Atomic Systems

While I applaud the continual development and free upgrade there are in my opinion some glaring omissions that should of been included that would greatly improve the overall gameplay, such as:

1. Implementation of driver safety device. This has to be resest every 90 seconds or the train brakes come on, a real world feature on UK railways and would be a simple but great addition.

2. Properly working shunt signals, still an outstanding issue.

3. Headlights, the track still doesn't light up in front of you when they're switched on.

4. Improved graphics engine, sorry but it's looking a little bit feeble these days

5. Performance enhancements.

I've supported this product from it's very inception along with other sims and I do think it's the best but I'm dissapointed that these issues have not been resolved.

Regarding point 3 - the lights on UK locomotives are not there to light up the tracks. They are there for railway workers to see trains around them

The unrealistic searchlight effects on some engines detract from the realism of simulators. It really is dark out there when driving trains at night - real world drivers on these forums can give more details.

Easilyconfused wrote:Regarding point 3 - the lights on UK locomotives are not there to light up the tracks. They are there for railway workers to see trains around them

The unrealistic searchlight effects on some engines detract from the realism of simulators. It really is dark out there when driving trains at night - real world drivers on these forums can give more details.

I'm a former signalman and have had hundreds of cab rides and yes your right but the headlights do indeed light up the tracks in front as you'd expect.

What are the issues you refer to with shunting signals please? The only thing I have noticed is that the UK semaphore signals don't show in the F3 display until the path is set to them, yet the model defaults to the "off" position. A little alarming if you start a scenario in a siding with the points set against you! Or was there something else?

FoggyMorning wrote:What are the issues you refer to with shunting signals please? The only thing I have noticed is that the UK semaphore signals don't show in the F3 display until the path is set to them, yet the model defaults to the "off" position. A little alarming if you start a scenario in a siding with the points set against you! Or was there something else?

The modern UK ground signals don't work and never have done.

Easilyconfused wrote:Regarding point 3 - the lights on UK locomotives are not there to light up the tracks. They are there for railway workers to see trains around them

The unrealistic searchlight effects on some engines detract from the realism of simulators. It really is dark out there when driving trains at night - real world drivers on these forums can give more details.

Well from my experience when riding in the cab during night time ( Swedish locomotives) They light up the track in front of them, and a few meters to the side, so that the driver has a chans to stop in case of a emergency.

Sure, in the UK you might not have any real "headlights" But that doesnt mean that you should skip the function alltogether, seeing how many other countrys ( US, Germany, and others ) Do have functioning headlights.

Might just be me, but i think its been gone for to long.

In general, modern British trains do have both "marker" lights and beam headlamps. How much of the track ahead is lit up is open for debate, but it should be enough to at least see points and buffers right in front of the cab, and to highlight modern retroreflective signs at a distance.

Agreed however that the oil lamps on steam trains tended to be marker lights only, with no real illuminating power.

As i see in rail videos there is are plenty of british locos that have real headlights, not just markers... but at other parts of the world , the most of rail vehicles have strong headlights.

sanyix wrote:As i see in rail videos there is are plenty of british locos that have real headlights, not just markers... but at other parts of the world , the most of rail vehicles have strong headlights.

Yep ... real world experience tells me that the headlights in RS , RW and now RW2 are a poor subsitute for the real thing . Might look fine for some UK locomotives , but for the rest of the world >> not even close

Hope that's good enough Easilyconfused

Easilyconfused wrote:It really is dark out there when driving trains at night - real world drivers on these forums can give more details.

Maybe in the UK but certainly not in North America.

Would agree re headlights on modern UK traction units, they should project a beam of light, even if it is pointed toward the sky!

Glad this thread has been started as there's a bit too much to wade through on the 50+ page main thread now.

As I said in my initial tryout, it's essentially a cost-neutral package, no charge for the update but in reality little more than an interface makeover. Apart from level crossings no substantial change to the core and, if I'm brutally honest, calling it "Railworks 2" for what has actually changed is a bit presumptuous. But still, we are where we are on that.

As regards what should be in what is being marketed as a "new" game...

I would have expected at least one new route and some additional motive power and rolling stock. Even if it was just a reskin of the default Mark Ones into maroon and blood/custard livery.

Drastic improvement to AI and signalling logic and the German semaphores fixed to work.

Implementation of distant mountains, at least out to 4km viewing distance. Better handling of DEM data/types and the ability to smooth holey DEM data within the sim.

Thumbnail views in the editor for all items together with a pick list or last six items type list.

Fix the cab dip/sway so it displays correctly and reinstate it. Implement cant/superelevation.

There's loads more that have been on the wishlist for months if not years and IMHO RSC have chosen to pick the low hanging fruit, rather than grasp the more challenging and innovative items which would improve the simulation aspect.

Seeing this looks like yet another "What I want" thread by the usual protagonists (hard to tell when so many are on ignore), I'll throw in my 2 pence...

Throw out all the diesels, throw out all the electrics and stop wasting time and hard drive space with them.
Retro-fit all modern routes pre-1960.
More steam era routes, more big four.
Remove the "animated" crossings - seeing them open/close is really not very realistic other than when stopped at stations.
Free 3D Max licences for all modellers.
A free cake sent through the post whenever I start Steam.

Best thing about steam - is that you can see the kettles boiled for the cuppa - to go with the cake!

I cannot believe we still haven't got fully functioning water troughs. This must be the THIRD time I've mentioned it.

Tsk.

Biggest problem is still Cabs not being dark at night or in the tunnels...