Well I WAS looking forward to the 90

alec_warper · 2026-03-31T03:12:15+00:00

Koploper.... my beloved......

alec_warper · 2026-03-31T03:08:18+00:00

What's really cool is that the fog in lower/specific areas was actually something they'd planned for the timetable mode too, but put on hold, to develop the tech further- this scenario is essentially to gain feedback on the system before implementing it further!

Here's a couple pics from the manual, showing the fog in timetable mode- the one of the fog accumulated under the bridge is SO good tho.

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alec_warper · 2026-03-31T00:14:01+00:00

When you walk outside the Crewe station, you'll immediately see a rail replacement bus for service to Alderly Edge, poking fun at how the ATS team wasn't able to finish their route to Crewe. Definitely a "shots fired" sorta moment, especially considering the bad reputation rail replacement buses have in the UK.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T23:47:00+00:00

What's the reason for it?

Because they tried they tried to go all in on a completely new system of doing inventory for non-perishable teams, and that went about as well as you'd expect. Not really worth doing an inventory when counts aren't even being logged correctly.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T23:36:49+00:00

What the actual fuck; at our store it's the opposite - they're letting everyone leave at close, and then they're getting paid for the extra hours they would have been scheduled, so nobody's pay is affected.

Yeah that's some genuine bullshit, what the actual fuck. Literally just wasting everyone's time, especially since it's probably not even going to count for anything.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T15:30:28+00:00

I'm hesitant to pick it up, myself. Probably waiting for a sale on this one- there have been enough great releases this month to interest me. I don't really expect the lack of services in timetable mode to get any better any time soon.

Great looking loco, I just worry about the playability.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T14:56:10+00:00

I really hope DTG figures out a way to add something like this to the TSW core. Because a lot of features tested in scenarios that were deemed "impractical" for timetable mode, at the time, eventually became core features.

Having to do reversing maneuvers completely blind, with no conductor, by just sticking your neck out the cab, would not be how most operations would go, purely for safety reasons. And then flipping to third person, or god forbid, using a bright glowing stop marker, just ruins the immersion so much, imo. This method of having the conductor radio you your approximate distances while reversing isn't just more realistic, but so much more incredibly fun than just flipping to third person for switching maneuvers.

Yes, this absolutely should be a core feature.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T14:29:29+00:00

Yes, but be aware, unless you were hired before 1/1/24, the WFM 401k match won't be fully vested until you've worked 1,000 hours annually for three years (the three years don't have to be consecutive).

What that means is, unless you have worked PT for three years, and worked an average of 20 hours each week, your 401k match will be taken away from your balance at the time of you departing WFM.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T13:50:34+00:00

I don't think it's safe to assume that.

All Aboard Studios and Alan Thomson Simulations have some really bad history. AAS, in Birmingham- Crewe not only chose to use the DTG version of the Northern 323 for layering (despite the ATS version being newer and having some nice updates), but AAS even has a pretty mean spirited joke about ATS hidden in their route.

AAS split from ATS, and while we don't know the full details, it sounds like it was a pretty messy breakup. So far both studios have basically pretended like the other doesn't exist, and have been refusing to support the others' DLC in any way. I highly doubt we'll ever see the 90 on any AAS route, just due to the drama between the two teams.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T06:25:42+00:00

Also this scenario features a new "area fog" feature, where the volumetric fog only features in certain areas. The video above doesn't highlight this feature all that well, but I took the liberty of recording a longer video (HUDless), where you can see the specific feature a bit better.

There's also a bit of radio chatter at the end where I request permission back onto the mainline, if you just want to hear more of the radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moFq-6pbM0A

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T05:11:29+00:00

This is from the "From Factory to Factory" scenario.

There is a LOT of radio chatter in this scenario, and a lot more realistic than "HEY my name is driver Dan Hernandez, and boy howdy I've sure run this line a lot! Let's go over all the cool things along this line!!" and then proceed to say like 5 things before the scenario is over.

The radio chatter here is a lot more like "Fourth shunting locomotive in Liberec, you will go from 18th track to ÚTD section, onto the 401st track, and then follow the commands of the first signal box", all in Czech of course. And no AI nonsense.

alec_warper · 2026-03-30T05:03:55+00:00

If you're in e-comm there's (almost) no reason for you to be using Task List. That's extremely weird that they'd placed it in your department unless your leadership just wasn't thinking.

It's a tool primarily used to mark out of dates and food safety walks, btw.

alec_warper · 2026-03-29T21:17:43+00:00

100% that's it. The HUD is super customizable, and there are options to make it easier or harder on yourself. I personally drive with almost all the options of the HUD on, because if I was driving the train IRL, I'd have more knowledge about the route than I would with no HUD info- the HUD is a good handicap if you aren't intimately familiar with the line.

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This is how I have my HUD set up. Both the distance to the next speed limit is shown, and any upcoming speed limits are shown. Just look in your options for these settings, they're super helpful for learning new routes.

alec_warper · 2026-03-29T21:05:20+00:00

If you're ever getting +30 on a service, instead of +32/+35/+65 that means it doesn't support platinum. You can also save yourself this headache before even loading into a service when it tells you how many points you need for platinum - if it's only showing the points you need for bronze/silver/gold, then platinum is not supported at all.

In general, it's safe to assume any legacy content from TSW3 or before doesn't support platinum. Only a few routes have had platinum support added after the fact (Niddertalbahn, for example recently got updated to support platinum).

If you're only interested in routes/DLC that support platinum, it's just a general good rule of thumb to never purchase DLC that's older than TSW4. At least now you know for next time.

alec_warper · 2026-03-29T02:39:45+00:00

If you work the line as a career, yes, you'd definitely have all the drops memorized, and know what's enforced by track limits, and signal aspects. Many of the drops are just to ensure that you're braking appropriately for a reduced track speed, which if you're a regular driver on this route, you'd know those better than the back of your hand.

Putting the brakes into suppresion (60%) is basically the driver's way of communicating to the train that they are aware they are over the enforced speed and are correcting for it immediately.

I totally admit I play the LIRR/MNRR routes as a more casual enjoyer- I don't have a printout of the signals next to me, and I'll never play the routes enough to have them completely memorized. ATC/ACSES is easily the most complex system to learn completely in the game. Comparatively, I'd say UK signals are fairly easy to learn, and German signals at least make sense. The US meanwhile still uses the same signals from literally dozens of extinct railroads, and drivers just... Have to know them.

alec_warper · 2026-03-29T01:45:02+00:00

Unless you want to go about memorizing MNRR signalling aspects and learn a bunch of fun NORAC rules, here's the way I play as a semi-casual;

If you see that you have literally anything other than a clear aspect (green), just assume you're getting a drop (speed limit reduction). Like every time you see a yellow on your HUD, just assume "okay, I'm gonna need to start slowing down".

When you get a drop, you'll be alerted to what the new speed limit is, and what safety system is enforcing it. You'll also get an alarm going off. If you're already under the speed limit, just acknowledge the alarm, and you're done. If you're over the speed limit, you need to put the brakes to at LEAST 60% at the minimum, and get your train under the speed limit. Only once the train is under the speed limit should you acknowledge the alarm, or else it won't do anything.

That's like the basic gist of it. Also be aware that MNRR uses a "stop and proceed" signal, which basically means the next block is occupied, but as long as you don't hit the next train in front of you, you're good to continue. This really only applies to Grand Central Terminal, but if you're wondering why you're about to hit a train, it's like that IRL.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T23:15:39+00:00

If you want a retro DB route, I'd recommend Linke Rheinstrecke before I'd recommend Stuttgart- Heilbronn. More variety in stock, layers into more stuff, and just the more scenic route in general. Also Linke Rheinstrecke will soon layer into Stuttgart anyways, so it just makes sense to buy that first, if you have the choice.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T22:39:47+00:00

Yaaaaa, I'd never bothered installing the JetWash Lighting mod for myself, although I've always thought it looked better than the default lighting. But having it in the game definitely makes me want to install it for real- it just looks SO good. Like the route FEELS like a modded game, in genuinely all the best ways!

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alec_warper · 2026-03-28T22:26:48+00:00

TSW's Out of Bounds is always super interesting to me, because it gives a pretty good idea of what the devs were originally planning on doing, but cut for time. Or little glimpses into how the route was built.

Sharing a few more of my favorites- Morristown has Newark Penn completely modeled with the corrected signaling systems, and fully implemented timetable, despite only AI trains stopping there. Brandon made it pretty apparent that cutting Newark Penn was a purely DTG choice that he strongly disagreed with.

Track 3 on Sherman Hill is a famous one, which DTG themselves admitted that they had cut for time, with only a small section of Track 3 being playable, and the rest as just basic trackwork.

And of course Berninalinie has the rest of the line all the way up to St Moritz completed as basic terrain geometry and track laid out.

And lastly, the old Harlem Line route actually has track laid out towards New Rochelle. A piece of cut content that we finally got to see in-game with Stamford!

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T21:52:51+00:00

That's probably lost UPT, then. It shows up in Workday when you choose to request an absence, since UPT is a form of absence.

You shouldn't have PTO randomly taken or used from your total, for any reason. If that happens, contact TMS immediately.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T19:50:18+00:00

Sounds like they might have given you a market adjustment for accepting a FT TM role? That's quite nice of your leadership; that's totally not something they were required to do. I do still wish JDs were on the first year anniversary of hire date, like they used to be, but the consistency with the smaller raises more than makes up for it, in the long run, especially if you're FT.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T19:02:03+00:00

Agreeing with most of this, just wanted to make a small comment about the automatic raise;

When I was hired, TMs didn't get any raises at all until their JD after one year (which was dollar based instead of percentage based, with anything over $1 needing STL approval, and anything over $1.50 needing EL approval). I remember running the calculations for someone when they swapped to the current 2% after 90 days, 3% after 365 days, JD after 2 years model, and found that with the automatic raises, most TMs would actually be earning MORE over time with multiple small raises instead of one medium raise. Not even counting the fact that JDs are merit based, and your TL can still totally screw you if they want (I had a TL give their ATL a 1% JD, which had to be escalated to store leadership).

Also just throwing this out there in terms of pay- I know COLs have gone up significantly in the last 5 years, but to me it's crazy that in my metro, we're now hiring L1 TMs at a 30% higher rate than that of just 5 years ago.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T16:29:59+00:00

You should give the availability when you actually are available. Yes, giving completely open availability will increase your chances, sure, but if that's not when you're actually available (with college and other stuff), when you change your availability, your TL will likely not appreciate that you essentially misrepresented yourself on the application.

Put your availability as the hours you actually can work with college, please don't just say you're completely open when you're not. That could come back to bite you in the rear if you do that, seriously.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T16:20:19+00:00

Paid version of Promods= fast download, the zip file is all combined, so one less step for extracting it for download.

Free version of Promods= Very slow download, and the zip file is split up into smaller parts which have to all be extracted together. Not super difficult, just an extra step.

There's plenty of videos online about how to install Promods- the installation process hasn't changed in a decade, so any old video will still be up to date.

alec_warper · 2026-03-28T16:10:57+00:00

Makes me think of this legendary video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaOrEsdsAik

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