Railworks America

Hello all, in anticipation of the NJTransit multilevels coming soon to TS16, I thought I'd take a moment to try to clear up a couple issues that have been damping my enjoyment of the North Jersey Coast Line and DTG's NJTransit equipment.

NJCL:
DTG's North Jersey Coast Line is a step up from its previous US commuter route releases. It's a gorgeous, interesting, and fun route to drive. Kudos to all who were involved with its production, you really delivered a quality product. However, I'm only able to enjoy it a fraction of the times I attempt to play it.

Probably 4 out of every 5 times I attempt to load the route on Quick Drive (I almost exclusively run QD scenarios because I think career/standard scenarios have little replayability, plus I can set the time and weather), the route gets probably 95% done loading, then completely freezes with a background error on my desktop. I'm away from my home computer and cannot confirm, but I believe it's a vague message like "Train Simulator has encountered a problem." I've tried clearing my game's cache to no avail, restarting my computer, running the game as Administrator, I've deleted the route folder and reinstalled it, and once even cleared my entire DLC database. None of these have fixed the issue, and what makes it even more frustrating is that there seems to be no rhyme or reason for when the route crashes upon loading (almost all the time) or successfully loads (seldom). Has anyone else encountered this issue and found a solution?

NJTransit brakes:
DTG did a fantastic job modeling the NJTransit ALP-45, the ALP-46, and comet cab cars. FanRailer's physics and sound mods make them even better. That said, I've been having a bear of a time with the equipment's brakes. It seems like there's more or less 3 brake states - Release, Hold, Apply - which makes precision control extremely difficult. It's hard to precisely stop a train when your only brake options are pretty much "on" and "off." The brake comes on hard and strong and release quickly, but the train's momentum makes braking through application-hold-release-application-hold-release etc difficult. How is one supposed to properly align the train at platforms without over or undershooting? The electric brake isn't strong, and my understanding is that the train brake in the game is intended to simulate NJTransit's real-life blended braking operation. Am I doing something wrong, or do I have to live with the these locomotives' difficult braking system? "My kingdom for gradual application brakes...." The problem has gotten so frustrating I've given up on driving the ALPs and just use an AEM-7 instead and pretend it's an ALP-44. At least it has controllable brakes.

Thanks in advance. I'm beyond excited for the multilevels to make it to TS16, and I want to enjoy them when they're released without having to worry about the above issues.

There are a few routes that I have had trouble loading from time to time and this method works well for me. Start TS and load a very simple quick route. I use the RWA route as it always loads for me with no problems. Then just exit it and try to load the route you are having a problem with. I have discussed this with several people. We don't know why this works but it seems to work for everyone who has tried this method.

Braking is easier to achieve when operating the ALP-45DP and ALP-46 as they have dynamic brake control combined with the throttle.

buzz456 wrote:Start TS and load a very simple quick route. I use the RWA route as it always loads for me with no problems. Then just exit it and try to load the route you are having a problem with. I have discussed this with several people. We don't know why this works but it seems to work for everyone who has tried this method.

I was pretty eager to see if this worked, but no luck on my end. Back to the drawing board for me. I can confirm that what I'm getting is a "saved dump file to..." error. I'm at my wit's end trying to fix this, and even when I tried the 'nuclear' option of verifying my game files when this problem first arose back when the NJCL was released, it didn't solve the problem. Many thanks anyway, Buzz.

No other route does this? Would you share some computer specs? Maybe the answer lays there somewhere?

It's the only route I've ever had trouble with, besides the original NEC which crashes to desktop with a memory dump sometimes when I go to external view at Metropark. The error I get is:

"Saved dump fie to C:\TempDump\TS2016 - v54.5b.dmp."

My computer specs are:
Intel Core i5 4460 (3.2GHz)
8GB DDR3
500GB HDD
Windows 10 64-Bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2 GB

I get those memory dumps whenever I run northbound past Frankford Junction starting at North Philly.

Aha: I found an old thread about NJCL bugs on the Steam community (http://steamcommunity.com/app/24010/discussions/3/487870763303502717) from October. This post caught my eye:

Im having trouble with QD's starting from NY Penn, Hoboken and Secaucas, crashes with dump file everytime i try to start from those places. Can someone confirm this just in case its problem at my end. Tried it with various locos with same result and also with different finishing points.

A few people replied saying they had the same problem. Sure enough, that's exactly how it is for me. It's always when I start in New York, Hoboken, or Secaucus that the game crashes with a dump file. Starting anywhere else on the route works fine. Intriguingly, starting from NY, Hoboken, or Secaucus does work a small percentage of the time. I'm still stumped as to what exactly on the northern end of the route is confusing Quick Drive so much, but at least the route is consistently playable as long as I start from anywhere else.

mjlevy1118 wrote:Aha: I found an old thread about NJCL bugs on the Steam community (http://steamcommunity.com/app/24010/discussions/3/487870763303502717) from October. This post caught my eye:

Im having trouble with QD's starting from NY Penn, Hoboken and Secaucas, crashes with dump file everytime i try to start from those places. Can someone confirm this just in case its problem at my end. Tried it with various locos with same result and also with different finishing points.

A few people replied saying they had the same problem. Sure enough, that's exactly how it is for me. It's always when I start in New York, Hoboken, or Secaucus that the game crashes with a dump file. Starting anywhere else on the route works fine. Intriguingly, starting from NY, Hoboken, or Secaucus does work a small percentage of the time. I'm still stumped as to what exactly on the northern end of the route is confusing Quick Drive so much, but at least the route is consistently playable as long as I start from anywhere else.

It isn’t just Quick Drive. If I try to launch a Free Roam scenario I’ve created that starts at Hoboken it sometimes crashes. And the same occasionally if I go into the Scenario Editor starting at Hoboken.

When NJCL first downloaded to my computer, right out of the box I was unable to run out of Hoboken and get past the extensive NJT yards – crashed very time. A simple Verify Cache cured that. Still runs sluggishly through there, but has not crashed recently. Note that doing a Verify Cache is different from Clearing the Cache in-game as you have already done. The VC found 371 missing files.

NJCL is the only route with which I have these problems sometimes, getting the dreaded Error 0 – unable to save dump file crash and other variations. As you’ve indicated, it’s completely dependent on which part of the route I’m attempting to run on. For example, starting-running at any point on the Jersey leg of the route offers zero problems.

Running any of my Free Roams starting anywhere, on the extremely scenery and track intensive part north of Newark Penn Station all the way up to either Hoboken or NY Penn, I hold my breath, say a prayer to the rail gods and usually make it all the way – but not always. Lately, it’s been happening about 50% of the time as I approach Secaucus northbound before going over the bridge, where some of the scenery – especially bridgework - struggles to load. Even when there’s no crash it’s not always a smooth ride, with some stuttering when certain objects seem to have difficulty loading as I approach. I now make it a habit to Save progress in this area, so that if the scenario crashes I can re-start it there, whereupon it usually finishes without issues.

Interestingly, running south out of NY Penn I almost never have crash issues anywhere on the route, all the way past Newark Penn and into more “open country.”

I’m guessing – and that’s all it is - this magnificent route is just too much for even my fairly beefy computer setup, with perhaps the video card being the culprit. Hard to believe, given that it runs other intensive routes like Hamburg-Hanover without a hiccup, even after several of my additions have made that route even more scenery-packed.

(Re the old NEC, I’ve had the same exact problem you have at the same exact point, in external views.)

Dell XPS 8700 Special Ed.; Windows 8.1 64Bit; Intel i7 4770 Quad Core CPU; 225GB SSD; 2TB Data HD; 24GB RAM; Radeon R9 270 Graphics Card – 2GB RAM; Dell Touch 23” WS Hi Def Monitor. Train Sim 20xx is on the SSD.

Why don't you try to start it with LogMate running and see where the loading stops?

LogMate log from trying to start at Secaucus:

LogMate.exe wrote:[RunTimeError 11:13:11 PM] Trace mdump.cpp : 422 = error handlers have been set
[Content 11:13:12 PM] Trace cBlueprintLibrary.cpp : 417 = Blueprint set not found : Kuju, RailSimulatorCore
[Content 11:13:12 PM] Trace cBlueprintLibrary.cpp : 448 = Blueprint set not found for: Cameras\EditCamera001.xml
[Content 11:13:45 PM] Trace cEntity.cpp : 1272 = Missing blueprint "Editor\Gizmo\Scenario Markers\Tutorial Scenario Marker.xml"
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[Content 11:14:38 PM] Trace cNetworkRibbon.cpp : 1984 = Ribbon not found while loading curves, are all network files in synch? Ribbon ID :{00000000-0000-0000-0000000000000000}
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM] ARGH
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM]
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM] ASSERT(mPrevSearchPathNode == NULL || (mDistanceAhead >= mPrevSearchPathNode->GetDistanceAhead()) || GetReversingPoint() || mPrevSearchPathNode->GetReversingPoint());
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM]
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM] DispatcherV1::cSearchPathNode::SetDistanceAhead()
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM]
[RunTimeError 11:15:27 PM] cSearchPathNode.cpp : 257
[RunTimeError 11:15:32 PM] Trace mdump.cpp : 381 = Dump taken

RunTimeError wrote: Trace mdump.cpp : 422 = error handlers have been set
ARGH

ASSERT(mPrevSearchPathNode == NULL || (mDistanceAhead >= mPrevSearchPathNode->GetDistanceAhead()) || GetReversingPoint() || mPrevSearchPathNode->GetReversingPoint());

DispatcherV1::cSearchPathNode::SetDistanceAhead()

cSearchPathNode.cpp : 257
Trace mdump.cpp : 381 = Dump taken

Can anyone make sense of this?

mjlevy1118 wrote:ARGH

It's never a good sign when a program starts screaming in pain.

This looks like a broken tracks.bin, but you say that sometimes it loads fine, so I don't know.

Update: I made my own custom QD southbound scenario with starting points at NY Penn, Secaucus, and Newark – and the game loads perfectly fine. Therefore the problem must be in the supplied Quickdrive scenario. It's a shame because I really enjoyed it, and was impressed at the included AI traffic and the ability to start at any station along the route, but something in the scenario just isn't clicking with my system. It must have to do with the AI traffic cuz my custom scenario doesn't have any traffic at all, and it loads without any trouble.

After watching a youtube video of a real-life engineer driving a NJtransit service, I figured out how to properly use the 'lap' function in conjunction with 'service' on the equipment's brakes, giving a lot more precise control of how my trains stop. I'm very glad to have sorted the issues in my OP out.