Scenario Update: 19/04/2014

Its been a while (actually a few weeks since my last update).

This scenario has undergone a few big changes, mainly in terms of motive power on some of the trains that will appear in this scenario. As well as a couple of AI trains added into the activity.

Originally I was going to have a GCR O4 2-8-0 and a LYR Class 5 2-4-2T appear at the start of the scenario. But I have decided to replace them with 2 different locomotives. The Radial Tank has been replaced with an LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 (going in the direction of Altrincham) and the O4 2-8-0 replaced with an LMS Crab 2-6-0. I wanted to add a little bit of Midland Region motive power into this activity.

Miserable weather in industrial Manchester

Waiting to depart

Got more crabs?

I have also started to add some electric traction into this activity. This includes a train of mineral wagon empties on the goods line just past Valehouse Signal-box. This is made up of assorted wagons such as the recently released Meshtools Mineral Wagons (Available for £2.99 from Steam). So instead of mainly 16T Wagons, we have those, 21.5T Wagons and 24T Wagons. This combined with the book 'EM1 & EM2: An Illustrated Historical Review of the Manchester, Sheffield, Wath Electric Locomotive - 76's & 77's' have allowed me to attempt to recreate formations of freight trains during this period.

Thanks for the brilliant wagons Meshtools.

There is still a lot more to be done, this is just me pointing out that I am still working on this scenario. The 1970's Woodhead Route Scenario is currently in development hell (I think that's what its called), but I shall return to it in the near future.

But for this scenario, the AI stock needs to be completed and final tests need to be done (Unless Payday 2, Duke Nukem 3D and Chivalry get in the way)

Til next time, catch y'all later.
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I need a better sign off line, this one sounds cheesy as hell.

Scenario Update 02/04/2014

After a few weeks away from Train Simulator, Its time to work on a new scenario for this simulator (or game if you want to call it that).

So i've returned to The Woodhead Route to look at more possibilities for scenarios. But ultimately not 1 but 2 ideas for scenarios were thought up. Both were inspired by 2 books which I will note in this blog post so that you might want to look up what I came up with.

The Merry-Go-Round passes Dinting

The first scenario is set in the 1970's and features you taking an empty Merry-Go-Round Train to Wath Yard from Godley Junction. The motive power of course is 2 Class 76's and you will be hauling 30 wagons behind you. Its rare to find a Woodhead Route Scenario set in the days of Railblue (Even more difficult thanks to the recent demise of IHH)

Long train is long

Inspiration for this scenario came in the shape of a book called: 'Woodhead: Countdown to Closure' by Graham R. Jelly (Thats his name, honestly) This book provides images of The Woodhead Route which would prove very useful for both modellers and Train Simulator.

My failed attempt at recreating the cover of: Cinerail Archive Series Vol.1 - The Woodhead Route

Work has been slow on this one, mainly due to the fact that work on the other scenario for this route has just started. This next scenario uses a great piece of source material.

Taking you back to the past

Set in the VERY early days of electric workings on The Woodhead Route (1954 to be exact). Your task in this scenario is to take an Express as far as Penistone using an EM1 (Later Class 76). Before you ask, why to Penistone? I have my reasons for this curious location to end this scenario.

Its looks a little too nice at Penistone

When I went to the Keighley Model Railway Exhibition at Victoria Hall in Keighley, I recently got my hands on the book 'EM1 & EM2: An Illustrated Historical Review of the Manchester, Sheffield, Wath Electric Locomotives-76s & 77s' by John Hooper. I read that between June 14th 1954 and September 20th 1954, Woodhead Electric Passenger Services from Manchester to Sheffield saw a locomotive change to Steam Power at Penistone. So I thought, why not make it a subject of a Train Simulator Scenario.

I decided that the weather looked too bright and cheerful for this activity, so I made it miserable by using one of the weather effects that came with the route.

Much better.

I've started adding AI stock to this one so expect another update sometime in the future. All books mentioned are avaliable either at a railway bookshop or the internet.

Til next time, catch y'all later.