Patch/Upgrade

[PaulH2]

A few observations after an hour or so of running Rail Simulator Mk 1.

Frame rates seem to be a little better on my machine. Not great still, but that is down to the age of the computer to at least some extent.

The updated driver's guide is a big improvement, it is now possible to drive without constantly switching between the 1st and second tabs.

However that brings me to my first negative point. The user interface (most noticably the driver's guide) still is not scaled properly in widescreen resolutions. As a result, it takes up too much space on the screen, and looks awful (nasty elliptical signal aspects for a start, and all the icons stretched horizontally too). The position of the driver's guide is also still fixed and with no option to change its opacity, it is a screen hog and I still find it more intrusive than necessary.

More good news, international keyboard layouts now seem to work properly (well, my US keyboard with the European version of RS does anyway). However the Pause Break key does not pause the simulator.

Headlights appear to now only have a single state (i.e. on or off), at least this is the case with the York-Newcastle HST.

Still no sound from the rear power car of the HST (and still the "kazoo" horn).

And last but not least, no load screen progress bar. A minor issue I know, but still annoying when the load times are quite long.

Overall, a definate improvement, however some (minor) things that used to work now seem to be broken and several issues are still present. A step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go, and I have to admit to being a little dissapointed that the patch is not more comprehensive after 4 months work.

Paul

[mforeman04]

After taking the advice on RS.com about backing up the scenarios.bin file before applying the upgrade, do I now just overwrite the current files from the upgrade (back to default routes) with my old scenarios.bin files containing all the other scenarios that i have downloaded in the past?

[petermakosch]

Anyone get a bug when detaching and then reattaching coaches?

Free roam the York route, select the Deltic. Drive through the station and out onto the track. While moving at about 50/60 mph, detach the coaches (they should drift to a stop while you tootle off ahead). Then stop and reverse to reattach the coaches. When I came close to them, they suddenly were speeded up and de-railled me! It was funny to watch but still something I think needs fixing.

Although I find the scenarios defaulting pretty poor, the performance does seem a lot better. However, when navigating to the fron t of my train (the nose area) then frame rates slump so bad that i can only click another view to get out of it.

Headlights appear to now only have a single state (i.e. on or off), at least this is the case with the York-Newcastle HST.

Still no sound from the rear power car of the HST (and still the "kazoo" horn).

And last but not least, no load screen progress bar. A minor issue I know, but still annoying when the load times are quite long.

Overall, a definate improvement, however some (minor) things that used to work now seem to be broken and several issues are still present. A step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go, and I have to admit to being a little dissapointed that the patch is not more comprehensive after 4 months work.

+1 - I get the same. All of this stuff should have been in the first release, not as a patch. Was this ever Beta tested by outsiders?

One other point, I am still sad to see that you only get a limited number of trains. So the nice new shiny ones downloaded from the Rail Simulator site are pretty much useless because I can't see them anywhere to select when in free-roam and they are not in any player activities. Seems a little silly?

And the last point (:P) is that I don't know if this is new, but when free-roaming, then I get a pop up in the top right allowing me to switch trains. This could be a great tool for a speed limit reminder or an "upcoming station" reminder.

[widescreen]

I hate to be a pain in the bum about this but i thought this was meant to be fixed?

http://members.aol.com/andrewianscott/hmm.JPG - big pictures so i wont use tags.

That's only fixed for manual points.

What do you call a manual Point.?

I was in Free Roam, moved out of Paddington I think, de-railed at first set of points....

[CaptScarlet]

One other point, I am still sad to see that you only get a limited number of trains. So the nice new shiny ones downloaded from the Rail Simulator site are pretty much useless because I can't see them anywhere to select when in free-roam and they are not in any player activities. Seems a little silly?

You do know you can always create your own free roam scenarios with any of the rolling stock if you want, you don't have to just use the default ones. Now that the extra ones are available to everyone ( which is only a recent thing ) scenarios using them are more likely to follow.

John

[Retro]

Here we go. I have just spent about four hours testing my route with the upgrade installed and I expected some problems but all I have had to adjust are some of the roads because they now have traffic. Everything else is working perfectly and the Sim is performing much better than before the update.
All the problems I had encountered like Tunnel Decals not working and other bits a pieces seem to have been fixed. The trains run smoothly with very few jerks. The Drivers Guide is a big improvemnt and the abilty to have your train followed on the 2D map is great. Better zooming out in external view enables you to check out the Surrounding Route areas when moving. My test scenarios are still working. I now feel I can continue with the route with much more confidence than before the upgrade came out.
Just like to say thanks to Derek and Adam and all the staff at RSDL plus those involved in the testing of the upgrade.
Kind Regards James.

[exshunter]

Thankyou RSDL for the "upgrade". Couldn't help but notice the driver in the rear power car hasn't been given his marching orders yet though!

[Potoroo]

I hate to be a pain in the bum about this but i thought this was meant to be fixed?

http://members.aol.com/andrewianscott/hmm.JPG - big pictures so i wont use tags.

That's only fixed for manual points.

What do you call a manual Point.?

I was in Free Roam, moved out of Paddington I think, de-railed at first set of points....

I'm curious about the distinction too.

[CaptScarlet]

I'm curious about the disnction too.

The upgrade notes say "• Manual junctions will now be forced open if the player crosses against them, rather than causing a derailment (derailments still occur on manual slip junctions)."

My question is what is the definition of a slip junction ?

John

[AndiS]

A slip is a crossing (X) where all four tracks are connected. I.e., in other words, you can take two paths from each of the four sides. But it is not an X with four switches. It is an X with additional blades and short pieces if curved rail. If a train comes from the right and goes to the right, and another one comes from the left and goes to the left, they would collide.

[Potoroo]

A slip is a crossing (X) where all four tracks are connected. I.e., in other words, you can take two paths from each of the four sides. But it is not an X with four switches. It is an X with additional blades and short pieces if curved rail. If a train comes from the right and goes to the right, and another one comes from the left and goes to the left, they would collide.

The example widescreen mentioned is a simple Y-switch. Select Oxford-Paddington, Free Roam. Choose the HST (there's a goods train to its left). The points are set for the goods train and against the HST. If you drive the HST over the points you will derail even after the patch.

[simuk]

The example widescreen mentioned is a simple Y-switch. Select Oxford-Paddington, Free Roam. Choose the HST (there's a goods train to its left). The points are set for the goods train and against the HST. If you drive the HST over the points you will derail even after the patch.

Does the goods train have the route (and thus the signals) set for it? Maybe this is why you "derail" because you've effectively broken in to another trains block, rather than just entering an empty block...?

[CaptScarlet]

I believe I have found the reason for the derailment on the switches. The reason is that those switches are automatic ( even if you can change them in free roam ) and so the train will derail. If the switch is a actual manual switch then you can drive the train across it when it is set against your train and not derail.
So it does work in accordance with the patch notes, though I would have liked it better if in free roam that all switches would allow this but thats a different matter.

John

[AndiS]

To be honest, in the freeroam mode, you have the chance to set all the switches. So switching off the derailment there would more be a convenience function. In standard scenarios, it is crucial for the automatic switches. Obviously, they are on a minimum-intervention strategy, which is not a bad idea given they need to make sure that there are no undesired side effects for any changes.

[zlindku]

As far as I am aware manual points are the hand operated points as used in yards, storage sidings etc. In real life if you go through these the "wrong" way you will just see the lever flick as the flanges go through the blades(1). Main line points are ALLWAYS(2) locked when they have traffic on them and if you go through these the "wrong" way you will severely damage the operating mechanism, not to mention you would have just run a red signal. In real life after doing this a driver would most probably be looking for a new job. In RS they have chosen to derail the train, not really very life like but the consequences in the flesh are very serious.

(1) Most ways and works trolleys excepted these are in the most cases not heavy enough.
(2) In Victoria they certainly are.