Wherry Lines (DLC for DTG-TS)
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:29 amPicked this up for £12.49 in the Steam sale - wasn't going to pay full price and ISTR this was the route which stoked a lot of controversy when the developer (Armstrong Powerhouse) originally released it on their own store at something like £40?
Well my verdict so far would be around 7/10 - it is a reasonable effort but not quite the masterpiece some might proclaim and certainly would not, IMHO, been worth the original AP asking price. Total route length is 44 miles and consists of both routes from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and the section form Reedham to Lowestoft. Scenery is pretty flat as to be expected on the Norfolk Broads, though there are one or two gradients on the more direct line via Acle. Maximum speed is 60 MPH with several lower restrictions at various locations. Scenery is generally well done with many custom objects but the tracklaying leaves a little to be desired. While admittedly a fault with the original Kuju/DTG track system which persists to this day, in many locations the route builder has not tried to eliminate the blocked frog syndrome at points and crossings. There are quite a few doglegs here and there too around junctions which kind of spoils the effect.
Rolling stock consists of a Class 170 DMU (yawn) and the Class 37/4 with Mark 2D coaching stock (more like it!). Generally well done and certainly the 37 sound can't be faulted, other than I couldn't hear any field diverts kicking in. Also AP have chosen to deliver the correct muted in cab sound, so if you want the thrash you have to drive with head out or external view. With top and tailed locos on 3 coaches, both powering the consist takes off like a rocket. I couldn't see any way to shut down the rear loco to get a slightly more realistic performance though, again, this is more likely a limitation of the game itself.
A generous number of scenarios have been provided for both types of motive power so full credit to AP on that. However at least one scenario has you waiting 15 minutes at a location where you reverse which really makes you wish DTG built a speed up time function into their game.
In conclusion, worth what I paid for it (I rarely buy full price DLC these days) providing you accept it is not quite the train sim nirvana that it was originally billed as. This route would also form a good basis for a TSW project.
Well my verdict so far would be around 7/10 - it is a reasonable effort but not quite the masterpiece some might proclaim and certainly would not, IMHO, been worth the original AP asking price. Total route length is 44 miles and consists of both routes from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and the section form Reedham to Lowestoft. Scenery is pretty flat as to be expected on the Norfolk Broads, though there are one or two gradients on the more direct line via Acle. Maximum speed is 60 MPH with several lower restrictions at various locations. Scenery is generally well done with many custom objects but the tracklaying leaves a little to be desired. While admittedly a fault with the original Kuju/DTG track system which persists to this day, in many locations the route builder has not tried to eliminate the blocked frog syndrome at points and crossings. There are quite a few doglegs here and there too around junctions which kind of spoils the effect.
Rolling stock consists of a Class 170 DMU (yawn) and the Class 37/4 with Mark 2D coaching stock (more like it!). Generally well done and certainly the 37 sound can't be faulted, other than I couldn't hear any field diverts kicking in. Also AP have chosen to deliver the correct muted in cab sound, so if you want the thrash you have to drive with head out or external view. With top and tailed locos on 3 coaches, both powering the consist takes off like a rocket. I couldn't see any way to shut down the rear loco to get a slightly more realistic performance though, again, this is more likely a limitation of the game itself.
A generous number of scenarios have been provided for both types of motive power so full credit to AP on that. However at least one scenario has you waiting 15 minutes at a location where you reverse which really makes you wish DTG built a speed up time function into their game.
In conclusion, worth what I paid for it (I rarely buy full price DLC these days) providing you accept it is not quite the train sim nirvana that it was originally billed as. This route would also form a good basis for a TSW project.
