[guide] How To Legally Install Old Ts Versions Next To Tsc

martschuffing
Have you seen this option to create a version that does not get overwritten by Steam?

 

I have not.
But I already had moved my RW's out of the steam architecture, the only drawback is I'm not sure what updated core files from the railworks folder to copy over to this isolated version

 

Although this version stays in Steam it is not affected by it and I can modify anything knowing it won't be overwritten
I also don't have to rename files when I wish to play the game.

 

Looks a bit too technical for my non-technical mind Peter!

 

Someone needs to make a video that one can follow.

 

I had a few problems at first due to me not doing one of the steps correctly but torfmeister helped me out and now its fine.

 

I used the following solution to get VNHRR-Springfield, Stevens Pass, and Montana Hi-Line back working in 64 bit. Then made a backup of the Railworks folder to a separate drive.
https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...g-fixed-in-v74-8a-on-64bit.71261/#post-671957

 

Does this also work with DLC you have registered to your Steam account?
It would be interesting to poke through older versions of some DLC to find their scripts still in plain text .lua format.
But how to get to these older versions?

 

Yes, if you know what codes to use. It's also a way of downloading DLC that doesn't download properly like WCML Over Shap.

 

What do you mean? What's wrong with WCML Over Shap? Pretty sure it's fine my end but I may have missed something that's why I'm asking.

 

The key question obviously is how and where to find these codes? Are they somewhere hidden in my Steam account, or coded into some file in the //steam directory?

Sometimes it is actually easier to download a few still active torrent files and browses through their file listings ....

 

Wait, what is wrong with Shap?

 

You mean like Illegal Downloads?
I don't think that will go well on an official forum

 

Depot codes. Look on SteamDB.

There are reports of assets not installing correctly. Mine has lots of missing assets.

 

Is it not easier to go in to the Steam Client and download a fresh version of the route?

 

According to the people I was talking to about it, the fix only works with the Steam console. I haven't checked if it has worked though since I don't play on that route much anyway.

 

I hadn't used the Steam console in a long time but I checked again.

Firstly, you'll need to start up the Steam console. In the Run dialogue opened with Win + R (or the improved Run included with PowerToys, opened with Alt + Space), type this:

This will then open Steam in a command prompt. You'll need to type in...
download_depot then followed by the ID of the game (in this case 24010) and then the DLC ID. You can find these in the URL for a Steam page for the DLC.

This will then download the DLC.

However, to download older versions of DLC and TS itself, you'll need to follow the instructions in the OP. The only simple way to find the codes needed is on SteamDB, which for Steam users is an essential website for much more than just this.

 

When I wanted to run the WCML-oS on the v72.3 I simply copied the files from my main install.

 

I was answering (at least partly) the question on how to find the codes to use the Steam console.

 

And you had reported your install was missing assets - I was just replying on how to get WCMLoS on the new install.

 

Spikee1975 -Sorry to bump this old thread
Is there a way of using the console to download DTG Routes I own to my alternative installation?
I have copied a number of DTG routes & Asses to the v72.3 but Steam is still removing the files outside of *.AP format.
I did not know if the file came from Stem instead of copying they might be immune.

Thanks

Peter

 

Hello Peter, no problem.

Steam cannot touch your alternate installation. But - it's not Steam that deletes the files. I'll explain.

When Steam does a file verification, it checks your files versus the depots. Any missing or corrupt file, or updated DLC will be redownloaded. Nothing gets deleted here.

Now on some occasions (can't exactly tell when, but it's based on the verification result), Steam will order a "Full Verification on Next Start".

It therefore places a file called

verify_cache_key

in the RailWorks folder. This is the single most dangerous file for you. (Actually Steam does not intentionally place that file - it just gets redownloaded from the core depot where DTG put it in)

Now, if you start TSC with this file present, TSC will remove files that are duplicates of files inside the .aps. It will seem to do nothing on startup, and startup is prolonged while files are being deleted. Steam cannot tell which files are addons and which are mods, as it knows nothing about .ap archive contents - only their filename and checksums. After the process is finished, that key gets deleted.

While it is annoying for many users - for inexperienced players (and for Tech Support) this is the only way to reset TSC to defaults. Some players get errors just because there's some modified .bins resting in their asset folder they don't know about. Steam cannot remove them - only TSC itself can access the .ap files and check for duplicates outside.

Even when you uninstall the game via Steam, it will only remove files it has installed itself - nothing else. That's another reason the full verification is implemented in TSC, as broken mods will still be there after a reinstallation (if the user does not completely remove the RailWorks folder themselves).

I have seen reports where exactly this was the case, problems persisting after reinstallation. That's why the file removal is necessary if you want to ensure a troublefree experience for the most inexperienced players. (Which is due to how the game files are structured - ETS2 does this in a better way as you have a separate "mod" folder in your Documents folder, away from the game files. In TSC, all gets thrown together.


Your question: Yes you can use that command to download any DLC. It will be in steamapps\content\gameID\appID, you have to copy that over. But it's easier to copy from your main installation.

Now to your problem: That verify_cache_key is also present when you are downloading the core - it's part of the depot for double checking file integrity after installation. It will be removed on first start of TSC and will never return to your second installation unless you copy it over for some reason.

YOU MUST REMOVE THAT FILE BEFORE YOU START!

For everyone that wants to avoid the file deletion (not the fixing of modified/corrupt .ap files!), use a simple batch file to start TS, like this:

Code:

@ECHO OFF
IF EXIST "verify_cache_key" DEL "verify_cache_key"
RailWorks64.exe -FPSLimit=75
EXIT

Name this for example "LaunchTSC.bat". Put this in your RailWorks folder and make a shortcut to wherever you like it. Adjust RailWorks parameters to your needs of course.

Note that I have not fully tested this - as I haven't checked if running TSC with manual removal of that file will trigger Steam to reset the FullVerification request in the appmanifest as I'm doing that manually. I also redirect updates to my main core-only installation, which is just there for installing updates or new DLC which I then transfer to my (hidden from Steam) full installation. Therefore, I swap appmanifest files to avoid Steam redownloading all content for my small main installation.

It must be noted that any DLC you play on your second installation must be enabled in Steam's DLC Manager, else DRM check will fail.

So for example if you untick "Tehachapi" but copy the files to your second installation, it will not work there. For running the game, it's not relevant to Steam where the game files are - it just gets a notice that app 24010 is running and will check ownership via the appmanifest of used DLC.

If you want to have full control, you'll not get around creating a separate appmanifest_24010.acf file. But that's another thing where a lot of stuff can go wrong and mess things up if you're not careful.

While all this may sound confusing, it's easy to maintain your alternate installation:

- Delete "verify_cache_key" from the RailWorks folder after downloading the core depot
- copy over DLC you want to play on v72.3b (or any version you have downloaded) and your files
- Verification will never happen in this folder, only the path Steam thinks TSC is installed to is affected.

 

^^ Spikee1975

Wouldn't it save space to use hardlinkshell, and hard link the Assets, Content, and maybe Manuals from the current version to the "old" version?

 

Forgive my ignorance as I am deaf and blind when it comes to technical gubbins and messing with them; I do not appear to have a "content" folder in my Steamapps folder. However, I do have an acf. file "appmanifest_24010.acf" file, can one alter the parameters in this file to stop Steam from obliterating all my files outside of the ap. files?
I have noticed at the bottom of the file is an area labeled as "UserConfig" with a rather large list of 37 "disabled" DLC? I'm guessing that possibly these are non-steam purchased routes and rolling stock?

 

I have an alternative version of TSC (72.5) installed alongside my default and there is a separate Content Folder.
Inside that is a "app_24010" folder. Inside that is a depot_24009 folder - inside that last one is the files for running the game.

Martin, have a look in your Railworks Folder and see if you have the verify_cache_key.

 

It would. But then again the content you're linking to can be affected by Steam. Or changes to content made on 72.3b will affect your main game. That's not what I want.

Don't know why you want to duplicate or link manuals though.

I only have three routes and their assets installed on my v72.3b installation, running from my 4TB harddisk. No big waste of space (a few gigs), and more important, out of Steam's reach.

Storage is the cheapest it ever was. 1TB NVMe for €50.

When checking for supposed bugs on the new beta, I quickly copy the route in question over to 72.3 to check if it's a new bug or not. If not, I delete the route again.

 

Yes you can. For example when Steam wants to update your content (by checking all ManifestIDs in your appmanifest versus its database - these are the internal versioning numbers of DLC), it sets the StateFlags in the manifest to 6. 4 is default. For manipulating your appmanifest, good knowledge of the Steam structure is needed (apps, subs, depots, packages, bundles). And of course being able to use SteamDB.info.

But as I said, a lot of stuff can go wrong here and I won't get into that topic further. A simple typo and Steam redownloads all DLC again. The appmanifests are Steam's Registry.

The "Disabled" list in the userconfig is just listing all DLC appIDs you have disabled in Steam's DLC manager.

3rd party stuff is nothing Steam will touch, unless it modifies original content which then will be restored in the 2-step verification process (Steam redownloading, TSC deleting duplicate files outside .aps)

The worst stuff is always 3rd parties installing assets to the Kuju folder. Which leads to trouble and missing assets for routes, because now everyone's Kuju folder looks different.

 

You realise you don't need that convoluted file path?
My main modded (and completely isolated from Steam) install is literally just E:\Railworks no need for all the Steam folders at all.

 

Surprise


So when I purchase new DLC or see an update is incoming, I close Steam, switch to my appmanifest which has only the core installed and all other DLC disabled, start Steam again, make my purchase or tick the DLC for which an update is pending.

Then I open both appmanifests, copy the updated data and new DLC entries to my main appmanifest, update the "BuildID" so Steam knows I'm up to date.

The good thing is even when things should go wrong due to a mistake I made, Steam will only download to the official folder, not my main "E:\RailWorks" installation.

When that happens, you need to stop the update, delete steamapps\downloading and \temp 24010 folders, and scrutinize your appmanifest why an update has been triggered. Of course, making backups of that file is very important. If it's lost, Steam lists Train Simulator as "not installed".

Needless to say, you should disable AutoUpdates and set them to "only update when launched", so you see there's something incoming and have time to react. I then check the Forum announcements and SteamDB.info's update history.

Brockenbahn purchased and installed to "C:\Steam....." using mini appmanifest to avoid all DLC being redownloaded. Then copy paste the DLC entry to main manifest for playing. Rename manifests and restart Steam. (Assets, Manuals, and Content transfer to "E:\RailWorks" I do manually. So I can prevent JustTrains installing older files over newer ones for example)


Seems like a hassle, but then TSC is my main hobby (80kb appmanifest!) and I care for it like my model railway. So that work is justified for me to keep the game clean and my mods being untampered with.

 

^ This! A million times over!

And, get out of my TS install you hacker! :p

 

Just browsing your "Secret Pix" folder what a naughty boy you are...

 

Hi all,
I'm looking for TS2019 manifestID, someone can help me?
Thank you.

 

Checking history of depot 24009 (core)... TS2019 was released in Autumn 2018

This for example (there's many others as TS2019 received a number of updates)

Though the only real second version you need is TS Classic v72.3b, this was the last one before the core update.

 

Yes, I have always kept a full backup of V72.3b. I'm downloading TS2019 because it should be the last release without graphic postprocessing effects. I want to see if I remember correctly the graphic rendering of that time. In particular, I remember that TS2020 surprised me in this sense, and not in a positive way. I'll get rid of this curiosity, thanks.

 

All these PostProcessing effects (SSAO, Depth of Field, Adaptive Bloom, MotionBlur, PAL TV filter, Vignette, Sepia, B/W) can be toggled off. Even DynamicLights, which brings back original Kuju Rail Simulator lighting with simple shadows.

 

I know, but for me the doubt remained that something could have been changed in the graphics engine too, beyond the presence of filter postprocessing. However, I briefly tried TS2019 again and the impression is that my memory was incorrect or misled by suggestion. I don't think the graphics are any better than they are today. Until I tried, I carried that doubt with me. Unfortunately I have the impression that TS2019 does not take into account the launch options entered in the Steam client (FOV, FPS limit, etc...).

 

It should. If there is a shortcut to it on your desktop you should be able to add launch options in the properties for the shortcut (although I am not aware of the actual process of this).

 

Of course today's are better. And the only thing that changed is that the sun's in the correct position, and weird lighting conditions in fog have been improved in 3D weather, as well as occasionally disappearing cloud layers in "3D 4.Raining".

You don't start your second copy via Steam - that will launch you main installation. Make a shortcut and add your launch parameters there. The parameters in Steam are only used if you launch it from Steam or a special shortcut generated by Steam, which would link to this: steam://rungameid/24010. Shortcutting to RailWorks64.exe always starts without any parameters by default.

 

Steam tells me I don't have the license to download it. Strange, I theoretically have the license since the early Railworks era. Evidently it's the dlc included in the download that I don't have. So if I wanted to download RW3 I don't have the option?

 

Then it must be like that. If you had the license for that specific RailWorks version, you would have all the routes already.

Else anyone buying TSC later could download that RW depot to get routes he didn't own, which is not possible.

These were different from TSC, which has the core separate from the DLC. RW was all-in-one base game featuring different versions (European, US) including the routes all in one depot.

How Steam actually handled the entitlement transition from RailWorks to Train Simulator, I don't know, as I don't have a RailWorks key.

A TSC key entitles you to access "Train Simulator", starting with TS2013, which is technically a different game than "RailWorks" was in Steam.

 

I actually bought a RailWorks key a year or two ago so if you have any questions feel free to ask me.

The only changes I noticed were these two DLCs in my library, the Hedborough North, Seebergbahn and Castle Rock routes, and the scenarios for them. However, there were more things included:

(Note - The Class 801 was given out for free when the TS2015 update came out, and was done by adding it to all releases of TS. The This is not the Hitachi Super Express pack.)

Based on your account, I presume that there was some sort of process that partly or fully split the routes from the base game which affected all depots.

However, I do not see any evidence of this change on the changelog for the RailWorks Retail package, so it probably will need some further digging.

 

Yes - the split happened when RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 became Train Simulator 2013 in late 2012 and was modularized into core and DLC apps. That's when they "killed" Steam, Matt mentioned this proudly on a livestream.

Before, depot 24019 contained the core plus the assets and routes for example. (I haven't checked for more regionally specific RW depots though, as I can't access them. Bought RW1 and 3 on ebay, but keys were already activated. Just for the shelf ) So it seems each RW version had its own depot.

Since TS2013 the core depot is 24009, containing the game files plus Assets\Kuju\RailSimulatorCore. The rest is all in separate depots, like the Academy being the only depot next to 24009 that's tied to the parent app 24010 permanently.

App = DLC
Depot = the place where files belonging to an App are stored on Steam
Manifest = the list of files in a depot, changing with updates.
Package = What you actually buy, can contain multiple apps and their depots (ECML + 801, WCMLNorth + ELAP)
Bundle = multiple Packages bundled together (TS Editions)

Note that Steam's DLC manager only works on the App, not the Package level, so for example ticking ECML will not install/uninstall the 801, you will have to click it manually.

 

Nope, at the time I bought the license for the original Railworks which over the years has been periodically updated up to the current TSC.
But today the same license is not valid for the download of RW3 which I obviously owned at the time.

 

Then you should have Cajon Pass if it was included in the RW version you initially bought.

Else you'd had to rebuy content you own... strange.

As I said - there may be other depot numbers that are valid for your key. The unification of entitlements came with TS2013. Before, there were probably different RW versions sold for different countries, not sure.

You could check yourself for other depots by adjusting the URL in the browser, start at 24000 and count up (Though there's no guarantee any RW version could use an arbitray depot ID.)

What I would be interested in, how did the transition from Kuju/EA Rail Simulator, which was a non-Steam game, work? Did you have to rebuy on Steam or could you just activate RS and download RW?

 

They're completely separate and need to be bought separately. There is a system to install Rail Simulator DLC into RW although I have never tried it and to be honest it's not worth it. I also bought Rail Simulator not long ago (unlike RW which I bought for a good reason, I only bought RS for fun), and tried installing some JT DLC that I have that's compatible with both TS and RS, and the RS installer uses the package manager but doesn't work properly, meaning the installation can never be finished. However, checking the Temp folder in Windows shows that the installer actually extracts RPK files to a temporary location which the package manager then tries and fails to assume... Perhaps it needs admin rights to work? I might check that at some point. Anyway, with that RPK you can install the DLC manually into RS or Train Sim, although unless it's RS-exclusive stuff I don't know why you wouldn't install the TS version instead.

 

7zip handles .rpk files, you can access them like any archive. A lot of UKTS files are using that old format, so I used 7zip for installing them.

Maybe I'll try installing my RailSimulator copy to a VM. But then, there's not much to see.

 

I am aware of this. I've set up WinRar to actually see AP, RWP and RPK files as any other archive which is very useful, as I can extract them directly from the context menu.

For me it's installed on Windows 11 and has a number of issues. I'll list them.

• Various graphical issues. In the editor, horizontal lines may appear, as an example.
• The game is clearly designed for a 4:3 or 5:4 aspect ratio and looks odd in 16:9.
• The FOV is very low, although this may be a side-effect of the aspect ratio issue.
• Some of the content I tried to install didn't work at all.
• When installing RS DLC from JT (and probably elsewhere) the installer will prompt you to install RS updates. This is an erroneous message, as the version available on the EA app is the final version of the game. I did find the installers for the two updates and uploaded them to the Internet Archive for disc users, but if you are installing the DLC to the EA App version click 'No' on the prompt. I did also try installing the updates before I figured it out and ended up breaking my installation of RS, so don't try it.

I reckon some of the issues could be fixed by running on an older OS and in 4:3.

 

It was built on the terrible 5:4 ratio which was almost square 1280x1024, that followed the common 1024x768 in the early 2000s. You can see that in the FOV value of 65 if you translate that to 16:9.

If I want a horizontal 16:9 FOV of 90 degrees, as in TSW, I must set TSC to 77 degrees FOV (Camera Options, set default and click right 12 times). There's good online converters around, and 77 degrees is exactly 65 vertical translated from 5:4 to 16:9.

I'd never install it outside a sandbox, as it uses DRM software which gets installed onto your system. You don't want that stuff.

 

I only play it once every few months for a few minutes at most, it's just there for completion's sake. Plus, unless the DRM in particular is actively harmful to my computer I'm not concerned about it, I'm already used to having multiple applications running in the background at any given time. My PC has enough breathing space to take it.