Hello, talking about the upcoming Koblenz-Mainz route, which i am extremely hyped for, i want to dig deep into the route, talking about the scenery of it. Maybe at the end of the thread you understand, why this route is going to be the absolut best that TSW ever had. 1. Generic features - Diorama people: We had them in DRA: people working somewhere, in working clothes. It was a nice addition which i hope comes back. - Traffic lights and traffic signs along the route; people on the streets. Also this feature was first seen in DRA. Also this makes the route come alive. - Cars from that era, for example: - Clothing style of the AI of that era It's "funky", coloured stuff like that. Maybe not exactly like that, but just look for some pictures of US5 or something. - PIS from that era (very important!) 2 Route highlights you can see from the train 2.1 Koblenz Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 2.2 Lahnstein Stolzenfels Castle 2.3 St Goarshausen: Loreley (Trivia: The Loreley was apparetely the reason why many boats drowned. The captains were mesmerized by her beauty and having accidents [sigh.. men]. It's a modern myth made up from Clemens Brentano.) From the train it looks like that: 2.4 Burg Pfalzgrafenstein: A castle on an island on the rhine 2.5 Burg Sooneck 2.6 Burg Rheinstein There are more castles on the route, but these are the biggest and most visible. 2.7 Winery Along the rhine, there are a lot of winerys, producing wine. So instead of just placing trees, these wine fields would be great 3 Ships 3.1 Passenger ships 3.2 freight ships 4 Conculsion If DTG really manages to build the scenery nearly close to the pictures, this route is going to be absolutely fantastic. I'm actually really looking forward to take the 103 from Koblenz to Mainz!
Excellent idea and at Bingen, there should be a car ferry that brings you to Rüdelsheim. The video is from an American military family based in Wiesbaden Clay Kaserne. That way Bingen is like ECW Newhaven harbour
To add to matinakbary's valuable post: Marksburg. Not only a cool landmark in itself, but also the only castle along the route which is original (all the others are either restored from ruins, or are still ruins) Speaking of ruins: Rheinfels. The biggest castle ever built in the Rhine valley, its remains still dominate the view: Another huge one, but this time restored: Reichenstein. Another imposing ruin, this time ecclesiastical: the Wernerkapelle on the edge of Koblenz. Just like most of the castles, it was wrecked by French cannon in the 1690s. Another scene-dominating church, this one intact: St Martin (Oberwesel) Niederwald Monument. Across from Bingen, this gigantic statue was erected to mark German unification in 1871
solicitr Thank you for the great addition! We can't expect them to build every single castle 100% realistically, but I hope there are at least some of them properly done and some other castles "generically" built. This route is so much dependent of the scenery, and I think Lukas and his team know that. Related to that: The water texture is hopefully also properly done.
The pictures show how diverse and scenic the route is overall. It is not without reason one of the most beautiful German routes. If DTG manages to convey that feeling, they have my respect. I think that BRO was a good baptism of fire, but the Rhine route is much more demanding.
Perhaps even more important than castles which fall under "distant scenery," there are also a considerable number of watchtowers right beside the tracks, which really can't be left off.
This route maybe calls for a 'castle building toolbox', similar to the 'signal box toolbox' used on Liverpool-Crewe. There's just so many castles to build that it might be more efficient to have a toolbox. Or perhaps they already have models from TSC or can find some online. At the very least a very useful thread!
DTG have to have an ace up their sleeve for the scenery. Don't get me wrong, many people, including me, will have already been won over just because it's the first vintage route and the legendary 103 is included. For the route itself though, it's the scenery that will make or break it. The landscape and the buildings are mainly what make the Rheinstrecke so famous.
Totally agree (apart from maybe the clothes ). There are many castles along the route and the vineyards are a must, particularly around Boppard. I did a river cruise as few years ago and there are many cruise boats and freight ships (with cars parked on them). It would be a pity if the river was dead.
