been bundled together. Do I enjoy AP packs - I have all of them. Will I update these. Yes. Could this all have been done via 1 executable file (ignoring product users may not have purchased)? Maybe.
There have been a number of updates to packs - the Gradient feature is one that I'm not interested - but I cannot do any updates as it would also install that.
A quick question for those in the know If I was to re-install one of my AP Packs - say the Class 158 - from the install file I downloaded when purchased would it connect to the Net and being in the latest files or would it be as I purchased it?
I'm going that way myself, but being realistic you can't expect AP (or any provider) to provide solutions to suit everybody. Any install routine will *miss* those on the outer edges of the bell curve. Do you have a friend/relative/are able to kidnap a tech savvy kid to do that clicking stuff whilst you just supervise?
You're right. In my condition I often have to accept that things will be more difficult. It's like when my friends went off to a music festival and I'm no longer able to go with them. It made me question whether life was worth it. So first of all I had to accept it, then find a replacement hobby which turned out to be TSC and TSW. Now I drive trains during the day, watch the festivals on TV with a takeaway on a comfy sofa in the evening and feel smug because my friends will be exhausted, dirty and sleeping in a tent for 5 nights. I mention that because hadn't even thought of asking my wife to do the downloading for me, another Fibromyalgia problem solved. It was a simple idea, but an important one so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your post. Spring is approaching, things get easier as the days get longer. Positive thinking and all that.
Took me 40 minutes to update the latest ones. I have them displayed in columns of 3 in the download sections on the AP site, and find it easier to do 1 row of 3 updates, then go back to the shop and download the extra stock and branding patches for those 3, before going back to the download area for the next 3.. I find it makes it handy that there is a convienent / memorable stopping point every 10 mins or so in case of interuptions, or the even more unlikely event of Mrs Westcastle making a cuppa!
Complaining about constant, free updates that improve the products? I own the entire catalogue and don't complain, despite some of these updates being truly massive for me. Some of these features are really great. AI horns is superb! Why would you complain about being given that for free? If a product has an issue, would you not want it fixed? At the end of the day, with the non-essential stuff, you don't have to re-install, and if any of this bothers you, I think ATS do an automatic updater thingy.... if you want to trust it. Personally, I just get on with it and enjoy the new features.
I do exactly the same thing I also then move the files into a "AP to update" folder, and then move, not copy the files into my main AP storage folder once I've installed, so I know what's in the "AP to update" folder is yet to be installed. I tend to do this over a period of a few days piece by piece to it's not a mammoth task. I can therefore update when it's convenient.
Yeah, I was complaning... what you going to do about it? You don´t understand what I´m talking about. How about small download of patches, that only include the changes insted of redownloading all the rolling stock over and over.
Tom, because a patch would have to rely on a specific previous version installed. Maybe someone hasn't updated for two years and would not get the full update via a small patch, instead having to check for version numbers. Also, it needs maintaining both patches and subversions - which state do you leave the main DLC in? Does a new customer have to look for patches? It's getting messy believe me. As AP have super bandwidth, downloads are fast as lightning and each installer taking seconds to apply, I see they haven chosen the best possible way. You can just click all Download buttons at the same time and have dinner or play a scenario in the meantime. Again my tip: Download all branding patches and install these to an empty folder once. Unlike the horrible TTB installers, they don't check for prerequisites. That folder containing only subfolders and TgPcDx files you just drop back onto RailWorks after updating stock. Only alternative would be an ATS style launcher, but for many reasons people do not want such software to mess with their files, be it due to modding or whatever. Also Windows itself is increasingly suspicious of launcher software as they are a huge security risk and will need a MS certificate in the future. I remember when my DVD copy of Call Of Duty 1 stopped working because Microsoft had prevented the DRM (not sure if it was SafeDisc or StarForce) service from running, classed as rootkit style software. (You could still manually start it by "sc secdrv start" I think...)
Probably just keep informing you that you're being ridiculous I imagine. If you can't see why installing small patches instead of the whole thing is a terrible idea, then it's you that doesn't undestand [edit] Spikee just gave you the explanation.
I own the entire catalogue and trust me it doesn't take me "all day" to update the lot, in fact less than an hour. If that is the definition of trolling, then AP have my personal permission to troll me all they like. Being offered updates to improve products we already own, at no added cost, just for the slight inconvenience of having to re-download is fine by me. They do not have to be all downloaded together if you don't want to, simply download each one as required if that suits you better.
I do not mind downloading the AP updates (long as it is). It would be nice if they had bundled them together. They must have known about the Horn update. It would have been nice had the horn updates had been bundled into the gradient upgrade.
Really? That is not a very mature response. Dollies, Rattles and Prams spring to mind. How about taking some of the advice being offered and find a better way of updating your AP catalogue to suit how you work rather than personally insulting another forum member?
Is it full moon? If I want something to change I'd approach the developer directly. The community can only exchange their way of doing things.
Do you own the entire catalogue? It doesn't take a day. Stop exaggerating I have downloaded the entire catalogue, and it took around an hour. As for the installation, you don't have to do it all in one sitting, or in some cases, at all if it's not giving you anything you need or want. AP have never once expected anyone to re-download updates for the entire catalogue though, so not sure why you're complaining about something that's never happened. [EDIT - Jan - Quarrelsome]
