I've gone with the approach of trying to show real life equipment that's also in the games, either from site photographs or getting some of the physical kit and explaining it's operation. hope you enjoy.
5:44 In regards to that signal. In the US they use a system called speed signalling, where their signal masts will have 1-3 signal heads, each one corresponding to a speed. So for them, Green over Red over Red would be an all clear, while Red over Green over Red would be clear at medium speed (45mph iirc?). Otherwise its the normal proceed, caution, stop. There's also the system we use in NSW, Australia, which is based on the British system, but we'll have two signal heads (at least in metropolitan areas or places with complex point work, otherwise its just a single head), with the top indicating the current signal block, and the bottom indicating the next. So Green over Green here would be all clear, while Green over Red would be caution. Otherwise I think having more than one signal head is pretty rare. Also, keep up the good work on the videos, I love learning about the weird details!
@@CityConnectionsMedia thanks that’s really good information! I can see how that works now it’s just unfamiliar to me with British/European signalling principles. I’m going to read more into this and learn the details in case it comes up again in another game! Thanks.
@@HowardOffTheRails don't get mixed up though,GTA is still pretty awful, like if you want to watch an American who worked in signals loose his shit over GTA then look up 'Hyce' (you might be familiar) he has an entire video(/livestream?) where he does nothing but shit on how awful GTA's rail design is.
Hey, I saw the video on Battlefield 1 (my favourite game) and I'm a big train fan too! Love your videos and hope to see more :D hyped for the Red Dead Redemption 2 video as well
The tow signal heads over the other is realistic. I live along a major rail-line connecting Cincinnati, Ohio to Chicago via Toledo, Ohio, (50+ trains a day), and the top one on CSX (the rail-line I live across from) usually has the top most signal being the main indicator, followed by the switch position on the lower head. Usually with a red, orange, or white light indicated the switches position. I've noticed from observations that when there is no train coming, both heads show read, but if there is one, usually it'll be either a yellow over orange or white, or green over orange or white. As for why you got Dwarf(shunt) signal in proximity to a mast that's facing the same way, I got no clue. Signal boxes/junction towers are almost not a thing here in the US. Practically none existent. While yes it's nice to see them, they just simply are not a thing since a person half a continent away can control that switch remotely. If I recall, that siding you're at is a oil fired power plant. The bumper is also not accurate to the US (which the map is based of LA), All trains in North America and parts of Latin America have there shock absorbers built into the draft gear/couplers. This video definitely needs a part two. There's alot more track and equipment I'd love to see you're take on. Such as the trains themselves, the bits of abandoned track in places, and an unmarked railroad crossing...I'm loading into GTA to get you those co-ornaments or relative bearing for you. I don't know how familiar with the map you are so I'll try and keep the locations as simple as possible. Location 1: Town at the very northern parts of the map, the railyard there has track panels, rail sections, spare wheels, and alot of electrical equipment(?) and apparently a passenger station.... Location 2: The Onion grain elevator has a derailed train car, and a tank car in a shed. Location 3: the quarry to the north of that power station, and south of the Onion silos as some stuff you may wanna take a look at. A pile of ties/sleepers, track panels, generator,and a red sign that's inappropriately placed if it's for the trains It's also the junction mapped in the signal towers..also nearby to that junction is a relay house, space axles, and a bump-stop. Location 4: to the east of the big silos in the city, just before the highway junction there is an easily miss-able railroad crossing you'll want to look for the abandoned train cars/wagons to your right, and the "Go Loco" building to you're left with abandoned boxcar in front of it, on the road there are indications of a railroad crossing which is suggested to still be active. While you're at this location, I'd want your take on the abandoned trains Location 5: just a short walk/run/drive from location 4, there's a Foundry, I'd like your take on the size of it, and your take as to why 5 plank wagons (of which realistically don't operate in North America) are present. I'mma also go-ahead and through the railyard opposite the bridge in too...good lord there are alot of abandoned trains in this part of the city....I'm counting nearly 13 thus far, and those are just the rusted out ones. Location 6: the industrial trackage in this part of town as a whole. Same region of the city. It's expansive in this part of town. Gotta be careful though, even though I've mapped it, it's very easy to lose track of the rail line in this part of LS. Location 7: Ok, for this it's a bit tricky for me to describe, but there's an oil feild in this part of LS, aswell as alot of lift bridges. This is south of where the train tracks go through the middle of the road on the surface Under the rail bridge to the south is a section of abandoned tracks. It's short, maybe a few 10's of meters. That about does it with suggestions. Unless you wanna through the entire Los Santos harbor into that mix. Like I said prior, I'd love your takes on these locations, and the trains themselves. For others who play GTA, hopefully you found something interesting out of this too.
@@BattleshipOrion many thanks. I will look into these, whilst I’ve been doing these videos, I tend to publish them, then get suggestions and some things I’ve missed. The benefit of many eyes and experience with the games! I’m planning a BF1 part 2 so might to a gta as well. Cheers.
Okay, I'm going to watch these. Can you make a video titled "why US trains are derailing" please? I actually lost products that were being shipped to me in that big train derailment that was carrying all the hazardous chemicals in Ohio and I just tried to Google that incident because I forgot its name but before I got any results I just saw that there have been like dozens of train derailments in the past 2 months. I was going to ask you to make a video about the Ohio one specifically but holy crap. There's like dozens and dozens depending on how far you look back.
I'm a developer for a train sim, specifically with infrastructure. After working on that for years I've found myself doing the same as you in other games representing railways 😅
hi howard! I'd love to see a railway review of the hit rootin tootin cowboy game Red Dead Redemption 2. trains play a very big part in the game since they are something you can board, rob, and drive. Love your videos, keep up the good work.
There's definitely a fair amount of British influences in some of the design of the 3D GTA games (Probably because of Rockstar North being a Scottish-based developer), so I wouldn't be surprised if the TPWS grids were included by accident. There's also a bunch of British looking 7-plank wagons in a few places around the map which seem very out of place in a contemporary setting like Los Santos. Maybe one of the devs was a fan of Thomas the Tank and snuck them in as a reference 😅 Also, something I'd spotted before (which can be seen at 14:20) there's an error with the 3D rendering on the left side rail making a section of the track appear missing. Of course the train just floats over it like no-one's business though 😆
Do you take requests? I'm curious to see what you think of the rail systems in Half-Life 1 and 2, since they're fairly prominent aspects of their locations
@@T_Bot1 I certainly do. I’m doing Metro Exodus currently but I’ve got a request list, a couple of other people have mentioned half life on other videos so it’s on the list to review! Thanks.
I have been watching a friend play workers and resources and the train signaling and logic in it seem fairly in depth, would you check that out? Also "have kittens" is a new phrase to me haha 15:28
I never paid attention to it but the rail system in RDR2 might be the best of them all. The active railway construction that happens over the story is also something I caught myself watching for quite a few minutes during gameplay.
@@durstloscher2741 currently doing Metro Exodus, but RDR2 will be after that. Might take a couple of weeks to play, record and comment but yes, it’s on the way! Thanks.
