Is 50mph the limit for the 153s? Can't seem to get them to go any faster than this. A quick look on wiki says 75mph is the top speed.
I'm gonna hold up my hands and say i was too harsh about this route before playing it. I was wrong. It's a fun little network to drive around on and you're not always running the same path, which i quite enjoy. I'm finding both trains fun to drive though i'll defer to others on their accuracy or lack thereof. Just wish there were more complete branches represented because i do like driving a full service when possible. My biggest gripe having been all over the route now is still Whitchurch (and it is really, really bad), but tbf it's not representative of the rest of what i've seen. There are definitely some bugs to be squashed but i hope it's successful and someday we get an expansion because if nothing else it's made me want to see more of Cardiff and Wales in general having never been there, so that's gotta be a good thing lol.
They will do 75. I've had the unit up to 70 on Cardiff network (the fast stretch from Queen St to Heath High Level). It just takes them a while to get there.
Oh, not sure. When the route was announced I was talking to people. I won’t say who. *But* allegedly, and take this with a HUGE grain of salt; it was supposed to go there initially but got cut. Please don’t quote me on this - I do not have evidence to back this up.
Last ni Last night it was stuck exactly at 50mph, Wouldn't go any faster. I'm wondering if maybe there's something I should be enabling or disabling.
It's pretty easy to reach 70mph+ from Heath down to Queen Street. Heading in the opposite direction is different as it's uphill. There's nothing you should have to enable or disable. Are you sure you haven't left the brakes on?
They’re sprinters in comparison to their predecessors, which were some pretty decrepit rolling stock.
From what I looked at the other week, the additional equipment added when the 153’s were created out of the 155 cars added around 3 tonnes to the weight. So that part at least DTG seem to have captured correctly. If the transmission is simulated correctly, it should transition into final (direct) drive around 47 or 48 MPH.
It's quite normal. There you have a speed drop, which breaks your run rhythm. Add to that 1.5% climb and you're done. I also noticed that 153 struggles uphill more than 150! Over 55/58mph it doesn't hammer anymore! Yes, transition is exactly at 47mph(both 153&150). Once in direct gear they "die", slowly losing speed uphill! PS. I don't know if a pair of 153s could perform better. Usually diesel-hydraulics work like this...
Have to admit I'm in two minds about this, leaning more to the "wait for a sale" option. I generally like a route that offers a chance to stretch the legs of a train a bit as well as stopper services - Blackpool/Preston remains my all time fave for this reason, this of course WCMLS has this too. That said, if I get the itch for a new route when I have a few days off work (maybe over Easter weekend) I could well end up biting the bullet! Did wonder if the trains from this would layer onto the coming ATS Manchester commuter routes, as you'll often see TfW trains on both lines that will offer, but I'm guessing not judging by the trains not being lost distance types.
Nothing has changed my mind to wait for a minimum 50% sale for this route and I doubt I'll have to wait more than 12 months to get it
FTFY! Seriously, I can honestly see this getting Shermaned. It will be 20% off in the summer sales if not 50% and at some point they will be pushing it for 80% off. And if the TSW project management had a shred of integrity they would already have dropped the price to £20 and refunded the difference to those who already bought it!
I have no irl experience but this was my experience in-game: I was able to hit 70mph in the 150 between Llandaf and Cathays but you really need to be quick off the start to be at 60 right when you hit the 70 zone to get there in time to brake for the stop (without giving your passengers whiplash at least lol). Service was 2B18 Pontypridd-Cardiff Bay, custom weather, no preciptation 2 clicks on the "wetness bar" if anyone wants to try it. Edit: you can hit 70 the other direction too it's actually easier because you can brake a little later going uphill. Did it on 1M14 Radyr-Meryth Tydyfl (after you go through Cardiff Central and are looping back to Radyr) in a 4-car set. Having a blast trying to keep to the timetable. I've seen advice to be using notches 3-5-7 and it seems to work pretty well so far.
I initially wanted to get this route to support the introduction of TfW as I really want North Wales Coast Line to be produced. Unfortunately, I feel the class 153 is the only part of this DLC of value so I agree with you waiting for a 50% sale as that brings it in line with the sum of a MU/loco add-on.
Ok well I went ahead and bought it and I've got mixed feelings about it. I actually think the level of detail is passable, I'm not from the area so nothing particularly jumps out at me as in the wrong area or missing, however there are the obvious things such as the flats in Whitchurch looking a little "off" and the Cardiff Central concourse. I expect that the route would look far better once the "usual" modders have had a go at it however I believe they've said enough is enough with fixing DTG/rivet messes so are not touching it which is a huge shame if true. I think the 153 is good, it is fun to drive though at the moment there is an issue where the brakes will not come off once you change ends. The 150 seemed ok too, it looks good and the sounds are fairly decent. I know a lot has been made about the revving up on a 3-5-7 departure but I think it sounds better going 4-6-7 as it seems more noticeable. They have definitely tried to do something with the sounds so they are better than WCL but still not quite right. The only issue I've had with it is that a full service brake application is like dropping an anchor, just a bit too effective. One bug that is very annoying is the trackwork itself, particularly points and junctions which I'd swear if they were like that in real life there'd be a derailment daily due to how rough they are to ride over, I might take a pacer over one to see if I can bounce into orbit. My only real gripe is the route length, I get it that it's a network route but I was hoping to do a fair bit of "end to end & change end then repeat" work but instead find one end of the route will inevitably be "off map" making for a rather disjointed experience. Granted there is the odd end to end run in the timetable but usually the return working goes elsewhere. It also isn't so great that the timetable screen is cluttered with 2-5 minute long shunt moves.
Was going to post my thoughts after about an hour of playing but this post sums up pretty much all my opinions on it! Would say that’s a spot on assessment.
First Gen DMUs, Mk1+2’s & BR locos. In more modern times they took over from the then used & abused Pacers which were marginally worse. The sprinters look rough today as they’re almost 40 years old, older than some of the stock they displaced & they’ve had a fairly hard life.
Idk if this has already been said/noticed by anyone, but from what I’ve seen, there isn’t a SINGLE 153 service to or from Cardiff bay, which is definitely unrealistic as I’ve been on that line multiple times, lots of which have been on a 153. Apart from that slight nag, I genuinely think this is one of my favourite routes, so much to do. I haven’t got bored once yet which is unusual for me. Overall one solid route.
Usual short route / unfinished product. Do I even need to read the reviews? Has any DTG /Rivet route been finished? Ever?
It is short really wish they extend to Barry Island and few other branches to make it longer cause it could really be a good little route just feels like at the moment your just going around circles I understand its a network route so it would short but feels like its missing something. Also there is a lot of depot shunting jobs on this route.
Other branches would’ve been nice but likely would’ve made a significant amount of un-needed extra work Barry Island is close enough to have added one extra terminating station and provide an extra couple miles of track. I feel it would’ve added enough to make it worth 29.99. 24.99, if central stayed as it is.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this. What is the deal with so many 4 car 150 services? There seems to be an abundance of them represented in game which just doesn’t happen irl. Certainly not to the extent shown. Almost all of the videos and screenshots I’ve seen are either two car 153s or 4 car 150s. I’ve seen a couple of 1 and two car services, but way too many 2 & 4 cars.
The easiest thing to add would have been Newport given its mostly fields and you would have had a chance to get some speed going.
Anyone know why 2Y00 Cardiff Central - Barry Island heads back up the line towards Ninian Park when you end the service at Cogan platform 1? It's supposed to continue straight down towards Barry. It also runs on the right hand line and changes to the mainline towards Swansea just after Ninian Park. That train certainly doesn't go where it should if it's a Barry Island service.
Just had a quick glance at the Steam reviews expecting more negative than positive. Sadly it seems some people are easily entertained!
Midland Mainline still has pretty negative steam reviews so I wouldn’t say it’s due to people being “easily entertained.”
So I just submitted a refund request for Cardiff. A route this short should really have more detail and quality like Cathcart or Suffragette Line. The scenery and grass being quite lackluster in some areas breaks immersion a bit as well as stations where a simple underpass isn't modeled and given a teleporter instead. I had no issues with the sounds as I've never ridden a Sprinter irl, but I noticed the 153 lack flange squeal and brake sounds. My other big issue is route length. While 20 odd miles is on the short end, a lot can be done with that kind of length, especially for players strapped for time, but with the network style, every run is so exceedingly short with many not terminating. At least with Cathcart, almost everything terminated. An extension or two would have helped I think. Again, on a short route like this, it only makes sense to expect more quality and not a rushed route. I may pick it up again on a deep sale but I'm going to wait and see what the Dutch route looks like. Whether this route was mostly DTG work or mostly Rivet work or an even split, I am hoping to see a push for higher quality before releases.
Well, I listened to all the complaining at the start and I agree with some of it. There are some very poor assets. However, I then watched some streams from people that are not ambassadors. They largely really enjoyed it, so I took a chance. I’m really enjoying it as wel. Goes to show that I should make my own opinion rather than let others make it for me. My review - Overpriced - Could be a lot better - Still extremely enjoyable.
Several people have said that it's a lot better than they expected from the original stream and much of the feedback on here, some from people who don't appear to own it. I don't think you ever get a true idea until you see something properly with your own eyes. I'm still on the fence. I might wait to see if some of the poorer scenery looks likely to be addressed. Certainly the Ambassador streams showed it off better than than the DTG one.
I’ll be honest and say the DTG stream sucked once again and showed some horrible assets that are not there in the final product version. I like it, it’s not wcmlos but it’s fun
Yes it seems fairly busy, I was on morning diagrams before and during rush hour so maybe that was what did it but Cardiff Central was very busy and I regularly passed other trains when out and about (except single line obviously).
