Steam And Loco Add-on Bundle 2 Improvements - 4th May

May the fourth be with you all, folks. Happy Star Wars Day! Today, we've got some improvements to our very own Millennium Falcon, our Steam locomotives.

Today we're bringing you some updates to our Steam content - including physics improvements and removing a number of the AI SPADs/derailing issues, as well as adding the post-release improvements to Loco Add-on Bundle 2 content.

Headliners:

• Update to Steam physics across Spirit of Steam and West Cornwall Local Steam Railtour (details below)
• Fixed AI 'phantom' SPAD issue on Spirit of Steam
• Various derailment fixes for Spirit of Steam
• Reduction of volume of safeties on Steam locomotives
• PS4/PS5 fix for reported missing services in Timetable Mode for Main Spessart Bahn, West Somerset Railway, and Tees Valley Line
• Added new scenario for Loco Add-on Bundle 2's German content
• New prototypical trailers for BSNF SD70ACe on Cajon Pass

Spirit of Steam - Liverpool-Crewe:

• Updates to Steam physics.

We’ve re-calculated the valve gear events using the new engineering features available to us. Previously the valve gear opened instantly. Now we track both the start of opening and the end of opening separately (same for closing).

This changes the player performance quite dramatically: you get less steam through the valves as they are open less for most of their travel, particularly at low cut-off. This means you tend to drive with a higher cut-off percentage - what you could pull at 20% cut-off before, you now might need 30% to achieve. It also changes the drafting on the fire, particularly at low speeds. The steam flow is smoother, and occurs over a longer time, meaning you can now achieve more sustained performance at low speeds.

Note: these physics improvements will also be in effect on the West Cornwall Local Steam Railtour, and in the upcoming Peak Forest route.

• Fixed various ‘phantom SPAD’s, caused by AI locomotives not interacting with the turntable as intended
• Fixed a derailment on the ‘Time for Scouse’ scenario.
• Fixed various derailments on services shunting around Edge Hill
• Fixed an issue in ‘The Tables Have Turned’ scenario where the “Climb aboard” objective waypoint wasn’t completable.
• Adjusted AP point scores to allow for a gold medal to be earned on ‘Bovine Blockage’
• Updated Spirit of Steam thumbnail image.
• Updated Steam particle textures to feel less flat.
• Rain should no longer fall through the ceiling at Liverpool Lime Street station.
• Adjusted BR Paraffin tail lamp brightness.

• Headlamps willnow work when starting a service.
• Safety volume sound should be slightly quieter.

• Fixed a derailment when coupling wagons.
• Safety volume sound should be slightly quieter.
• 8F with wagons will correctly load on Scenario Designer.

[20T Brake Van]

• [20T Brake Van] Hand brake now able to stretch the train if applied.

[12T Brake Van / Conflat Wagon / MLS5 Wagon / Mineral Wagon]

• Slightly increased brake force.
• Fixed vacuum brake cylinder animation so it now animates correctly.

West Cornwall Local Steam Railtour:

• Updates to Steam physics (see above)
• Updated wheel linkage to remove rust.

Loco Add-on Bundle 2:

Southeastern High Speed

• For Class 37 ROG ‘Out With the Old’ scenario, removed red light at Chatham that only clears when you ‘Go Via’.
• Added missing Voiceover to Class 37 ROG tutorial
• Sparks will now come from middle of the carriage when operating the Loco Add-on Bundle Class 375 on 3rd rail
• Livery editor: Resolved issues with decal placement on back left side of 37-5 loco

Cajon Pass

• For BNSF SD70ACe ‘Twilight Train’ scenario, player should now not be stuck at a red light waiting for AI traffic to pass
• Rain and snow should now appear on BNSF SD70ACe’s windows
• Corrected rewards when operating Headlights/Backlights/Coupler Lock/Bell on BNSF SD70ACE
• Resolved issue whereby rain and snow precipitation effects wouldn’t appear on SD70ACE windows
• Added new trailer designs to be more protoypical of American trailers

Kassel-Würzburg

• Added new Scenario, ‘Eco Pride’
• In 'Going Green’ Scenario, train rewards should now appear when interacting with ICE1 loco controls
• Corrected rewards when operating Left and Right cab doors on ICE

We’ve also made various Localisation improvements to the Add-on Bundle.

As ever, please allow up to 24 hours for the update to filter through to your game before contacting our Support Team.

Please let us know your thoughts here on this thread