Switch Point Simulations SD70M-2s & GP30Us Sound Options

[ENR3005]

These GP30s and SD70 units are fantastic which I only recently got some time to review. The guys that created these units did an amazing job and I hope to see more work from them in the near future.

Given that I like to tinker with new toys, I was very much surprised to find the SD70M-2s are very much compatible with the Searchlight Simulations EMD 16N-710G3C-II sound pack, a personal old favorite of mine if you happen to have this old pack installed or stored on a drive somewhere still like I did. Attached are two experimental bin files (MLWAudio.rar) you can put into the SPS\CNSD70M-2Pack\Audio\RailVehicles\Diesel\SD70ACe\Engine directory (back up the originals first) which direct the units to use the Searchlight sounds instead. Once installed, load an activity with a CN or GT SD70M-2, go into the editor and check MLWAudio and start the activity, the new sounds should work.

The SPS creators also noted they had no proper sounds for the rebuilt GP30Us which use rebuilt 16-645D3s (EMD 567s with 645 power assemblies installed) and used the same 16-567D3s sounds for the GP30U units. I have managed to throw together a 16-645 sound set with the original files referencing specific sounds from the old Searchlight Simulations UP or NS SD40-2 packs. I will note the SD40-2s are very compatible with the SPS units having run them together for many hours over the last few days. Provided you own either of the engine packs and have one installed (uses the same engine sounds in both packs), you can install the attached bin files (EMD 16-645D3.rar) in the SPS\BNSFGP30Pack\Audio\RailVehicles\GP30\16-567D3 directory. I have also included a updated ALRR GP30U bin file which will overwrite the original, make sure to backup the original prior to proceeding if you wish. Load an activity with the ALRR GP30U, go into the editor and check Searchlight Simulations tab and start the activity, the new sounds should work. The ALRR GP30U is the only locomotive I have experimented on, if you wish to modify your own locomotives such as the BNSF and SF GP30Us, simply go into any of the engine files with TSTools and search for Audio\RailVehicles\GP30\16-567D3\16-567D3 Sound.xml and replace with Audio\RailVehicles\GP30\16-567D3\16-645D3 Sound.xml and make sure you have the Searchlight Simulations tab checked in any activity you create before starting it.

I will again note these bin files are experimental only at this time. I am in the process of repainting the GP30Us and SD70M-2s to specific railroad colors for a future upload with a route package which is long overdue. I will have an update out on the route progress itself soon, along with a timetable (based on actual BC Rail timetable) for folks to read and get an idea of what the route itself will be like until I can get it out the door.