With a little bit left over in my Steam Wallet, wondered what thoughts are on this route? Seems to get good reviews on Steam but not much discussion on here about it. £12.49 a nice price but we are also talking HIS here who don’t always have the most solid reputation. From what I can glean, the route is good but the train pack a bit, meh. Then again I’ll probably run the scenarios through TS Tools and slap a H9 or two on the front instead. Thanks in anticipation… https://store.steampowered.com/app/...nover__Hagerstown_Route_AddOn/?snr=1_5_9__405
Well, if that 28/28 positive review score isn't indicative... Schnauzah review is rated most helpful. I recall it being popular when it was new. I mostly noted the better mix of scenery assets. Plus it's the basis of the Western Maryland and Chessie System retro packs, both with favourable reviews minus the ones that didn't purchase the route and then reviewed "DLC doesn't work without base game, useless". Discussing HIS is sort of a curse recently on these forums, for various reasons. I receive regular insults when not hating them. I also find these forums are predominantly British. There used to be more American presence but only a few remain. I did a quick scan of the TS 2021 screenshot thread but didn't find any
Funnily enough I just watched a few sections of the Schauz review and pretty much convinced me this is one to add to the collection. The route does look fantastic and while not maybe strictly accurate could be great fun taking the H9 or Berkshire across there. Sold!
OV l will be interested in how you find it. It’s one l haven’t taken the plunge for. There was a bundle for the route coupled with Maryland and another product, where the discount was more than the individual items. I had it sometime ago to buy, but the combination was withdrawn in the next sale and hasn’t appeared since, so kept my money for using with other bargains
It’s a very well done route, definitely HIS’ best work overall. The biggest issue with it is that, quite frankly, it’s rather boring to drive, most if it is straight and flat but still has a speed limit of 25 MPH. Throw on some good stock though and it has real potential.
I noticed in Schaunie's video he was running quite slowly even on straight track, which is why putting a steam loco or two to work might offer a more interesting challenge.
So far so good. The first scenario is just a bit of switching around Hanover itself, so not really getting you acquainted with the whole route. In fact quite a number of the scenarios seem to be switching, not sure there's anything in there that runs the full length end to end. But everything looks nicely done but as noted above lots of speed restrictions including 10 MPH over some of the level crossings, shows 25 MPH in between but there is no distance to accelerate and brake down again so kind of pointless!
Quite a lot of US routes don't seem to offer any full end to end scenarios. Arizona Divide springs to mind as another example. I get that they are pretty long and with (to those accustomed to UK speeds) low speed limits, but it does seem a bit confounding to not offer one end to end run at least. Sometimes you'll get a multi-parter that takes you from start to finish in 2 or 3 stages, but not always.
I got the combo offer for CSX Hanover it was below when i clicked to look at route info and video..also was a offer combo for saluda grade plus the scenario loco paks 80 pct off ..The Mountain sub also showed with a combo ..since i paid full price for it i just got the retro pak where you get B&O Funits Baldwin RF16 and retro paint skins for GP9
I believe IRL CSX doesn't run much if any thru freight around there, so thats why its mostly a switching route, rather than full runs.
Of course, Vern, you could always imagine the route to operate in the days of Western Maryland, Chessie Systems, B&O, Maryland Midland and Penn Central, and play with whatever older diesels and rolling stock you may have in your stable. The way HIS builds these routes they could be backdated with a few extra touches to any post steam era before the big corporations like CSX and Union Pacific got their grubby little mitts on these older railroad lines. Cheerz. Steve.
CSX was formed when the Chessie System (Which was formed with the B&O, C&O, and WM) merged with the Seaboard Coast Line (Which was made up of its own railroads) in 1980's though each railroad still operated as their own till later in the 80's (1982 for the Seabord System, and the late 80's for the final Chessie Railroads) to form the modern day CSX. It wasn't like CSX just came in and bought all the other railroads.....
I would give Hanover a 3 out of five stars. I also use Loco Swap to change supplied locos with enhanced versions and any unbranded rolling stock with branded ones for scenarios and build and run consists in Free Roam. HIS doesn't really deserve the bad rap that some people who have a grudge against them have given. Unfortunately, there are a few that tend to follow blindly and join in making it appear much worse than it actually is. HIS is what I consider overall, average as to quality of content. A lot of North American aficionados have migrated to RWA and a few other forums that fit their interests and provide support and downloads for that content. I mainly show up for here for BETA and DTG news and to post a screenie or two in the non-official screenshot contest (I use enhancements).
I'd give HIS slightly above average for route building, but below average for stock (Even lower with DTM products) and included scenarios or scenario packs. Especially when one advertises themselves on creating "Realistic" content but the scenarios and default physics are subpar or terrible.
All that banter about HIS - all these routes are basically G-TraX routes by Rick and they are fine and detailed. Of course some local will always detect some signpost being placed wrongly. I can recommend all HIS routes. Supplied DTM stock is another discussion, but hey, we can swap and run stock we like to.
I have always been hesitant because I know the reviews of the stock have been terrible. I know G-Trax has been involved with building the routes, but having the HIS name applied to them has, in my view, degraded the quality of their work - and that's a community view more than mine alone. I've been hesitant to buy HIS products for this reason, even routes, even if the route itself is fantastic, and also because I still have about 150 routes to visit anyway. That said, I know Hanover has been one I have considered and may sometime acquire.
If they are by GTrax why are they sold as High Iron? Is this another Alan Thomson/Boss Man Games situation where the same developers have used multiple different "brand" names for whatever reason?
Like in the music business, different "bands" are formed. Tax office wants to know where the money goes, so different collaborations are firming under different names. Nevertheless, the main route building is done by Rick Grout, that's why for me they are G-TraX. Rick and Michael Stephan released Stevens Pass under the name GNTX (GreatNortherner/G-TraX), Michael again did a lot of german stuff (and Alaska with Jonathan Lewis) as "TrainsAndDrivers", additionally working as a 2nd party DTG contractor (WCML South). Gary formed this band with Rick, Michael, Cesar (DTM), Smokebox and others under his name HIS.
Yes, Gary's been making scenarios for ages, both Workshop and commercially. Known as "Elphaba" before he changed his name to High Iron Simulations.
