Short Version: We really need the ability to choose from a list of ALL working train cab functions, and assign them to keyboard keys / raildriver buttons (and ideally joystick buttons) of our own choosing..... reducing the need to use the mouse to operate certain switches in the cab whilst driving (breaking immersion). And as you can use a keyboard with the console versions, allowing free assignment of ALL working controls would benefit them even more, as it's hell to use the gamepad joystick to pan the view and try and line up with a switch to operate it because it has no key binding (mice don't work on the playstation platform afaik) Likewise let the console players assign the controls THEY use the most to the limited number of buttons/axes on the gamepad THEY find work best for them. .................................................................................................................................................................................... Looooooooooooooong version: Only read on if you have a spare half hour to get through the waffle i'm noticing we are slowly getting more switches and controls working properly in the train cabs. .. Thank You DTG. I had been resisting buying the Tharandter Rampe / DCZ DLC because it's 'mostly' about driving the BR612... and i don't really care for diesels (German electric loco's are my thing) But i read on one of the German forums that the DCZ version of the BR143 has the 'Brake Bridging / Starting' switch functional now, And as i prefer to drive S-Bahn style services, learning that was enough to get me to buy the DCZ DLC... Yes, i bought a DLC just to get 1 new working switch in a loco! It's a very handy switch you see, Pushing it forwards (where it auto releases) operates the 'brake bridging' function (note the pop up switch descriptors are backwards) This temporarily stops the dynamic brakes from operating at the same time as the air brakes (the BR143 does not have a seperate dynamic brake lever) ok, that's not that exciting really, But pulling that switch backwards (where it holds position) is the 'Starting Brakes' function, and that is very handy i think. This applies and holds 1.2 bar in the loco brake cylinders, the exact amount that the pressure needs to be at or below to release the traction lock. This helps getting away from stations quicker, Stop at the station normally, open the doors, pull the 'starting brake / bridging' switch backwards, then release the brakes with the brake lever (letting them take their time to release now rather than when you need to depart) The train is held on the loco brakes... something that is commonly done in Germany (more modern trains have auto brake hold functions when the doors are open... but the BR143 is from the early 1980's DDR era and does not have this function), So instead of having to operate the loco brake lever and try to apply enough pressure to hold the train, but not more than will trigger the traction lockout, this switch does it for you. Close the doors when it's time to depart, move the speed selector lever to the speed you want, and after the (seemingly never ending) pause for the tap changer to start operating, you get power. Push the starting brake switch to off, and away you go with no roll back and no traction lock out. The downside is that the only way to operate this switch is with the mouse. it's the same for the switches for : conditional program, delete program, head end / coach power, coach lighting, brake release, brake equalise, traction motor blowers, compressor, brake lockout key, operating the door locking rotary switch and door open/close switch independently, plus a few others. If you are doing S-Bahn runs, you should be using the 'conditional program' as well as the 'starting brake' switches a lot, But i find i am not taking advantage of these features so much because it means moving the view down the to driving desk, then using the mouse to operate the switches, then reset the view to look out the windscreen, hoping i haven't missed a signal etc. doing that ~30 times in almost as many minutes gets old fast. What we really need are more keyboard / button shortcuts to operate all these switches that are used to drive the train properly... TSW2 is supposed to be the most immersive train driving simulator / game out there, yet having to switch between using levers on a raildriver, buttons and keyboard keys, and then to panning the view about and dragging switches with the mouse doesn't really cut it. We'd need a menu with a list of all the working controls the train has, and be allowed to assign them to the keys and raildriver buttons that 'WE' want (icing on the cake would to allow assigning switch controls to joystick buttons) Hell, even the ability to do this by editing a text file for control assignments would be better than the limited functions assigned to keys we have now. And as you can use a keyboard to drive the trains on the consoles, this would benefit them as well as us PC users.... it is really horrible using the gamepads stick to move the view about whilst trying to line the centre of the view up with the switch you need to operate.... because it's got no keyboard / button assigned to it... trying to do that when the trains moving is almost useless, Same with allowing console users to freely assign the controls that they use the most to the buttons that they prefer will be a big improvement... trains have lots of controls, but you only have what... 15 buttons on the controller to operate them with (minus the ones that do OS specific things like the home, start and select buttons) Thankfully using a keyboard with the console versions opens up a lot more controls to you, but you're still stuck with that the person that programmed the user interface thought you'd like, not what you as the person who is driving the train every day wants. AFAIK the keypad is not assigned any functions? and there's all the CTRL, SHIFT, ALT key combo's left to assign more than 100 functions to. And with the RailDriver, just what is going on with how things are assigned to the buttons (i know there's not enough levers to operate all the analog controls on a German loco, it is aimed at american trains after all) but it's the button assignments that get me. i'd much rather have the switches that are used all the time when driving assigned to the buttons, and use the mouse to operate the switches that are moved just once when you set the train up, but it seems to be the other way round. With the BR143: there's 2 raildriver buttons 'wasted' on controlling the 'select pantograph' switch in the engine room..... something you do once per trip BUT only if doing a cold start (and if you've walked to the engine room to operate the battery switch with the mouse, you may as well operate the panto select switch with the mouse too??) Surely those buttons would be better utilised for the 'conditional program' and the 'delete program' switch, a switch that is used all the time when driving S-Bahn services. Likewise, the 'PZB Mode' buttons... again a switch you either never use or operate once per trip is taking up 2 raildriver buttons, Makes more sense to me to have those 2 raildriver buttons assigned to the Brake Bridging switch?
