BNSF Dash 9 Loco Add-On on Steam unavailable in my region??

[DIFFLOCK66]

One of the NS scenarios I downloaded from the workshop requires this loco. Has it been discontinued altogether or is there some reason why I cannot get it in my region (UK)? Different loading gauge probably!

[OldAlaskaGuy]

It is regionally blocked. No BNSF or associated content is available outside the US. Old story. If you need to know why please use the search function. There is content from other countries not available in the US as well. It has to due with licensing restrictions. There are BNSF DLC available from some 3rd parties, EYEIN12 for one. You can purchase this and download a free BNSF reskin and substitute with RW_Tools. You can also substitute other NS locomotives for the BNSF the same way.

[DIFFLOCK66]

Ah, thank you for the info. I don't particularly need a BNSF reskin unless the scenario actually calls for it, but I don't appear to have a Dash 9 from any road. I like NS liveries and have several NS locos and the Coal District add-on for TS. I haven't checked, but is there a route which includes a Dash 9? I'll check out your suggestions thanks.

EDIT - there is an AI Dash 9 included in the NS Coal District, but I don't think they can be made driveable..

EDIT 2 - The Donner Pass Route appears to include a Dash-9 but is it worth me getting that with the mixed reviews the route has?
I looked at EYEIN12 but they don't have a Dash 9 (nice resourcre though!)

[DIFFLOCK66]

Any thoughts regarding Donner Pass? It appears that is the only way for me to obtain a Dash 9 here in the UK. Cheers.

[electronx]

You get a Dash 9 with NS Coal District, too.
As far as power ratings are concerned, you can also substitute it with an ES44AC which has better sounds and physics.
RW Tools can be used to fix it. Personally I just ignore workshop that uses assets I cannot use. There are so many scenarios, NS has nearly 700, and High Iron Simulations (elphaba) has a large array for most US routes. Only point is to challenge yourself to fix it. Otherwise, in-game filters help you out.

Donner Pass isn't specifically bad, most of its reviews are centered around the scenarios having a very off timetable, so you can't get a perfect score. You can get all achievements, however, although one of them requires quite a bit of driving, about 3300 miles, exclusively on the scenarios supplied with the route - career, standard or free roam, but not quick drive, nor any additional train, scenario pack or workshop.

[n.chiri]

This regional lock is even more painful when it comes to routes, as there's no legal way to obtain routes like Marias Pass (A MSTS classic) or Stevens Pass outside of the US. There's a backdated version of Marias Pass on the workshop that looks beautiful, and I know I will never be able to run it.

[Rocket Witch]

Donner Pass is mostly* fine. It's an old route, so it looks a bit bleh, but you can also enjoy a decent framerate for once! It's also got the only SW1500 that non-US players can still get hold of.

You might want to install the Desert Pacific texture improvement pack (scroll down on linked page) as the default Southern Pacific textures are very dark and faded:
https://desertpacificrwy.wixsite.com/desert-pacific/downloads

*There are issues with some old US routes (including Donner Pass) where the train's couplers can come undone while driving (then when you back up to your broken consist to recouple, its physics resume (after being paused when you gained distance) and it shoots forward into you), or consists can fly into the air when you first load in. Running the game in 32-bit while you're on the route may help prevent such occurences, but they very rarely happen anyway, so I'm just mentioning them for full disclosure really.


NS Coal District (aka. Penn Coal), which electronx mentioned, is better to get if you're into NS, as it's often treated like a default 'NS asset pack' required by most NS scenarios in general, since it includes their modern C40-9W and ES44.


It would be great if they'd make unbanded versions of all the old DLCs for non-US customers, but it's one of those situations where a company won't bother doing something profitable because they can spend their time on even more profitable things; in DTG's case, that's Train Sim World.

[TeplowoznyManiak]

I don't think somebody will repackage Dash9 for unbranding, because it's released 8 years ago, and nobody did it backwards. Some newer add-ons (ex Raton Pass or BNSF HiLine) come unbranded and released worldwide, which was a smart turn.

[Acroamatibus]

well the Donner Pass Dash 9 is actually the 100% identic model from the Dash 9 package, you can make repaints work for the Donner Pass Dash 9 which were made for the Dash 9 package, I did it and it worked.
You need just the basics of how to make a repaint and a little smartness to make this happen, one proof is that under the black Southern Pacific layer is still the BNSF branding as well as on the cab computer screen are still the BNSF letters in the Southern Pacific version.
It has a benefit to apply those repaints from the older Dash 9 package to the Southern Pacific version, the backlight dont turn on when the front lights are activated + snow textures.
Well it wont be recognized by the Steam Workshop for the scenarios but you can make an own BNSF locomotive.
I have also the Marias Pass route and it is not that great, it is a boring long run, there is no AI in quickdrive, but it is possible to program working AI traffic for single and double track routes, how to do so shows the Karawankenbahn by RSSLO, they made it, it is surely a little bit more work then DTG did with Marias Pass ^^
You can have this expierence with the Donner Pass route as well, and the better solution are the newer routes from Canada, Canadian Mountain Passes or the Yellowhead Pass route, those are good routes.

[TeplowoznyManiak]

Originally posted by Acroamatibus:

well the Donner Pass Dash 9 is actually the 100% identic model from the Dash 9 package, you can make repaints work for the Donner

NS Dash 9 has different internal cab, it has AAR control stand instead of desktop controls.
my video from the game with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmganliyXGc

the one from NS Coal District would be closest match (it's 9-40CW which is 'detuned' version of 9-44CW). i think it's the same model as from basic Dash9 pack, repackaged with the route
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO3TYJAA4ks

[Acroamatibus]

Originally posted by TeplowoznyManiak:

Originally posted by Acroamatibus:

well the Donner Pass Dash 9 is actually the 100% identic model from the Dash 9 package, you can make repaints work for the Donner

NS Dash 9 has different internal cab, it has AAR control stand instead of desktop controls.
my video from the game with it.
Yütübe video ad

the one from NS Coal District would be closest match (it's 9-40CW which is 'detuned' version of 9-44CW). i think it's the same model as from basic Dash9 pack, repackaged with the route
yütübe video ad 2

Dude why you have such reading issues I SAID THE DONNER PASS DASH 9 IS 100% IDENTIC TO THE DASH 9 PACKAGE. I never said anything about NS
If you open the Donner Pass Dash 9 texture files with an editor there is still the BNSF logo under the black layer ^^

[DIFFLOCK66]

Thanks for the info, people I have the Coal District, but as has been alluded to - there are two different Dash 9's out there a 40 and a 44... AND DONNER PASS IS NOW ON SALE.. Decision made :D :D

[Acroamatibus]

Originally posted by DIFFLOCK66:

Thanks for the info, people I have the Coal District, but as has been alluded to - there are two different Dash 9's out there a 40 and a 44... AND DONNER PASS IS NOW ON SALE.. Decision made :D :D

good idea those repaints work with the Donner Pass Dash 9
http://www.railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/accessories?view=document&id=2275:dash-9-texture-upgrade&catid=24:accessories
You wont have the numbering, but there is a fix for this, just use the Asset Package AC4400 BNSF numbers, how to link them to the repaint is a little bit tricky but possible

[Acroamatibus]

ad extra for numbering
if you want to use the warbonnet livery and have no yellow numbers, well open the texture files with dxtmp (very good repaint editor) export them to paint and just make them yellow and import them back in ^^
same goes for any other color.
the basic numbers should be from the asset package bnsf ac4400, but you can also use the donner pass dash 9 numbers and make them black, freedom of repainting ;)

[DIFFLOCK66]

I'll have to consult the repainting vids on youtube etc.
I don't appear to be able to get the NS repaint to show up either in any area - QD, Free , Standard etc. I downloaded the railworksamerica texture upgrade which gives several repaints. The one Castle Rock scenario (I've now deleted it) which required an NS Dash 9 (44) displayed a thumbnail, but upon loading the scenario I was met with several missing files. Pressed F2 then cancel just to get into the scenario... and the entire train was missing. Sorry for any confusion - I was not after a BNSF loco per se, just a C44-9W in NS colours, hence Donner Pass which includes the SP liveried one.
I have much to research!

[DIFFLOCK66]

OK - you cannot stop the stupid but I still cannot see any reskinned Dash 9. Thanks to the Donner Pass route I have the SP Dash 9 no problem. I did download the repaints as linked to in this discussion (assuming that they are for the Donner Pass Dash 9). I "think" I've installed them OK, but could someone please talk me through the folder structure and what should be where? Should I be able to put together a quick drive consist with the loco assuming it is present? Cheers.