Atomic Systems

After playing few times, I find this route to be very enjoyable, with almost no stutter and the AEM-7 is OK.
What I'm missing are tens of Metroliner EMUs and more diesel traction freight trains.
Maybe future scenarios will more populate the empty NEC tracks.

Adam

hi, ...

Thats looks awesome (EMU).
Wonderful Adition for NEC with Acela.

g#ice

This is (so far) the route I've most anticipated for Railworks, and I must say I have very mixed feelings. I am completely satisfied with the AEM7 and the Amfleet cars, although I really would've liked a passenger view for the Amfleets - and yes, the cab in the AEM7 is rather basic, but that doesn't bother me. Obviously the amount of AI trains is very limited now, and that really cuts down on any true immersion if you're familiar with riding this stretch. These Amtrak trains are usually in a constant "race" with countless New Jersey Transit commuter trains, of which there is a decent variety of rolling stock. (Arrow EMU cars, ALP-44 push-pull with Comet cars, and the newer bi-level and ALP-46.) The ALPs-46 are very similar to the BR 101, and the ALP-44 very similar to the AEM7, so (and bear with me since I'm not keen on the modeling/skinning side of things) I'd think it would be more or less a "reskin." I am not saying this to criticize the route thus far, just that the amount of AI will need to be a lot more diverse to truly feel like the NEC. Also SEPTA Silverliner EMUs between 30th Street and Trenton.

I'm not sure if it's possible to make building/wall textures with graffiti, but love it or hate it, graffiti is very prominent as you approach 30th Street from the North, and is pretty much all over the NEC. What it amounts to is the route feels "sterile" in it's more urban areas. Also I agree that more clutter is needed, although through much of central NJ, especially south of New Brunswick, it does go through some pretty sparse territory. Also not sure if it's possible to do this, but when you emerge from the tunnels, Manhattan for me is missing... haha. This might be due to my settings being all around medium, but even though it's in the distance, the massive buildings of Manhattan are what completely catches your eye as you roll through the Seacacus area. Around here I feel like I just have to keep the camera away from facing anywhere east.

Gripes aside, I am pretty happy with the route even though it does indeed feel a bit "MSTS-ish." The addition of the Acela and hopefully NJT trains will make it a bit more immersive. Also Penn needs to be packed with NJT/LIRR equipment to look like Penn. =)

adam3544 wrote:After playing few times, I find this route to be very enjoyable, with almost no stutter and the AEM-7 is OK.
What I'm missing are tens of Metroliner EMUs and more diesel traction freight trains.
Maybe future scenarios will more populate the empty NEC tracks.

Adam

This would be an awesome throwback to the NEC of the seventies, haha. I am personally a fan of a the Budd EMUs (their aging but sturdy M3s still pass behind my house on Long Island on a daily basis) and that unique Metroliner shape is still seen in all the Amfleets today. I think they were referred to as "Metro-shells" unofficially when being ordered for the then young and troubled Amtrak.

If we're going to go all out 1970s NEC, then we need the behemoth E60, complete with "ghetto grills":

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/springfiel ... 482912331/

...and of course some GG1s, pulling both Amfleets and freight... and on occasion a broken down E60, despite being 40+ years old at that point.

Even with all the proper stock, Railworks needs to get one thing sorted out before the NEC can operate protypically. Proper cab car operations. Amtrak keystone service and all NJT loco hauled services depend on push-pull operations. Even for someone like me who lives near this line it is still a sight to see a 10+ line of multilevels flying past at 100mph with no lead engine.

styckx wrote:Even with all the proper stock, Railworks needs to get one thing sorted out before the NEC can operate protypically. Proper cab car operations. Amtrak keystone service and all NJT loco hauled services depend on push-pull operations. Even for someone like me who lives near this line it is still a sight to see a 10+ line of multilevels flying past at 100mph with no lead engine.

Oh, me too. I would absolutely love to have the multilevels // ALP-46 in RW - although I have a sentimental spot for the ol' Arrows as well.

Actually, since you mention the Keystone... aren't those cab cars just modified Metroliners, like aforementioned? (Unpowered, of course.) I've had the pleasure of riding it out to Lancaster a few times, and once all the way to Harrisburg. The entire route would be great in RW, a wide variety of scenery especially once you get west of the Philly suburbs like Paoli. Amish horse & buggy waiting at a placid country grade crossing while an AEM7-driven Keystone or Genny-powered Pennsylvanian roars past at 100+ mph.

Yeah, the Keystones cab car is just a modified metroliner car.

Oh I have a softspot for the Arrow III's also. Those ol gals acceleration is nutty and the whine from their traction motors is pure awesome. Budd Company built some of the best rolling stock.

I think we'll have to wait till Railworks3 till we can get real cab cars in (which isn't that long of a wait by now ). As far as I understand how Railworks 2's physics work, the player's locomotive determines the characteristics of every locomotive, so if you use an "unpowered" locomotive as your cab car, even if you had an AEM-7 on the back of your train, you'd be going nowhere. From what the various devs have hinted at, it looks like Railworks 3 will change that so you can have MP15s along with DASH-9s and if you lose the DASH-9 on a mile-long coal train, you're in trouble Which would allow for an "unpowered" locomotive as a cab car with a real locomotive on the back end.