AP Track Enhancement Pack Out Now.

[speedypete202]

Well AP have been informed by email and also on their FB page. Thankfully I am not too affected and can simply go back to the TW track. I only have a short section at Norton Bridge. Let's cross our fingers and at least give them a chance to fix it.

[IronBidder]

Aghhh,

Please see attached image - working left to right on the track also works top to bottom on the Liverpool to Manchester track set which is used in this route.

There is NO difference between any of the track textures (except the rails only one)

AP are aware

Sorry what are you trying to say? That AP's track doesn't work on the standard DTG route, or AP's track doesn't work on a community modification?

[Stone75]

Aghhh,

Please see attached image - working left to right on the track also works top to bottom on the Liverpool to Manchester track set which is used in this route.

There is NO difference between any of the track textures (except the rails only one)

Sorry what are you trying to say? That AP's track doesn't work on the standard DTG route, or AP's track doesn't work on a community modification?

If you lay track on Riviera, you only get concrete ties where we used to get wood and concrete. The rusty rails do show though. So original routes and community mod.

[speedypete202]

AP's track does not work on the standard route, they have just one track texture for all the different track styles.

Response from AP is as follows;

"We don't purport to offer differing colours apart from what's shown on the product page. Apologies if this disappoints."

https://www.facebook.com/armstrongpower ... ed_comment

[IronBidder]

AP's track does not work on the standard route, they have just one track texture for all the different track styles.

Their product page shows both wood and concrete sleepers and brown and light grey ballast. Are these not in the product?

[speedypete202]

No, they are separate track types and would involve editing the bin files to add them to the same track rules. This is not beyond the realms of possibility but for a £7 track upgrade it seems a little disappointing. Even adding them to the bin afaik will mean that the track types don't blend properly.

AP response about adding 'new track';

Unfortunately this then messes with having matching ground texture ballast and sadly just causes a headache. If you wish to still use our pack ,recommend creating your own track bin file for your route which references the clean 'new' track.

In reality it means that so far as I can tell, on most routes it eliminates the diversity of track types and means the whole route is one one type of track throughout.

[gptech]

Won't applying this to the NWC route delete the Conwy valley line if you have it installed?

If it replaces the Tracks.bin file then yes, you's lose Conwy. However, if it simply adds new versions of the track, retaining the existing path and file name, then no.

Also I now no longer see original track in route building. So what once was Riviera track is now the AP version under the Riviera name

If the route's assets are in a .ap archive, just delete/cut and paste elsewhere the folders and files the pack may have added. The game will then show/use the default tracks. What effect that will have on the Riviera route I don't know, depends on what, if anything, has been done to the route itself---once again though, the default files will be safe inside their .ap archive (if that's how the route comes) so it's not hard to go back to a default route. Not much use if you've done a fair bit of editing yourself on it of course.

Now, repeat after me the age old mantra....

backup, BACKUP, BACKUP...............................


EDIT:

.....Unfortunately this then messes with having matching ground texture ballast and sadly just causes a headache.....

All those freeware providers who've offered comprehensive packs of altered track types must be keeping the sales of paracetamol up then......

[speedypete202]

backup, BACKUP, BACKUP...............................

Never a truer few words were said

[Trev123]

I have only used this on the DTG Semmeringbahn: Mürzzuschlag to Gloggnitz route. The track, wagon and tunnel sounds are the same as the original. Actually, this package is just a track enhancement pack and has nothing to do with the sounds. Frame rates are about the same as on the original route with about 40fps with my TS settings. To me, the rails look a lot better than the original.

[Stone75]

Won't applying this to the NWC route delete the Conwy valley line if you have it installed?

If it replaces the Tracks.bin file then yes, you's lose Conwy. However, if it simply adds new versions of the track, retaining the existing path and file name, then no.

Also I now no longer see original track in route building. So what once was Riviera track is now the AP version under the Riviera name

If the route's assets are in a .ap archive, just delete/cut and paste elsewhere the folders and files the pack may have added. The game will then show/use the default tracks. What effect that will have on the Riviera route I don't know, depends on what, if anything, has been done to the route itself---once again though, the default files will be safe inside their .ap archive (if that's how the route comes) so it's not hard to go back to a default route. Not much use if you've done a fair bit of editing yourself on it of course.

Now, repeat after me the age old mantra....

backup, BACKUP, BACKUP...............................


EDIT:

.....Unfortunately this then messes with having matching ground texture ballast and sadly just causes a headache.....

All those freeware providers who've offered comprehensive packs of altered track types must be keeping the sales of paracetamol up then......

If I have it right, the ap track simply swaps where a track type looks for textures and xsec files. Reverting back would only require me to reset the Riviera track, as I used it in a custom route. However I cant have both AP track for Riviera and my custom route with older textures as its referencing the same files. The downside for many custom routes is you may lay track for a certain look, but if someone has the AP track pack, it will look quite different. People having very different textures for the same thing is not good when it comes to custom routes. Not all routes have such a contrast though, Riviera is a very dark ballast but London to Peterborough is hardly different in tone.

AP only showing one type of track looks like instead of pointing to the wood folder, its pointing at concrete instead. Again an easy enough fix. If there was a legit way to add my own versions of track to the pack i'd be happy. Not everywhere has nice fresh ballast and will look very out of place in some yards.

[brysonman46]

I hope its fixable as I have a lot of track laying done on personal routes but where I once had all sorts of track types I have as above. Also I now no longer see original track in route building. So what once was Riviera track is now the AP version under the Riviera name. So now depending on if you have the enhancement or not, you will see one or the other. Not good for route builders so I hope not the case.

I purchased, and installed on my "vanilla" version (which I do not use for running the sim). The extra files installed are in the individual route's Assets, OUTSIDE the .ap file, and therefore take precedence over the native versions. Hence, removing these extra files will revert that particular route to its original look. You could even pick and choose which attributes are kept, and which removed.

[shinymac]

O.M.G....has this subject become COMPLICATED !!

I don't wish to "generalise", but its now already WAY beyond most peoples comprehension..

[Trev123]

My biggest reservation is several comments on Facebook (various sites, and not all little brats) that the sounds are bad, including reference to poor reverb, echoing, and loss of rail joint noise

I know full well that the haters often jump on these things, but it's enough to make me wait until I see more feedback about it.

It is a track enhancement pack only. Has nothing to do with the sounds. See my post above.

[Stone75]

I hope its fixable as I have a lot of track laying done on personal routes but where I once had all sorts of track types I have as above. Also I now no longer see original track in route building. So what once was Riviera track is now the AP version under the Riviera name. So now depending on if you have the enhancement or not, you will see one or the other. Not good for route builders so I hope not the case.

I purchased, and installed on my "vanilla" version (which I do not use for running the sim). The extra files installed are in the individual route's Assets, OUTSIDE the .ap file, and therefore take precedence over the native versions. Hence, removing these extra files will revert that particular route to its original look. You could even pick and choose which attributes are kept, and which removed.

Aye thanks for that. I realise its not such a big deal to revert as it has not touched anything in my custom routes. Pretty much what Gptech wrote above while trying to get me to use the Baccup branch route The knowledge in these parts always impresses me as my own is sketchy at best

O.M.G....has this subject become COMPLICATED !!

I don't wish to "generalise", but its now already WAY beyond most peoples comprehension..

Not a problem at all if you use default routes except for only one type of track showing which AP might fix yet. If you use custom routes, then what you get will vary as you will have new track but no guarantee ballast will be matched. Also if the route builder used multiple track types, the end result could possibly be messy or look great The new track does look good though, especially junctions

[scorpion71]

Hmmmm, when I saw the OP and headed over to the website, I was interested, however reading the comments here, think I'll give it a miss.

I take it that it doesn't come with a custom installer/uninstaller. i.e. If I only wanted this installed on say, 2 or 3 certain routes only and if I didn't like the effects on one of those routes, I could easily revert back?