Scenic Sub?

[shadowmane]

They should release the other locomotives for people to buy. I think there are some repaints here in our file library that depend on them.

[geepster775]

niknak, those scrawny trees look like the Scenic 1 variety. And I don't see any mosaic under the tracks, either.

They should release the other locomotives for people to buy. I think there are some repaints here in our file library that depend on them.

I'm fine with waiting on some OR-grade replacements. TS no longer produces MSTS products. And good for them. Other vendors should take note and make the pivot, too.

Search for Richtmyer or file id 84957 for the US3 upgrade.

[Unoriginal]

I wouldn’t mind it if TS redid the BNSF SD40s and GP38s (either upgrading the old or making new models entirely). New SD70MAC models wouldn’t hurt either.

[geepster775]

Scenic 2 featured a wall of trees on both sides of the tracks, and also added the missing long bridge over the floodplain east of Snohomish Jct.

I kept the DDS texture version and corrected any sloppy deficiencies in texture format calls so it could co-exist with the Global folder for the other TS routes where everything is based on DDS files

[R. Steele]

Senic 2 also had an updated load screen

BNSF2_load.jpg

[pschlik]

So, for those looking to determine which version of the starter route they have and, as a result, which version of Scenic Sub the starter route is compatible with, I have found 3 versions.

The 2019 Version
The original TS Starter Route, this one shows a copyright of 2019 in the installer. This is a version of the original Scenic Sub from 2006.

• No ballast in terrain texture.
• Track ballast color is more brown.
• Less detailed scenery.
• Comes with BNSF ES44AC 5817 (H3) and 5852 (H3).
• Has 48ft single unit well cars and a 4750 cubic foot PS covered hopper.
• The route folder is named "TS_StarterRoute"

DMFwgz1.jpg

The 2020 Version
The TS Starter Route published after Scenic V2 was taken off sale, this one shows a copyright of 2020 in the installer. This is a version of Scenic Sub 2.0 from 2011.

• Ballast included in terrain texture.
• Track ballast color is more grey.
• More detailed scenery.
• Comes with BNSF C44-9W 4410 (H2) and 5228 (H3).
• Has Maxi IV three unit well cars, three unit spine cars, 4750 cubic foot PS covered hoppers, and 5161 cubic foot Trinity covered hoppers.
• The route folder is named "BNSF_Scenic"

ATCeBL3.jpg

The 2023 Version
The TS Starter Route published around the time of Shasta (?), this one shows a copyright of 2023 in the installer. This is a version of the original Scenic Sub from 2006.

• No ballast in terrain texture.
• Track ballast color is more brown.
• Less detailed scenery.
• Comes with BNSF C44-9W 1034 (H1) and 4410 (H2). [This is the only difference from the 2019 version.]
• Has 48ft single unit well cars and a 4750 cubic foot PS covered hopper.
• The route folder is named "TS_StarterRoute"

g9sOhKa.jpg


The easiest way to tell which version of Scenic Sub you have is looking at the track textures and terrain textures. Brown ballast = Scenic 1.0, grey ballast = Scenic 2.0. Or look at the folder names. TS_StarterRoute = Scenic 1.0, BNSF_Scenic = Scenic 2.0.

[pschlik]

Thanks, I hate it (not this time though). There's now a 4th version of the starter route, but this time it's the most impressive one yet!

Here are my notes for this new one:

The 2024 Version
The current newest TS Starter Route, this one shows a copyright of 2024 in the installer. This is actually a version of Scenic Sub 2.0 from 2011.

• Ballast included in terrain texture.
• Track ballast color more grey (track texture is slightly different, darker and more detailed, from the original 2.0 route).
• More detailed scenery.
• Comes with all 4 BNSF C44-9Ws and all 3 BNSF ES44ACs included with the Scenic 2.0 Loco Upgrade Pack, but with single-part shape files and 2K DDS textures similar to Mullan Pass (as opposed to shapes with freight animations and 1K ACE textures), 2 brand new (ex-BN) BNSF GP38-2s using the same road numbers as the Scenic 2.0 Loco Upgrade Pack (headlights seem inaccurate, using high good lights, compared to the real thing, using low hood lights, though?) (does NOT include the Loco Upgrade Pack GP38-2s, SD40-2s, nor ES44DCs!), and 4 Amtrak P42DCs from the old Empire Builder pack (still using ACE textures) and the Southwest Chief included with ORTS Seligman. The most varied starter route by far!
• Has the entire set of freight rolling stock from Scenic Sub 2.0 (converted to DDS textures but otherwise unchanged), plus the BN caboose from the Loco Upgrade Pack (does NOT include the boeing cars), the whole Empire Builder trainset, and the whole ORTS Southwest Chief trainset
• Also has more activities than the previous versions, including 5 activities from Scenic 2.0 adjusted to use this new selection of rolling stock.
• The route folder is named "BNSF_Scenic"

UGM0hlM.jpg

Jlg2Oqj.png

This is quite a complete package, definitely a good starting point for someone wanting to see how OR plays. I still wish we had more of those loco upgrade 3D models, but next to nobody ever used those things for reskins or activities; the Scenic route itself is what counts.

[Orbita]

A step in the right direction! Really gives new Open Rails users better exposure to not only how the program works and its capabilities, but also shows the perfect balance of content quality and quantity.

[shadowmane]

A big thanks to Trainsimulations for the updated route. I just finished driving the Empire Builder up the mountain.

[niknak]

Yes many thanks to TS for this new version and also to pschlik for the heads up - I wouldn't have realised that this version was available otherwise. Also I like how it installs as "BNSF Scenic" and leaves the previous version "TS-StarterRoute" intact.

[TrainSimJack]

Yes many thanks to TS for this new version and also to pschlik for the heads up - I wouldn't have realised that this version was available otherwise. Also I like how it installs as "BNSF Scenic" and leaves the previous version "TS-StarterRoute" intact.

I missed the part that said that the latest one was available - Did Trainsimulations.net replace the download with the latest one? To get this do we just re-download it off the website?

[landnrailroader]

Interesting NikNak, I see you are using Win-11. Me, along with several others, learned a few days ago that our supplier of many years, is leaving Jacksonville in two weeks moving to S.Carolina to be closer to daughter & grandchildren. He upgraded my machine last year to where it is an excellent item, with Solid State Disk for the "C" & "K" partitions, the latter being my simulation area. Now only one hard drive. But if it burps, then my only choice is to visit Staples, Office Depot, or Best Buy and I will likely then be led kicking and screaming to Win-11. The current system is late model Win-10. May have questions for you -11 users if anything goes awry.

landnrailroader

[pschlik]

I missed the part that said that the latest one was available - Did Trainsimulations.net replace the download with the latest one? To get this do we just re-download it off the website?

Yes, if you go to the download link on their website you will get a new installer with the same name as the old installer (very hard to keep track of). You can install the route in the same location as other TrainSimulations routes.

[niknak]

What he said ^^^

[niknak]

Interesting NikNak, I see you are using Win-11. Me, along with several others, learned a few days ago that our supplier of many years, is leaving Jacksonville in two weeks moving to S.Carolina to be closer to daughter & grandchildren. He upgraded my machine last year to where it is an excellent item, with Solid State Disk for the "C" & "K" partitions, the latter being my simulation area. Now only one hard drive. But if it burps, then my only choice is to visit Staples, Office Depot, or Best Buy and I will likely then be led kicking and screaming to Win-11. The current system is late model Win-10. May have questions for you -11 users if anything goes awry.

landnrailroader

Happy to help if I can when the time comes. I got my new pc last September and it came with Win 11 Home. (previous pc had Win 10 Pro). I found the transition relatively painless and if I can manage then I reckon anyone can!