New Loco Build: USATC S160 Class

The previous loco project has now been put to bed waiting for the route's track work to be finalised so we can write the scenarios, so that means that it's time for another loco build to begin.

After some thought we've decided to go with the USATC S160 Class which is another WW2 inspired locomotive like the Bulleid Q1. Over 2000 locos were built in the USA and shipped around the world to help with the war effort.

They went to so many countries it's easier to link to the Wikipedia article than to re-type them all here! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USATC_S160_Class

Nearly 800 of them came to Britain before being moved to France after D-Day, but we don't want to limit ourselves to just the UK this time.

As usual they will come with the features you expect from us and we're delighted to announce that once again we are working with Steam Sounds Supreme who will be providing the sound set.

We would like to do as many liveries and options as possible, although we won't be able to do ALL of them as we normally try to do with a loco class!

So we're announcing this project a lot earlier than we would usually so we can get your input on liveries you would like and if there are specific variants as well - if you have pictures and information to support the requests then all the better. UK, USA, Europe, Africa, Asia.. let us know what you would like.
This also includes suggestions of any appropriate rolling stock you would like to see.

Feel free to reply to this blog post, or talk to us on Facebook or on the forums at TrainSimDev, UKTrainSim , Railworks America or Steam.

What's going on?

Hey Victory Works, we hear many of you shouting, what's happening? Have you quit?

Definitely not, we reply!
We do like to write regular blog posts of work in progress and keep everyone up to date with new developments (and pretty pictures!) but since the GWR Small Prairies pack we've been working on a loco for a route that hasn't been announced yet.
Consequently we can't say anything about it yet, sorry!

The good news is that while making it we've made quite a few improvements to the way we build and script and have some pretty cool improvements to all aspects of our loco add-ons, especially in the area of realistic cab driving.
Some highlights are:
A higher quality cab environment including water gauge glasses that look like actual water in a glass tube, showing the refraction of the striped background.
Visual priming effects.
Improved weather effects, including dynamically changing adhesion to add to our realistic wheelslip - no longer will one adhesion type (dry/wet/snow) cover the entire scenario. If it starts raining halfway through the scenario, expect things to get slippery!
Improved cab gauge accuracy.
Cab head-out view as part of the standard cab views - a nice transition from the drivers view to the head-out view allowing the use of all visible controls by turning your head to look back in through the window.
Improved smoke colouring effects.

We're getting towards the end of this loco build and once it's done then we'll announce our next one (which will not be a secret!) and we can get back to the weekly updates.

Until then thank you for your continued support and we hope you're excited about what 2015 is going to bring.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and a huge thank you for your support in 2014

Steam Christmas Sale

The traditional Steam Christmas sale is on now on and running until January 2nd.
All of Victory Works add-ons are included with the 33% discount for the new GWR Small Prairies Add-on continuing, and 50% off of all other add-ons, so grab yourself a Christmas treat, or 2!

GWR 56xx Loco Add-on

GWR Steam Railmotor Loco Add-on

Bulleid Q1 Class Loco Add-on

GWR Class 14XX Loco & Autocoach Add-On

GWR Small Prairies Add-On

GWR Small Prairies Pack is OUT NOW!

Now available on Steam, and at a 33% sale price!
http://store.steampowered.com/app/277753/

You can also download the manual here

Also lots of blog posts on this site about it's construction and in depth detail of everything that comes with it.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Sale

For the US Thanksgiving celebration a lot of Train Simulator DLC is on sale and all of Victory Works addons are 50% off.. yup, that is HALF PRICE!

The sale is on until Tuesday (December 2nd) so grab some bargains while you can.

GWR 56xx Loco Add-on

GWR Steam Railmotor Loco Add-on

Bulleid Q1 Class Loco Add-on

GWR Class 14XX Loco & Autocoach Add-On

GWR Small Prairies: Contents and Features

At Victory Works we prefer not to produce locos with single liveries or locos from a single era when they spanned many.
In light of this the plan for the GWR Small Prairies pack is to release all 3 classes (4400, 4500, 4575), with all GWR and BR liveries and numerous fittings and also stock for both eras. Having discussed the option of two packs or splitting everything up for the marketplace we instead decided we would go with a single bumper pack with a price about 50% more than normal, so around £17.99, which is cheaper than 2 packs and a lot cheaper than a single pack with half a dozen extra £2.99's for all the liveries and options.

So what do you get for that price?

• GWR 4400 Class Locomotive
• GWR Green (3 logos, red and white lamps)
• BR Black (pre and post 1956 logos)

• GWR 4500 Class Locomotive
• GWR Green (3 logos, red and white lamps)
• BR Green (2 logos and orange/black lined)
• BR Black (2 logos and red/grey lined)

• GWR 4575 Class Locomotive
• GWR Green (3 logos, red and white lamps)
• BR Green (2 logos and orange/black lined)
• BR Black (2 logos and red/grey lined)
• Red and yellow “Celebration” livery with visual air compressor
• Fully compatible with the GWR Class 14XX Loco Add-On autocoaches

All locos have many optional components such as square/curved frames on the 4500, outer smokebox pipes on the 4400/4500, coal guards and ATC on all three, autotrain equipment on the 4575, as well as painted and polished metal bonnets for running your locos on historic and preserved routes. Using every possible combination there are hundreds of permutations to have each loco set up just how you like - or you can just drop one into a scenario or start a Quick Drive and use the pre-set options which cover every single member of all 3 classes.

Features include everything you expect from a Victory Works loco:

• Custom sound sets inside and out created by Steam Sounds Supreme
• Accurate cabs with multiple views, including fully modelled firebox and coal
• Realistic wheel slip physics and effects
• Simulated steam chest, cylinder cock management, boiler management
• Realistic injector control
• Realistic forward and reverse dampers
• Dynamic steam and smoke colour and quantity
• Realistic boiler water gauges effected by gradient, acceleration and speed and with blow down test
• Opening windows with rain effects, opening doors and hatches
• Dynamic lamp setting Cab light effects including firebox glow and water gauge lamp 
• Guards whistles when leaving a passenger pick up

We had a lot of good feedback from the 14xx/48xx pack and we have improved many of the controls associated with the advanced mode.
And obviously all locos come with standard mode and simple mode (as well as a specific AI mode) so you can drive them any way you choose.

The pack also comes with the following rolling stock:

Great Western:

• 6 ton Fruit ‘A’ Van (Diagram Y2)
• with GW and shirt button logos
• 10 ton Covered Goods van (Diagram V4)
• with large and small GW logos and optional end vent
• 10 ton Banana Van (Diagram Y5) – with large and small GW logos
• Iron Mink (Diagram V6)
• Grey GW livery
• Black Gunpowder livery
• Blue WW2 Salvage livery
• 6 wheel Milk Siphon (Diagram O5) – with GW and shirt button logos
• Optional milk churn load and opening doors
• Dynamic lamps
• 20 ton Toad Brake Van (Diagrams AA13 and AA15)
• User selectable 20 character depot names
• Dynamic lamps

British Railways:

• BR Standard Van with numerous optional parts allowing over 400 variations:
• Solid/planked sides
• Plain, single, double, quadruple vent ends
• 3 types of hinged door and 2 types of sliding door
• GWR and BR axle boxes with optional connecting bar
• 4 lower and 2 upper side vents
• Markings for Banana, Fruit, Ale and Meat
• Plain or black panel wagon information
• Random chalk scribblings
• GWR 6 wheel Milk Siphon in “BR used” condition
• 20 ton Toad Brake Van in Bauxite with BR markings
• User selectable 20 character depot names in BR layout

Also in the pack are 6 scenarios for the Falmouth Branch route and over 60 Quick Drive consists covering all liveries and with appropriate stock for each.

So although it will cost a little more than the average loco add-on we hope you'll agree that it offers great value providing everything in one package rather than spreading it out over multiple packs or offering separate re-skins.
We are hoping it will be available in early December.