Firstly, I've really enjoyed the TSW2 Bakerloo sim - I was amazed to see it as I used to work on that line so know it well. However there are some realism issues which I'm not sure whether they are due to a lack of familiarity or if they are TSW system constraints. 1) Sound: lots of people have commented on the lack of sufficient track noise. a) The key issue is pointwork, and especially pointwork in underground crossover tunnels which should be loud and echoey. b) yes the windscreen wipers are 10x too loud. c) the doors are too quiet in closing and opening - in real life you can hear them rumble open and close from the cab, as well as clap shut. d) the RPA (traction equiipment) sounds are nice but timing is way out and fails to differentiate between accelerating and rheo braking action. Also why does the RPA wind up when you shut the doors? e) the compressors are too quiet or absent. You will certainly hear them run at a station after a heavy stop f) no sound or light shows from the arcing - especially over pointwork or section gaps when accelerating. 2) Speed restrictions: This is a big issue. North of Queen's Park the speed signs and the overspeed warnings are correct, as NR rules apply. But on all LU tracks the speed board indicates the point at which the new speed can immediately be applied. There is no need to allow the full train length to pass a board before upping the speed. TSW2 therefore makes the route slower than it is in real life. 3) Door controls: There is no terminology on 1972TS to lock or unlock doors. Doors are either Opened or Closed. Can we have keyboard mapping for the 6 door control buttons please? 3) Cab controls: a) Other users have commented on lack of instructions to use the Brake Test panel or Anti-Rollback test panel. (Or indeed the traction test switch). Although I was pleased to see the Droplight and Door traction interlock cut-outs work correctly. b) Surely it would have been easy to rig up the Saloon Lights off warning lamp - simply controlled from the Lighting set and trip switches. c) The pilot light is too bright when extingushed, but the illuminated version is good. d) No ability to uncouple and shunt the two units, or to use the non-driving cab, or - even more fun - use the UNDM shunting control cabinet (on Westinghouse brake and poor visibility) d) other users have commented on the lack of set-up time at the start of a scenario. 4) Route comments: a) Where is the Kilburn High Road route? This is a timetabled (but non-passenger / "rusty rail") Bakerloo route to/from Queen's Park platforms 1 and 4. b) Scenario editor doesn't allow you to use emergency crossovers at say H&W, Queen's Park, Paddington, Picc Circus, Lambeth North. c) Scenario Editor has no access to Stonebridge Park Depot, QPK South Sheds, QPK 21, 23 rds, or London Road Depot, or both E&C sidings. I recall there used to be an overnight stabler on QPK 21rd. d) How can we shunt around the depots? e) Why do some starter signals only clear when you shut the doors? This is nonsensical - in reality the T/Op should not shut the doors until the train can proceed. Maybe some more functionality will be unlocked (like the M door?) as I progress through more scenarios, or will come with further patches. Despite the above comments, it is a fantastic effort which I hope will evolve.
Great to hear from someone who worked the line, as its hard to tell what's good or not so good when I don't know the line well. I'm pretty sure they said that the signal only clearing when the doors are closed should be fixed when the enhanced timetable comes out for the line.
