Welcome to the Unofficial Screenshot Competition! This is a fun and friendly alternative to the official Screenshot Competition run by DTG. Here you can share your weekly themed TSC screenshots using any 3rd party / post shot editing etc. creations which are not allowed in the official competition. Rules: TSC only shots allowed. Screenshot should be in some way (can be very tenuous) linked to the theme. Otherwise anything goes. You can enter up to 3 screenshots, posted as separate posts. You can delete and replace if you wish. 3rd party content / Re-shades / Reskins etc. are welcomed but are not mandatory. Previous week's winner to decide winner (can't enter themselves). The winner chooses the new theme for next week (and becomes the new judge). The Judge of the week's decision is final. We strongly discourage any negative comment or criticism of another entry by a fellow contributor. This is a light hearted & fun contest! This is a major "we are all friendly" thread and we hope it will always remain so. Please keep chat to an absolute minimum. Entries will close at 10PM GMT on Saturday, January 10th 2026 and will be judged by me - awhellans4 In the event of this week's winner not responding by 10PM GMT on Sunday, January 11th 2026, a new thread will be created using the results of this week's poll. The theme for this week is: Icons Feel free to interpret the theme however you wish. Good luck to you all.
The Union Pacific "Big Boy" locomotives are not only an icon of US railroading, but an icon of worldwide railroading for their impressive size and power representing one of the many impressive steam locomotive designs that were being introduced during the last stand of the steam era. Quite a fitting design for the Union Pacific Railroad who are a railway icon themselves! Here Union Pacific Railroad Class 4884-1s '4018' and '4004' make their way out of Laramie Yard, Wyoming in the United States of America with a long train of reefers. Motive Power: Union Pacific Class 4884-1 Route: Sherman Hill Scenario: Big Boy on Sherman Hill Part 1 CS Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Reshade
The Flying Scotsman needs no introduction as an icon of rail! Here National Railway Museum Gresley Class A3 '103' 'Flying Scotsman' passes through the Gatwick Airport headed for London Victoria, England in the United Kingdom on a railtour service over the Brighton Main Line. Motive Power: LNER Gresley Class A3 Route: London to Brighton Scenario: Seaside Tour Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack + Alan Thomson Sim AP Track Enhancement Textures Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Vegetation Enhancement Pack, Reshade
The Cologne Cathedral is an iconic world landmark with Köln Hbf in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany being located right next to the impressive structure. Here German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) Class 143 '143 030-5' has the cathedral loom behind it while crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge just after having departed from Köln Hbf with a passenger service. Motive Power: DB Class 143 / DR Class 243 Route: Cologne-Dusseldorf Scenario: 1 - S6 - Morning rush hour Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Rail-Sim.de Updated scenery files and fixes for Aerosoft Köln - Düsseldorf, Reshade
Well it started in the last week of 2025, so I would say when it comes to labeling Week 50 (2025)/Week 1 (2026) might've been more fitting but at the end of the day a minor slipup like that doesn't matter that much especially considering it's awhellans first time setting up a thread, it effectively means the same thing anyway. We have 2 weeks to submit and that's mainly what matters.
Two icons of the UK Railways history, the beautifully streamlined Class A4 cruising past the iconic Durham Cathedral on the East Coast Mainline, back in the day when Steam ruled the World.
A misty early evening sees the capture of another two icons of the UK steam era. The LMS 7F Coronation Class "Princess Alexandra" crossing the renowned Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle Line.
Possibly one of the most recognisable icons of the UK Rail Network is the "Double Arrow" British Rail Logo, seen here on large logo liveried Class 37 37401 "Mary Queen Of Scots"
Owing to general life stuff I’ve had very little time the last two weeks, so I’ve trawled the archive for a submission here. Icon of the south east - the quintessential NSE suburban unit for North London:
How about stop being picky about the wording of the thread and actually contribute something positive & constructive like a screenshot? As one of the best long standing contributors to the official comp I hoped you would jump across the bridge and join us in our little fun alternative. It is hard enough to try and keep this thread going with the lack of participants as it is. The general disappearance of most of the regular past participants in all of the TSC threads is quite worrying and as such, encouraging new blood to our groups I would have thought be an advantage. Nitpicking comments like yours only detract from that factor and inject negativity. This Screenshot comp has been running since Feb 27th 2021 https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/unofficial-3rd-party-screenshot-comp-week-1.36211/ The fact you have not contributed any screenshots within this timeframe means your comments are not really important to us regular contributors. Although we might be struggling for contributors of late, the competition still continues and is open to all, including your good self. Please come and join us. Best Wishes
Hmm, a hostile post is unlikely to encourage someone to participate in your competition. While I don't currently take part, I do like to look at the submissions, some of which are outstanding, but it can be hard to spot which competition is current/complete when the dates are wrong.
In 3rd place, we have Blazin, an excellent shot of an iconic locomotive. In 2nd place we have Craigie-C, this just oozes atmosphere with the mist. And in 1st place we have Limeyfox, I do have a soft spot for Loadhaul black and orange Apologies for the delay, it was very difficult to decide as they are all amazing screenshots. Thank you everyone for your fantastic contributions. I pass the baton on to Limeyfox. (Technology doesn't appear to be my friend this morning, can't remember how to quote screenshots properly.)
Many thanks, much appreciated! I will set up the next two-week competition shortly. Before I do so, can I suggest we adjust the week numbering to remove any possible confusion, source of disagreement and barriers to entry I wasn’t around for the early days of this friendly informal competition and so who knows when Week 1 should be, but to my mind it is logical now to better align it with the calendar. (The next question - seeing as the year started on a Thursday - should next week be 02, or 03?) Edit: Right, new thread is up. If anyone strongly objects to the numbering it can be modified.
Thank you for 3rd place and congratulations to the other winners! Limeyfox it doesn’t really matter, but Week 1 was typically just whatever competition was the first to begin in the new year. With this one “Week 51” of the title would’ve been “Week 1”.
