Xbox Who Loves Freight And Wants More Of It In Tsw

it s time for a freight support thread ..who loves playing freight in all regions represented in TSW no freight haters here just a thread for those who love freight operation s in TSW and would like to see DTG do more across the board as far as freight this for all regions not just US where freight rail is big business and important part of rail in most other parts of the world ..

 

They have done plenty of freight in germany

 

freight is interesting IRL, all those patterns, sidings and corridors around cities that are used only by freight (have kind of an aura of mystery since a lot of those tracks dont see passenger service and weave around places)... but in TSW it is just not very interesting - you just go from A to B slowly... you dont have much explanation in manuals about many switches that are only used for freight (it would be nice if we knew more than just PZB mode, how to set up a train based on length, weight, goods transported etc)... and you also dont have a lot of what makes freight interesting IRL - like, going to a factory, having stuff loaded, transporting it somewhere, going through classification and such yards, picking up different stuff...

or stuff like, when transporting cars, locos usually use front panto, because not always are the cars covered, and if they used back panto, the graphite shavings/debris could get on those cars... stuff like that

or, for freight services we could learn different multiloco setups... I know, in US freight stuff you kinda have to learn how to manage multiloco setups, but again, not much explanation anywhere

ooor... like you would get an assignment, go somewhere, 1000 tons of something and you would have to think - what kind of loco would I assign to this task, or, how many locos, how to set em up... y know, interesting freight stuff

it doesnt have to be 100% realistic, but we definitely need more gameplay elements to it to make it interesting to play

 

Yeah Germany is doing fine on freight IMO.
The UK just really needs a new freight loco for their modern routes.
US freight could do with some attention.

What I would really like to see more of is Freight loading/unloading. Things like coal and aggregate loaders/unloaders working in timetable mode. I really enjoy using the existing ones in TVL, Peak Forest, Sandpatch, Clinchfield etc.

 

yep, actually picking up and delivering stuff

 

Not averse to this, for the UK there are several areas they could focus on…
Mendip stone traffic out of Merehead and Whatley Quarries. As I believe this mostly transferred to Freightliner Heavy Haul a few years ago, set back in the era when DBS were operating the trains. Give us a Class 59 in the game.
Yorkshire coal around Knottingley with the focus on colliery and power station operations. Set back in the early 1990’s to give us a Class 56 and/or Class 60 in the game.
Rebuild or expand GWE to include the freight branches in the London area, Brentford and Colnbrook.
Go back a few years to when Didcot Power Station was open and coal traffic from Avonmouth.

That’s just a handful of examples, they could also take Rivet’s WCL and expand it to include the Fowey Branch and Newquay branch (part at any rate) for China clay traffic.

 

i have noticed the Germany based routes have a good balance of freight and passenger compared to other regions in TSW seems they dont do that with UK US routes the UK routes tend to be passenger focused and even if there is freight I R L they dont really include it so much ..i dont hate passenger but there needs to be better balance

 

even those are just A to B journeys... some actual picking up and delivering, at least, would be nice, and not just in scenarios

 

Personally I'd like to see container loading and unloading

 

I have the midland mainline they have the huge Ratciffe power station in there they should do something more as to a pak of coal wagons to service it they built the track back into there ive gone back there by spawning a engine in free roam ..i like impessive infastructure like that that provides business for the rr

 

i

ilike doing this type of stuff too i also bought the CN oakville lots of yard switching and get to load unload tank cars iv bought DLC s that have these kind of things to do more to do than just point a to b runs even with passenger trains stopping at stations is more immersive than a point a to b non stop run but depends on what i am in the mood to do and time wise

 

I do like freight quite a bit. I've played it a lot on all the major regions.

US: This is really what got me into TSW. I have hundreds of hours going up and down the grades, especially on Sand Patch Grade which was my favourite route for a long time. That said, playing a full US freight run is like half a day commitment, 2-3 hours. And once I had the "right" way to control the trains figured out I got a bit bored of it after a while so US freight has taken a back seat for me (it started to feel like I was at work). It seems like DTG is also taking a bit of a break from US freight. The grades and power management are super interesting on US routes and gave me great understanding of how real trains work but it also seems like one of the areas where DTG has plateau'd on what they can improve on without having more resources and source material available. Local/shunting freight is something I feel like they could do a better job on adding into their passenger routes though. Oakville was an attempt that in a lot of ways was cool but the route itself was a bit of a bungle. Peninsula corridor is probably the best example on a US route where freight and passenger services co-exist in an interesting way. It was cool to putter around in the UP GP38 while the passenger trains whizz by. Outside of that freight on US passenger routes is more about static stock or AI.

Germany: The German freight is super interesting and engaging. Figuring out all the rules for the brake and PZB modes specific to train weight etc is a learning experience. Then some of the routes have entire little off shoots with interesting freight movements, for example that chemical plant thing on the Dresden Riesa route. German routes seem to do the best job of having interesting freight AND passenger services on one route where neither feel like an afterthought.

UK: This one I find kinda the most boring/least engaging. Freight on most UK routes is a Class 66 thrown in to go A to B on a passenger focused route, no real start or end point, no challenging grades, Class 66 super easy to operate etc... Basically giving the same experience as a passenger service but slower and without station stops. The only spot I remember that being a little different was on ECW where you could actually load and shunt around some aggregates. TVL was also an exception since it was a different flavour and more freight focused but it is also long on the tooth. I don't know what freight is like IRL in the UK, maybe there are more interesting routes and locos they can do with it but as it stands it seems like its more of an afterthought and more about adding some realistic AI traffic to the passenger routes than providing an interesting player experience. I am glad the 66 is on all these routes because they give you something to look at when you're operating the passenger trains but as a player experience they aren't the most interesting.

 

plus German freight tends to be on the lighter end, well, compared to US freight ... because Germany and EU actually care to preserve the tracks for as long as possible, so they limit weight per axle and overall weight of the whole train, so the tracks dont get damaged so quickly... US level of freight would wreak quick havoc on EU tracks

there are exceptions, like IORE iron ore trains in Sweden, and I believe over 5000 tons or maybe less you have to have special permission to put together such a train, and even then they limit your speed so you dont destroy tracks and switches

 

Freight is my favourite thing to drive in TSW, and it's my favourite thing to see IRL. I only play on UK routes because (no offence) I have no interest in railways other than UK railways.
I really think we need more freight locos (as does everyone) and I also think it'd be nice to see some more freight wagons, as we don't have that many modern freight carriages, I think we have a decent amount but it would be nice to have more, I'd love to do some log transportation, some car transportation and some other stuff. In terms of locos I'd like to see; the Class 70 is my main one - I absolutely LOVE the Class 70, Colas or Freightliner, they're powerful locos, they're claggy, they're thrashy, they're loud and they look pretty unique which is good in my opinion! They're also very computer dependant, which means they're not really really easy to drive, but they're also not too much of a challenge (I don't drive these in real life, I'd love to though - I'm going off what real drivers who do drive them have said to me.)
Obviously any loco would be an instant buy for me beit a 60, 56, anything! I'd be more than happy with a fake livery too as the CC will undoubtedly have our backs. Anything, I will do anything - please have rid of this darn 66 that looks too pink in my opinion... It should be more maroon!! We have a thousand variants of the 66.. and only one (CLP) is the correct maroon (ignoring thr weathered variants)

 

Well, in the UK at least, you're not going to see any freight routes any time soon. Reading the forum over the last few years, it's clear that the vast majority of UK players prefer modern passenger trains, generally favoring commuter operations. And that's what DTG and partners have released as far back as I can remember, the occasional appearance of a Class 66 notwithstanding.

I would jump at the chance to buy a UK freight route of any era, but I'm not expecting the opportunity.

This emphasis on shortish passenger routes is also becoming the norm for the US market. Commuter lines on the east and west coasts seem to be the order of the day. We haven't seen any US or Canadian freight for quite some time and there doesn't seem to be any prospect of freight operations any time soon.

So the answer to the OP is yes and yes........ but don't hold your breath.

 

It was actually DRA and its freight physics upgrade, which got me interested in freight. I still think its one of the most interesting features of the whole sim. Out of all services I drive in TSW, I would estimate that around 60%-70% are freight (exclusively in Germany, so cant comment on Uk and US). It absolutely facinates me to calculate brake performance and I love the fact that TSW allows me to actually get out of my virtual seat and set everything up accordingly. Have started now to disable brakes on certain cars and see the effects on the calculations.

Especially with the newer rolling stock I am also facinated that the appropriate set up does actually give me realistic results in the sim (as far as I can evaltuate this, of course). For example, driving a train, which is meant to be driven in PZB U, in PZB M will give you a pretty good chance to spad if PZB emergency brakes you due to a missed 1000Hz ahead of a stop signal. Its small stuff like that which makes me appreciate the sim and its physics.

What I am missing is the rest of the preparation. In game, if you couple up to a service you are good to go in no time. In reality you will have to do all sorts of stuff, like brake checks, make sure you set the rear end signal Zg2 and probably much more. I know that probably less then 1% of players ever want to spend 30mins ahead of a service looking at axles and stuff, therfore I do understand Ill never get to do it in the sim, however, would still love to Maybe the ability to set the end signal would be nice...

 

In my view Germany seems to get the mix the best, U.K. needs more modern ish Freight trains and the US needs some core stuff/features but not exactly a ton of routes needed for US as it was or is already majority freight routes right now.

 

I love freight but I find it so lacking, Now I speak for Germany because THAT is what I'm familiar with... I have no clue about the US or the UK.

There's freight wagons that are missing, however are important. The Taschenwagen still is not a thing in TSW which is disappointing as they're quite common.
Intermodal transportation is also quite boring to look at, with the same amounts of color and shipping container configurations all over. Doesn't help that we cannot actually paint the shipping containers, only the flatwagon. Another thing ofc is that they don't exclusively ship containers either, they sometimes carry intermodal tankers.

 

I wan US freight to be updated to 1 common standard across all routes before making new ones.

 

How about Ipswich to Felixstowe as the route with working container cranes and a fully working traverser at the end? Now that would certainly give us a good 'fix' of freight.

 

As I’ve said multiple times, I’m far more of a freight person than passenger. That said, I’m from Germany so I can’t really complain in terms of TSW. Between the DRA brake physics upgrade and the recent developments of more realistic freight timetables on German routes, I think we probably have the best freight representation in TSW of the big three.

Absolutely with you there. At least you can still do stuff like the brake checks yourself if you invest the time. And Niddertalbahn had the nice addition of being able to set Zg2. Other stuff I’d like to see (besides the ever popular request for EBuLa) would be a more in-depth simulation of the MFDs to put in your train data and so on, though I imagine that will stay with Zusi and probably never come to TSW.

 

I thought we were going to get this see this in action when RRO was first released.

Sadly not the case.

 

Think basically a class 70 is a UK gevo they were built by general electric i m in US but have a a book i bought at book store titled rollig stock review 2018 - 19 by key publishing has photos along with detailed info on about every class of diesel electric emu dmu etc in UK i bought it to find out about the UK locos that in TSW they also had a UK freight equipment guide bought that also to see more about UK freight ive also watched some you tube videos of UK and germany trains

 

Yeah, many drivers have said to me that they reckon an American would feel "right at home" driving a Class 70.. I'm not too sure what those drivers meant being completely honest, the cabs don't seem very similar interior wise and layout wise - the only similarity I can see right away is the fact the cab doors are on the rear of the cab, and obviously the loco having an American engine...

 

Yeah, I'm not seeing it, aside from the similar layout on the screens



Even the early GEVO's that still had the desktop control stands aren't close

 

Yeah, screens are arguably the same, definitely built by the same people I'd say. But that's it aside from as I said - the kind of cab, with the cab doors being at the rear instead of on the side like practically every other UK loco.

 

That is certainly one way to describe the class 70

All jokes aside I would love to see this train be brought to the game, would make a brilliant addition and make a change from the well over-used 66. Be good if you could have some interesting patterns, maybe waiting at a station while a passenger train flys past

 

a

And basically a class 66 is built by EMD progress rail and similar to a US SD70m SD70m 2etc they constructed differently due to tighter clearances in UK ive run a US SD70 ace and a gevo in TSW4 free roam on UK routes and it basically clips bridges tunnels due to its higher clearances but still neat that can run USxloco on UK routes and vise versa

 

def want more freight

 

Yeah, I'd like to see some more UK freight. Something with lots to do like Clinchfield, but in the UK. Not sure how that would work, but could be fun.

 

Haha, well I wasn't lying!
Yeah, I think it'd be an amazing train to have, they're claggy, thrashy, and they're loud - all the things we like! And as you said it would be a nice change from the 66. I love Class 66s in real life but the game doesn't really do them much justice, with one cab entrance being modelled incorrectly and a few other little issues.. and obviously the livery being not only very repetitive, but also somewhat incorrect!!
Yeah, I'd love to have more stopping freight runs, where you're put in a siding for a little while as a pathing allowance, like some workings on the ECML do!

 

No clue what route would be good for freight to be honest, I'm sure other people will know but I don't know much about any lines aside from my local... I know from Crewe onwards via Warrington Bank Quay there's a lot of freight, and a lot of different operators and locos, which would make the freight very boring in TSW as it's usually 66s, 68s and the occasional 56/70 and in the game, it would be purely just 66s.. and only EWS ones too - while IRL it's Freightliner, GBRf, DRS, DB, DCR and Colas - all freight operators as far as I know!
Sadly that's all I know about any other lines really...

 

I mostly play the freight routes. Probably because I worked for CN for 36 years. I would say TSW has a very real feel to it. As mentioned in other posts the stopping distance is yard scenarios needs attention. When kicking cars they roll too far. The yard switch targets are the wrong color in some yards. I would like the freight timetables to have additional realism. It’s boring operating from beginning to finish and only have to control the speed. Need to stop for red signals, set out and pickup cars, stop for work blocks, etc.

 

This game needs routes in industrial areas for freight. Oakville is good for it in some ways. Where you are delivering freight local with a gp38 or sd40 or sd70m-2. A to B runs can get boring for average player. Doing delivery would make the player split the train up and typically drop off cars while trying to split your train off the main line. So much potential in it.

Literally outside my front door is a CSX mainline for coal and periodically covered hoppers. I wish i could see something like where i live.

 

You both want Clinchfield. Its multi-part workday Journeys are unique in TSW and cover pretty much everything you can do in a freight shift.

 

Am I right in thinking I've seen somewhere on here an announcement that they were / are doing a intercity diesel skin? I'm sure I've not imagined it, it looked great in the intercity livery

Can anyone shed any light? I'd add that to the freight collection for sure

 

I

I agree freight needs some of those things stop at a red signal pick up set out some cars along the way maybe throw in a emergency stop and have to recover get your train moving agan etc one route in TSW that has some stops for meets is clinchfield route since its single track with passing sidings the other is antelope valley

 

When I first started playing TSC and TSW 6 years ago, I thought freight was going to be fantastic.

These days I just find it boring, especially because EVERY freight train uses the same Class 66 or BR185 locomotive.... I'm just sick to death of freight now tbh.

Shunting with a Class 08 or BR363 ?
YES!

Tightly packed, inner-city commuter services?
YES!

Long 1+ hour freight runs?
I would rather stick red hot needles in my eyes than suffer that endless torture.

 

matt did say on the Q&A stream yest that he trying to work on something in his spare time when topic of more re done older routes was being talked about i hope it s a remake of the clinchfield route he did throw a hint in another direct that he was looking into it no guarantees he said .

 

Probably going to be TVL, RSN, MSB or NTP.

DTG can't get licences for US routes at the best of times.

 

some on here complain about the scenarios i been playing tgh a lot of the US routes scenarios i did the one on Cajon route takes place just after dark on a stormy night heavy rain causing rock slides you have a short train with SD40 2 you get routed to UP line then have to back out again and do it 2 other time and wait for other trains i found it immersive was teidous at times took me longer than set time to complete but got the gold for it.. There are some scenarios that you have to do different stuff like that when timetable runs more cut and run maybe there should be more well done scenarios to have more challenge enguagement

 

I remember Matt saying he was taking a personal re-look at clinchfield

 

Im talking wayyy more in depth than clinchfield. Clinchfield is my favorite route.

 

Still sounds exciting. Looking forward to what you come up with when/if it is released

 

be nice to see a csx layer could be called modern clinchfield csx era since it is a csx route today sees coal ethanol grain and manifest freight in addition to the original stuff have classic an modern

 

found a freight timetable on NYT today its a switching timetable you have to have sand patch dlc to have it ..it gives you CSX NS GP38 2 to use and get your livery or other us and oakville mix of freight cars ..thought id make mention on here so others that didnt know can try it ..

 

a

Also i play on x box series s and x so could be a gen 9 consoles thing plus i cant remember if it was on reduced or full timetable when i clicked into it was a surprise to see csx gp 38 2 showing in the menu

 

I love definitely freight. Especially American freight.

 

I think more realistic long trains would be nice for Clinchfield.