General North American 3rd Party News (non Dramatic Version)

None of those fix poor modeling and poor texturing, which mean they still look terrible. Same with nearly every piece of Dreadful Trash Models DLC (including the ones included with [EDIT - Jan - Quarrelsome] DLC), and that's ignoring other issues entirely.

 

[EDIT - Jan - Quarrelsome]

 

Im just excited to see if Diesel Workshop brings more content to steam, as well as continuation of their projects like the GP9 (Which is sorely needed)

 

I know. Very excellent. How TSC content should be.

 

Only problem is most of them are virtually impossible to re-paint.

 

Sometimes that's a good thing.

 

Splain to me being of simple mind, why would that be a good thing?

 

HIS next route is Northern Pacific's Bozeman Pass

 

As it will be a Rick Grout route again, highly appreciated.

 

Will be looking forward to it

 

Seeing old NP with phased in BN, weird how that's gonna go, even for High Iron.

 

Looking forward to it. Heading out in Empire Builder next week from Chicago to Seattle. Will be going very close to this!

 

Eeeh, not really, the Empire Builder traverses Marias Pass which is on the old Great Northern (it was a Great Northern Service). Bozeman Pass is on the old Northern Pacific, the line which until recently was owned by Montana Rail Link until BNSF recently purchased and (re-)merged the company.

 

Was a relative term. I know that the train will use Marias Pass and Stevens Pass which are both DLCs in TSC. Compared to where I live now it is ‘close’. Will also be doing the Alaska railroad from Seward to Fairbanks. Respectfully

 

Sigh, another "Pass" route.
Crawling up the mountain on single track, crawling down the mountain again.
The route and custom assets will probably be nice by themselves.
Rolling stock the usual DTM regurgitated once more?

Is available for Trainz as well, set in the MRL era.

Trains magazine article on MRL's end of operation: https://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/296983/3471943.aspx
Comparison with other nreaby passes:
http://www.gngoat.org/GN-MILW-NP.pdf

https://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/plans/railroad-info.shtml

 

Nobody's forcing you to buy it

 

21c lives to complain.

 

Debundle the rolling stock from the route and make both available separately and I might consider buying the route.
Anyway, we'll find out soon enough whether DTM has updated his game once more or the same cut-copy-paste still applies, including white headlights, reversed switch targets and all.

Set in the 1970's, who was the passenger carrier over Bozeman during that era? ex-NP, BN or Amtrak??

Any links to reading material, track charts and timetabes including Bozeman Pass in the 1970's, internet seems quite sparse.

 

Machine Rail Pere Marquette N-1 class arrives Sept 1st
The newest offering from Machine Rail is the Pierre Marquet N-1 class steam locomotive bundle.
More information here: https://www.facebook.com/machinerail

 

The N-1 looks splendid and well worth the money come September 1

 

None

 

Passenger service: None, easy job for DTM also. What kind of caboose were in use, another part that distinguishes one railroad from the other? There is a list/roster, but no pics: https://fobnr.org/bn/bn-caboose-list/
Edit, better search NPRHA: https://research.nprha.org/Pages/Equipment.aspx#Cabooses which leads to http://www.npcaboose.com/?page_id=3, many different types, a challenge also. My guess is we will get another repaint of Kuju's stone age caboose model, without marker lights.

The 1970's still had boxcars, reefers etc. with roofwalks, brakewheels at the top of full height ladders?
Any other unique NP freight cars at home on the line?

The 1970's roster doesn't list anything particular: https://research.nprha.org/Lists/1970 Era Freight Cars/Standard View.aspx, with photos from the 1970's: https://research.nprha.org/Lists/WerkemaNPPhotoCollection/AllItems.aspx#InplviewHash00d7e2af-12b6-478e-87ab-65db40b3fd5a=ShowInGrid=False-FilterField1=Subject%5Fx0020%5F1-FilterValue1=Car%2DFreight

Condensed track chart and grade profile https://research.nprha.org/NP Track Charts Profiles/RM 1st sub.pdf showing the division had CTC, presumable colour searchlight signals.

NP or even BN footage seems very rare, but there are recent videos giving an idea how the route looks 40 years later:


also, the pass and area seems notorious for bad winter weather road conditions

 

Having just reread that, the overriding impression I got from that particular page of the thread is of someone, who shall remain nameless , complaining about everything from the realism and validity of the consists to the level of discount on offer to owners of the original route.

If you feel there is bullying occurring you should forward the posts to the moderation team quick smart, noone wants that happening on a forum.

My own opinion is that while there is some robust debate occurring, nobody is being unfairly picked on for holding a reasonable opinion.

 

Alone the concept of claiming to be "bullied into buying HIS stuff" due to disagreeing forum posts is fairly ridiculous. I personally don't care what others are playing, it doesn't affect me in the slightest way other than inspiring me to make a purchase or not. The choice is mine only. When something gives me enjoyment, I'll praise it, if not, I'll criticise it and move along. HIS has given me many hours of enjoyment, and I'm expressing that via screenshots and explaining why I like something.

Some can't find joy in whatever is being delivered - I do wonder why they are here at all, and can't accept others enjoying the routes. Just don't buy it, everything else is just a waste of words. Pretend it's not there and you're fine.

I sense some "If I don't like it, nobody should enjoy it!" spirit. (Admittedly worse on the TSW side with people demanding Rivet to leave the scene instead of just ignoring a product they don't like, projecting their standards onto everyone. Which is rubbish and highly patronising. I don't like Taylor Swift, but if some get excited about her for reasons I can't understand, so shall they. Imho she's got nothing of a presence like the mesmerizing Kate Bush, or the groundbreaking iconic power and guts that Madonna had back then, just doing her thing against the Mighty Moral Majority trying to shut her down. I believe in free market economy and offering a choice for everyone, so let everyone do their business and the customer make the binary Yes/No decision.)

 

Not even sure why there is any mention bullying. All I see is attempts to show the features available in new product. It is up to the individual whether they will purchase.

 

I feel like I know the comments above are directed at me.......

 

I can't really judge how sensitive you might be, but yes I was thinking of that signature, and felt somewhat guilty because I praised the route. Eventually thinking "Now how silly is this all." I know what real bullying is, and you better not make fun of it or use it as a joke. You don't have to buy anything to be a part of the community, I felt that thought's what triggered you. (My own thought carousel of course)

Adding to this, Rick Grout and Michael Stephan are "heroes" for me. What they did for TS is invaluable imho (and will likely never be repeated). The fact they get a shxtstorm just because people don't like the Gary connection triggered me.

 

Maybe I should go away.....

 

I can assure you I wasn't referring to your behind, or lack thereof.

 

Awww, come on, please cheer up mate. We're all in this together (without really knowing each other)

 

Are there any grown ups on here? Come on people.

 

Buzz. We're all playing with... trains.

!

 

If a lot rolling stock, scenery, tracks, buildings,and roads weren't reused or reskined, the time it would take to create all new assets would make it more expensive and fewer people would pay for it and development would dry up and the hobby would die. Adding a few new items instead of creating entirely new content to create a new route is a cost effective way of producing content. There are enough people who are talented to work with what's delivered and add improvements without additional cost because of the love of the game and their artistic endeavors. Ask yourself what would you pay for a premium content and what is premium content anyhow? Because you do not like something , that is no reason to bully anyone into not purchasing content. I do agree with Spikee1975. If you don't like it don't buy it. You need to think in the mind of a new player. All they want is to download something and play that looks good and feels right. Some people have spent an exorbitant amount of time on speculation so far.

 

Only one person on this planet can bully me into buying something I don't want and that's my Wife.

 

You sound fun.. :P

 

In case anyone's wondering how long High Iron is making on their Bozman Pass

 

From my understanding, its quite a weird endpoint on the west end of the route.

Also with such alot of MILW mainline, I wouldn't be surprised if there was MILW locos included.

 

I always though Manhattan was an Island....

 

Which operator holds the current license over the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific railroad, the deceased Milwaukee Road?

Helena would be the most logical western end of the modeled trackage, since it is a division point with a sizeable yard.
But HIS knows better as usual, and no doubt we will hear the usual hyperlatives of how the current two insignificant end points are so much better over the most logical end point.

And, it allows HIS to try and sell to us a 'remastered', 'extended' and/or 'upgraded' route for an even higher price?
Perhaps only when the original sells well. A certain admin and the local incrowd is already fawning over another 'pass'.

Anyway, let's wait and see. Perhaps we are surprised for the better this time?

 

Logical how? It seems to be about 75 miles or so further away which is a lot of extra route to build for a small team, and would more than double the length of the route if my rough workings are correct.

 

Not one single road. Some of it went to SOO (now a part of CP), some belongs to BNSF, some belongs to UP, a lot was abandoned.

 

So CMStP&P is completely dissolved, and fair game for creators/modelers?
Though I believe the slanted red rectangular MILW herald is trademarked?

 

They are asking about the trademarks and copyrights of the MILW, which is owned by the historical association.

 

Logical in the sense of operations, at least prototypical operations in the 1970's, I'd think: division point to division point.
It even included another sizeable climb and descent, a feature apparent so in favour with this crew. It is still mostly rocky mountain scenery, not very demanding I'd say using the current digital elevation models and Google Earth.

Like with the original Feather River Canyon route, which only went a little beyond Keddie instead of to the division point, a poor choice
FC-Extended, at a new price, and with some of the MSTS assets converted, went to all the way to Ortola.

So expecting an extended Bozeman Pass (Livingston-Helena) as a new purchase is alltogether a possibility.

 

If HIS doesn't ditch TSC all together in the future for TSW.

 

So we must expect the small (R) in any rendition of the MILW herald?
And appropriate credits in the route's manual? Unless, of course, due to license costs, the MILW portion will be neutered and/or left unmarked?

HIS is only the manager over these independent builders, and intermediary for DTM to join route and rolling stock under the HIS provider folder in your Assets directory. And creator of some scenarios plus scenario extension packs.

We'll have to wait and see if any of those builders of name and fame have the desire, incentive, patience, skill and time for modeling to TSW standards, whatever these are concerning US railroading.
AFAIK, these people are also getting on in years, and modeling for TSW requires a different skill set and computer programs. Plus, DTG's constraints, schedules and compensation might be non-negotiable, and even in the digital age, distance can still be a barrier.

Anyways, when it comes to US railroading, I still have more faith in the Run8 and Railroader crews, who at least know what they are talking about ("banking comm") and have far better grasp of operations than those at DTG Towers.

 

IDK, I don't think one was included in the GP9 pack.

I also assume DTG already cleared the licensing for the MILW, since one of their former employees was making a MILW route with Little Joe's for TSC before that project was stopped, which is probably why HIS and Milepost are going ahead with their routes.

 

There is this other MILW route, with some other electric locomotives announced. Does it feature another pass, since there were two electrified portions and CMStP&P chose early for electrification only abandoning it when the route was in decline?

Anyway, regarding the HIS' Bozeman Pass, MILW isn't the main focus and perhaps will not even be made operational.

 

And if anyone still wondering, Smokebox is still working on the UP 0-6-0 Switcher