Atomic Systems

Quick review after spending the afternoon playing this route. I'm lucky in that I've spent quite a few work trips up on the West Highland, and have spent a good few hours in a 37 between FW and Mallaig.

The route really captures the feel of the line. It oozes character - and I don't just mean that the scenery is good (it's fantastic, and pretty damn accurate), but you'll almost feel the chill of a snowy morning in the mountains in some of the scenarios. The style in which it has been built is typical Keith Ross - it's a fantastic compromise in order to be used for just about anything from 1987 onwards, much like WCML Over Shap. Yes, there's TPWS on the track, in the loco and Stop Board TPWS suppression indicators amongst other modern things, but you look past it because it's so well done. Line speed never goes above 40mph for the scenarios included, but it's the best 40mph you could probably spend in TS2015.

I personally love routes like this; ones that bring something genuinely new to the game. In this case it's RETB signalling, and it's implemented very well. The radio voices are a little mechanical at times, but like TVM430 on London to Faversham, it's a great new feature that becomes instantly immersive. That's not to mention the snowdrifts and dynamic ploughing, it's great fun!

Class 37. Wow. Fantastic loco. It's nice to drive a tractor that doesn't have the old RSC point and shoot physics. The sounds, for an out of the box loco, are very good. I initially thought the external sounds were a little tinny, like the JT Cl.67, but the more I played, the more it just reminded me almost exactly of thrashing through the mountains behind a DRS 37/6. There are separate internal sounds, which are a very good effort, maybe a touch too much external exhaust note and not enough rattling old compressor, but I'm nit picking there. Plenty of cab views, good interaction with ETS on/off, brake changeover switches. I have no problem with the brakes; remember that they're quite like the Cl.87, you must hold them in the release position to maintain a quick release. You can release the brakes in the running position, but it'll take a while.

I've noticed on one scenario certainly, AI locos are almost silent. The Cl.37 and the included rolling stock seem to lack any meaningful running sounds, bar the jointed track clacks and flange squeal. The rolling stock could do with the AP treatment, but the loco can certainly live without it.

The assets seem to be very good, some good things that I think that have been missing; L/C white light indicators for one, and the track variety and textures are very good.

Conclusion: Personally, I think it's an instant classic. An iconic route pulled off very well. I'm sure we'd all love if it went further than Spean Bridge, but given the level of detail, we'd have been waiting a lot longer! I really hope that other developers and third party content people start to implement RETB in other rolling stock; the 156, a steamer for the Jacobite, the 67s on the sleeper etc.

dp123 wrote:Quick review after spending the afternoon playing this route. I'm lucky in that I've spent quite a few work trips up on the West Highland, and have spent a good few hours in a 37 between FW and Mallaig.

The route really captures the feel of the line. It oozes character - and I don't just mean that the scenery is good (it's fantastic, and pretty damn accurate), but you'll almost feel the chill of a snowy morning in the mountains in some of the scenarios. The style in which it has been built is typical Keith Ross - it's a fantastic compromise in order to be used for just about anything from 1987 onwards, much like WCML Over Shap. Yes, there's TPWS on the track, in the loco and Stop Board TPWS suppression indicators amongst other modern things, but you look past it because it's so well done. Line speed never goes above 40mph for the scenarios included, but it's the best 40mph you could probably spend in TS2015.

I personally love routes like this; ones that bring something genuinely new to the game. In this case it's RETB signalling, and it's implemented very well. The radio voices are a little mechanical at times, but like TVM430 on London to Faversham, it's a great new feature that becomes instantly immersive. That's not to mention the snowdrifts and dynamic ploughing, it's great fun!

Class 37. Wow. Fantastic loco. It's nice to drive a tractor that doesn't have the old RSC point and shoot physics. The sounds, for an out of the box loco, are very good. I initially thought the external sounds were a little tinny, like the JT Cl.67, but the more I played, the more it just reminded me almost exactly of thrashing through the mountains behind a DRS 37/6. There are separate internal sounds, which are a very good effort, maybe a touch too much external exhaust note and not enough rattling old compressor, but I'm nit picking there. Plenty of cab views, good interaction with ETS on/off, brake changeover switches. I have no problem with the brakes; remember that they're quite like the Cl.87, you must hold them in the release position to maintain a quick release. You can release the brakes in the running position, but it'll take a while.

I've noticed on one scenario certainly, AI locos are almost silent. The Cl.37 and the included rolling stock seem to lack any meaningful running sounds, bar the jointed track clacks and flange squeal. The rolling stock could do with the AP treatment, but the loco can certainly live without it.

The assets seem to be very good, some good things that I think that have been missing; L/C white light indicators for one, and the track variety and textures are very good.

Conclusion: Personally, I think it's an instant classic. An iconic route pulled off very well. I'm sure we'd all love if it went further than Spean Bridge, but given the level of detail, we'd have been waiting a lot longer! I really hope that other developers and third party content people start to implement RETB in other rolling stock; the 156, a steamer for the Jacobite, the 67s on the sleeper etc.

Agree with everything you say - it really is an outstanding bit of route building & anyone who knows the WHL will applaud the accuracy of the sim

I've had a quick run up to Glenfinnan on the first scenario. Just for the sake of giving it the once over, I'll set a day aside this weekend to enjoy it properly. I'm suitably impressed.

The depiction of the line itself and the local scenery is top drawer, as is the track and signalling infrastructure. The RETB is superb. Very nicely done and I echo the earlier comments about the overall package being very immersive.

The Syphon is also very well done. It'll be hard to go back to the original 37 now, a trick that Mr Ross has pulled off twice now after the duff that came with Shap. (Minor quibble/query - cant say as I recall ever seeing the 4's running on the WHL, even at the height of summer, without ploughs. At least during their large-logo days. It was a long time ago of course...)

Oh, and there's a pint in it for the first man to produce a community mod that reduces both the sound cone area and the volume of the level crossing klaxons!

If you haven't already done so then buy this now.

1S81

I bought the route today, and wow, its fantastic, will get use to it eventully but, 10/10 from me

dp123 wrote: The rolling stock could do with the AP treatment, but the loco can certainly live without it.

The loco is far, far, far better without the AP treatment.

anthonye wrote:

RobertM wrote:I cant get it, I managed to add it to my cart via the web browser before logging in, but when I logged in I got an error and told to come back later

Just contacted Thompson, they say that there is a few problems with Steam that DTG are looking into at the moment.

Anthony

Just got it fine, problem seems to be sorted.
What a route.......

Anthony

I had trouble buying it at first. Went back after about 15 mins and was able to purchase it. I well take everything you guys have said before me for granted as I know very little about English railways a part from what I have driven in TS. The in cab sounds of the 37 are nice.

What a fantastic addition to the sim this is.

It may be single line running at 40mph but you'll work harder than you will on any other route in the sim! Constant changes of gradient, changes of speed limits, obstacles to negotiate and the token system to operate. The advanced scripting of the Mc37, coupled with the challenging terrain means you'll also have to work harder to make the loco do what you want. Gone is the 'accelerate to line speed then hit notch one cruise control for 50 miles' that we're used to with other routes.

Really pleased to see a range of 'named' 37/4's that I remember fondly from my youth!

37114 wrote:

dp123 wrote: The rolling stock could do with the AP treatment, but the loco can certainly live without it.

The loco is far, far, far better without the AP treatment.

I think it could do with the running sounds, jointed track sounds and brake rub from the AP pack, but that's it.

Evening all,

Well what can I say. I'm blown away by how much work has gone into this route in both the scripting of the loco and route.
And the detail along the route is just lovely.
Well done to all involved in the making of this addon, your hard work shows just what can be done with this sim...

I have a couple of questions about some assets if you good people with more know how could help me with, I've checked the manual and could not
figure out the SNOW 15m - 60m and DYNAMIC DRIFT are placed and triggered.
And are they a one shot use object on the track in any direction or one direction only, or will the drifts re-fill if I have the weather set to snow over a given time!

Any help would be greatfull chaps...
Cheers Mick