Last night I decided to see how far I could test RW without killing my PC. So, I grabbed 128 MTY coal gons and added two C45ACCTEs to the point and one on the rear. The results where more than what I expected. I was able to look back at the entire consist, in a yard and a well detailed route (the Castle Rock route) and pull off 16 FPS. Not once did my PC lag or stutter as I made the 24 mile trip across the route.

I tested the Dynamic brakes, train brakes and the blending of the two. It took me a little over a mile to stop the train on a downgrade and about another mile to get it back upto 30mph. I also found a way to create a 'telephoto' effect with the sims camera and started taking pictures in that mode.



Starting out of Monument.



Once on the grade I threw the train into Run 6 and let the three GE's drag the train up the hill.



Looking back at the consist. The forest adds a nice touch to this run.



A quick peek from the Conductors side of the cab.



The train rounding a curve while climbing. Note the distant mountains.



My brake test: As the head end passed MP10, I set 11 pounds of air. Around MP 10.5 I set the Dynamics, my head end was around 11.3 when I stopped.

--------------- Telephoto Effect ---------------



Me playing with the effects of the camera. Notice the LODs at play on the hoppers.



My DPU shoving hard on the end of this train. Note the LODs at play and the telephoto effect.



Staring at the Head End of this massive drag.

While many may believe the verdict is out on RW. I think the choice is pretty simple. This week, I'll be putting the sim through some more 'tests' and see how it handles. Next I'm going to fill up a yard and introduce a loaded grain drag into the mix and see how it handles.

--------------- *DISCLAIMER*---------------

This test also had AI traffic, including a loaded coal drag at 122 cars and four GEs.

NOTE: Not all of my PCs memory and energy was focused solely on RW. I had iTunes running, playing and downloading music, Trillian while IMing a few contacts and Safari (a web browser) open downloaded assets for RW all at the same time. If I had my PCs attention solely focused on the sim, I believe the results would have come out alot better.

My PC is a 2008-built HP DV7t notebook operating Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 2.1 GHz, 4096GB of RAM with two NVIDIA GEForce 9800 512-MB cards.

Some very nice shots in there.

The LODS quite wreck some good shots at times. Not much different to MSTS though, where I learned to hide them behinds grass and bushes

I am managing to get slightly better framerates with my 15 year old Amstrad...I have to use an external drive and rose tinted glasses, but it works for me...

Interestingly enough, I am enjoying US railroading in MSTS as much as RW. I just have so many high quality engines etc. Have even ordered 3DTS's new Colton route and I am getting ready to run some Espee.

Across my side of the pond, however, there is no choice - MSTS wouldn't get a look in on my computer and it is RW all the way. Excellent range of engines, stock and routes now - a lot of very high quality assets etc. The US has yet to fully catch up.

Rod

Thanks Rod!

LODs do seem to wreak havoc on some scenes, but its those LODs that keep modeling within a sane realm for your computers sake.

In the sense of enjoying US railroading, I find that I'm in the middle between the two sims, but when it comes to British trains - particularly the Class 380 and 390 - I'm all over RW.

As for me - on this side of the pond - and the rocks - I've come to find that RW has alot going for it and people that take that chance might actually enjoy it. It took me a year to even look at RW's direction. At one time I too screamed that I would never leave MSTS...now I'm not so sure.

I love them nice shots is that a new cam effect?

Thanks, Eric! No not really. Its actually an error caused by when you zoom in within the cab, then go to the window out view. It retains that "telephoto" effect and affects the entire sim. While at times it can be annoying, its a pretty neat error.

Nice i am going to try that..lol

Be forewarned: the moment you get your camera into that 'mode' its stuck like that until you end the scenario.

Ok how do you do the window out view?

SHIFT + 2.