Portland Terminal - worth it for TS2013?

[BadWhippet]

Hello - I just wanted to ask people's thoughts on whether the Portland Terminal is worth buying. Like a lot of folks I don't have a lot of spare cash. It's not as expensive as other routes (worrying it's cheaper for a reason - I know, RSC can't win!) but it has heaps of scenarios. The screenies look good (and interesting - especially the rail/road combo and the swing bridge). Generally, I like a good mix of diesel and electric (not steam) and enjoy both passenger routes and yard work (I recently bought Doncaster Works and thought this was fabulous value for money given the amount of enjoyment I've had from it). I do tend mostly to play UK routes, but that might be because my US route is limited to the Cajon Pass.

Also, has the pack been updated for TS2013?

It's competing with Edinburgh to Glasgow which is of course a UK route. Beyond it being UK, I've had no real interest in E to G because I prefer London, eastern, southern and Midlands based routes through familiarity. It also costs £5 more than Portland and it has a miserly 6 scenarios (compared to Portland's generous 11) . BUT if I get E to G, I will at least be able to (later) buy a couple of train add-ons that I've stalled on purely because they need E + G for scenarios.

[rosgar]

Those are two very different routes. The Portland Terminal is probably very good if you prefer USA shunting or short freight workings. However after the initial scenarios which come with it, there does not seem to be many other third party scenarios for it, so short of creating your own that's probably most all you are likely to get. I believe it is fully 2013 compatible though.
The Edinburgh Glasgow route may appear to have less scenarios to begin, but there are loads of third party scenarios for it, around 40 on Workshop, and loads more on here as well. In addition there are a fair number of other Payware packs available.
Worth mentioning that this route has recently been extended to include the freight complex at Grangemouth, so there is plenty of scope for freight and shunting here as well. The main advantage of course is the fact that most common BR stock has at some time worked along this route, many of the UK common diesels in particular. Most of the route is high speed with major stations at each end and, as a scenario writer, this is a very friendly route to work on if you decide to create your own.

[nigeltouatievans]

Portland terminal did get an update for TS2012 (https://twitter.com/railsimulator/statu ... 5534247936). I own it, but haven't really run it that much to be honest so I can't really comment on it in any meaningful way - it's not that it doesn't interest me, I've basically just got far too much content at the moment (including non-train-related games) .

[august1929]

Before Railworks came along, I spent all of my time virtual "railroading" on MSTS US routes. For some reason, Railworks never really seemed to capture the same feel (though Rich Garber's routes were close to what I wanted) until, that is, Portland came along.

Created by a US Team under Rick Grout (through G-Trax) this really does capture the feel of short line railroading, though technically part of a larger network. The level of detail is a perfect blend giving sufficient local (and specific) atmosphere through structures, plus the essential clutter of railroading, whilst allowing good framerates (even on my dinosaur of a computer).

My only complaint, and it is really a minor one, is that I do not particularly like the textures that come with much of the very extensive stock.

That said, there is such a range of reskins out there that a fiddle around with RW Tools can put that right.

One great feature is the use of very convincing low poly cars to fill up Rigby Yard (which is very big)

Operations range from through freight and passengers, to local pickup freights and specific collections, with switching then return to the main yard.

It is very much a switching route (not being enormous) but it has lateral depth in that there are long run off spurs with various industries.

All set by the seaside in Maine.

The route is, to my mind (apart from the stock) as perfect as you can get it - because of the relatively small size, it is well detailed, and in places, superbly detailed.

Route was updated for RW2012, lights, rain on engine screens etc. Not up to high standard of RW2013, but not particularly noticeable.

A few screens thrown in here - all on the original pre RW2012 without shadows (improvements to RW engine allows me to run on full shadows now) - pretty random and some under rather grey skies, but enough to give the atmosphere.











Even some street running



Rod

[Griphos]

I like it and run it a fair bit, just because of the kinds of stock I can run on it as much as anything (being the only real NE freight line available). I have to admit I really don't like those static photoreal people though. There are a number of Workshop scenarios for it as well. But there are other US routes I like better.

If you can get your hands on the freeware Bay of Quinte, I'd recommend it, even though it's not even updated for 2012, much less 2013. Runs fine though, and is a lovely little northern freight route with lots of interesting scenic interaction with the small rural communities on the route. And it won't cost you anything! Unless you buy the couple of scenario packs available for it from vendors. Still, not really any scenarios come with it, and there will never be any on Steam's Workshop.

Horseshoe Curve is still one of my favorites just for its atmosphere and wonderful yards, and plenty of Workshop scenarios for it.

[august1929]

Agree on Bay of Quite - available over at Railworks America (and also agree on Horseshoe Curve )

Bay of Quinte at the bottom of the page here

http://railworksamerica.com/FileLibrary ... -2010.html

See some photos I have posted over here

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 3&t=131065

Rod

[BadWhippet]

A huge thanks for all your thoughts - massively appreciated!

I think in all honesty I'm looking at buying TWO routes (weep). Edinburgh Glasgow has a high-speed stretch too - in which case I'd love that and it would give access to a lot more stock and scenarios.

But those Portland pictures! Yes, I have to get that (thanks for posting them, Rod). The Steam pics do not do it justice. Currently wondering whether I could just make £45 sort of vanish mysteriously from our bank account without the transaction yelling "Steam purchase again!!!" in our statements... Maybe not. I'll aim for one a month!

I'm currently getting "web server not found" for the railworksamerica link; the photos are fab so I definitely want to look at that route too.

[TransportSteve]

Hello Sue,

It'll be Easter soon, why don't you obtain both routes at a 50% discount.

I also have the Portland Terminal Route, it isn't a big layout by any means, which is why G-TraX, the folks who made it, possibly didn't want to charge a high price for it, who knows, anyway, as has already been stated, it is a highly detailed layout, lots of different scenarios, it has a couple of yards, some countryside running, but, the majority of the layout is around water, so, a few bridges to cross over and lots of boats, I've also put a few lighthouses and yachts on my own personal route, but, it's a really cute layout, and if you like moving small freight trains around and doing shunting in docks and warehouses, etc, then this may be a good buy for you, not much scope for passenger trains though, if that's your thing.
It really depends on what type of train running you like to do, it's too small for hauling huge heavy grandois American freight trains that you can run on the likes of Cajon Pass and Sherman Hill, etc, but, you can do some street running between the road vehicles and across traffic light intersections, it's the only American route we have currently available with this on, so, it's a lot of fun, it all depends if you like American locomotive and boxcar running, really.

Cheerz. Transport Steve.

[Griphos]

They are currently moving files to a new server at RWA, so try this link:

http://railworksamerica.com/index.php/d ... collection

[gptech]

I have absolutely zero interest in any American route......

or rather HAD zero interest until seeing those screenshots of 'Bay of Quinte' so I'm now off to download it

Have a good day y'all, and thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[BadWhippet]

I know - the screens are beautiful and railworksamerica is a whole new world I didn't know about - and thanks griphos for that new link (this works).

The Portland route is a definite buy, I've decided. I thoroughly enjoyed the Doncaster Works pack with the shorter shunting operations so I don't mind a shorter route (and it's safer for all those simulated drivers to keep me off main-line routes anyway). I love the road and rail sections especially, and it has another turntable to play with too.

Now here's hoping those Easter sales are MASSIVE sales!

[chrisreb]

Both are great routes with lots of detail and character. I often go back to them.

Bay or Quinte has a few scenarios on US sites including a multi part day in the life one.

[CptChacal]

Portland and Bay of Quinte are two of my favourite routes.
I love small shunting runs and dislike long passenger runs.

On these routes I like to play both engineer and brakeman, stopping the train at each manual switch, using the free camera to "walk" up to the switch and throw the points, or couple/uncouple cars, etc.

I use RW-Tools to swap engines to old rust buckets such as Virtual Railroad's RS11, or some dirty and rusty repaint of GP7s and GP9s. Simer4's heavily weathered repaints of the CN wide-nosed SD40-2 (available at RWA) are great for this too.

Of course, Krellnut's recent wagon sound pack v2 (also at RWA) is a must when you play brakeman like this. Hearing the slack being taken off from very close is an experience in itself.