Railworks 3 to be released in september

[djt]

I noticed that alot of the screenshots of the Horseshoe route are vastly wrong.

What data are you going by that shows it as being vastly wrong? I wouldn't expect it to be any more vastly wrong then any of the other routes we've seen included in Trainz over the years.

Ordering a Railworks DVD seems unknown, how to do so.

Train Simulator 2012: Railworks 3 can be pre-ordered here -


http://www.justtrains.net/product.asp?pid=838


http://www.firstclass-simulations.com/





RailWorks 2 was also avaialble on DVD, I think I purchased mine from JustTrains.net.


http://www.justtrains.net/product.asp?pid=570


As already mentioned whether you buy it on DVD or not you'll still initially have to connect to Steam for the install and updates.

Has anyone downloaded the Railworks NEC, and especially the Horseshoe route ?

I've got the NEC but the PRR route hasn't even been released yet.

 

[cascaderailroad]

What data are you going by that shows it as being vastly wrong? I wouldn't expect it to be any more vastly wrong then any of the other routes we've seen included in Trainz over the years.

There are alot of little things ... such as the road that goes up into the Burgoon Run creek tunnel, is on the prototype a creek, and not a road at all, and the Glenwhite Run creek is also missing in action.

The park atop the Curve is wrong in alot of places, especially the fence, and the cliff is much too short, and the outside of the Curve is not a flat area at all on the prototype.

Past the Curve, the area is also flat, but on the prototype it is a shear near vertical cliff.

I saw many inconsistancies on the route that are wrong, and I am sure from viewing the several screenshots, that the 37 mile route has a billion differences from the actual prototype.

 

[djt]

There are alot of little things ... such as the road that goes up into the Burgoon Run creek tunnel, is on the prototype a creek, and not a road at all.

The park atop the Curve is wrong in alot of places, especially the fence, and the cliff is much too short, and the outside of the Curve is not a flat area at all on the prototype.

Past the Curve, the area is also flat, but on the prototype it is a shear near vertical cliff.

I saw many inconsistancies on the route that are wrong, and I am sure if the 37 mile route has a billion differences from the actual prototype.

Keep in mind that route was modeled in the late 1940's – 1950's so it's obviously going to look a lot different then what you see today. Right away by just looking at the track arrangement you can clearly see track where it was actually riped out decades ago.

I'd be more interested in how accurate the track, interlocking plants, signals and grades are for this route/period then I would be in whether the barn at mile post 275 is the right shade of red.

 

[cascaderailroad]

But it does look good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJr-LQDM3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5StDRP_EM

But it is not accurate topography, and scenery is way off from the prototype (and not just red barns). I am fully aware of how the track and roads looked in the 40's and 50's, and the Curve roadway and resivoirs have many discrepencies in Railworks.

 

[djt]

But it is not accurate topography, and scenery is way off from the prototype (and not just red barns).

As far as scenery is concerned it doesn't look that far off but I've only seen it in person since Conrail and NS have been running it.

I am fully aware of how the track and roads looked in the 40's and 50's, and the Curve roadway and resivoirs have many discrepencies in Railworks.

So you'll be able to tell if the track profile, interlocking plants and everything that goes along with it is accurate from Altoona to Conpitt Jct. just by looking at screen shots?

I just dug out the April 1957 issue of Trains magazine that has 15 pages of track schematics, grade profile and operational info on the line, maybe I'll start by comparing it to the RailWorks release next week, lol.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Doubtfully the Railworks route goes all the way to Conpitt.

Their screenshots show: Rose, Altoona Station area, and the "Curve" ... and I have seen dozens and dozens of inconsistancies, just in those few screenshots (the highlight of the route).

I would love to drive the route, but I still fail to see an actual "Railworks Store" where the disc can be purchased.

At least N3V has an actual "Store" where you can buy directly from them.

I am sure that the route would be fun for me to run ... and to the novice, the inconsistantcies would be unrecognisable.

That: "April 1957 issue of Trains magazine that has 15 pages of track schematics, grade profile and operational info on the line" ... what a collectors item that is !

 

[djt]

Doubtfully the Railworks route goes all the way to Conpitt.

I don’t know if they will either but the modeling an entire crew district (crew change point to crew change point) would be the way to go and with the crew districts being a lot lower in mileage back in the 40’s and 50’s it looks doable.

I’m not sure if the crews out of Altoona back then ran to Johnstown, Conemaugh or further, I’ll have to do some research on that one.

I would love to drive the route, but I still fail to see an actual "Railworks Store" where the disc can be purchased.

The two links I gave above have it available for pre-order.

That: "April 1957 issue of Trains magazine that has 15 pages of track schematics, grade profile and operational info on the line" ... what a collectors item that is !

I don’t know if it’s a collector’s item but at least it gives me some in sight on what those divisions looked like as god intended instead of the abbreviated, skeletal remains of a railroad we have today.

In one two page section it shows a map between Altoona and Conpitt Jct. with every movement (every train) out there at Midnight, September 2, 1956 taken right from the dispatcher’s trainsheet, an impressive piece of railroad to say the least.

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

I'd be more interested in how accurate the track, interlocking plants, signals and grades are for this route/period then I would be in whether the barn at mile post 275 is the right shade of red.

So would i, not that i would know any different.

IKB.

 

[martinvk]

So would i, not that i would know any different.

IKB.

Neither would I but there are plenty who would notice the difference. Since some claim it is a "real" simulator, lets wait and see. Meanwhile get ready for the rationalizations and excuses. :hehe:

 

[djt]

So would i, not that i would know any different.

IKB.

Mike where have you been hiding out? Good to see you posting again.

If you want to sample a route that follows the prototype accurately Mike head over to 3DTrains.com, you should still have access to the beta forum to download it. Marc's really done some great work with this one.

Since some claim it is a "real" simulator, lets wait and see.

Here's the only group that I know of that's using it as real simulator -


http://www.orcarail.com/?page_id=8




If a real simulator is what you want here it is -


http://www.nyab.com/en/products/simulators/tds5000/tds5000_1.jsp


http://www.corys.com/Desk-Simulator--438.html

Meanwhile get ready for the rationalizations and excuses

Lol, what else is new right, we've been getting that with every train game attempt that's been made since the MSTS and original TrainMaster day's.

 

[martinvk]

...


If a real simulator is what you want here it is -


http://www.nyab.com/en/products/simulators/tds5000/tds5000_1.jsp

The information provided by the TDS-5000 is extremely accurate and reliable. Verification runs have determined an overall system accuracy that exceeds 95%

...

Don't know what one of those costs but I'm sure it's a bit more than the 49.99 that gets you TS12. Has anyone here actually seen one of these in action or even better, used it? I wonder how much more you get for the price and is it proportional? In other words if it is say 100x the price, is it also 100x better with "better" defined as more realistic everything: physics, terrain, graphics.

 

[djt]

Don't know what one of those costs but I'm sure it's a bit more than the 49.99 that gets you TS12.

Yeah it's a bit more than 49.99, usually well over $100,000.00 to start, lol.

Has anyone here actually seen one of these in action or even better, used it?

Yes in training, as most if not all the class one railroads in the states use one or the other.

 

[martinvk]

Yeah it's a bit more than 49.99, usually well over $100,000.00 to start, lol.....

Well that takes it off of my Christmas list :'(
I suppose that the price includes all the hardware.

TDS-5000 consists of:
- A fully functional control stand (AAR 105 or modern console)
- Instructor station
- VME-based computer loaded with simulator software
- Computer hardware for video & audio playback
- Video playback screen (for live-action footage of track profile)
- Sound generating system
- Graphic display monitor
- Motion base and operator platform (several configurations available)

How would you rate the on screen look of the TDS-5000?

 

[djt]

Well that takes it off of my Christmas list :'(
I suppose that the price includes all the hardware.

How would you rate the on screen look of the TDS-5000?

The on screen look, well not very good seeing I only got tested on air brake testing procedure with the New York Air Brake simulator.

The Corys simulator does the job as far as the physics goes but the graphics aren't going to impress anyone who has been exposed to up to date games.

 

[wholbr]

Hi Everybody.

Snip~ Since some claim it is a "real" simulator, lets wait and see. Meanwhile get ready for the rationalizations and excuses. :hehe: ~snip

Martin, I think you are forgetting one thing in your statement. Railworks 3 is a free upgrade and therefore no one will have any reason to complain, make excuses or give rationalizations. If you do not like any of changes made in the upgrade then all you have to do is not use them.

You do not even have to put any effort into installing the upgrade as that Will be done by steam who are telling users to just leave their computers switched on and connected to the Internet and the upgrade will be installed automatically at some time during the 23rd of September. As stated, it's free, and there is an old saying here in Britain which goes " you do not look a gift horse in the mouth".

Speaking for myself, I will give it a good test when I find it has been downloaded. If I do not like the changes I will not use them and I will consider I have not lost or gained anything.

If I do like the changes then I have gained at no expense or effort by myself and for that I will be very grateful.

I am content to wait and see which of the two above judgments it will be

Bill

 

[NikkiA]

Railworks 3 is a free upgrade and therefore no one will have any reason to complain, make excuses or give rationalizations.

Until freeware routes start depending on the assets provided with the new 'default' route, which is NOT part of the free upgrade, and only RW3 new buyers get it free, the rest have to pay.

And since the new route will include 3D track, apparently, that is VERY likely to happen, which means RW3 isn't *really* a free upgrade, it just looks like one because they're not counting the forced payware purchase.

 

[martinvk]

... If you do not like any of changes made in the upgrade then all you have to do is not use them.

You do not even have to put any effort into installing the upgrade as that Will be done by steam who are telling users to just leave their computers switched on and connected to the Internet and the upgrade will be installed automatically at some time during the 23rd of September. ...

Bill

On a slightly different note, if someone decides for whatever reason that they would rather not have the upgrade, can it be declined? This is not to start an argument, but rather whether it is physically possible to permanently refuse an upgrade and stay with RW2 as is or will every future game play result in an attempt by Steam to upgrade.

On the other hand, if after using the upgrade a user decides that it is not there cup of tea, can the game be reverted to the previous version without any penalty?

Here I'm thinking of all the who went from TS2009 or another version to TS12 and then went back or use both or never went at all.

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

Mike where have you been hiding out? Good to see you posting again.

If you want to sample a route that follows the prototype accurately Mike head over to 3DTrains.com, you should still have access to the beta forum to download it. Marc's really done some great work with this one.

Hi Dan,

i don't post here much as i now use RW2 exclusively.
I didn't even know Marc had released anything, as he has not notified me mate.

All the best,
Mike.

 

[NikkiA]

On a slightly different note, if someone decides for whatever reason that they would rather not have the upgrade, can it be declined? This is not to start an argument, but rather whether it is physically possible to permanently refuse an upgrade and stay with RW2 as is or will every future game play result in an attempt by Steam to upgrade.

On the other hand, if after using the upgrade a user decides that it is not there cup of tea, can the game be reverted to the previous version without any penalty?

You can turn off auto-update, but some people have reported that sometimes fails and updates anyway. Also doing this you'd likely not be able to install any (steam purchased) DLC. Given that future DLC will likely depend on RW3 features that might be a relative non-issue.

Best option is to do a manual backup to a different location and de-steam it (although as mentioned earlier in this thread, mentioning HOW to de-steam it is likely to be a CoC violation).

 

[djt]

Hi Dan,

i don't post here much as i now use RW2 exclusively.
I didn't even know Marc had released anything, as he has not notified me mate.

All the best,
Mike.

Mike when you get a chance there's a beta in there for you to look at, it would be good to see you're comments in the beta forum also.

And since the new route will include 3D track, apparently, that is VERY likely to happen, which means RW3 isn't *really* a free upgrade, it just looks like one because they're not counting the forced payware purchase.

The most important part of the update is the new game engine which if you have any experience with other PC games you'd know that a new game engine being offered as a free update is pretty much unheard of.

The PRR route is being offered for $14.99 for current RW2 users, the route will come included with a new purchase of RailWorks 3.


http://www.railsimulator.com/newsdetail.php?Ref=317

if someone decides for whatever reason that they would rather not have the upgrade, can it be declined?

I'm not sure why someone would want to do that since the improvements are significant enough that the game really had no future without them, which was the whole point of the update to begin with.