Springfield Line Crashes (June core update)?

[GreatNortherner]

Hi all,

A fellow train simmer has made me aware of a bunch of really alarming new crashes that seem to have crept in on Springfield Line after the latest core update earlier this week.

-- The game freezes or crashes when clicking the "Play" button in the scenario editor

-- The game freezes or crashes when attempting to throw a switch in a scenario.

I can replicate both issues in my game and was wondering if anybody else was affected. Please let me know if you're experiencing similar (or other) new issues on the route.

Cheers,
Michael

[AmericanSteam]

I found this issue, created a new free roam scenario, added a locomotive, click orange arrow and crash to desktop. I ran a standard scenario and was able to switch tracks with the mouse G key without any issues. Started a scenario, entered World Editor, made no changes, click orange arrow, crash to desktop.

[GreatNortherner]

AmericanSteam, thanks much for the report. And judging by your PC specs in your signature I'm guessing we can rule out anything performance-related as the cause.

Cheers,
Michael

[Mikeov1985]

Are these issues tied to running in 64-bit? I have not been able to reproduce either issue in 32-bit.

Update: Clicking the play button from world editor seems to indefinitely lock up my TSC window when running in 64-bit mode but works fine in 32-bit. I have not been able to reproduce the switch issue in either 32-bit or 64-bit.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the report about the 32-bit version. I too am able to set switches and even go straight from Edit to Play mode using 32-bit, so probably this issue is somehow tied to the 64-bit exe and it not liking something on the route. Though I don't see what tracks-related thing that could be, as far as I know everything tracks-related is plain "Kuju standard" on the route but who knows.

Cheers,
Michael

[torfmeister]

Hello Michael.

QuickDrive freezes the game (black screen), this was reported just an hour ago by a DTG forum user, I confirmed this.

I just played the Early Morning Freight career scenario - the game froze after continuing from the stop at Windsor Locks (graphics freeze, sound continues looping) - note there was a similar freezing issue with a Montana HiLine scenario [MHL 1.05] Geeps and Grain which just froze when uncoupling (haven't tested that after the second June update though)

All on standard 64-bit.

Are you in contact with DTG's TrainSim-Steve?

[torfmeister]

I'm trying to locate the reason for the freeze.

Scenario: Early Morning Freight

Freeze: about 0.28 miles southbound before MP42

Just after passing the crossing (line speed changes from 30 to 60), game freezes.


I have tried the same on my second v72.3b installation (old core): Exactly at the same spot I just get a short stutter (less than a second), then everything's fine. But even on the old core there's issues - just went into World Editor and everything's black... so this route is not fully 64-bit compatible for reasons unknown...

Cannot create a freeroam at this position (again new core), as soon as I press Play the game freezes in 64bit.

EDIT: Just received update 74.8a - issues persist. But the route works fine in 32 bit.

[GreatNortherner]

Ah, rats. That's a bummer that this issue persists. Whatever "that issue" really is.

Some of the "oldtimers" among us might remember that the original rollout of the 64-bit exe already caused issues for Springfield Line. We could never determine a true reason for that, but we found out that decreasing the density of the custom distant scenery assets on the route made the route operational. Which was part of the patch we provided a little while after the original release of 64-bit TS (don't remember what year that was). For reasons that were totally beyond my understanding, the original (denser, bigger) distant assets always worked fine in 32-bit.

I have absolutely no idea whether or not this previous issue from the original 64-bit release has any relation to the current issues that plague the route, and whether or not its issues and those on Montana Hi-Line are in any way related. Hi-Line is only a "VNHRR route" by name. The majority of assets are of G-TraX origin, crucially including tracks, roads, signals (unlike on Springfield). Also, Hi-Line uses only standard Editor assets for distant scenery and should overall be quite a bit more performance friendly in how it was built. The two routes are really quite different and I can't think of any stand-out related features (besides me being involved, but then so I've been on other routes that apparently don't crash).

[buzz456]

Has anyone run logmate to see if there is a clue there. I confirmed the problem but currently up to my behind in alligators trying to finish at least a few of the projects I have going to get 'em off my plate.

[AmericanSteam]

Opened a report ticket with DTG and put me on the 12 step program.

[torfmeister]

Wanted to note here I found it's the signal scripts that crash HiLine. See that thread :) Unfortunately, they're compiled .out (hate them ;) )

[petergbw]

I have problems with the Springfield Line since the last small update to 74.8a. I cannot open any scenario. The loading starts, after some moments there is a black screen and the game crashes to the destop without any hint. Interesting for me ist the fact that before the last small update (including 74.4) everything was fine for me. Is there anything I can do to solve the problem? Reading the other comments i suppose not….

Greetings
Peter-gbw

[torfmeister]

peter, launching 32-bit mode is a valid workaround at the moment until DTG fix the compatibility (I do not see the need for Rick to change the scripts, but DTG will probably have to talk to him to resolve this.)

[petergbw]

Yes of course that is a valid possibility. I too think it will be solved by DTG in an next update. By the way, your proposal to install a previous version via steam console as described on dovetail forums is marvellous!

[torfmeister]

Yes, pretty handy. This was posted by someone on the Steam forums, who had discovered that on YT. I thought I'd go out grab some manifestIDs and make a proper guide. :)

Good thing is you can download all previous versions of any DLC. And if you bought RW back in the days, you also have access to RailWorks versions (depot 24019). I started with TS2016 when it came out, so that means only access to depot 24009, which was created with TS2013, where the big split happened and all stuff that was previously contained in one single depot (routes, assets, game files) was separated into core, European Loco & Assets, US Loco & Asset, RW Legacy Foliage, UK Buildings (RSC\APStation), Castlerock Scenery (Reminder to unpack that .ap because DTG screwed that one and the assets won't appear because it's packed on the wrong level in the folder hierarchy), and the route DLCs.