Classic British Flight Sim

Tako_Kichi wrote: I've had it since it was TS2012 and got the yearly free updates which basically update the base game engine but do not normally add any additional content. This year I bought 2016 (basically buying the sim again) when it was in the Xmas sale as I really wanted the new route it contained (it was cheaper to buy the sim again rather than buying the route as an add-on). Over the years I have also added several add-on routes too.

It has some areas I could gripe about and I really wish they would add support for common USB controllers rather than just Xbox controllers as my Saitek throttle quadrant would be ideal as a train sim controller.

I find most of the scenarios enjoyable and they can be quite challenging especially if you have to run to a time-table although I do prefer freight runs over passenger runs. One nice thing is that you can download additional scenarios from the Steam Workshop. These are created by TS users for TS users and there are some excellent ones available (even better than the stock ones in many cases).

Hi Larry, thanks for that. Yes, it never occurred to me but you are right about using a flight sim throttle in TS - it would be ideal, wouldn't it.

Looking through all the DLC available on Steam, it seems I have a number of items in my library already, even though I've never bought anything. From what I can tell, this is stuff that was in the original Railworks sim, but was then taken out and sold as DLC later on when it became Train Sim. Cajon Pass is one of them, Somerset and Dorset Route is another. All these years they've been sitting on my computer and I was unaware of them.

Do you have any particular favourite add-ons - routes and/or locos ?

Paul K wrote:Do you have any particular favourite add-ons - routes and/or locos ?

Hi Paul, all of my DLC has been in the form of extra UK routes and the only additional locos I have are the ones that came bundled with those routes.

I just checked my inventory in the sim and this is what I have for UK routes with a rating of 1-5 with 5 being those I enjoy/play most:

Bristol to Exeter - 5
East Coast Mainline - 5
Edinburgh to Glasgow - 4
Great Western Mainline - 5
Hedborough North - 5
Just Trains Scottish ECML - 4
London to Brighton - 3
MML - London St Pancras to Bedford - 2 (scenarios only available in 'Career' mode)
Riviera Line in the Fifties - 3 (scenarios only available in 'Career' mode, plus it's a new route for me and not played much ...yet)
Settle to Carlisle - 5
Somerset Dorset Joint Railway - 4
The Isle of Wight - 4
The Woodhead Line - 4
WCML North - 4
WCML Over Shap - 3 (scenarios only available in 'Career' mode)
West of Scotland Lines - The Port Road - 4

In addition to the above I also have several US and European routes that were added over the years with the various base game upgrades but I have never bought any non-UK routes. All of my DLC was also bought in the various Steam/Just Trains sales that frequently come along.

Hope that helps.

Tako_Kichi wrote:...Hope that helps.

Blimey, it certainly does help ! I see you have rated the Settle-Carlisle at 5, which is a relief - that route must surely be obligatory for a British train simmer, so it would have been a great disappointment if sub-standard. That's the one I shall get first, and I look forward to the Ribblehead viaduct. Thanks very much for taking the time to do that list, Larry - it really is most helpful.

Settle-Carlisle is very enjoyable and the scenery/modelling is very well done but don't expect to go anywhere fast in the early stages of any run as you have quite a climb from either direction but it's worth it when you get to the viaduct. Of course, once you reach the peak it's all downhill from there so controlling the speed to stay within the limits for the train/section of track can be a challenge too!

Tako_Kichi wrote:Settle-Carlisle is very enjoyable and the scenery/modelling is very well done but don't expect to go anywhere fast in the early stages of any run as you have quite a climb from either direction but it's worth it when you get to the viaduct. Of course, once you reach the peak it's all downhill from there so controlling the speed to stay within the limits for the train/section of track can be a challenge too!

I shall bear that in mind, Larry. I'll keep your list as a reference for further add-ons, too. First things first, however - this morning, I'm going to take the unusual step of reading the manual. I'll let you know how I get on.

I'm going to take the unusual step of reading the manual.

Good Lord man! Have you gone out of your mind??

ATB
DaveB

DaveB wrote:

I'm going to take the unusual step of reading the manual.

Good Lord man! Have you gone out of your mind??

ATB
DaveB

At least I don't have to learn how to turn and bank it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmRYCQgzwpE#

Sometimes getting through the manual is like this.....

airboatr wrote:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmRYCQgzwpE#

Sometimes getting through the manual is like this.....

Yes - on to the next page, then back to the page before because you've forgotten what it said. Repeat.

It seems he has a whole collection of snowblower train videos, and I for one just can't wait to go through them all.

EDIT:

A compilation of snowplough trains:

https://youtu.be/Ak-RdQeGock

Bloody hell, Joe, now look what you've gone and done. As if I don't have enough hours in the day as it is, I'm now watching this stuff !

riiiiiiigh , the boatr made ya do it... It's always my fault...

One question I have though, who was it the train driver ticked off to get the assignment, eh?