The 90s were too good you mean? I'd love MORE older routes, not less. We have ALL modern routes as it is, so it's not like we're lacking in "modern stuff." Basically every US route but Clinchfield is "modern day." When 12 out of 13 routes are what you want... maybe you don't need to demand the 14th one be as well? Seems a bit greedy ;-) Having some older stock could solve some of the issues with licensing and access and give some variety. There's decades of missing time to choose from and large companies that haven't even been touched, like Alco, Baldwin or Lima. Alco especially was a huge competitor with GE and EMD, with thousands built. Many still run active routes today.
I haven't forgotten about you guys. I've already made a couple of videos .just waiting to get approval.
I cant even use the SPG GP38 2 or SD40 2 since TSW 4 cant use in free roam scenario formation .they dont run take power etc DTG fixed the CJP one but the SPG versions need to be fixed the SD40 also same issues on tsw4
I've used them in free roam.... will have to check again tonight. Maybe specific incidents? I know there's a LOT of locos across the game that are broken in free roam (some versions of the Class 47 I know of from firsthand experience) Not sure how it relates to the thread exactly but yes, DTG has issues with free roam and engines. I do know that the route does matter (free roam wasn't enabled on some older routes since they were designed before it existed)
I am guessing because the Metrolink coaches don’t have an “empty” or “full” weight? I remember during BCC there was talk of the train getting heavier with passengers but I don’t know if that carried to other passenger trains…
The coaches are all empty-weighted same as wagons, and then you add cargo to them. But they all start empty, and then passengers get on and off dynamically - so all is good. Matt.
You misunderstood what I said. With the way foreign power works in modern times is that only mainline locomotives are used as foreign power now, not the SD40-2 which still happens in game. It was way more common in the 90's and earlier due to them still being mainline power at the time. Such as the case here with UP 3300 being in Georgia in the late 1990's. For all the modern routes in game, the SD40-2 SHOULD NOT sub in and leave home rails.
I do wonder how railyard work and shunting is done without being able to see behind you. That's the whole reason for the design. Do UK yards still have little switchers? Or do you make a guy stand in the rain as a "ground guide"? What's the UK solution to the bad visibility issue of cowl units?
I gotta ask, the good very old at this point class 20, technically 2 cabs at the one end, is that super consatrated manliness, and the reason it looks slightly phalic when looking at it from a sky down angle.......
As represented in game, UK drivers have mastered the art of the out of body experience, where their minds eye floats just to the side of the locomotive so they can judge distance to the wagons. Failing that, yes a combination of small locos and raincoats.
In US switching is done mostly by radio or sometimes hand signals ,depends on how long the cut of cars is or curves etc. It s skill related too ive watched switching at rail yards the train crew have great distance judgement skills .most of the time on the radio you hear conductor guiding the engineer saying 3 cars ...2 cars ...1 car..then that will do ..a few will say half a car ..the enginners just have the train at coupling speed around 2 to 3 mph .if the conductor is riding a cut of cars then they have engineer stop a car or 2 before they climb down then radio to back up to couple..There are rules they have to follow in the process im sure back in the day each crew had their various ways to do it..when ive played UK freight switching i only change cabs if the scenario requires it to progress ..other wise i just do it by backing up and use map or camera mode to see how close to stop and make couples etc.
As an independent railfan (from the Czech Republic) - the SD40-2 is definitely nicer looking than the C66. I like both though, always nice to bump into Jin-Jins in Germany
No tea and biscuits for you Someone called Fred (must be an upstanding guy with a name like that) even wrote a book about the 66 He called it "Class 66" because really, that's all you need
The class 66 killed train spotting for me. Used to love the rumble if the class 37 but now it's just squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!
Well... Used to watch a variety of locomotives thunder up and down the lines near me. The noise used to blow your socks off. Now it's always a shed coming past, normally idling when the engine sounds like, squeak, squeak, squeak.
If you like those sort of routes, you could try Oakville Subdivision. Although it’s quite a dated route, it does a good job of representing shunting.
But why is it just idling? Wouldn't it be driving past like the rest with a load too? It's just sitting there? I guess that's what I'm confused on. I get the lack of variety comment... just not why it wouldn't be driving past like the rest of them =-)
Oakville is probably the best short line/shunting route in the game. It is dated, but it's honestly held up well. I'd put the graphics and gameplay up there with Sand Patch. Even the locos are better in sounds than most US stock. The ONLY downside I've seen in my experience running it a lot is the ethanol tanker filling can be a bit wonky on a couple of the scenarios. I dunno if there's a "trick" to it but something about lining them up and going through the steps can "break" it. One time for example I clicked on the nozzle to attach it to the tank and it buried itself 300 feet underground and had to restart. OTHER than that one specific bug with ethanol, I have zero complaints with it. Well rendered, interesting scenarios and timetable. Yes DTG didn't get the license for GO Transit commuter trains in Hamilton, but there's still freight traffic. Is it what it is. For freight it's among the top 3 in game, and it's my #1 personally. Although as I said Sand Patch is a close 2.
So, I know it will never happen, but really wish DTG added livery designer compatibility for the GMD GP9RM, would at least open up using something other than a GP38-2 for switching...... TSW 5 and it still isn't compatible.
I'll take the SD40 every time. Whichever clown painted that class 66 in BR Blue should be fired... It looks bloody awful.
I mean... the GP9 and GP38 are VERY similar except for 2,000 instead of 1,750 hp. Just an evolution, and they were both used for line and shunting. I agree that the GP 9 should be able to accept liveries but "settling" for the GP 38 in most cases isn't much difference in actual gameplay (as they would be irl) I mean 12% more hp and tractive effort is significant but not game breaking =-)
Well. The UP GP38-2 is different, because the wheels don't actually move. 5 years later, and DTG still haven't fixed that bug.
I think the game is at its best to be able to take advantage of the American freights. In TSW 2 and 3 I learned to use these trains and I became passionate about them. But after a while it became repetitive and boring. But now with the free mode, the composition designer and the liveries I am having a great time like a child on Christmas. Of course, I still like to make route schedules. But with this now I am not limited with the compositions. A week ago I made a composition of 120 cars, 8 locomotives and 17 thousand tons with 2.1 km long in Cheyenne, Sherman Hill. To do so I spawned the 8 locomotives on a service track and 4 coal trains with 30 cars. What I did next was with a pair of SD40-2 build the train sections, place 2 locomotives in the tail, 3 in the middle and 3 more in the front. I spent almost 4 hours maneuvering and I had a pretty good time. I have already made a recent thread on this topic where I commented that, ( https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/american-freight-in-the-future.87698/#post-942789) even if they did not add any new locomotives, perhaps they should refine details with the existing ones, as I commented on the topic of the dynamic brake and sound with the ES44AC. I do not think it is necessary (at least for now) to try to add new locomotives, we already have the most emblematic ones such as the SD40-2, GP38, SD70ACe, ES44AC and AC4400CW. Speaking with the Spanish community of the game (most of which are from Spain and Mexico and of which more than half of us play on console) There is no need for new locomotives, just some new routes to use them and fine-tune details in the existing locomotives such as those I already mentioned about the ES44AC Another thing that they could fix is in the free mode, such as the possibility of adding the EOTD at the end of the train so as not to have to add another locomotive at the end to have the pressure of the REAR or in the composition designer that the American freight cars have the option of being loaded since in none of them the option of being loaded appears. The Latin American community and part of the Spanish community are hopeful that something new can be found from American freight and they have our support. If the routes maintain the same quality as the previous routes, we have no reason to complain, because we consider the work they have done to be acceptable. But if there is a possibility, these are the requests that we ask for, if there is a possibility (including those that I personally added to the thread).
Ive played a few local freight timetables on the MBTA Boston commuter with the SPG SD40 SD40 2 GP38 2 and they working a few things seemed a bit off like the braking i just went slower so took longer to finish. Havent really tried in free roam on TSW5 ,but in TSW4 they wouldnt work in free roam for me either ,i play on x box series x and before that xbox 1x and series S
The class 66, beautiful when you see it the first time. Absolutely hideous when you see it for the 54th time. It suffers from the whims of having to fit under ancient bridges of which the builders likely have lived nearly 200 years ago. It suffers from an odd rounded roof design which reminds me of a shape of a little hat stretched across a breadbox. Frankly I'll take whatever this thing is over the Class 66. (All this in jest of course.)
Dunno, but Pac Nat is Australian so that explains it. None of those pesky old tunnels there either. Although to be fair, it does seem more compact and it MIGHT fit in the UK gauge. Eh...prolly not. I'd say it's prolly a bit too big still. Maybe we can get a Class 70 for something different on the UK rails.
The NR class the loco in your photo could actually fit the British loading gauge you'll just have to chop 8cms of it's width to fit. They would be great for the Uk as they can shunt and change horsepower plus we've got the same cab layout as the class 60s. Oh we still got some pesky tunnels weirdly for this one i've never seen anything go through it for us Aussies especially South Aussies like myself we have to suffer the whims of the Adelaide hills nearly steeper than lickey but way more challenging.
I'm guessing non-freight goes through there? A passenger DMU would fit through there fine. I think you'd have to do more than 8cm to fit into the UK gauge. Compare to the Class 66. And if all you gotta do is hack off a foot on either side well that's nothing. Just get a running start! That'll solve the problem.
Just remembered it is a passenger train tunnel last time i rode on the Belair line was 10 years ago still though the DMUs which are still in use are the same size as the NR class. The NR class are 2.94m wide and 4.24m high they slightly need to be trimmed to fit into br loading gauge which is below.
Given clearances required, wow the 66 is a lot more narrow than it needs to be I suppose. Although I can see why given curves and safety (need to open the door if you get stuck in a tunnel, etc) it's only about 2.6m wide. I've generally taken that as a good "standard" for UK trains since it's modern and fits everywhere. I think it's even smaller since the 47 was even bigger (maybe 2.7m? I'd have to look it up) It's a bit longer though, so going through a tight turn I can see it hanging over the tracks in the middle. The NRs look even longer than a 66 so I'd say they were in the same rough class. Dang now ya got me wanting an Australian route.
I also wish the ethanol pumps would actually work without having to wait for like 20 minutes. I'd like to be able to get out and load the tanks instead of bringing them back empty.
Looking at it now, I just don't see any good future with US freight at least from DTG position, and those not on console are better off looking elsewhere for their US freight content. Especially when I look at TSC and see the recent SD70Ace packs made by SPS. Like they include so much, are so well made, and are free. Then you look at TSW's ACe and they just don't compare. And I don't ever see TSW's freeware scene ever being as well supported or as varied as TSC is, especially with how different development is between the 2.
TSC is still DTG and has lots of freight. It's not half bad. The only thing is it's not on console. Well that and there's no avatar, but for that you could always get Run 8 too. I think there's just so many other places to do freight (TSC, Run 8, Open Rails, Railroads Online, Railroader. Derail Valley) that TSW is focusing on passenger stuff for the most part. All but one of the above is also US freight. People have for the most part migrated away to where the action is. I just honestly don't expect DTG to do anymore serious US freight. You'll get the tiny bit of layering like on MBTA or San Bernadino, but that's about it. Just like you don't get much passenger stuff on the above games. The depth they put into freight is about equivalent to the amount focus on passenger stuff in TSW. Whereas in TSW you end up just stopping on the mainline when your freight run is done, but passenger NPCs keep improving, the oppostie is true of the above games. The freight keeps getting better there, while most don't even have models for passengers, just the carriages.
