Alternatives to TSW?

[Edmond Dantes]

I like it, but i’ve run the routes on CSX heavy haul and now what? Without an editor no alternative but to seek out alternatives.

Recommendations please.

[FurBall]

There's train sim '19 and run8.

[K-Cow]

In addition to Furry_Freak's post, there is the editor on the way. Running on Valve time however I presume

[bobbi]

Just what do you mean by “I’ve run the routes”?

Even if you’ve only got the original CSX: Heavy Haul route you can:

• Operate three different freight locomotives
• Operate a turntable
• Refuel a locomotive
• Assemble a string of steel coil cars on a snowy night
• Fill a string of coal cars
• Operate heavy trains uphill and downhill
• Perform a LONG list of train operating services along the route
• Relax in one of the other seats in a locomotive cab and watch the scenery as the trains go about their rounds
• Walk to a place near the tracks and watch the trains go by
• Walk around finding dozens of hardhats, marker pins and boards to place safety posters on

But your profile unlocked in June of 2017 only shows 17 miles operating a train, five doors operated and less than a mile traveled on foot. There’s no achievements on other routes, so you’ve apparently not bought the base package upgrade that adds several routes.

[Rudolf Jan]

According to your profile you played it 5.5 hours. So, you may completed some scenarios, but not all of them, but the services alone takes you 20-30 hours more. You can buy GWE if you don't have it, which adds 300 services to your collection ... I now palayd TSW for over 700 hours and TS2019 for over 5000 hours, agreed I bought a lot of additional content, but it costs me far less than an Euro per hour of fun.

[Grumpy Englishman]

Diseal railcar simulator, basic graphics but out does tsw on a lot ..cheap too and on steam

[AdvancedFollower]

The replay value isn't that great because the routes are so short and most have no branching lines. So while you could technically drive hundreds of different services, they're all more or less the same ~45 minute drive.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything better out. TS19 is based on an ancient platform, Trainz has pretty horrible reviews.

[Metallos]

Originally posted by Rudolf Jan:

You can buy GWE if you don't have it, which adds 300 services to your collection ...

But those are less than 10 different services in real, you've many services because they run at different times.


About the alternatives:
If US freight trains are your thing, then you shoud look at Run8, but you don't have passenger trains (ok, you've Amtrak passenger trains but no timetable service like you know from TSW, TS20xx or MSTS / OpenRails). Graphics are between MSTS and TS20xx but in singleplayer you don't have much time to look at the scenery, you must do the dispatcher, too.
It's not sold on Steam, it's sold direct from the developers and you need a credit card (ok, you're from US (the country of credit cards ;-) ) and credit cards are much more common than for example in Germany).

If you want VR (can be also played well without VR) and shunt / haul small freight trains in an imaginary Middle European local area with procedural job generation (based on product flow between factories / locations) then you can have a look at Derail Valley. It's actually in Early Access and made by a 7 man indie studio.

If you have old MSTS routes (or can get some) then you should look at OpenRails, in opposite to MSTS it runs on actual computers. The program itself is freeware but you have to get routes on your own. Because the routes from MSTS are around 10-15 years old the graphics are from that time.

[Purno]

Originally posted by AdvancedFollower:

The replay value isn't that great because the routes are so short and most have no branching lines. So while you could technically drive hundreds of different services, they're all more or less the same ~45 minute drive.

Pretty sure the average service on CSX and WSR are considerably longer.

I even doubt you can finish a service on RT within ~45 minutes. And for GWE just take a Class 166. RSN is shorter end-to-end, but there's several services that include shunting and follow up on each other.

I actually like the fact some services don't take so long. I don't always have the time to complete a long service.

[Metallos]

Originally posted by Purno:

I actually like the fact some services don't take so long. I don't always have the time to complete a long service.

That's why you have a save option. But TSW players don't use such a thing because they think loading a game results in mess of bugs (which is true in TSW (bugged AI trains and signals) but not in other games).

[AdvancedFollower]

Originally posted by Purno:

Originally posted by AdvancedFollower:

The replay value isn't that great because the routes are so short and most have no branching lines. So while you could technically drive hundreds of different services, they're all more or less the same ~45 minute drive.

Pretty sure the average service on CSX and WSR are considerably longer.

I even doubt you can finish a service on RT within ~45 minutes. And for GWE just take a Class 166. RSN is shorter end-to-end, but there's several services that include shunting and follow up on each other.

I actually like the fact some services don't take so long. I don't always have the time to complete a long service.

WSR and CSX only take longer because the speed limits are lower. Same with the Class 166, that's just artificially extending the time it takes by stopping more frequently. The amount of actual scenery is still the same.

But more accurately, no route is longer than about 50 km/30 miles, which is too short for anything except local commuter services. Even if you just wanted to play for an hour or so at a time, longer routes would give you more options.

[Kanawha]

But then I doubt players want to trundle along at 35 MpH the entire CSX division between Cumberland and Connellsville, which will take like three hours of boredom?

I do hope the next USA DLC has freight action, i.e. setting out and picking up cuts of cars at local industries.
But then, who am I?
DTG Matt thinks he knows best what we think we want from TSW, so a new to-and-fro commuter passenger route is entirely possible for the coming USA DLC, like the Rails along the Hudson TS19 recently got.

And this is probably easier for DTG to develop and will appeal to the console players more because they only have their game pads.

[Edmond Dantes]

Originally posted by Metallos:

Originally posted by Rudolf Jan:

You can buy GWE if you don't have it, which adds 300 services to your collection ...

But those are less than 10 different services in real, you've many services because they run at different times.


About the alternatives:
If US freight trains are your thing, then you shoud look at Run8, but you don't have passenger trains (ok, you've Amtrak passenger trains but no timetable service like you know from TSW, TS20xx or MSTS / OpenRails). Graphics are between MSTS and TS20xx but in singleplayer you don't have much time to look at the scenery, you must do the dispatcher, too.
It's not sold on Steam, it's sold direct from the developers and you need a credit card (ok, you're from US (the country of credit cards ;-) ) and credit cards are much more common than for example in Germany).

If you want VR (can be also played well without VR) and shunt / haul small freight trains in an imaginary Middle European local area with procedural job generation (based on product flow between factories / locations) then you can have a look at Derail Valley. It's actually in Early Access and made by a 7 man indie studio.

If you have old MSTS routes (or can get some) then you should look at OpenRails, in opposite to MSTS it runs on actual computers. The program itself is freeware but you have to get routes on your own. Because the routes from MSTS are around 10-15 years old the graphics are from that time.

Thank you for your response. Should have mentioned that I’m only interested in US routes and railroads. UK/European has no familiarity for me.

Thanks again

[Purno]

Originally posted by Kanawha:

But then I doubt players want to trundle along at 35 MpH the entire CSX division between Cumberland and Connellsville, which will take like three hours of boredom?

Yep. Train Simulator's Canadian Mountain Passes Route takes 6 hours, and I do quite like it.

DTG Matt thinks he knows best what we think we want from TSW, so a new to-and-fro commuter passenger route is entirely possible for the coming USA DLC, like the Rails along the Hudson TS19 recently got.

TS19 does already has it share of US freight trains availble. TSW doesn't. If I'm not mistaken, CSX:HH isn't even available to consoles. Plus, if the next TSW DLC does feature US freight trains, it could explain why the CSX diesel bugfix takes so long.

[Rudolf Jan]

Originally posted by Edmond Dantes:

...

Thank you for your response. Should have mentioned that I’m only interested in US routes and railroads. UK/European has no familiarity for me.

Thanks again

You may try something new, even if it's not familiar for you, might be an interesting experience. TS2019 does and TSW will allow you to drive trains in many countries, enjoying diferent cultures and atmosphere. But it is all up to you ...

[Metallos]

Originally posted by Rudolf Jan:

TS2019 does and TSW will allow you to drive trains in many countries, enjoying diferent cultures and atmosphere.

Yes, there are 2 other countries except USA in "Train Sim Three Countries", Germany and GB.

Hope DTG gets the editor ready and then other addon developers can make (different) routes and trains.