This is a series of polls gathering public assessment of which were the exemplary routes at each stage of TSW's development. For this purpose I am counting original TSW and TSW 2020 as one generation, since that was really just a rebranding; and Rush Hour as a separate generation since the migration to UE 4.26 was a major core change. Note also that I have separated the original and upgraded versions of Sand Patch Grade, Southeastern High Speed and Long Island Railroad/Commuter
SEHS - not really sure why I picked that one as I hate the Medway “crawl” but it’s a nice route to drive overall. Niddertalbahn - fine route if a little slow and to a level of quality only TSG can provide. Peak Forest. Again for all the flaws with the timetable and steam traction and the poor choice of end points, it’s a lovely route to drive. Particularly as much of it is now closed or only open to freight traffic. A nostalgic blast.
Midland Mainline. Living in Leicester I've done this route hundreds if not thousands of times, I know the route with my eyes closed and while it was bit of a disaster at launch it still ticked my boxes, Skyhook to their credit have built it up as well over time. My only real issue now is the lack of AI services at Derby and Nottingham, Nottingham Castle not being included and the Premier Inn Hotel at Leicester. Ok they may not have the license to use the name, but the great big blue building is a well known part of the Leicester Skyline.
SEHS(it's local and full), Cajon and L. Rhein. Choices are getting easier. Don't have MML(maybe one day) or Nidd(doesn't appeal).
Cant vote for anything. Cajon while ok wasn't anything to write home about. NY-Trenton suffered way too much at launch, a could of would of should of route, but its issues and limitation keep it down.
A no brainer for me with extended SEHS, though MML has become a favourite too over time, it wasn’t brilliant on release. Incidentally it badly needs an extension too.
This was the hardest for me to choose so far... Niddertalbahn, Linke Rheinstrecke and Bremen-Oldenburg are all in the top 5 of routes for me! Linke Rheinstrecke is a very beautiful and well-made route. Sure, it has its quirks and erros, but overall it's a lot of fun. And the backdated setting suits my nostalgic streak Bremen-Oldenburg, while not being that special as a route, is great for some easygoing short-ish after work runs, and it's very well made with few issues showing up! I think of all the German routes, it's got the best passenger behaviour. But my choice here is Niddertalbahn. It's brought a special flair to the game, which no other German route can offer so far. Driving along it is very relaxing, almost like meditation to me. And it introduced the 628, which is one of my all-time favourites
You forgot at least one. Points to https://train-sim-world.fandom.com/wiki/Holiday_Express Not to say it is my favorite but it might be for someone else.
SEHS was so brilliant with the 465 and the line extension, it was worth getting all other routes that layer onto it and get all expansion DLC, and there were 2 of them just for that route(!) to have both commuter and high speed on two routes in one DLC. Also Niddatalbahn showed what TSG can do in TSW and the 628 layers onto soooo many german routes, it's such an enrichment. Scotrail Express made me get the other scottish content as well which I extensively drive on to this day. Linke Rheinstrecke would be a close fourth place, since I didn't drive it much, which will change once the E94 pack will release, but that's not part of that TSW era. Found Kassel - Würzburg interesting, but since it's all ICE services with the same 3 stops and LZB, it got rather boring rather quick for me. Hopefully the new BR 101 Gameplaypack will change that. Great TSW generation though since it's the one I started with TSW.
SEHS and Niddertalbahn for me. As Vern has said though, Peak Forest feels quite special seeing as large swathes of it don’t exist anymore. Shame about the timetable
SEHS. Never bothered with it much in TSW2 (probably only touched it once or twice), but since they upgraded it and added all the layers/substitutions, it quickly became my favourite and most played route even today.
SESH top did not vote for Niddertalbah because of replay ability i gets boring fast after some runs but it has awesome scenery i could have that vote list before me and if i vote each day of the week my votes would be different each time lol
I included Peak Forest because it's steam and a nicely made route to boot. Shame about the 104. If it doesn't get built by Simtrack, it probably will not appear at all. They should hand the project back to DTG. At least there's a chance they might complete it.
For me, it HAS to be SEHS Extended. With all UK stuff installed, this is a plethora of train driving and spotting.
I have no issue with it being repetitive, Like the North London Line and Watford DC lines, they get repetitive in real life. My issue is the severe lack of AI traffic, for me it's an immersion killer which is a shame because as you say the route is very well done and the 323 is a triumph.
