I noticed, particularly in the Oakville Sub, when completing either scenarios or while in journey mode, that there appears to be time limits for achieving gold medals. Having been in the real-life North American freight rail industry for the past 25 years (more than half my lifetime), I’ve become accustomed to following every rule in the rulebook to the hilt. The Oakville Sub is no exception. I’m versed in the Canadian Rail Operating Rules, since my real-life employer operates trains in Canada. In TSW, I comply with all rules, as of I were operating a locomotive in real life. For example, the CN N&NW Sub (Hamilton Industrial Zone) is governed by the requirements of CROR Rule 105 (other than Main Track), right from the points where it diverges from the Oakville Sub at West Harbour & Strathearne Ave. It is not controlled by Occupancy Control System (OCS) or CTC, it is non-controlled track. This being said, there is a requirement for trains/engines to operate at Restricted Speed. Sure, the maximum speed shows as 15mph in TSW. But, this is simply the top speed trains/engines are allowed to operate, while operating at Restricted Speed. Here is the definition of Restricted Speed, as per CROR rulebook: Operate at a speed which allows the Engineer to bring the train to a SAFE, CONTROLLED stop within half his range of vision, being able to stop short of: Other train/engine movement Roadway Workers (maintenance of way) Track cars/machinery Unattended equipment (cars/locomotives) Derail Improperly lined switches Burning/lit fusee (to be treated as a Stop signal in Restricted Speed territory) Other fixed or non-fixed Stop signals, such as red flag or block/interlocking signal indicating Stop Blue flags or signals Any other obstructions that may impede the safe operation of the train I adhere to all requirements of Restricted Speed (which determines the speed at which I operate) while operating on the N&NW Spur at any given time. I also bring my train to a full stop at both CP diamonds on the spur, check for movements on the CP trackage & then proceed when it is determined safe to do so. In real life, both railway crossings at grade (diamonds) are protected on all 4 sides by automatic interlocking signals, but these are missing in TSW. On all yard trackage, even with the max speed on TSW indicating 15mph, I proceed at no more than 10mph, as this is normally a CROR requirement while operating on yard trackage, and while passing through non-controlled (non-CTC) turnouts entering/exiting such trackage. And, the requirements of Restricted Speed also apply on yard trackage. I also do not exceed the maximum posted track zone speed, while operating on Controlled trackage (such as in CTC on the mainline), and adhere to all requirements of signal indications & turnout speeds. While loading ethanol, per operating rules, technically the locomotives must be uncoupled from the cars & moved from the track where cars are being loaded/unloaded (track is supposed to be blue flagged & locked out while cars are connected for loading). So, in TSW, the locomotives should be moved from the track & beyond the entry switch to that track. Switch should be lined against movement into that track once locomotives are removed from the loading track. And, I also comply with all air brake & train handling rules concerning the safe movement of my train/engines. This includes ensuring my locomotives are properly set up 100%, prior to initial departure. So, to the point, it seems that while adhering to all rules, which means a longer completion time for each simulation, sometimes it seems there is a time limit for completion, in order to secure the gold medal. If the simulation is not completed within a certain amount of time, only a silver medal can be achieved. My major point to be made to DTG developers is that railroading is not a marathon or a race to complete the tour of duty, or a race to an early quit in real life. In this industry, corner cutting (especially to the point of rule violations) to achieve an early quit is not allowed and can lead to disciplinary action on the employee(s) involved by the employing rail carrier. Corner cutting & rule violations should not be encouraged in any way. Achieving a gold medal should not be any type of encouragement to rush through a simulation, even if this is not real-life railroading. Just thought, as a real-life railroader, with 25 years on the job, that I should touch up on all of this.
I'm sorry, I stopped reading your novel at some point. I cannot help but observe a contradiction though: you complain that the game has time limits for the gold medals. Well, in your 25 years on the job in the real world, how many gold medals did you receive from your employer? That being said: you either treat this like a game, and go for the gold medals, or you treat it like a simulation, in which case you turn off the APs and do whatever you want, drive at whatever speed you think it is correct, and ignore the fact that you cannot win gold medals, just like in real life.
I’m almost 100% certain that there’s no time limits at play here. Someone probably just set up the medal scoring wrong on those services and they never got corrected. If anything, the game generally seems to encourage us to drive under the speed limit with all the points you can rack up for doing so.
Many roads now have a zero-tolerance policy in regards to speeding. Some roads still have a 10% policy in place (for example, if the track speed is 40mph, the Engineer can operate up to 44mph, without being disciplined). On TSW, I seldom get over the posted zone speed on Controlled track & comply with the requirements of Restricted Speed on yard or non-controlled trackage (Rule 105 Track/Other than Main Track). I may get to 1mph over on rare occasion, but immediately correct to bring myself quickly back into compliance. While operating on the N&NW Sub in the Industrial Zone (where I seem to fall just short of the gold the most, even though I never speed there), I never exceed 15 on the “main” or 10 on other tracks. Many times, to comply with Restricted Speed, I’m under 15, even while on the “main”. None of this is specified in TSW, but I’m following my own experience from knowledge of multiple railroad Books of Rules (CROR in the case of the Oakville Sub, as CROR is used on all Canadian railroad territories, as per requirement of Transport Canada).
I do understand your point. I guess I’ve become accustomed & tuned to rule compliance over the years. My biggest point is some who use this game may go on to become real railroaders. I’ve seen too many incidents over the years, caused by corner cutting or rushing to an early quit. I could honestly care less if I get the gold, as long as I know I’m compliant. But, corner-cutting & rushing does cause people to get injured & killed in this industry.
As long as people remember to treat this game/sim or any other thing someone wants to call it as a enjoyable bit of software, and not a trainer for real life situations or working railway protocol, it doesn't really matter if rules are broken or not, also let's face it most people are going to be playing it in their underpants so rules have clearly gone out the window.........
If you want a novel, us railroaders carry around rulebooks that are about a foot thick. Like they say on the railroad, “the rulebook is written in blood”. Another thing is applying the proper number of handbrakes. The golden rule is “1% plus 1”. Meaning the rule requirement is to apply handbrakes on 1% of the cars being left unattended, plus 1 more. I adhere to this on TSW also. And all locomotives in a power consist are to be handbraked, when left unattended. I’ve actually seen one instance where a Conductor did not apply the proper amount of handbrakes & this cut of cars ended up rolling 30 miles on their own down the mainline, before coming to a stop.
I dunno, maybe I’ve been so heavily trained on the rules, I’m just overly used to it & don’t know any other way.
I have a lot of respect for the OP. I'd never play like that, nor would I ever want to be a train driver in real life, but the OP's commitment to making the experience as realistic as possible is respectable.
@OP the only time you’re penalized for time is when there is an arrival time on the hud … the oakville scenarios don’t have these so there shouldn’t be penalties. You don’t get dinged for arriving early but you will if you’re late.
The problem you are experiencing is a common one, but it has nothing to do with time: freight services in TSW are untimed. Rather, there are many services across the game where the medal points thresholds are set too high (apparently by an automated sustem that isn't very smart).
You don't get "medals" for doing your job correctly, the reward you get is to keep the job. Your argument is absurd and completely misses the point, that the "medal" and "AP" system is deeply flawed and should either get fixed or get abolished completely. Even when it comes to games, I've yet to see another game where it's rewarding to drive poorly..
