PC (pc Mod) Birmingham Cross City Improvements

Enhancement pack now out!

Download from here

 

V nice, random chance of graffiti sounds great!

 

Just to clarify, by random chance, I mean it’s only been applied to certain signs.

Though due to the sheer number of different types of signs placed all over the route, you’ll never be overwhelmed with graffiti. It’s a bit of a surprise really

 

Outstanding! Will grab later.

 

Thanks. Still got tonnes to do so will be a while until it releases.

 

Work you do is incredible. Once I pick up this route, I will be downloading this right away

 

Great stuff as always.

 

londonmidland As always you always make the game more enjoyable with your awesome mods. Keep up the amazing work
Still haven't got my copy yet, waiting until it's on sale, hopefully during next week during the autumn sale or black Friday which I really do hope so.

 

Hi. Can you make the traction motors sound louder? I know that may not be prototypical but sounds bring it alive and it just sounds too quiet.

I guess maybe it's realistic not knowing the units but the sound of traction is what makes it feel real and it would be good to have the choice

 

Increase lane joint sounds. They are inaudible, even non-existent.

 

Are you going to be converting the 323, signs and station lamp posts into London Midland colours? I take it it's your favourite livery

I won't be getting the route until it's discounted and current bugs and scenery issues have been attended to but when/if I do eventually get it, would be nice to see it in LM rather than the ugly WM livery

 

Looking good! I find the signals are a little hard to see, are you able to adjust the brightness a touch?

 

Yes, I am able to do this

 

Hi, no plans to change the route to London Midland colours, sorry.

 

Evening guys.

I’ve fixed the really dim signals on the Birmingham Cross City Line route. By default these were really dim, and I noticed quite a few of you were having trouble viewing them during the day.

With the fix, I’ve made the emissive (light intensity) significantly brighter, which means it is now much easier to view in the day. They also look really nice at night, too.

Below are screenshots of the comparisons of the default vs my edit.

 

Very good, this should be something done in TSW3 as default due to the new lighting.

 

Thanks. It looks like this was an oversight on DTG's part as they've left it as TSW 2's default values, by the looks of it.

 

I've been working with the unofficial editor, filling out that missing scenery between Barnt Green and Alvechurch to go in this mod pack. There's some limitations to doing this like not having the use of spline objects or exact map data but it's better than the 'golf course' we have now.

I still hope you guys at DTG will fix it - let's see.

Before and after teaser:

 

Damn, is the top screenshot an actual driveable part of the route? If so, that's really lame scenery quality.

 

Looks lovely.

 

'fraid so - there's about half a mile like that

 

It's the redditch branch that suffers from poor scenery. Random trees placed down and you can see it from your window.

 

That looks amazing, some much needed vegetation has finally been added!

 

londonmidland Hi there! I believe that in the station directory, Lichfield City has not been entered properly, this is because when driving a Lichfield City service, it's blank on the PIS and train (as seen in the screenshot). Is this something you'd be able to fix with your mod? Thanks

 

Wow, well done Bescot, didn't realise you could edit routes like that! I need to have a delve into this myself.

 

It's a bit of a learning curve, I'll have to do a guide on how to do this at some point.
Basically, what you're doing in the editor is loading the existing route tiles to view them - you find the area/coordinates you need. Then you create a new 1km2 layer with the same world coordinates. You can build on this layer so the scenery overlays the original. You can't edit existing scenery; so moving, replacing or deleting assets is a no no. Also, splines, track & track assets can't be changed (yet). Wait half hour for it to cook, then pack it.

 

Hi, I’ll have a look at this tonight.

 

bescot & londonmidland,

Epic work as always gents, thank you. Londonmid, as always if you want to lift any textures out of anything I’ve done previously to reduce your workload then feel free - there’s some era appropriate stuff in the updated SEHS pack I did. If you’re correct and they’ve left the lumin values of some of the lights as TSW2 values that just highlights how far the quality control and attention to detail has to go. It seems we’re in for more years of buying DLC and it being a total lottery as to what quality we’re going to get. Sigh. Is there anything you can do with the cab brightness? Are these adjustable values?

Dinosbacsi, that scenery is why I’ve got the hump about these cats. Their priorities are all over the shop, particularly for what is meant to be a ‘simulator’. Finish the route to an acceptable standard - Absolutely Yes. Stick pointless cats everywhere instead - No!

 

I don’t think there is anything I can do as this is linked to the (lack of) ambient occlusion and/or shadows in the cab.

Hopefully this is something DTG will fix in the next update.

 

Figured as much. I wonder if reducing the brightness of the whole cab texture image would help? I might have a go and see.

 

Feel like you’re being blinded by the station lights at night?

I’ve updated the colour temperature and intensity of the station lights to the classic orange glow, which is much easier on the eyes. (These are location appropriate along the BCC route)

The signal visuals have also been updated, to glow against the dark surroundings.

 

londonmidland bescot AMAZING Job Both of you, you should really get praise by dovetail team in someway.

 

I feel like I should give some of my contributions that will be going towards the new BCC mod, whilst these aren't as significant as what either the other two have done, I hope it's enough to improve BCC regardless.

The changes I've done so far are the following:

A new light grey-ish brown ballast shade
Rescaled front Class 323 PIS screen
Remodelled University station bridge with Canal cutting.
A new brick texture at Northfield with grey "zizgag" pattern
A new worn out Tarmac texture for the abandoned platforms at Kings Norton.
Replaced generic DTG adverts with an array of new realistic billboard adverts.

I have enclosed some screenshots below.

Thanks guys

 

Same to you SprattyHeath

 

Sounds reasonable, given that Cajon Pass signal lights have the same issue.

 

link to this mod would be nice thank you

 

Hi, it’s not out yet. I’m still working on it.

 

okay to easy oh your the guy who does the other mods for southeastern high speed to easy i dont use your high speed one as i like the other guys one but ill give this a well if its out 1st up i livestream each day so it be great to check this out and give my forts

 

The enhancement pack by jetwash and the one by londonmidland, ROBS and SprattyHeath are compatible with each other so you can have both installed and you will get all the upgrades.

 

jetwash has not done a pack for cross city yet as far as i know i only know about the one site train sim community

 

Good morning.

I’ve updated the VMS signals so they are now much brighter (as per reality) as well as much more vibrant looking in colour.

They are now no longer faint little dots.

 

Love these mods as they reflect what the railways are really like.
I'm not a fan of the picture postcard look , but recognise that Dtg are constrained by the operating company's portrayal demands as well as their own financial ones.

 

looking good is there any way we can get u to look into doing a mod to bring the OG TSW3 Lighting in thunderstorms back because i for one are calling for it to return as all we get now to be up front is thunder and no lighting not even flashes and im on PC

 

Fantastic work you chaps, will this be a single-download community mod?

 

Looks like this enhancement pack will be the most comprehensive one to date. Top work guys!

 

Hi. Yes, it's a join effort so will all be part as one pack.

 

Thanks

 

Sorry, I don't think this is possible.

 

Incredible work by all of you! Coolest fix for me is the unfinished branch line scenery that has been completely transformed by bescot.

 

Those signal lights look amazing, nice one!