Class 390 Upgrade

[hughes407]

The RSC Class 390 upgrade downloaded today was a mite bit disappointing. Looks like the headlights illuminate about three feet in front of the locomotive. I couldn't tell if they worked at all until I got out in front at night and turned them on and off.

Don

[robbit]

I could not agree more. All they managed to do was slow the fps down a little bit more :(

[Machinist]

I was informed that real life UK headlights has a pattern of 30ft only, including powerfull and fast locomotives like Class 390, because they are used for indication (to people see the train), so they are just replicating that. However, IMHO, it doesn't work in virtual life, at least not at night as you well remarked...

[railbard]

The essentially non-useful headlights are my one major complaint about Railworks.

For that reason I keep MSTS on my system (thank gawd for my 3TB external drive!) so that I can scratch the "midnight special" itch I get from time to time--for example last week I drove the Pioneer Zephyr from Oelwein to Chicago on a detour off the CB&Q on the Chicago Great Western. Without working headlights, what a bore that trip would be!

Ok, I also have numerous favorite routes that haven't moved up to RW, so I have to have MSTS for them too (Monon, UK Mersey Thames, Pentecosta, SeaView, and so on...)

But I do love my RW just the same! And some of the glitches are funny, like the "wheel-chock" drivers in the Class 390 upgrade! :)

[Griphos]

As I think others have said, those aren't really headlights in the sense they are meant to light up the track for the driver. At 125 mph, they'd have to light up a mile out to be useful. They are to make the train visible to anyone near the track, which they do. There are videos on YouTube which show the headlights in RL as pretty much like what we're seeing.

[Chacal]

Without working headlights, what a bore that trip would be!

I think the new RW3 headlights fixed that problem. They are working, and quite bright. Also there is a diesel enhancement pack DLC that makes them light even further.

[peterhayes]

Chacal

I think the new RW3 headlights fixed that problem. They are working, and quite bright. Also there is a diesel enhancement pack DLC that makes them light even further.

Do you have the links I have dl the T&D US Loco Enhancement Pack - didn't realise there was one for UK locos.
Thanks
PeterH

[hughes407]

As I think others have said, those aren't really headlights in the sense they are meant to light up the track for the driver. At 125 mph, they'd have to light up a mile out to be useful. They are to make the train visible to anyone near the track, which they do. There are videos on YouTube which show the headlights in RL as pretty much like what we're seeing.

If what we are seeing is pretty much real world, I don't think I would want to be a driver in the UK at night. That is pretty much absolute blackness that I see with an occasional glimpse of something unknown flashing by at the side. Thank goodness for the signal lights that give some indication that I haven't entered the Twilight Zone.

Don

[Machinist]

I think the new RW3 headlights fixed that problem. They are working, and quite bright. Also there is a diesel enhancement pack DLC that makes them light even further.

Chacal
Do you have the links I have dl the T&D US Loco Enhancement Pack - didn't realise there was one for UK locos.
Thanks
PeterH

The free update (scheduled so far to the 3rd week of FEB) of TaD LEP Loco Ehanencment Pack will include many UK locomotives also (and some original or mod scenarios to play wtih them at night): all Black 5 and 7F steam RSC, and (from DLC packs) steam 8F, steam King Class, the 3 steams of Falmouth Branch pack, and diesels Class 66, Class 47 and Class 390 are WIP.

As I think others have said, those aren't really headlights in the sense they are meant to light up the track for the driver. At 125 mph, they'd have to light up a mile out to be useful. They are to make the train visible to anyone near the track, which they do. There are videos on YouTube which show the headlights in RL as pretty much like what we're seeing.

If what we are seeing is pretty much real world, I don't think I would want to be a driver in the UK at night. That is pretty much absolute blackness that I see with an occasional glimpse of something unknown flashing by at the side. Thank goodness for the signal lights that give some indication that I haven't entered the Twilight Zone.
Don

This is why LEP update will have:
1) the "normal" pack in which the headlight/headcode of UK engines will be "unrealistic" brighter (not exagerated), for virtual funny purpose, especially to be played at night. In this case we recommend also the use of the Lighting payware pack from Armstrong Power House to get a even more immersive experience at night in UK routes, once it has a new and darker Time of Day at night, instead of the "too much light" RSC default. However it works better only if you have (fictional) headlights, otherwise it makes you feel like driving inside a tunnel, as Hughes likely remarked.
2) an especial UK version pack with "realistic" UK projecting light's range of headcodes (even none in old steams) for those who prefer to drive prototypically in the darkness, as real UK drivers do.

Cheers,
Lisboa.

[peterhayes]

Lisboa
Thanks the USA LEP certainly makes a vast difference.
Regards
PeterH

[Machinist]

Lisboa
Thanks the USA LEP certainly makes a vast difference.
Regards
PeterH

Thank you too... this is also the reason the name of pack will be changed from "US LEP" to just "LEP", once is now holding UK (and further GE) locomotives also... Of course some new DLC US locos in the update: some SD40-2 and ES44AC DLC packs, AEM-7 and Acela are also WIP.

Cheers,
Lisboa.

[peterhayes]

L
WOW!! Can't wait!
pH

[railbard]

I spent my afternoon tweaking my graphic settings. I still cannot run TSX because my computer and nVidia card just can't handle it, however in the launcher I find I can use Anisotropic x2 without any trouble as long as I use 1024xwhatever for my screen rez (no anti aliasing tho). That gives me slightly better graphics without a performance hit. Then in the game I have about half the sliders set to medium, plus the assets shown at 10 and Low-Res shadows off.

That works great for little routes (like the UKTrainSim challenges) and many of the official DSC larger routes. In fact the only ones where I had to backtrack were HSC and WCML, plus some minor issues with a couple of third-party routes.

The graphic improvement was very noticeable and I am pleased I used my time to do this.

Best of all, headlights now actually cast some light out in front of the locomotives. Not as much as I'd like, but it's better than nothing. Can't wait for the upgraded TaD LEP!!!

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions here and in other threads. Yes, the best one ("buy a better system!") is on the horizon.

[Samwolf]

The free update (scheduled so far to the 3rd week of FEB) of TaD LEP Loco Ehanencment Pack will include many UK locomotives also (and some original or mod scenarios to play wtih them at night): all Black 5 and 7F steam RSC, and (from DLC packs) steam 8F, steam King Class, the 3 steams of Falmouth Branch pack, and diesels Class 66, Class 47 and Class 390 are WIP.

This is why LEP update will have:
1) the "normal" pack in which the headlight/headcode of UK engines will be "unrealistic" brighter (not exagerated), for virtual funny purpose, especially to be played at night. In this case we recommend also the use of the Lighting payware pack from Armstrong Power House to get a even more immersive experience at night in UK routes, once it has a new and darker Time of Day at night, instead of the "too much light" RSC default. However it works better only if you have (fictional) headlights, otherwise it makes you feel like driving inside a tunnel, as Hughes likely remarked.
2) an especial UK version pack with "realistic" UK projecting light's range of headcodes (even none in old steams) for those who prefer to drive prototypically in the darkness, as real UK drivers do.

Cheers,
Lisboa.

[hughes407]

Thank you too... this is also the reason the name of pack will be changed from "US LEP" to just "LEP", once is now holding UK (and further GE) locomotives also... Of course some new DLC US locos in the update: some SD40-2 and ES44AC DLC packs, AEM-7 and Acela are also WIP.

Cheers,
Lisboa.

Lisboa,

I already have installed the AEM-7 lighting enhancement that you co-authored with Richard Ham. Will the the TaD update be the same, replace, or be incompatible with regards to the AEM7RDLighting mod?

Don