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[YBZG] PDL (Updated) [V1.3.3]
26th April 2022AN OVERVIEW
• This is an updated version of the ‘Portsmouth Direct Line – London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour’ route made by Dovetail Games for Train Simulator Classic.
• This updated version adds and edits various things within the route in order to enhance the playing experience and make it more realistic to the current day.
• I will continue to update the route in future so constructive criticism, feedback, and ideas on what to update are all much appreciated.
• It’s also worth noting that this route does not overwrite the current PDL route, but it is in fact it’s own route completely (hence why this is under the ‘Routes’ section of ATS, and not the ‘Patches/Fixes’ section).
WHAT’S BEEN UPDATED?
• Edited signal positioning at London Waterloo Station. This allows all platforms (that would in the real world) to accommodate 12-Car Class 450s and 10-Car Class 444s. Before hand, these train lengths wouldn’t be able to clear the signal at the end of the platform even when driven right up to the buffers. This would create big issues when creating scenarios as the AI wouldn’t be able to function properly.
• Added and edited route markers around the route. This allows for an easier time when creating scenarios as it is now a lot easier to route a train in more precise ways.
• Added and edited scenery around the route to make it more accurate to the real world in 2022 compared to how it looked in 2018 when the route released.
• Added better quick drive scenarios that follow the paths of real SWR services (unlike old PDL route which didn’t let you run semi-fast services).
• Added stopping points at all car stop signs along the route. These will allow trains to stop at the correct part of the platform when making a passenger stop in scenarios. I’d strongly advise scenario makers to use these, however it’s worth noting that AI trains don’t open their doors if stopped at a stopping point and they have any waypoints included in their routing. This is a very strange TS bug that I haven’t found a fix for yet.
ROUTE REQUIREMENTS
• Alan Thomson Sim Kings Cross to Kings Lynn OR WCML Missing Link OR ECML Merge to Leeds and York OR Chat Moss
• DTG’s Portsmouth Direct Line – London Waterloo to Portsmouth
• DTG’s South Western Mainline – Southampton to Bournemouth
• DTG’s Chatham Mainline – London Victoria to Dover + Ramsgate
• DTG’s Old Chatham Mainline – London Victoria to Rainham via Herne Hill/Catford
• DTG’s London to Faversham High Speed
• Jamesclass37’s Animated Gateline Pack Volume 2
SCENARIOS INCLUDED
• [YBZG] 2F93 – 17:32 – London Waterloo to Guildford (450)
• [YBZG] 2P54 – 15:24 – Portsmouth & Southsea to London Waterloo (450)
• [YBZG] 1P72 – 21:02 – Haslemere to London Waterloo (444)
• [YBZG] 1P61 – 19:00 – London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour (444)
• [YBZG] 2J07 – 06:36 – London Waterloo to Hampton Court (455)
• [YBZG] 5F70 – 23:27 – Guildford to Clapham Yard Sidings (455)
• [YBZG] 1L19 – 23:40 – London Waterloo to Andover (159)
• [YBZG] 1F07 – 07:28 – Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour & 1F16 – 11:23 – Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central (158)
• [YBZG] 2H20 – 08:41 – Shepperton to London Waterloo (707)
• [YBZG] 1J52 – 16:38 – Hampton Court to London Waterloo (707)
SCENARIO REQUIREMENTS
• See Individual Scenario Details Documents within the ‘Documentation’ Folder
SCENARIO EXTRA NOTES
• If any of the scenarios crash during the loading process, load a resource intensive scenario that does load properly, play it for a couple minutes, and then reload the scenario you’re trying to play.
• Ensure to delete the ‘SDBCache.bin.’ file located in ‘Railworks’ > ‘Content’ before loading up the game to play any of the scenarios. This ensures that each scenario will work as intended.
ROUTE EXTRA NOTES
• The new trackwork between Woking and Pirbright Junction is not finished and is not intended for driving on. I was working on this only to test my ability, and not to actually extend the route in any way. This part of the route will not be finished by myself as there is no point in doing so. You can try and finish it if you want, but you may not release it without my permission, as the disclaimer says.
• It is recommended to have your scenery density setting on max when playing the route. This is because it well ensure all scenery shows in game, including the small details, which really enhance the playing experience.
CHANGELOG
• V1.0 (17/04/22) – Cancelled
• V1.1 (26/04/22) – Added Quick Drive Scenarios, Updated Scenery Outside Woking Station, Updated More Route Markers, Added Route Image, Shortened Route Name
• V1.2 (22/05/22) – Added Four Standard Scenarios, Updated Scenery Inside Waterloo Station, Updated Speed Limits and Boards on Waterloo Station Approach, Updated Ticket Barriers at Walton-on-Thames, Added Stopping Points at all Main Station Car Stop Signs, Added and Updated Various Car Stop Signs, Updated Route Image, Added Additional Requirements, Updated Disclaimer
• V1.3 (14/07/22) – Added More Quick Drive Scenarios, Added Six More Standard Scenarios, Added Trackwork up to Pirbright Junction (Not Meant for Driving On), Completely Overhauled Clapham Junction Scenery, Updated Trackwork at Clapham Junction, Optimized Clapham Junction Area to Improve Performance, Updated Scenery at Raynes Park, Updated Route Image, Added Additional Requirements, Removed the ‘WHATS COMING NEXT?’ Section, Removed Useless Announcement Triggers from the ‘[YBZG] 1P72 – 21:02 – Haslemere to London Waterloo’ Scenario
• V1.3.1 (15/07/22) – Fixed Incorrect AI Class 313 Destinations in Multiple Scenarios, Fixed Missing 450 in ‘[YBZG] 1J52 – 16:38 – Hampton Court to London Waterloo’ Scenario, Updated Route Image
• V1.3.2 (16/07/22) – Added Disclaimer to Scenarios, Added Extra Info and Fixed Small Errors in the READMEs, Updated Route Image
• V1.3.3 (23/07/22) – Fixed Missing Scenery at Clapham Junction (New Installation Instructions), Updated Route Image, Added a ‘Credits’ Section in the REAMDME
HOW TO INSTALL
• If you don’t know where to find your Railworks directory, you can right-click Train Simulator on Steam, click ‘Properties’, click the ‘Local Files’ tab, and click ‘Browse’. You are now inside your Railworks directory.
• Copy the ‘Content’ folder into your Railworks directory and overwrite any files if asked to do so.
• If not done so already, extract ‘PortsmouthDirectAssets.ap’ from ‘Railworks’ > ‘Assets’ > ‘DTG’ > ‘Portsmouth Direct’.
• Copy the ‘Scenery’ folder from ‘Railworks’ > ‘Assets’ > ‘DTG’ > ‘Portsmouth Direct’ > ‘Portsmouth Direct Assets’.
• Paste the ‘Scenery’ folder into ‘Railworks’ > ‘Assets’ > ‘DTG’ > ‘Portsmouth Direct’ and replace any files when asked to do so.
• Delete the ‘SDBCache.bin.’ file located in ‘Railworks’ > ‘Content’ before loading up the game to play any of the scenarios. This ensures that each scenario will work as intended.
DISCLAIMER
• This route can be edited as you wish but is not to be re-uploaded anywhere without my permission.
• You may edit the route as you please, but you must say that you’ve done so if you choose to record or stream your edited version.
THANK YOU
• Thank you very much for downloading my route and I hope you enjoy!
CREDITS
• A massive thank you to ‘deargdoom’ who loaded the route up in TS Tools and found the pathing issue causing the missing assets around the route.
Hi Zain i love your route and do you know whats your website called thanks
Thank you! The link to the website is included in the download’s readme file 🙂
Hey! Great improvement over the original version, so props to the devs on that! Only thing so far is that the track layout at Waterloo is slightly incorrect. For example, arriving trains on the UMF can go into Platform 15 irl, whereas in the sim, they can only reach Plat 13 without switching to the DWS. So potentially a rework of those slight inaccuracies would make this a 9, if not, 10/10 enhancement.
Hey there! Firstly, thank you for downloading the route and the kind words. Secondly, in regards to your comment, Waterloo is indeed in the plans for an update in V1.4. I am already planning to rework some of the signals and I’m very happy to be fixing the trackwork too as best as I can. I will take a look to better locate the issue and thank you very much for bringing this to my attention! Take care now 🙂
Really good transformation, a much needed update was needed, thanks!
There is one thought I have though. I have altered the signals on Platforms 1, 2 and 3 at Waterloo to accommodate 10 cars. Is it possible to include this in your updates so I dont have to keep altering them? Also any plans to do platforms 4, 5 and 6 to 10 cars? I know the points will nee altering.
Many thanks
Hello there! Firstly, thank you for downloading the route and your kind words. Secondly, regarding your suggestion, yes, this is in the plans. I had noticed on a recent trip to Waterloo that these signals were in the wrong place, and these will be updated in V1.4. Thank you and take care!
Think you’ve cracked it – I downloaded v1.3.4 from your website – deleted the V1.3.3 route from Railworks Content, deleted the PortsmouthDirectAsset folder from my DTG\PortsmouthDirect folder to make V1.3.4 a clean installation – installed it, checked with TSTools and no missing Assets – started a QD up as a quick test – all OK.
My only problem now is that I don’t have the AP 455, 700, 375/377 or 377/379/387 EPs and subbing this many AP items in TSTools almost always causes OOM crashes (it did with the ones I tried in V1.3.3 and does with other routes), so it may need more than one AP sale before I have them all – the Cardiff – Portsmouth scenario should be OK though.
Thanks for fixing the route and pleased to be of some help – a 71 year old retired civil servant (nothing special, just one of the foot soldiers) can maybe still have his uses.
Indeed, all fixed now! Unfortunately I am having trouble uploading the update to ATS so that’s why V1.3.4 is only up on my website at the moment. As for the missing AP packs, the 375/377 and the 377/379/387 EPs aren’t all that important, just the 455 EP that you’ll find will leave a big gap in scenarios. Once again, a massive thank you for your help in fixing this issue, and also a massive thank you for your service sir. Take care mate!
Thanks for the kind words. I’ve come to the conclusion that trying to replace EP 455s usually causes a crash, so will likely go for Vol 2 and maybe the 700 (mostly for the 707) when there’s an AP sale – rarely had an issue with replacing and driving any of the EP 375/7/9/87s in a scenario on any route, and using the ATS patched 700/710 is usually OK too. Just had a quick go at 2F93 Waterloo – Guildford without subbing anything and it’s useable, if a bit short of AI as expected, but not too bad. FPS were a little low (15-25) until past Wimbledon, but I need to update the GPU from a 3GB GTX 1060 later in the year (the CPU is quick enough).
When I was stumbling about installing reskins incorrectly years ago I had help from Albie Pearce (Superalbs), Darren Porter (DPS) and Richard Fletcher – there’s usually someone who will take the time to help if you’re stuck.
Take care mate.
Just downloaded the route (which looks good as far as I’ve explored) and spotted the milk bottles at Clapham – checked it with TSTools and I have 52 different “missing” assets after duplicates are removed, so there’s actually a lot more, and yes I have extracted the .AP files for all of the required routes, so that’s not the reason.
It looks like the problem’s with the file pathing – to give one missing asset example it’s – “Assets\DTG\PortsmouthDirect\PortsmouthDirectAssets\Scenery\Billboards\Billboard_01.bin” – so it’s not being found because the path to this item in DTG’s PDL route installation is actually – “Assets\DTG\Portsmouth Direct\Scenery\Billboards\Billboard_01.bin” – all 52 have the extra “\PortsmouthDirectAssets\”.
I’ve no expertise at all in Railworks route building – I’m just a model railway builder who doesn’t like mysteries and hope maybe I’ve helped, so if I’m talking total crap, I apologise!
Hey there mate! Firstly, thank you for downloading the route and your nice words. Secondly, this is extremely helpful what you’ve done here mate, I was in the process of finding someone who’d be able to load the route up in TS Tools to find out what was going on with these missing assets. From what you’ve described, the issue is clear to me now, so you’ve been a massive help and I can’t thank you enough! Now I just need to go about finding a way to fix this, which hopefully won’t take too long. Thanks again mate!
May I also ask what you did in TS Tools to find this information, as I’m a bit stumped on it myself 😅
Good morning – only picked up your kind comments late last night and installed your latest route version, at which point my normally reliable broadband went monumentally unstable for a couple of hours – happy to try and help, but I couldn’t answer you so I gave up and went to bed.
TSTools – go to Route Building Tools – “Check Routes or Scenarios” – find the route you’re checking – highlight – and select “Check Selected Route” (then wait!) – select “Remove Duplicates From List” (some assets will be used several/many times) – and that lists the missing Assets. One thought – if you’re checking your own installation, it may come up with nothing unless there are assets still in AP files as you will probably have the \PortsmouthDirectAssets\ file in your own DTG\Portsmouth Direct folder, so TSTools will find it and see that nothing’s missing.
Tried your latest installation instructions and they didn’t work because it needs a \PortsmouthDirectAssets\ folder containing the files in the DTG\PortsmouthDirect folder, which it isn’t in the “vanilla” DTG installation, but in any event, the “missing” files are already present in the original Scenery folder – hence why they overwrite.
I have the route working with no missing Assets, but what I did was – in Railworks go to the DTG\PortsmouthDirect folder – create a new folder and name it “PortsmouthDirectAssets” – I copied and pasted the whole DTG\PortsmouthDirect\Scenery folder into it – because there are some more missing Assets I also copied and pasted the Stations folder in the same way – then created a new folder in the PortsmouthDirectAssets folder, renamed it “RailNetwork” – went to DTG\PortsmouthDirect\RailNetwork – copied and pasted Gantries, Interactive and LevelCrossings into PortsmouthDirectAssets\RailNetwork – checked with TSTools and nothing was missing – the route starts up and runs a QD OK.
Although it seems to work, my solution here is a sledgehammer to crack a nut and adds 925 MB to the original DTG Portsmouth Direct folder – mostly because the whole Scenery folder (805 MB) is now duplicated, although comparatively few assets from it are needed. What I think it needs is to remove \PortsmouthDirectAssets\ from the path, so that it just “looks for” these Assets in the DTG\PortsmouthDirect folder. Sorry, but I have no idea how to do this!
Amazing route!!
Cheers Zain!
Thanks mate, much appreciated! Glad you’re enjoying and it’s my pleasure!
Hello, first, great work with the route, well done. The 1F07 scenario has a starting time at 10:58. I tried very hard, but I couldn’t make the frist 3 stops in time at 10:43, 10:47 and 10:52. 😉
Hey there! Firstly, thank you for downloading the route, and your comment is much appreciated. Secondly, regarding your issue, yes, it is impossible to reach the first three stops on time. This is because you are driving a service in the scenario that is 20 minutes late, and the timings are done on if the service was on time. It does also mention this in this scenario’s readme file. So not to worry, you’re not doing anything wrong, and you’re not meant to be able to reach those timings on time, as the service you’re driving is late. Hopefully this clears up any confusion. Take care now 👍
are the annoucements in this?
Hey there. To answer your question, no, the announcements are not added in yet, and I can’t say for sure if they ever will. Doing announcements takes a lot of effort and material, such as either going out to record the announcements or get permission from someone who already has to use them in my scenarios. I don’t have the time to be going out recording announcements as of yet, and as this is a route, with the scenarios as an added bonus, I don’t think its all that important anyway. Maybe they will be here in future, or maybe not. I can’t say for sure.
Oh okay, but i know its ”just a route” but adding that little bit of realism can go far.
Yes, I do understand this, but you have to appreciate how difficult, expensive, and time consuming it is to do this. The route is free, I’m not making any money from doing this, as it is my hobby and I like doing it, so I can’t go and spend excessive amounts of money to go and travel around recording these announcements. Also, if I were to add announcement audio files to every scenario, the size of the download would increase from about 100mb to well over 1GB.
A fantastic route indeed, im getting milk bottles half-buried in Clapham yard, I have all the route requirements an ideas please?
Hey there! Firstly, thank you for downloading the route. Secondly, regarding your issue, I’ve seen other people get this issue. I’ve figured it might be something to do with the scenery density. Is your scenery density setting at the max?
That pesky milkman! 😛 still hasn’t picked up his bottles! What i did notice, there’s wires in mid air with no means of holding them or walkways, i did max it up. i’ll try and re-download again and see what happens.
Very strange indeed. When you re-download again, I’d suggest completely deleting the old version of the route before you re-install, to rule out any issues with conflicting versions. If this still doesn’t work, it must be something on my end, and I’ll try to have a look. 👍
Still there I’m afraid, I’ve noticed that the walkways aren’t there that’s shown in the picture. Is there any routes or extras i need ?
I think it may be an issue on my end then mate. It might be something to do with the way the file was compressed. I’ll have a look over the next few days to try and fix it, but you’re definitely not missing anything, so no need to worry there.
Absolutely brilliant, well done and thank you!
Thanks mate, much appreciated! Glad you’re enjoying it and its my pleasure to make content like this. Cheers 👍
Good Afternoon,
great job with the route, when i played the included scenarios the announcements didn’t work, any advice on what i am missing?
Hello there, thank you very much for downloading the route. As for the announcements, you’re not missing anything. At the time I released V1.2, I hadn’t finished the announcements for every scenario, however I decided to release it anyway as at the end of the day, it is a route upgrade, not a scenario pack. What I ended up doing was leaving the script for the announcements in the 444 scenario, but I took the audio files out, so long story short, you’re not meant to hear them yet. I apologise that this wasn’t made very clear, and I hope you enjoyed the scenario nevertheless!
That explains that one, the markers confused me that was all. Route is great looking forward to the inclusion of the announcements
For the 1P72 Scenario I need also the “DTG\LondonGillingham\Railvehicles\Class375\SN_AP\375_DMSOA_2-5.bin and …\375_DMSOB_2-5bin, but they are not mentioned in the Readme file, no Class 375 is noticed there.
Hey there. Regarding your issue, in the readme file, it does say that all the Armstrong Powerhouse Enhancement Packs require their own items, and what you’re mentioning is an example of this. Apologies if this was not made clear enough, and I hope you’re doing fine now!
I have ofcorse the needed Enhancement Pack 375\377\379, but there are no 2-5.bin, just up to 2-3.bin ?
really hyped for the SWR annoucements!
What if you can do the suburban routes such as the Hounslow loop
If you’re referring to adding these tracks into the route, then I don’t think this will happen. I don’t currently plan to extend the PDL in any way as I’m no good at track laying in TS. However, if you’re referring to just adding the quick drive scenario from Waterloo to Wandsworth Town (as far as the route goes towards Hounslow) then you’re in luck, because in V1.3 I’ll be adding extra QD scenarios.
right
Hello there, I am not sure if this is something that can be easily fixed, but the route seems to not have any spawn points for AI services in Quick Drive. At first I thought it was because no AI was assigned to the route pool (as the original route has AI) and I added some via TS Tools, however the AI still did not appear.
Hey there! First of all, thank you for downloading the route. Secondly, regarding your issue, you’re correct in saying that there is no AI for QD scenarios. I chose not to add any AI as it’s a pain to add in QD scenarios, people may not have the requirements for the AI that I’d put in, and I’d rather put all my focus to making the standard scenarios that are soon to be added. I may consider adding AI to QDs in the future, but as of right now, that’s not my main focus, and I also don’t think AI is all that important in QD scenarios. Of course, you’re very welcome to play around and edit what you want, but I also wouldn’t advise this as when updates are released, they will most likely overwrite your edits.