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.
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.
2 Class 20's trundle over Dinting Viaduct with a train bound for Wath Yard.
After work on this scenario was put on hold due to other commitments such as University, League 2 Playoffs and a holiday to Belfast. The Type 1 Replacement has finally been finished and is now available to download from UKTrainSim and Mediafire. The Scenario takes place on The Woodhead Route towards the end of the lines working life, which means that the main locomotive livery will be BR Rail Blue. It involves you taking a train of Flatbed Wagons from Guide Bridge, Your Locomotives will be 2 Class 20's. Underneath this description is a list of rolling stock required for you to fully enjoy this scenario.
Heading under the Peninnes, we pass a typical MGR train bound for Mottram Yard.
Stock Required
Payware
Train Simulator 2013: The Woodhead Route
IHH Woodhead DC Electrics
IHH Bonus Content 1
Just Trains Class 20 Collection
DT Wagon Pack 1
The train heads towards Barnsley Junction, with a Class 76 hauled freight train bound for Trafford Park.
The scenario's development was more or less done within a month, but several things happening in my life appeared so this was put on the back-burner. I finally had time to record the video for the scenario (which is on the top of this page) yesterday and it looks to have turned out really good.
On the approach to Wath Yard, we see 2 pairs of Class 20's. Note the different headcodes on the 2 diesels.
Here is the links to both download pages. Just download and enjoy the activity.
Well its time for another update on the progress of my new scenario.
The first thing i decided to do is to add a couple more AI trains to the scenario. So I decided to add a mixed freight (class 76 hauled), A Steel Train (Again hauled and banked by a Class 76) and a Light Engine Movement (2 Class 20's). These were added between Penistone and Wath, allowing you to enjoy the Woodhead Line in the years before British Railways figuratively took it off the Life Support machine.
Class 76 no 76054 (formally named Pluto) is seen at Wath with a train for Trafford Park.
The train will be helped by this Banking Engine.
Heavy Metal Thunder
2 Class 20's on Light Engine Movement
Testing of the Scenario was ok...............Right up to the point where I spotted a major problem. 2 trains decided to deviate from their planned route with a Merry-Go-Round Train going to Torside then head back down to Woodhead and then back up to Hadfield. The other train was the steel train which backed into Wath yard and then continued on its route (see figure A).
Figure A: The Steel Train is deviating from its planned route
This resulted in a head-scratching moment for me, but eventually I discovered the solutions for both problems. For the Merry-Go-Round Train, I simply added a few more points in the trains instructions. As for the Steel Train (See Figure B), I discovered that the only person to blame for the problem was myself. I had put the train on the WRONG running line, I simply had to move the train to the right track to solve the problem.
Figure B: The Steel Train is on the correct route after the author discovered that he is a nitwit.
With that minor mishap solved, I plan on doing yet ANOTHER test to see if it all works out. Hopefully Its all working fine, because i want to get the static stock added ASAP before I release it on UKTrainSim.
On a nice note, Happy St Patricks Day everyone. Have a lovely day.
Work started last week on the new scenario, and yet again it will take place on The Woodhead Route (In my opinion, one of the best Train Simulator routes from last year). Now whilst the scenario will feature the famous Class 76's (In Rail Blue), you won't be driving one or either a pair of Class 76's. The much recognized DC electrics will be mainly their for AI or scenery purposes, either on Mixed Freights, Coal Trains, Merry-Go-Round Trains or Light Engine movements.
A Pair of Class 76's
Remember, go this way. Not that way.
More Oil for your needs?
Another thing for the AI Stock is that I've decided to use the newly released ZJV Ballast Wagons. these were only released today and were a late addition to the scenario. The locomotive that will haul them will be a Class 25 (originally a Digital Traction freeware model but now available from the UKTrainSim freeware pack). This would mainly highlight the fact that at Penistone, there is a Permanent Way yard near the station. Also this would showcase the new ZJV Wagons that were released by malkymackay on UKTrainSim.
A Class 25 with a train of Ballast Wagons
So the next question is........what will the player be driving?
Well another locomotive I've been interested in is the Class 20, they are such a weird looking locomotive class. Mainly because front is back and they look like a Class 08 Shunter that's been through the wringer. Either way, the player will be using 2 in the usual formation (Thats long bonnet end to long bonnet end). I've also never got the inspiration to make a scenario featuring them, so this a great opportunity for me to use them. The Class 20's are a Payware add on available from Just Trains either as a Download or CD version.
The standard formation of the Class 20
The train will be made up of multiple flatbed wagons, all of them developed by malkymackay and are available from UKTrainSim (A Huge thanks to malkymackay for making them available to the community). The reason why I've gone for a train of Flatbeds is mainly because the county of South Yorkshire (Mainly Rotherham and Sheffield areas) are usually associated with Steelworks. the Brake Van is a Digital Traction freeware model.
Thats a lot of flat beds you got there?
The journey will take you along the usual Woodhead line from Guide Bridge up to Barnsley Junction where you will heading along the Wath branch to Wath yard. This means you will be heading down the Worsborough Incline (which has a gradient of 1-40). This would involve a lot of breaking otherwise you'll end up rolling faster than a fat guy rolling down a hill towards a takeaway (sorry for the awful joke)
Hopefully by Wednesday, the AI traffic between Guide Bridge and Penistone should be fully operational. After that its on to the traffic on the Worsborough Incline before the static stock will be added.
