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.