Steam Summer Sale 2014

[Expressman]

I already picked up the P42 and GP38-2. Working on a repaint for the latter in Mount Hood Railroad and Portland & Western, if I can figure out the process.

[Ghettofab75]

I just recently purchased both the Canadian Passes and Stevens Pass route. I can say that both are really nice routes, but Stevens pass is definately better. Better detail in the scenery and more rolling stock offered with the route. It looks like the Canadian route only has the one AC4400 included, but it is like two routes in one.

The braking on the Canadian passes route is interesting, but takes a lot to get used to and can be difficult to control. It may be prototypical, but I can see it driving some people away.

Both are excellent routes if you like mountain routes!

Looks like I'll be buying the empire builder and possibly the berkshire for summer!

Kevo

[GaryG]

Tempted by the CP route - though in theory Stevens Pass is above it in my list of routes to get, I have fond memories of travelling across their in 1986 when VIA still went that way. For all its (alleged) flaws would be nice to relive the experience and drive across it. (In the absence of being able to afford the megabucks to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer).

Hi

I bought it yesterday. I see two shortcomings, one minor and the other easily fixed.

The minor - Brakes are missing the fixed six pound initial minimum drop but I just watch the gauge and make sure I let it drop to 84 PSI (or lower).

The not so minor (but fixed) - Couplers have the usual Railworks rubber band stretch and cause the train to stretch and shrink which with this route's varying grades make train handling at track speed quite difficult to maintain without bouncing one or two miles over and under. The fix was very easy with WinRAR - I replaced buckeye_type_e_coupling.bin in the two couplings buckeye folders (locos and cars). With WinRAR, I just dragged the non-rubbery replacement into the two locations in the .ap file and WinRAR did the swap, no uncompressing/compressing required.

To test for rubberbanding, use the '2' view, position the view so you can see the rear coupler of the last headend loco and apply full power. On a heavy train, if there is rubber banding you should see the couplers pull right out of their pockets. Now move back to the '1' view and shut off the power, the speed will decrease rapidly as the entire train rapidly shrinks in length while the couplers move back into the pockets. Not too prototypical also making train handling much more difficult at track speed than necessary with this route's varying gradients.

GaryG

[cor726]

It's a great time to pick up some or Richard Garber's routes if you don't have them. Fort Kent to Eagle Lake is $4.74 - lots of scenarios and a great little route. Ohio Steel 2 is $11.99 - great price for one of my favourite routes.

I bought a couple things in the sale but have figured out I have way more than I ever have time to use. I have almost everything American anyway and most of the English stuff I have bought gets very little use (Except the Western Lines of Scotland - not sure why but I really like that route).

[slick204]

I was thinking of picking up the PRR RS11 but I am wondering if all the repaints in the file library will work with it. It looks like they were all based on the VR model. I read that the Steam PRR model is from VR but installs in a different location. So, is there a way to use the repaints with the steam model?

Thanks!

[buzz456]

If it in fact is the same model it will work just fine. Just needs new bins but I can not verify that it is the same model.

[GSkid]

I got the Union Pacific DDA40X Centennial, Amtrak P42 DC 'Empire Builder' and the Union Pacific Heritage SD70ACes pack.

I especially needed the P42DC. My Amtrak F40PH is okay for retro running, but I sorely needed a long haul passenger Amtrak for the modern era too.

***UPDATE***--- Tried out the content real quick. My issues: Pretty much no outside sound in cab view even with windows open with the DDA40X. My biggest issue... the P42DC's engine sounds NOTHING like a 4-stroke, let alone a GE 4-stroke. Sounds more like a kinda sorta wannabe EMD. Terrible.

On the plus side.... the UP Heritage SD70ACes horn sounds better then the stock ACe horns that have that EMD run 8 drum roll in the background of the sample. Overall I'm pretty happy.... but that P42DC engine sound desperately needs replacing.

[simer4]

I got every piece of American DLC I was missing. Spent 250 bucks. I know, I over spend. Lol.