UK Screenshots (Hi Res Version)

[pfx]

There has been a steady decline in UK users, or users posting about UK content in the last couple of years. We've lost a few good creators too who were very prolific and are either no longer active on Trainz or have gone to TS.

Mark's forum used to be really useful, filled with civil and light hearted help, and this thread used to be one of the most prolific in the N3V screenshot forum, now it's down to the odd post here and there from the same few users.

As for new routes, I have two, Craiglang as shown in the above post, which will be ready this year, and Edinburgh to Glasgow but that's a fair way off yet. Mark has been producing a lot of sessions for his excellent Cornish route but that's all I'm aware of. Nexusdj and fudginator used to produce some really good stuff but they've both gone quiet too.

I'm not sure what's turned off the UK users but it really is starting to feel like UK Trainz is going to fizzle out.

 

[LandYRailwayMan]

There has been a steady decline in UK users, or users posting about UK content in the last couple of years. We've lost a few good creators too who were very prolific and are either no longer active on Trainz or have gone to TS.

Mark's forum used to be really useful, filled with civil and light hearted help, and this thread used to be one of the most prolific in the N3V screenshot forum, now it's down to the odd post here and there from the same few users.

As for new routes, I have two, Craiglang as shown in the above post, which will be ready this year, and Edinburgh to Glasgow but that's a fair way off yet. Mark has been producing a lot of sessions for his excellent Cornish route but that's all I'm aware of. Nexusdj and fudginator used to produce some really good stuff but they've both gone quiet too.

I'm not sure what's turned off the UK users but it really is starting to feel like UK Trainz is going to fizzle out.

I really hope not!

But I do sense that UK morale is low. I suspect there are a lot of complex reasons.

I’m in the UK with an intense interest in BR steam (and earlier), but much less with contemporary. I for one want to do what I can to help remedy the situation.

 

[LandYRailwayMan]

There's still quite a bit of activity on the pre-BR blue thread, but it does seem to have gone really downhill here. I wonder if the ongoing issues around 'modern' UK trains (ie. lack of new models that aren't niche DLC or only available to Gold members) might be having an impact? No point building new routes if there's no trains to run on them?

Lack of content/stock (or the open availability of it) is a big problem. Locking content within a subscription prison is not a good long term strategy.

 

[johnwhelan]

Lack of content/stock (or the open availability of it) is a big problem. Locking content within a subscription prison is not a good long term strategy.

https://jatws.org/gallery/br/ yes I know there is more to drop in there.

Cheerio John

 

[Paulsw2]

I'm aware that a lot of activity has gone over to the Trainz Discord server so I'm wondering if that's where a lot of UK Trainzers now hang out? (that said, looking at the screenshot thread there, there doesn't seem to be any UK stuff, it's all US!)

 

[Paulsw2]

My mistake, there's this (from brandypatchd263037h)

 

[Paulsw2]

And also this one.

Bravo BrandyPatch!

 

[marky7890]

Yes, nothing UK really gets posted on the Discord, mainly US and Australian, the one from above your last post is of my route anyway.

Also I get a few members joining my British Trainz forum each week, but then they never even bother to login, let alone post anyway, so I end up deleting users that never login. (Not even once since registration).

 

[EverTrainz]

We've lost a few good creators too who were very prolific and are either no longer active on Trainz or have gone to TS.

I wouldn’t count out Barney and JBvector, who make some stunning steam and diesel stock (respectively). As far as me, 90% of the reason I’ve stepped away from Trainz is because of time constraints of a higher education in healthcare. If that wasn’t a problem I would probably be creating stuff for both Trainz and TS - I have friends and collaborators on the TS side who are more than willing to import my mesh/textures and apply the proper scripting, sounds and physics for TS while offering to give me a majority cut of the sales (I kindly declined with the 12T van pack recently released). Which would have left me with ample time to take care of the Trainz end of things. But sadly time is the main constraint.

But it is indeed a fact the UK side is dying and until N3V puts out a route and rolling stock that encompasses steam and diesel era to grab people’s attention, it will probably stay stagnant. There also needs to be more of a push (from N3V’s side) for prototypical routes. If N3V only puts out a model-railway UK route then UK simulator enthusiasts will associate UK Trainz with “model railway” fantasy, which doesn’t mesh well with the desire for ultra-realistic rolling stock.

This is the impression I get from TS fanboys, being in their Discord servers. UK simulator enthusiasts aren’t particularly deprived of content (across TS, TSW, Trainz, DRS, even Roblox!) so if N3V wants to capture that userbase they better hope they can create an experience that outdoes all of those sims. Hopefully we’ll see that from them.

An example of this “attention grabbing” aspect would be TSW’s WCML Preston to Carlisle, which got my interest back into trains/simulators in December - I was enamored with that route, it’s detail, and its rolling stock (AC electrics for days!). N3V needs to strive to create a similarly inspiring experience with their next UK release.

Another example is all of these steam-era routes (freeware too) being developed for TS.

 

[EverTrainz]

Another thing is marketing. When you have production houses like Armstrong Powerhouse for TS creating massive trailers and big promo videos that amass thousands of views (even if the product itself is comparatively underwhelming), it’s no wonder that the 8-year old kid that likes the shiny UK trains he sees when visiting family gravitates towards those simulators. Word of mouth doesn’t seem to work that well - considering that most people’s introduction to train simulators seems to be from a Youtube video that pops up.
I remember watching Class 37 trainspotting videos on Youtube, and lo and behold, Armstrong Powerhouse’s Class 37 locomotive DLC trailer pops up.

 

[slenderman8888]

I see how it is. We may have lost some of the veterans but there are still a few new creators just entering the scene. Myself included although my main focus is modern image/post-privatisation stock and Eurotunnel equipment. (Because that’s what most interests me.)

 

[pfx]

Yes, nothing UK really gets posted on the Discord, mainly US and Australian, the one from above your last post is of my route anyway.

Indeed, Brandypatch and you are the only UK shots I could see.

wouldn’t count out Barney and JBvector, who make some stunning steam and diesel stock (respectively).

I'm not counting them and have actually been helping with some of their beta testing in recent months, but the like of tmz06003, warbo, nexusdj, masontaylor, fudginator, greeni, and several others, all of whom were prolific in their UK output. I realise real life can often put the scud on things such as Trainz, it's just a shame to see them go.

But it is indeed a fact the UK side is dying and until N3V puts out a route and rolling stock that encompasses steam and diesel era to grab people’s attention, it will probably stay stagnant. There also needs to be more of a push (from N3V’s side) for prototypical routes. If N3V only puts out a model-railway UK route then UK simulator enthusiasts will associate UK Trainz with “model railway” fantasy, which doesn’t mesh well with the desire for ultra-realistic rolling stock.

I've noticed that the TS fanboys don't usually approve too much of the 'fantasy' routes that have been released and I certainly haven't bought any. I thought multiplayer surveyor would make it a lot easier to collaborate but it doesn't really as it is a bit limiting.

 

[EverTrainz]

I thought multiplayer surveyor would make it a lot easier to collaborate

That’s a good point and I forgot about it. It has (had?) potential, maybe what needs to happen is N3V dishes out some free MPS licenses to maybe 5 or 10 UK route builders/content creators, and “strongly encourage” them to collaborate on a prototypical UK route? N3V could even get the ball rolling by providing the DEM perhaps.

This would not only boost UK community morale in Trainz, but would probably encourage content creators to create era/region specific rolling stock and station assets
I can’t imagine the financial loss from “sponsoring” 10 free MPS licenses is significant.

This is the only thing I can think of that would be feasible. If N3V wants to rebuild the UK community they can’t expect it to happen out of thin air.
__________

N3V’s team also seems to lack a UK “ambassador” and there’s nobody to advocate for what UK creators and players want. I think James Moody used to be that guy but this was well before my time in Trainz (ie 2014 onwards). He moved on to TS I believe

 

[marky7890]

fudginator has been on my British Trainz forum currently updating an old version of my Cornish Railways route for the 1980s era, so readding sidings and industries and other things that have disappeared since privatisation.

 

[Trainmaster189]

I'm all for the inclusion of new UK content as well as any other European routes that aren't available for Trainz. The one thing I'm waiting for is a possible modernization/electrification of the old built-in ECML routes which would be for equipment from the late 1980s to present. Even though I'm from the US, I do love what DTG TS are doing even though I'm not into buying any of their stuff and it's nice to have virtual experiences of driving on various UK and other Euro (e.g. Germany) routes. I'm not going to talk about German routes (e.g. to and from Cologne) here, but I know N3V is lacking in that department too.

 

[EverTrainz]

The one thing I'm waiting for is a possible modernization/electrification of the old built-in ECML routes which would be for equipment from the late 1980s to present.

I'm not sure if the original ECML Trainz team is still kicking about, but if N3V decides they want to work on a more "modern" UK route I think a revamp of the original ECML 70s/80s with their new MK1 and MK2 stock, a new Deltic, and their revamped HST would be great.

However, the ECML seems to be a more challenging and rewarding route to drive. That includes all the finicky things like TPWS, AWS, DSD, and other quirks that are classically a part of the experience. It would be nice to get those things as well, apart from just the "eye-candy" aspect.

 

[pfx]

That’s a good point and I forgot about it. It has (had?) potential, maybe what needs to happen is N3V dishes out some free MPS licenses to maybe 5 or 10 UK route builders/content creators, and “strongly encourage” them to collaborate on a prototypical UK route? N3V could even get the ball rolling by providing the DEM perhaps.

This would not only boost UK community morale in Trainz, but would probably encourage content creators to create era/region specific rolling stock and station assets
I can’t imagine the financial loss from “sponsoring” 10 free MPS licenses is significant.

This is the only thing I can think of that would be feasible. If N3V wants to rebuild the UK community they can’t expect it to happen out of thin air.
__________

N3V’s team also seems to lack a UK “ambassador” and there’s nobody to advocate for what UK creators and players want. I think James Moody used to be that guy but this was well before my time in Trainz (ie 2014 onwards). He moved on to TS I believe

DEMs aren't an issue as long as everyone has the textures contained in TransDEM if that's how it was being done. Edinburgh - Glasgow is a DEM with a 5m grid, a lot was done prior to S2.0 and HD terrain. I did try testing conversion but it leaves a bit of clear air when alongside a 5m grid, my plan having been to just convert the boards with track on them. Working on another micro route in HD has shown how much better Edinburgh - Glasgow could be but I'm not revisiting the whole thing again. HD terrain is an absolute game changer!

When I heard about MPS, I'd envisaged a cloud based route that people could work on and add assets to that would automatically become available to collaborators as long as it wasn't DLC. It doesn't appear to be as simple as that or I'd be using it now.

I always admired Midshire and Rosworth Valley so I really enjoyed updating them with procedural tracks and additional scenery/texturing, but even just waving an 'enhancement brush' at an existing route is extremely time consuming.

As Mark has pointed out, fudginator is doing a great job of 'reverse engineering' the Mark's Cornish route.

 

[robd]

Looks like we'll have to make our own modern UK assets:

When I say 'modern' I mean 21st century.

My (currently ongoing) attempt at a Class 701 Arterio.

Rob.

 

[marky7890]

I think that is another thing holding back the UK community, the lack of modern trains, and routes to drive them. That's why I Imported that Class 800 (With permission) from the Sketchup warehouse, its a basic model with no interior but does the job, and is still fairly good quality even just being a shell. That's always been the way with Trainz, you just use what there is, and of course holding back decent DLCs behind a subscription like the HSTs, but even then they are still old liveries.

 

[slenderman8888]

I think that is another thing holding back the UK community, the lack of modern trains, and routes to drive them. That's why I Imported that Class 800 (With permission) from the Sketchup warehouse, its a basic model with no interior but does the job, and is still fairly good quality even just being a shell. That's always been the way with Trainz, you just use what there is, and of course holding back decent DLCs behind a subscription like the HSTs, but even then they are still old liveries.

I mean I hope I am plugging that gap slightly. (Assuming you'd consider RES postal stock and Eurotunnel stuff modern) Plus I do the opposite, while some hold stuff back behind paywalls (especially subscription ones effectively "renting" the DLC for a monthly fee). I release my recent content under open-source "copyleft" license statements (Creative Commons, etc) and I publish the original source files of my projects on my site so others can freely modify, improve upon and potentially learn from them.
I'll admit my models do sometimes have flaws, either due to lack of decent reference material for a specific area or the inability for me to figure out how to model a specific, complex shape. But with access to the source files. One with time on their hands could elect to port the model over to something like Blender, reduce the polycount, maybe add some extra details/correct mistakes in the original. Then share it to the world.