Greater Eastern - Thoughts

[buffy500]

Certain versions of MSTSbin don't cope with multiple units, in multiple as well as it could. I just can't remember the version which is the problem.

[TechniquestS482]

It would help if I could remember which version I have installed. Could be 1.7 though.

[BobLatimer]

"A gathering of MSTS experienced minds was had during the run"

Is this the three of you that are illegally using the same copy and doing MT out of a return for their work?

For the benefit of others that are running the route legally:

One thing that will help a bit is to change the rear loco in the front (static) consist (line 677 in the .act file) to the # version, rather than the $ version.

However, nothing will solve it completely (except for a set of specially adjusted .eng files). Its an MSTS bug whereby "helper" locos don't put out the same power as player locos. Theories on the actual amount of power seem to vary between 50% and 67%. Let's assume it's 50%. So for one 321 "unit" with two locos, you get 150% power to move the weight of the consist. With two "units", you get 250% power (1+.5+.5+.5) (i.e. 125% of the power of one unit) to move twice the weight. With three units (the ultimate consist in this activity with both locos changed in the static consist) you get only 350% power (1+.5+.5+.5+.5+.5) (i.e. 175% of the power of one unit) to move the weight of three units. The more units you add, the worse it gets.

[TechniquestS482]

Well I've gotten down to two activities left to try and complete. The Crown Point Shunt and Nuclear Flasks activities are all I've left to drive. However, sadly for now I'm withdrawing my need to complete Crown Point Shunt. I've tried lowering the settings, trying again after a reboot and even put World Objects Density down to zero in an attempt to stop it crashing. No luck

Needless to say, after two forced manual reboots, I'm not willing to try again yet. If I manage to find a super PC/laptop at the back of the wardrobe later, I'll give it a blast then. In the meantime, my poor laptop, which has managed all of the other activities (bar Up Anglia Express, but that was sorted), simply cannot get past the reversing of stock into one of the sidings at Crown Point. It even crashed when I lowered the volume!

So, just the Nuclear Flasks activity to try (which I know loads and plays through OK on this laptop, as I got half way through last time) and complete for now.

[gswindale]

use the latest 1.8xxx version of BIN re the EMU problem

[yerkes]

I mentioned earlier that there were stray wires in the loop north of Stowmarket; I actually meant Diss. Here's what I see:


Click the image to zoom in


Michael

[aj52mdy]

I mentioned earlier that there were stray wires in the loop north of Stowmarket; I actually meant Diss. Here's what I see:


Click the image to zoom in


Michael

Hello Michael.
I too have noticed several stray overhead wires and also wires that do not reach the terminating masts.
There are also "Stray" wires leading into sidings between Parkston Quay and harwich town.
Genrally I am very pleased with what I have seen of the route, including scenery improvments around Bethnal Green.
I have not had too much trouble running any of the activities though it is a bit jerky passing Crown point.
The only thing that i have noticed that is wrong, the last signal before Norwich station displays a green aspect,It should of course only be yellow as the next signal is a red light on the buffer stops.
Looking forwars to more activities.
Cheers
Andy

[cambrian06]

Now I've had chance to play with Greater Eastern and compare with the original Great Eastern I've a few more observations.
There is no doubt that Greater Eastern is visually superb and the stock is excellent. I particularly like the general gloom of the rain conditions and aprreciate the lighter nights.
The stunning details and visuals do however come at the cost of some loss of performance compared to GE1.
Where I can run Great Eastern at max detail with excellent frame rates I find that I have to drop the settings down a notch (or two) to get anywhere near similar frame rates from Greater Eastern. The areas where I get a slight drop in frames rates on Great Eastern (Romford & Shenfield) get a massive drop in rates on Greater Eastern (have been down to 3fps at Romford with passing AI). I also get single figures in a few other odd places, curiously I get much better frame rates in Crown Point depot than in Norwich station which doesn't really make much sense. There is also a fair bit of stuttering at times, something which I rarely got on Great Eastern.
So overall was it worth it?..............Yes, but I think I will keep the original Great Eastern available in MSTS as well and have the best of both worlds.
Regards,
Andy

[roblovestastytrace]

Hi all,

I am having problems with a couple of the acts on Greater Eastern. The first act, Up Anglia Express fails to load, it just crashes back to the desktop, and the 2nd act, 1P60 Liverpool St to Norwich de-rails at Forest Gate. I have searched the UKTS forum and also the MT forum, and cannot find any way to rectify this problem. Has anyone else had the same problem and if so, could you tell me how this problem may be rectified?

Many thanks

Rob.

[gswindale]

Hi Rob,

The problems are being investigated - see the posts over at MT for details.

With regards to the Forest Gate derailment; I ran this last night with no problems (made it to Chelmsford without any issues). Is it definitely your train derailing or is it the AI? Is there any AI in close proximity to yourself at the time?

[roblovestastytrace]

Hi Geoffrey

As far as I know, there is no AI in close proximity at the time when the train de-rails, at least I don't notice any anyway. A couple of other members of the UKTS forums have had the same problem with a de-railment at this point as well.

Many thanks

Rob.

[gswindale]

Are you actually seeing the train de-rail? Normally you lose control of the camera and get a lovely shot of at least one carriage leaving the track.

[roblovestastytrace]

No, you don't actually see the train de-rail. It just comes up with the error message "activity over - car de-railed".

[cambrian06]

I've not had a problem with this activity but if the player train isn't obviously de-railing then it must be an AI problem. I think that it has been established that AI performance can vary quite a bit from system to system which might explain why not everyone has a problem with the activity, the AI train concerned could be in a different position at the time on different systems.
I did have a similar problen on another route a while ago which turned out to be a bounding box issue with an item of AI stock, depending on the location where that passed another train a collison could occur.
Regards,
Andy.

[rikwesson]

Hi Rob, yes I had both of your problems. I got the up Anglia to work by increasing the amount of ram available to the sim. The next day I retried the 1P60 act and I started about 30-40 seconds after the ok to proceed and went a little under the line speed until after the point where the derail sign normally came up and all was well. Not sure if the extra ram was what sorted it or starting a bit later, but one of the blokes at MT told me it might be a timing issue, that,s why I started a bit later. Hope this helps, all the best, Richard.