PC I Love Train Sim World 3

I didn’t think I would, but I love Train Sim World 3.

I didn’t think I needed dynamic weather, but now I know that I do.

I didn’t think Kassel-Würzburg would be actually enjoyable, but it is.

I didn’t think I’d play SEHS Extended endlessly, but I am.

I thought volumetric clouds would be nice, but they’re in fact brilliant.

When the sale came along, I bought Train Sim World 3, almost grudgingly. Really the only reason was updates and future routes, not because I thought I was getting something better than TSW2, something that I needed.

So… I didn’t think I would love Train Sim World 3, but now I know: I love Train Sim World 3.

 

I'm with you on this. I originally thought that Kassel - Wurzburg would be boring, but I actually like it a lot.

 

For many years I have been spending my leisure time with TC. Then I had TSW from the moment he was born. I have all the DLC in my collection (except the holiday express). I get amazing pleasure and amazing experience. TSW 3 brought a new standard and I hope that over time all released DLC will be brought into line with it.

(It's impossible, it's not about me!!!) I never thought I'd buy Isle of Wight. Especially 2 times. I find myself thinking that I'm ready to buy it a third time if it comes with a steam locomotive. This speaks volumes. I am delighted! Thanks DTG, Rivet, TSG! I also love TSW3.

It's great! Only after all this beauty appeared rejection of the TC. Only British modernized content is endearing. The impeccable work of Armstrong and the guys from ATS, as well as the talented work in the workshop, keep the game interesting.

 

Hear, hear!

What a thoughtful message. I have Train Simulator Classic too and sometimes still play it, but the numerous bugs on German routes and the weird snowy winter lighting - like you're driving into the gates of Heaven, when really you only want to get to Koblenz - make it a bit questionable to me. Though I recently saw a video of some British route, and my interest hasn't quite died yet. If only DTG could spare the resources to make TSW as rich in routes (and long routes!) as Train Simulator.

 

If Sam can bear it, say hi from me - in a very, very roundabout way, his Transport Fever videos had me end up here.
And we appreciate your work too, JD. I guess it's not easy at times. Happy Friday!

 

TSW3 and the release of Cross City has bought me back to TSW. I do like the dynamic weather, despite it is now a bit predictable and the weather and lighting affects are better than TSW2. I had uninstalled TSW2 very much in favour of TSC, which I still enjoy very much. TSW is easier to just jump into and drive a train.

I am looking forward to what the next year holds for both sims, hopefully for TSW3 more of something to suit everyone, steam, classic traction or modern.

 

I love it too. Having settled into a very early retirement, I bought TSW3 on a whim for something to play on those dull rainy winter days. Rather than my usual war-based/conflict games, this makes for a relaxing change and I was even encoraged enough to buy several DLCs during the Winter sale. Another fan of TSW3 is my Jack Russell terrier - I position the external camera just over the cab facing forward, whereupon she will jump up on my knee and watch the scenery fly past; on my 32" monitor it must seem quite real to her as she looks left and right as things go by...

 

TSW3 is nothing more than a dumb blonde - nice to look at but nothing under the hood. If you want real playability then it doesn't come close to TSC.

 

Careful she doesn't get too into it on BCC when she sees those cats!

 

Well said!

I am completely hooked as well. As the new features roll out, I find it interesting to think back to what train simulation was like when I first got started. It never ceases to amaze me how much better they scenery, sounds, AI, physics, and safety systems are now.

I originally begin train simulation to drive heavy North American freight, blasting the horn across grade crossings and quaking nearby buildings. Thanks to TSW, I have been transformed. My preferred immersion is now German safety systems and intercity passenger runs. I may be one of the few people in the US (or anywhere) whose dream vacation is now to stand on the platform in Bremen!

TSW3 is such a wonderful diversion and stress relief for me. Thank you, DTG!

 

While TSW has many issues and shortcomings, and the overall quality seems to be more consistent in TSC, I wouldn't say the payability is better in TSC.

In TSC a route comes with a few scenarios (around 5-10) and that's it. Sure, sometimes you can get more content by additional add-ons, but many route don't have those. In comparison, every TSW route comes with 5 scenarios and a full 24 hour timetable. And you can play those timetable services in any season and weather, giving you plenty of options. You can even stay in freeroam after a service and continue on with a next one in the same session.

Due to this, I find myself to spend much more time in TSW. Sure, I still play TSC as well, as that one actually has Japanese content and other more unique stuff. But for a TSC route I will do every scenario once, then maybe replay some of them a few times. But I am quite limited with replayability, especially if a route doesn't have proper quickdrive. Compared to it, I can spend much more time in TSW due to the virtually endless options.

 

When I used to "play" TSC I found much of my time spent in the content editor trying to create new scenarios. Unfortunately due to bad route making (by DTG and others) I got so frustrated that I stopped entirely and switched to TSW where things "work" out of the box (within the usual DTG margin of error when using the term "work")

 

TSC wins over on lighting and sound - as per the other thread about night lighting (which DTG haven't commented on constructive criticism but have popped a message in here). Sound, well it just seems incredible that a 22 year old (this summer), MSTS and TSC born out of KRS which dates back to 2007 can have effects such as tunnel and bridge etc. reverb or clatter over girder bridges and crossings, yet TSW continues to provide a totally flat sound field.

TSW certainly wins on the all day timetable though offset by only one save slot for the whole game and that one of the appeals of the persistent world is that the save game can still fall on its face.

Despite the promises we are still waiting the fixes to steam traction for SoS and its broken scenarios, so if you want to run steam locos TSC is essentially the only way. Steam generally seems to have been abandoned with no new routes announced or additional content for the existing route. Most other TSW products have been released on a fire and forget basis with little or no effort to fix up glaring issues once the projected sales target has been made.

TSC at least has its editor, with TSW continuing to offer the dire scenario editor with its limited options.

And coming a week today is SimRail, with its long, long route, multiplayer (admittedly looking to be flawed) and the ability to play as the signaller.

So yes I respect the OP's view, TSW has some strengths but mainly if you want to run modern electrified commuter routes and I think it is wise to take a wider view.

 

I agree, but for different reasons. First and foremost, TSC engines became too absurdly complicated, especially in regard to braking systems and the confusing and frustrating and obnoxious on-screen pop-up (and persist) messages. I also found constant, large penalties for "timeliness" (actually, lack thereof in the scenario maker's opinion); not because I care about earning points -- I don't -- but I dislike being nagged about them. Finally, I stopped making my own scenarios when saving them successfully became impossible for reasons unknown to me.

 

I don't remember those messages tbh...

Never really had this issue. From what I remember (it's been a while) the main points drain on TSC is overspeeding and if you do this too much you end up with negative points scores, but then you can either turn them off, or they're only relevant to career mode anyway, so user made scenarios don't have this issue

Yeah, this became my bugbear. And that when people make routes they only seem bothered by the usual A2B rather than properly incorporating branches etc... Missing signals to control trains coming in from branches was a big thing for me

 

Well, let's skate over the " cherry picking " approach to thread responses for now.


Of course we all "love " TSW. Otherwise why would we play it constantly, post about it endlessly and spend our hard earned moola on it?

I enjoy it, get pleasure from it and am frequently frustrated by it. And, at least for the time being, it's the only train sim I can play.

So, praise where it's due, constructive criticism when appropriate.

I truly believe that those of us who do pick it apart are helping to make it better in the long run, even if DTG don't respond directly.

When the mods join the " love fest " at least we can be sure they're reading and paying attention to all the threads. And everyone needs a little love from time to time, it's human nature, after all.

 

Nice to see a positive thread, and i agree.

 

I suspect that is because the default parameters offer almost no margin for error and the facility to alter these, timekeeping and items such as speeding etc. are locked away in an obscure menu button/box which I only found by scrutinising the wiki. Most career scenario authors either don't know about it or CBA to fine tune the settings so that being 30 seconds late at one intermediate station causes the scenario to be declared a failure.

So in that respect TSW is better though maybe goes too far the other way with leniency, such that you never lose points even for things like blatant overspeeding, you just don't gain any.

 

I agree. TSW3 has become very good and will be further improved. This year I can use its potential even much better, because I will finally get a PS5. Those who are constantly complaining usually don't even know how much work goes into such a simulation and that the developers sometimes spend whole nights banging their heads. So a little praise never hurts...

 

Meh, only thing ok about tsw3 is the new visuals. Nothing else for me.

Also US freight on TSW still leaves alot to be desired.

 

Sadly, yes. For example, Cajon Pass and SEHS are night and day when it comes to quality and visuals, even though both are TSW3 starter routes.

 

Gonna kick back over the weekend with Harlem Line/Cathcart and SEHS. (A little BCC thrown in for good measure.)

 

Be sure to try Train 670 Southeast - GCT at 17:18 on Harlem Line. It’s one of my all time favorites.

 

Thanks for the tip

 

In a roundabout way, TSW has had a great impact on my life or at least the direction of it. Starting with MSB I really began to take an interest in learning the operating procedures of the German railway, and after HMA released I wanted to increase my understanding by learning some German so I could better understand the signs and warnings I was seeing and hearing. Two years later and I'm now living in Germany and going to school here, actually living in one of the cities I previously only visited virtually in TSW.

Cheers

 

Ha, dont tell this your wife lol .

TSW is huge fun for me, a sandbox / sim where you can jump in and have a nice experience.
Working in Railway maintenance means planning ahead 1-2 years, so if "surprises" happen, they are usually from the less funny side.

Im keeping track of all dlcs in a excel, counted 40 routes for the Simulator. Thats a lot of content and improving, especially in 2022.
The discussions from the community side are important, even without a reply of dtg. Many backers spend a lot of money in TSW, so keeping quiet when something goes the wrong way isnt really an option.

I keep supporting the franchais because TSW is fun and at the bottom of the line it has improved. When looking close it has now a good foundation of rolling stock and features, so its becoming better and better. Nice decision with the latest AC traction content.

 

when I look back at the hundreds of hours (over 2500 hours play time) spent making fantastic scenarios, marshalling in yards, freight loading and unloading, running round consists. Using LUA scripting you could create some really great engrossing gameplay.
I really don't get why people rave about the time table mode in TSW. Once you've done an hour, you've done the whole day as its just rinse and repeat which doesn't in my opinion lead to great gameplay.
I think if the man hours had gone into developing TSC that as gone into trying to make TSW into something that either can never be or DTG don't have the skill to do is a real shame.

 

TSC is built on DX9 and the only reason it continues to be able to work is that MS has retained backward compatibility in windows AND dx
Had they not done so (or if they do so in future) TSC will not work on the new versions of windows.
I would imagine one of the reasons DTG made TSW was to move onto a more up to date engine than DX9, although this had it's own complications etc

 

And happily a DX12 version of TSC is now on the horizon which is great news for all.

 

It’s awesome news IMHO. I do wonder if DTG have realised that TSW can’t be what many of us were led to believe it would be, and that they already have a really capable sim in their stable which can fill that void. Upgrading TSC rather than binning it is a very sensible business decision, to the benefit of everyone concerned. They even seem to be releasing route content now that is aimed more at third party stock than what they can bundle with the route. Happy days.

 

The timetable mode is THE improvement of TSW, at least in my opinion the feature with the most impact as a gameplay changer.

After 1 hour walking on the street you do also know how the asphalt looks like. So i guess its not worth to visit new places since the streets look all the same anyway häh?

 

I’m not sure that’s the point he’s making. In timetable mode the services are exact copies, to the point that all the signals are set the same, the speed you have to drive is the same etc.

The concept is cool but as ever with TSW the execution lets it down.

 

not sure I understand your logic. Don't get me wrong I play TSW and have completed every service on GWE and done over 500 services on both SEHS and BML but I found doing what is essentially the same run over and over again got tedious

 

As I noted above, the one benefit of timetable mode is let down by the ongoing save game unreliability, i.e. being able to keep a session going by changing ends or changing trains. However further fixes to the save game beyond what was necessary to address the outcry when they took it away from TSW3 initially, seem to have dried up.

Part of the problem too is that so many of the UK and German routes in TSW are electric commuter or inter urban routes which by their nature have a clock face timetable. Start putting in some more diverse routes such as from the north or west of Scotland (preferably in BR classic days) or something like the Cambrian Line and you suddenly have a much more random and erratic service.

 

This is likely to kill a lot of older content...

 

Depends on the route. Get a route that actually has a good timetable. The usual "from A to B" routes will be boring and reperitive. But routes with several branches and service types will have great variety.

For example, LIRR, as lackluster as it is, still has like 4 "lines" to run with the different combinations of terminuses, you have expresses, stoppers, longer and shorter trains, etc. If some other type of service, like the Amtrak services on Boston Sprinter or freight on Peninsula Corridor are included, you have even more variety. And full freight routes like SPG or CRR also have great timetables, with not only A-B runs from end to end, but local runs to the mines which include loading, then coming back.

 

It is certainly an improvement to constant GEVOs, and the passenger service is quite good too! And for all the Germans who complain about DB's punctuality, I have yet to see them break Amtrak's record of the 48-hour delay on my Empire Builder train.

Cheers

 

I listed the issues in the Save Game sticky, Matt. Pleased to hear more fixes are in the pipeline and yes the items you mention in particular getting SoS playable again (and my Somerset & Dorset being worked on in the secret steam route basement by your most insane route builder ) I would definitely agree are a higher priority.

Which is why we need to move towards network style routes or as I mentioned above routes which have an irregular and diverse service pattern. This is why the BBO route was rather disappointing, there was huge scope to build out onto the various divergent lines at Oldenburg and create a really interesting matrix of lines, rather than the very short A to B experience we once again received.

 

ARuscoe, if you haven't seen it here’s the article;

https://live.dovetailgames.com/live...es/article/train-simulator-classic-the-future

It might break some older or freeware content, maybe, but given the content that is currently being produced for the game (Just Trains MML, ATS Chat Moss / Fen Line, Leeds - Manchester etc) and the availability of top notch 3rd party rolling stock IMHO putting TSC on DX12 (or whatever it is they are doing) will be a game changer. To be honest, having gone back to it with a 5800x3D it’s running incredibly well anyway and for the first time I’m GPU limited which is something I never thought I’d see. It’s undoubtedly harder to get into than TSW and requires more knowledge and money to be spent than TSW, but I think overall it is a far better Train Sim. It has better sounds, better visuals (lighting and so on), more possibilities for customisation and although on paper the physics are not meant to be as capable, I honestly can’t tell the difference between 3rd party in TSC and stuff built using Simugraph. How the end effect is achieved I couldn’t care less to be honest, as long as it is prototypical. In the vast majority of situations the 3rd party TSC stuff is almost always superior and feels much closer to how imagine trains will handle. Alongside that, I’m yet to see a train flip up into the air and upside down in TSC because I’ve used step 2 braking in the rain. That may well be a bug, but it’s a bug that’s existed for over 2 years.

The penny has finally dropped for me that TSW will never be what I thought DTG initially intended it to be. I honestly think that giving TSC a new lease of life and showing a desire to support it going forward is a very shrewd business decision by DTG. I am done with TSW for the foreseeable future because I just can’t keep spending money on software that winds me up. I know that’s not how everyone feels but the bugs and problems really push my buttons. That article got me to re-install TSC and spend a reasonable amount of money on it again over the last fortnight. I’m really glad I did.

 

DTG Matt,

I would say that that’s how train timetables are designed to work. The real world is different, though. Trains fail, signals fail, points fail, weather gets worse, engineering work gets done, bridges get struck, lines are closed, passengers kick off, staff go sick and services get cancelled etc. The world is dynamic whilst sadly TSW isn’t. I got about 20% of the way through the BCC journey mode and had already driven the exact same ECS move at least twice (not just drive A to B, but follow the same train at the same speed with the same signals). As I remember it one of those was at night which was just painful. There is a thread about that but oddly that hasn’t drawn any DTG input. Anyhow, I don’t know how people have the sticking power to plow through 500 odd services on a route because of the repetitive nature of the gameplay.

L2B and to an extent SEHS are the exception (as far as UK content goes) because there is enough stock variety to keep it interesting. I found BCC on the other hand tedious in the extreme, because it’s just so quiet. There is no variety, nothing dynamic and many of the services are identical. For what is meant to be a busy commuter route in the second largest city in the UK the stations are dead and the trains empty ALL of the time. For me there just isn’t £30 worth of gameplay there and that lack of value for money (in my eyes) is what has led me to the conclusion that as it stands, I’m one of those for whom TSW is perhaps right street, wrong door.

 

My comment above about the Somerset and Dorset was somewhat tongue in cheek, but this is the sort of route which would provide a great variety of traffic, particularly if it ran all the way from Bath to Bournemouth West. I would rather have an interesting route with 20 or 30 varied services across the timetable than one where you rinse and repeat all the time. BCC is another example where a bit more investment in the route (proper West Midlands network) and the trains to serve it (170, 172, 350, 221/2 and 390) would actually be worth putting out £30 or even £40.

 

Comparing any other railroad to Amtrak is like comparing any other car to a Yugo. Or maybe a Trabant.

 

Both of which offer more reliable operation than Amtrak.

Cheers

 

Well, I realize the question wasn't addressed to me, but my thoughts:
Cajon Pass is the best US freight route yet, although it still lacks certain things that Sand Patch has, and it would (to me) come second to Clinchfield if CRR didn't have so many issues. Having said that-

• Brake systems are better, but Simugraph still needs some tweaking. Initial reduction is 6 pounds, not 8, and even without trailing locos RL brakes come on and release faster than the in-game model.
• After cab signaling failed in Sherman Hill, DTG simply waved the white flag and didn't even attempt it here. This cannot stand. NO modern US mainline can be correctly modeled without ACS/ACSES, properly functioning. I suggest that, if DTG can't fix this in the near term, that the next US route or two be vintage so it's not an issue. (I would absolutely love pre-1970 US content, myself).
• It's great to be able to run prototypical-length trains. It's not great running them without full DPU w/fencing
• European police sirens have no place in a US route. Surely DTG sound staff have seen enough American telly to know what ours sound like?
• If there is any one upgrade US freight locos really, really need (besides cab signaling), it's an accelerometer; this is integral in every modern loco with an MFD speedometer and is in many ways essential to mountain operations (sometimes you can cheat if the EOTD readout has a working accel)
• STILL putting stop markers right on top of signals.
• You couldn't come up with BNSF autoracks? A 20 minute job? Seriously? And, more generally, WHY don't freight car liveries freely sub? NO US RR in real life runs monotonous strings of matched cars; they are a motley from across the continent. And I feel like I have wasted a lot of time in LD creating freight car liveries that never appear anywhere (except Oakville, what are the Canadians doing right?)

But there are so many good things about this route. Just for one- there's a very big, multi-element distribution/trucking warehouse, and some artist went in and numbered each loading bay sequentially across the whole range.

 

When this game first came out routes such as GWE came with 3 different types of train to drive. That gave the route variety and helped maintain interest. It was also well built with a real atmosphere and attention to detail with well thought-out and interesting scenarios. Now, alongside everything always feeling rushed and half-baked (quite literally where lighting is concerned), all you get for your money is one new train and some freight services with the same old 66 (but obviously with a minor change so there are now some 6 billion different Class 66’s in the game). It just isn’t worth the money in my eyes (particularly when the price has gone up!) and it isn’t the same game I bought into in the beginning.

That’s just my view, clearly others disagree.

 

Re the American stuff, I still find the braking very poor when handling the long consists. On both Cajon and HSC I have had real problems getting the trains to stop even from a modest speed, without going into full suppression or even emergency and not bailing off the loco brakes. Run 8 which should be the benchmark for US freight operation does not have this almost impossible to stop syndrome.

And on the subject of Run 8, the US routes really need more of a free play element in particular the industry/local traffic generation and sorting of cars in and out that entails. Even going back to the days of the SIAM traffic control simulations, freight on US roads does not run to a working timetable as we know it in Europe, other than the absolute hotshot trains it's far more erratic. I don't know quite how you get round that in TSW without either a far more dynamic dispatcher, similar to Run 8's "Otto", or actually giving players the option to dispatch and drive which, yes can be a PITA, but effectively makes it "our" railroad.

Oh and I 100% agree about the absurdity of the stop markers with no margin either side. Combined with the pee poor braking this makes many of the freight runs a nail biting nightmare. Yes we know American freight trains don't stop on a dime or in the same way as a UK or German EMU but nor does a 10 or 15lb reduction in air fail to provide any significant retardation either.

 

That's rapidly changing with the universal adoption of PSR by all NA Class I's.