Atomic Systems

stuart666 wrote:
Great photo! I cant remember what the name of the US locomotive is, GG1 or something wasnt it? They built those so solid that one was substantially intact after overrunning at Union Station, and collapsing into a sub basement. They had to cut it up to get it out, and it was still solid enough to weld it back together and put into service for a couple more decades. Marvellous machine.

Yeah, were still in service with Amtrack too ( although they looked thoroughly awful in Amtrak livery ). I think Dick Cowen makes/made a RW one - seems unavailable now - although it'd look a bit odd going up Beattock given the lack of US electrified lines :p ( and hey we can even stay on topic somewhat! ).

Who knows where the Coronations ended up in the war...

Simon is quite right. Its a conundrum we haven't found an answer too yet. Do scenarios for default routes constrains you to... well the default routes I guess. Put this beauty on the WCML-N and your sort of asking people to buy DLC. Its a bullet we are going to have to bite sometime but AAARG! intractable problems!
Paul

RSPaul wrote:Simon is quite right. Its a conundrum we haven't found an answer too yet. Do scenarios for default routes constrains you to... well the default routes I guess. Put this beauty on the WCML-N and your sort of asking people to buy DLC. Its a bullet we are going to have to bite sometime but AAARG! intractable problems!
Paul

That's what freeware scenarios are for! Why don't you guys copy what Keith Ross (WCML-N) and Darren Porter (JT payware routes) have done and have your guys prepare a few bonus scenarios during the run up to release date that are not restricted to using only default assets/routes, which could then be released as freeware in the days following release? It could be a nice little reward for those who purchase multiple payware items!

I must admit that I'm quite surprised JT are including only those four scenarios. It's been normal practice for them in recent times to include some scenarios for their payware routes with new packs, even if they are modern railtour scenarios not set in the original working career of the locomotive in question.

RSPaul wrote:Simon is quite right. Its a conundrum we haven't found an answer too yet. Do scenarios for default routes constrains you to... well the default routes I guess. Put this beauty on the WCML-N and your sort of asking people to buy DLC. Its a bullet we are going to have to bite sometime but AAARG! intractable problems!
Paul

Well, it has already been done with the Class 86? And I guess it'll have to be done with e.g. the 4-CIG and 455?

USRailFan wrote:Well, it has already been done with the Class 86? And I guess it'll have to be done with e.g. the 4-CIG and 455?

I don't have a problem with that applying for scenarios, and as you point out it has been done previously. As long as it is appropriately disclosed on the Steam Store page for the DLC (as it is for the Class 86 pack) I don't see it being a problem.

What I would see as a problem is a properly built-in requirement for the older DLC in the Steam Store. It should still be possible for people to buy the Class 421 and 455 packs without owning the Portsmouth Direct Line, since the possibility of running on some other non-RS.com route should never be discounted. For example, it's thankfully still possible to buy the Class 390 without owning WCML-N since it still runs quite nicely from Paddington to Hayes and Harlington, on the length of Hagen-Siegen, on Newcastle-York, and on various freeware routes like Cresston or Western Rail Corridor.

I also wonder whether perhaps an update to Test Trak is needed prior to the release of these other third rail EMUs. RW considers all forms of electric supply equal so third rail units can be driven on overhead-equipped routes and vice-versa without any problems. To take advantage of this, an extra rail could be manually installed for cosmetic purposes on all currently electrified areas of Test Trak so testing out a third rail unit would look the part as well as acting it.

Come to think of it, where do Siemens test 3rd-rail stock?

They send them over to the test trak in Germany, was a documentary about it on discovery a few weeks back, they built a 3rd rail part to it, its quite extensive now actually, it also tests city trams and other related stock.

Kariban wrote:Come to think of it, where do Siemens test 3rd-rail stock?

It's called Wildenrath. This Siemens test track has UK style 750V 3rd rail and 25kV overhead fitted. Incidently this would make quite a nice "test trak" style Railworks route. It has a loop cleared for 100mph running.

Kariban wrote:Come to think of it, where do Siemens test 3rd-rail stock?

Their brochure says Wegberg-Wildenrath, known to RW2 users as Test Trak, has third-rail equipped facilities. Read the whole thing because it's interesting, then note on page 8-9 that test oval 1 (the big 6km loop) is equipped with British-style third-rail. If that's not enough, there's even a couple of pictures with a Class 450 in them!

It's probably not hard for them to add a temporary third rail supply to some of the other areas not normally equipped with third rail to check all is working properly for things like level crossings and turnouts. The amount of money at stake in a world where every new order must be fought for would make it worth their while to do things properly even if the countries ordering the stock should have replaced their third rail network decades before!

It's also interesting to note from the official brochure that the speed limit is 160 km/h - no wonder trains keep capsizing at 125mph on the RW Test Trak route!

I asked, because the RW Test Trak *is* the Wildenrath one . Well, that would be a good little update.

Edit: yes those curves are a little tight for 125mph, unless they did some enormous superelevation.

Kariban wrote:I asked, because the RW Test Trak *is* the Wildenrath one . Well, that would be a good little update.

You know I never actually noticed that Mind you I don't generally use the test trak, I just use my own much simpler test routes.

Kariban wrote:I asked, because the RW Test Trak *is* the Wildenrath one . Well, that would be a good little update.

Edit: yes those curves are a little tight for 125mph, unless they did some enormous superelevation.

It is a simplified version of it - no third rail, no dual-gauge track, no mainline connection. And the biggest problem - no German engineering company would ever be caught dead referring to miles per hour outside the earshot of their UK/US customers, let alone putting speed signage in miles per hour on their own test facilities!

Having said that, Adam did a fantastic job of getting together even that much in just 24 hours.

For those not aware or not a kettle fan (how dare you!), the JT newsletter has given a date of Tuesday 21st for release, so for those like myself who crave abit of kettle and a streamlined Coronation, we'll get our mitts on it next week.

Well, ive done 4 miles south of Penrith on the WCML. This may tempt me further, but some LMS P3s would be much more fitting. ... Default Mk1s in blue and silver may make me cry.

B

I think the point of the earlier comment about JT's geography was missed. If the train is going from Newcastle to York, it's not going to be an express from London. It's going the wrong way!

Bob.

P.S. Very much looking forward to the release.