CreativeRail ECML Modern Pt1 Out Now!

[FoityBill68]

I can't get the RSC model because it has been widthdrawn from the steam store. The version on the steam store also contained a wagon pack which doesn't seem to be on the version from Just Trains so I'd prefer to wait for it to re-appear on the steam store than buy it elsewhere. Also as stated any updates are likely only to be applied to the steam bought version so in the (unlikely?) event RSC ever update this model, I would imagine only the steam purchasers would get this. I feel that Creative may have made a mistake here in specifying an outdated model (from the RailSimulator era) with limited availability as a pre-requisite for the included scenarios.

[smarty2]

Aah, didn't realise they had pulled it, don't go on there much.

[USRailFan]

The RSC one on Steam also had proper dynamic numbering, which the ones sold through JustTrains does not have, unless it has been changed recently (the one sold thru JustTrains used to be the original Rail Simulator version).

[Ghiax52]

Could someone do a quick review of the route. Would you recommend me buy it now or just wait till they complete the whole thing?

After recently buying China Clay for export and being overhelmed by the amount of detail and work that had gone in to it I was very much looking forward to playing with their latest release.

£19.99 gets you 50ish miles of track (a further £5 discount is available if you already own the previous edition of ECML)
A new TS 2013 user however will have to pay the £19.99 and then buy the european asset pack from steam for £3.99.

The route comprises of the section of ECMl between Newark and Peterborough and some effort has been put in to make these areas look realistic. However on exiting these areas there is not much to look at.
I understand that a lot of the ECML is just fields either side of the track, but nearly almost every field is the same green, bordered with the same dark green hedge. A bit of variation in the colouring would have helped a lot, along with the addition of some flora in the fields to prevent them looking so flat.

All of the crossings/bridges seem to have been included in the correct location but hardly any other identifying features. Towns, villages, forests, electricity pylons and houses that should be easily visible from the track are missing.

I cant comment on the signalling as I'm not an expert as to what the ECML currently has but they do the job.

I would much rather have waited until the rural lineside scenery could have had the extra effort put into it to bring it upto the same standard as CCFE.

I am disappointed with this purchase and will probably not play it again until it has been revisited by the creators.

Sorry if this sounded harsh but for roughly the same price I could buy, (If I didnt own it already) WCML and get over 100 miles of superbly detailed route and a class 86 and mk3's (not to mention the european & us asset packs)

Dave

Reading the above I am glad not to be the only one disappointed by this rendition of the ECML.

I live 2 miles north of Peterbrough and regularly go to a bridge to see the trains go down the ECML of an evening. This road was a level crossing until the early 90's, I know this due to a picture at Woodcroft level crossing of a 91 set in Intercity livery going through the crossing at Hurn Road.

Imagine my suprise when Hurn Road and the 3 foot bridges which are landmarks running from Grantham into Peterborough are completely missing, houses included.

Also I was astonished that one of a very low number of wooden gated level crossings in the UK at Woodcroft (just south of Helpston) has been modelled as a AHB level crossing, something which would soon have been discovered with a quick flickr search of the crossing.

While also on Helpston a majority of this village is missing.

As I mentioned earlier living so close to this line and regularly watching the trains go on the line from Peterbrough to the North and back I eagerly awaited this modernised version of the route. But I am severly disappointed by this. Especially for the price and descriptions that it is highly detailed and real world.

Admittantly the station buildings and track layouts of the stations is excellant. Just a shame the bits inbetween let it down somewhat.

Paul

[smarty2]

Well, seems to me that I may as well wait for the Munich Augsburg route instead, thanks for the feedback fella's.

[msey0002]

Not sure I'll buy this. I have the 'older' version, and seeing as it's largely the same route, I think 14.99 is too much for some more buildings and catenary, especially with CR allegedly not allowing AP to create scenarios for their routes.

As a bit of a rant, I'm not sure I like this releasing parts of routes separately. Doncaster to Peterborough is 80 miles, yet we've already paid the normal full price of a route for part 1. how much will part 2 be costing?

[jimmyshand]

First off I'd like to say that I have nothing against Creative Rail and I'm actually a massive fan of their China Clay route and it remains one of my favourite and most used routes. However, this whole ECML thing is a bit of a turn off for me and for several reasons.
Why build the middle section and arguably most featureless and boring section of the route first? The only logical conclusion I can come to is that it's the easy option and that disappoints me after the quirky, varied and very interesting CCFE route. It's relatively simple (for a payware developer anyway) to make a route that features nothing but flat terrain and endless identical fields. If you're starting a major route project like ECML then surely you'd start at one end and work your way along it?
If you were building say Oxford to Paddington then you wouldn't start with Slough to Ealing Broadway, would you?

Perhaps the intention was to do an easy stretch first in order to generate more money to enable them to justify completing the rest of the route? Would make sense but if that was the case then it was potentially a dodgy decision because poor reviews of the boring, easy bit will put people off the entire project. Also if the amount of time it's taken so far is anything to go by, then it will be several years, if ever, before we might see part 2 and the more interesting and detailed parts of the route. Potentially beyond the life-span of the actual base sim itself! This is another thing that end-users will be thinking when deciding whether or not to buy into the project.

Sounds harsh but with an introductory asking price of £19.99 and an RRP of £24.99 then you're pitching your product against the very best routes available and so you will be judged accordingly by the customers.

In my opinion, an asking price of £10-£15 and more detailing/variation in the rural sections would have made this product much more appealing.

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

Yes, I have to agree. Reluctant to pay a further £15 for something I almost already own, especially in light of the mini-reviews in this thread.

[bdy26]

It really needs a 91. We aren't short of places to drive HSTs... So are the WIP versions of the 91 any closer?

I'm sure its excellent, but I prefer the version I've already got traction wise

B

[pilot37]

The "surprise" and "astonishment" at areas of inaccuracy seems a bit over the top. What about the general feel and atmosphere of the route?

Happy with my purchase and eagerly await the extensions.

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

The "surprise" and "astonishment" at areas of inaccuracy seems a bit over the top. What about the general feel and atmosphere of the route?

Happy with my purchase and eagerly await the extensions.

So you've now bought the 'modern' version?

[rml345]

I am more than happy with my purchase and I look forward to Part 2.

[winifred89]

Me to very happy with my purchase, cannot wait for part 2

[pilot37]

The "surprise" and "astonishment" at areas of inaccuracy seems a bit over the top. What about the general feel and atmosphere of the route?

Happy with my purchase and eagerly await the extensions.

So you've now bought the 'modern' version?

No, because I prefer older time periods. Hope someone will do an older WCML.

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

The "surprise" and "astonishment" at areas of inaccuracy seems a bit over the top. What about the general feel and atmosphere of the route?

Happy with my purchase and eagerly await the extensions.

So you've now bought the 'modern' version?

No, because I prefer older time periods. Hope someone will do an older WCML.

In that case, how can you be happy with the purchase of the subject matter in the thread? You're talking about a different route.