Steam Tsw 6 Sand Patch Speed Limits

I have the feeling that something isn’t working properly with the speed limits on Sand Patch Grade.

I’m driving a freight train from Cumberland to Shaw Mine. Along the way, AI freight trains come towards me that are allowed to drive faster than I am. Two examples: Between Foley Lookout and Glencoe, a train comes towards me at 56 km/h // 35 mph and brakes down to 48 km/h // 30 mph at the tight curve. That’s exactly what the yellow signs along the track indicate as the lower value for freight trains. But I’m only allowed to drive 40 km/h // 25 mph the entire time. The HUD determines that — otherwise I get penalized for speeding.

The second example: Especially on the long and straight “race track” section between Glencoe and Mance, the AI freight trains also drive noticeably faster, like the signs tell.

On the one hand, this causes my scenarios and timetable runs to take much longer than stated (often over 2 hours instead of 90 minutes). On top of that, I find it very frustrating to crawl along slowly when the AI is allowed to go faster and there are signs everywhere that would allow me to go faster too.

Does anyone else know this problem, or even better: does anyone know a fix for it?

*****EDIT***** 02/04/26

So I took another close look at the route over the last few days to make my point more understandable. The main issue seems to be the downhill section from Rockwood to Cumberland, although the outbound trip isn’t completely smooth either. Of course, I’m always referring to the lower number on the speed boards, which applies to freight trains.

After the Foley viewpoint, 48 km/h (30 mph) is signaled for a short time, before it is reduced again to 40 km/h (25 mph) ahead of the long and steep but straight section. So the climb happens rather gradually. That may actually be accurate, in order not to put unnecessary strain on the locomotives. However, after passing through the Sand Patch Tunnel, the speed limit is suddenly increased to 56 km/h (35 mph) at the Sand Patch Summit sign — without any speed board indicating it.

As mentioned, the questionable part is the downhill return trip from Sand Patch to Cumberland. In Sand Patch, the speed is reduced to 48 km/h (30 mph) before the tunnel entrance near the summit sign. Just a few meters earlier, again without a sign, the game “reminds” you of 56 km/h (35 mph), which was still the previously permitted maximum speed anyway.

Shortly after exiting the tunnel, the speed suddenly jumps to 97 km/h (60 mph), even though there is a sign allowing only 48 km/h (30 mph) (and that limit was already in effect before entering the tunnel). Once you reach the long straight section (between mileposts 207 and 206), 56 km/h (35 mph) is allowed — but about thirty meters later it is reduced again to 40 km/h (25 mph) without any speed board. So the track seems to allow higher speeds, but the game does not. At the Foley viewpoint before the tight curve, the sign finally appears that indicates 40 km/h (25 mph).

It may seem like minor details, but unfortunately they make it impossible to play purely according to the signs if you also want to achieve a good score. That’s really sad and a bit frustrating. I can imagine these issues could actually be fixed fairly quickly in the source code. The AI doesn’t seem to follow these rules anyway — sometimes it races downhill with freight trains as if they were passenger trains. Feel free to share your opinion on this.