Athena Simulations: Ecml Diesel Railtours

Also, these kinds of things matter to a lot of people. It may seem trivial to some, but a HST being FGW Blue/Purple is far more preferable than a vaguely correct shade of Blue, even essential. This may not apply to everyone here, but I’m sure there are a few people on this forum who also have the railway modelling bug, and we tend to have an eye for this kind of thing, which can be a curse or a blessing!

 

Hello!
First of all, best wishes for the New Year that begins today.

I have a question about your pack: will the cab of the Class 47 be improved compared to what we currently find?

Will there be condensation effects on the windshield, radio simulation, TPWS, etc., and will the engine room be accessible? Because I must admit, if it's just for a repaint, it wouldn't really be worth it.​

Keep up the good work!

 

Personally I'm glad we have the new set of dual braked Blue Grey Mk1s which will definitely be good for variety if used in routes as layers in the future. I'll definitely be picking it up as long as the price isn't too silly

 

I'll be buying it for the blue/grey mark 1 carriages

 

While I don't think they'll layer onto them, the Blue and Grey MK1's would be ideal for the steam railtours on BPO and WCMoS, as they were the coaching stock used on such tours in the 80's.

 

At least this will mean we can finally run rakes of mixed Mk1 and Mk2 coaches with community liveries. Why DTG haven't solved this before is beyond me. (You can couple a WSR Mk1 to a Mk2 but, for some reason, you can't use Livery Designer with the WSR coaches).

 

Agree. DTG should still have some blue/grey Mark Ones in the core. Are they really so hard up for artistic talent they can’t spare someone to do some reskins. AFAIR the WSR ones already have reasonably correct interiors with the BR blue moquette, so really just a case of repainting, adding OHLE warning stickers etc.

 

So besides paint shade and lettering font (kidding) it looks pretty nice. What I appreciate is the thought for layering and substitutions to make is usable across a large number of routes. That sometimes seems like an afterthought among developers and then the DLC is limited from the start. Did we ever get an answer as to if anything internally in the cab was changed?

 

They already mentioned they are creating new cabs before and after it was refurbished I think. It's in the season of reveals article

 

Ah, missed that. Interesting having both.

 

Yes. Apparently, that loco crashed, and one of the cabs had to be rebuilt. This means the A cab is slightly different to the B cab.

 

"Athena Simulations are bringing us some brand new details for their ECML diesel Railtours pack, for both the East Coast Mainline route and including timetables across TSW5 as a whole. Included are 3 iconic diesel locomotives, with the British Rail Class 40 “Whistler”, Class 45 “Peak” and a brand new Class 47, 47484 Isambard Kingdom Brunel."
Seriously??? this is just a pathetic repackage of DLC we already have with literally zero changes by the looks of things, why couldn't you have developed them into 40106, 40145 and 45118 in their current preserved mainline-certified condition because those would be absolutely perfect locos to have for a Railtour pack, but no lets have yet another set of duplicates in a sim that already ridiculously overrun with that.

 

The 47 is not a "repackage." Can't speak for the 40 or 45.
If you don't like it... then don't buy it.
To be fair, it wasn't initially the 40 or the 45 it was just the 47 so this is more content.
You're complaining about having more content.

 

I am really excited to see and get this pack.

I think obviously if this sells well they will do more etc.

 

I think his complaint is perfectly valid.

The 40 and 45 will be exactly the same with no changes from their current versions whatsoever.

We get a 66 with every UK release, but at least they aren't all exact copies of each other.

 

Most of them are though. The last one to have any technical differences was the SEHS 66 which added badly mixed AP sounds. With the exception of the pretty poor DRS and ONE 66s, the only 'new' liveries we got were dirty EWS and revised DB Cargo. Everything else has been regular EWS.

As far as the 40 and 45 go, it's a bit strong to call it a "pathetic repackage". Anyone who buys this pack is more than likely going to get it for the Class 47, so the 40 and 45 are just bonus content for those people. For those who don't have the Class 40 and 45 (which have never been rereleased), it's a far cheaper way of getting them as you don't need to buy Northern Transpennine first.

I would greatly appreciate if anyone who has been saying that the 40 and 45 are not being updated could direct me to where this has been confirmed - the roadmap article says nothing about it. I find it particularly bold of you to complain about two trains which are being rereleased for the first time (and that's assuming they really are the same as the originals) whilst defending the endless duplicates of the Class 66 which have not had a major update since 2022.

 

Excited for the Mk1s and a the new scratch built 47... The Mk1s in BR Blue & Grey will certainly fill a void in thats been in the game.

Disappointed is not the word, but I am confused as to why the 45 and 40 haven't been at least updated to a preservation/modern standard and are just the same locomotives from the Heavy Freight pack from NTP? I'd at least of thought they'd of been appropriately modelled and updated as to how they'd look in preservation... Will look slightly out of place on the modern railway they are aiming for with the ECML.

 

They should not be re-released ever. Online Game DLC is evergreen, it doesn't have to be replaced and make something else obsolete for literally no reason because the devs can easily just go and update the original thing. They don't need to be 'rereleased' because they have been, and are still, available on online stores ever since the day they came out.

 

I've been saying this for almost as long as TSW has been out - but this DLC is really the wrong one to be making a scene out of.

I've also yet to see any proof that the Class 40 and 45 haven't been updated.

 

I was more taking aim at Mr operator again shutting someone down when they voiced a perfectly valid complaint.

 

If the 40 and 45 had upgrades done they would have said by now, remember last month during season of reveals they said and I quote "NTP and the BR Heavy Freight Pack are required for scenarios with the 40 and 45" so now they changed their minds and included them with the pack, they were never planned to get upgrades

 

I honestly don't mind it too much depending on the price of the add on when it's released. I love the 45 in game and the 40 so it'll be good to get them on other routes and see them showing up IMO at least

 

For people that don't own the 45 and 40, This is a great way to purchase them without having to fork out for NTP and BR Heavy Freight.

I personally don't have a problem with it.

 

The only thing that matters is the new 47 and more variety to ECML. The good thing as well is the 47 will layer onto more routes, not just ecml

 

The thing is they are only available as part of Northern Trans Pennine route and the big freight pack. So if you wanted the 40 you would have to buy the NTP route.
Yes its a pain the the rear as we have more space used up by duplicate locos but at least if people don't have the route or dlc add on and want the 40 and 45 to add to their loco collection then this is a goid thing. Whether or not they have been updated is another thing.

Hentis

 

Additional DLC does not require owning its original base route, this has been the case since TSW3...

 

Since TSW3? I’m sure there are some examples. Doesn’t the Cargo Line pack Vol.1 require GWE or MML first? That pack debuted on TSW4.

 

Yes, that might be true for TSW3 and above but loco add-ons made before TSW3 do require the base route to work. This is why people were not finding certain locos and stock for WCMLoS because they didn't own the original route things came with or were tied to.

 

Exceptions to a rule or whatever… and Third parties tend to do things below standard and be behind the times on things which is likely why Skyhook did that even though they really shouldn’t have.

 

Yeah but NTP and BR heavy freight were released before TSW3.

 

I'm hoping that they will at least add suspension to the 40 and 45.

 

So none of the previously pointed out inaccuracies were rectified, and instead they add 2 ancient loco's (which is not a bad thing because now it allows people that do not have them to get them without having to buy the route associated with them) and don't even do any updates to them (although that might also be a good thing, given how they butchered 484...). The dual-braked blue/grey Mk 1's are still the only saving grace of this pack, and even those will probably still have the same issues (light leak!) as the others in the game...

 

BRHF does, as it's a TSW2020 add-on and those (along with TSW add-ons) remain linked

 

Two thigs remain true despite the oddly personal accusations and infighting.
1) Adding locos to a pack (even "old ones") is more value than not having them. They don't make it "less" in any way.
2) If you don't like it, you can always not buy it. It doesn't change your personal game experience at all.

I'm sorry if stating those facts is seen as offensive to people.

 

No no no no no.

Apparently doing the sensible thing of telling people not to buy something they don't like is the same as saying they aren't allowed to express their opinion.


Personally I'm buying it day one.

 

I'll still buy it at some point because of the Mk 1's, but I'm incredibly disappointed the inacurracies on 484 persist. Takes away my interest in that even though I am of the opinion that we could never have enough 47 liveries in the game! That combined with the past of certain individuals involved in this studio keeps me from buying it day one/at full price, but if anyone wants to because they do like what is on offer, be my guest, we're all adults with our own free will and rights to buy whatever we want. Doesn't mean however that I will not keep expressing my disappointment about what is on offer, because I do keep a small slither of hope that maybe (some of) the inaccuracies will be fixed

 

As much as I want to be positive about new upcoming products.

Do all you Designers just recycle the same LOVE

A class 47 and a peak and some more MK1s

Wow my UK loco collection is so overflowing with all the locos on UK mainline it's about time we got reskins?

I think until something genuinely New to the game comes out yous can keep your recycled stuff I am a true enthusiast since railworks and whoever the hell is making these calls is just absolute laziness


You want to succeed

Give the players Brand New Locos fresh to the game

 

I tried to purchase the Pendolino yesterday on the Xbox sale, but it won’t allow it as it says that WCMLS is required.

 

Minus the 08, Box Vans and Tankers
So if you enjoy freight and want NTP
All Three are now required
And with the layers for the Box Vans on most BR era routes
What's probably happened is DTG have sold the right to Update the existing NTP locos as per usual if anything we get 1 unique loco
Bundled with old untouched Packs

So modern ECML Rail tour is my understanding

Headcode Discs? Why isn't it Green then?

No high intensity headlamp?

No Headcode Box For the BR Blue version?

No Heritage Number?

Go Google ECML class 40 and 45 railtours
90% are Green with heritage numbers (D2025 for example)
Where's the headcode boxes

Conclusion THEY ARE UNTOUCHED

 

You are kind of missing out if you buy that without the route it's been made for.

 

Mate, I never said they are touched up or altered. I just said that it's a way for people to have those locos without having to purchase the other DLCs first.

Again I have no issue with it. Gives more players the opportunity to play them.

And I don't need to Google but thanks for the suggestion.

 

The problem is, unless these provide the layers that NTP and the HR Heavy Freight Pack currently do, people may end up forking out for the same thing twice.

Not ideal for those that don't own those DLCs or are new to TSW.

 

Completely agree that the 40 and 45 deserve rail tour versions of currently preserved examples. A pack of this sort should showcase Athena Simulation's skills and intentions; it merits therefore a little more attention and baking time, otherwise punters are going to feel short-changed and the addition of these iconic 1st-gen diesels without alteration will feel like an afterthought. Athena should consider that future sales and reputation will depend to a large degree upon the success of this, their first pack. Saying that, I truly wish them luck.

 

It shouldn't be - if you're using the in-game store to try to buy it, don't.

 

I think we've found the new ews 66....

 

Which one? They're discussing 3 different locos at the moment.
Although to be fair, the 47 has ALWAYS been almost as prevalent in game as the 66.
Look at how many routes it's been on.
People just like the 47 better for some reason (nostalgia?)
I consider them both the "standards" for UK routes.
Which makes sense and is accurate in real life.

 

I was referring to the unchanged 40s and 45s which have had nothing new since 2020 and as others have pointed out they really shoulds be in 40145 or D200 etc's current mainline condition as well as having 45118 in the pack but its the bog standard thing we've had for years in nearly every UK route.

 

Well they are creating a brand new loco and route as future dlc which they've said is almost finished so new content is coming. Also, if the trains, reused or not, are realistic then why not include them in the dlc?

 

Aren't the dostos rereleased in basically every German dlc lol. Unless they take out the cab car entirely

 

TBF if they Deliver 3 Mainline Heritage Diesel Engines

Correct Heritage Numbers and colours
Correct headcode boxes
GSMR
DSD
TPWS
I will actually Fork out and buy it

If not I'm pretty sure the term false advertising comes to mind and I will not be supporting it

Because modern railtour locomotives have very strict guidelines to adhere to so if the systems arent there it's definitely not a "railtour for the modern ECML" it's a BR era loco in the wrong era performing illegal passenger services that would cripple the ECML

Due to a vehicle not registered on the computer signalling system triggering an all stop as soon as its detected