Darjeeling Himalayan Railroad: Redux
- Thread starter Franklin_Prestage
- Start date
OK, that's good. When do you think the route'll be finished? I've read that your past the half-way mark and only need to do a few more stuff, so I'm hoping the answer is soon.
skiingiggy
gone
I really can't wait for this.... IT LOOKS SO AMAZING!
thegrindre
narrow gauge fanatic
I'm going to have to say, this thing is very impressive. Great job, guys...:Y:
skiingiggy
gone
I know that all of this content will be on your site but will you ever upload any of it to the DLS? i see it all as amazing and i think it would be awesome if it would be awesome to have it there. I just saw all of those screens and all of that content! IT IS AMAZING!
thegrindre
narrow gauge fanatic
I think skiingiggy forgot to read between the pictures...
It's understandable, though...
It's understandable, though...skiingiggy
gone
I did read it but it still has me a little confused. But then again i'm slow. I am aware all of the content will be on the site not requiring to go to the DLS but will the stuff be put there after it is released?
skiingiggy
gone
Thanks that answered my question. Great work guys. Can't wait to see the fnished product. (don't rush though)
Yes, the roads are nice!
Yes they are nice! These roads are all produced by narrowgauge. He has also created all of our engine/rolling stock, with the exception of Ben Neal's Garratt. To coin a phrase, 'this is quality that money can't buy'!
Be patient... all will be reveled!
Dave
Yes they are nice! These roads are all produced by narrowgauge. He has also created all of our engine/rolling stock, with the exception of Ben Neal's Garratt. To coin a phrase, 'this is quality that money can't buy'!
Be patient... all will be reveled!
Dave
skiingiggy
gone
Yes, which is why TC has many of us **** off. I don't think it was wirth 40 bucks for 2 routes and trains for those routes only but that is the subject for a different thread. THIS LOOKS AMAZING! the more i look here and at the official site the more i want this. keep up the great work!
narrowgauge
92 year oldTrainz veteran
kdowdy
It is reasonable to say that the only built-ins we will use are ground textures. If these are faulty, we can do nothing about it. If we do need to use other object content, we will try to check that they do not contain any major errors indicated by CMP. If they are faulty, we will try and make an equivalent.
However, TRS2006 is not our target build and we make no promises.
Cheers
Narrowgauge
It is reasonable to say that the only built-ins we will use are ground textures. If these are faulty, we can do nothing about it. If we do need to use other object content, we will try to check that they do not contain any major errors indicated by CMP. If they are faulty, we will try and make an equivalent.
However, TRS2006 is not our target build and we make no promises.
Cheers
Narrowgauge
Franklin_Prestage
DHR Chief Engineer
Dear Friends
It occurred to me that many of the people now enjoying Trainz may not be aware of the background of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, I would like to rectify that.
In the 1800s India was part of the British Empire and was home to many who came from Britain. They found the climate in India to be much hotter and more humid than they were used to and this prompted a search for places where they could move to during the hot summers. One such place was Darjeeling, at that time no more than a few squalid shacks.
Access was difficult, and initially a very rough track was created called the Pankhabari Road suitable only for foot traffic and donkeys. The next stage was the creation of the Military Road in 1839, not much better but allowing bullock carts and horse traffic. The authorities still looked for a better and shorter road and in 1861 the 25 foot wide Hill Cart Road was built between Siliguri and Darjeeling . Completed in 1869 it allowed somewhat easier access to Darjeeling but the journey still took about 2-3 days for the full distance.
I felt strongly that it was possible to build a railway on and following the road and eventually it was agreed that this should be done. Work started in 1879 and was completed, with a lot of difficulty, in 1881, having taken just eighteen months to lay the 49 miles of track. In the beginning it was being referred to as a Tramway because it shared the road with other traffic, but eventually the name was changed and it became a Railway. In those early days, there were few people living along the road but as the local population increased, more and more houses and shacks were built beside it.
The railway, now the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, as my young friends are portraying it, is as you would see it if you visited now. Should you be so lucky, you could still ride behind the oldest locomotive on the line, over a hundred years old. Your bogie coaches would be more comfortable than the early four wheeled ‘trollies’ but the journey still takes about the same seven hours that it did when the line was built.
There are some things that may be of interest. All the locomotives, even the new diesels are still 0-4-0, as these have proved to be the only ones capable of handling the sharp curves, and they always travel with the front facing uphill to Darjeeling. Other types have been tried but they all failed. The coaches are still braked by ‘brake men’ who ride outside the coaches down the hill and apply brakes as needed using a foot operated lever. Travelling uphill, the same men ride on the front of the steam locomotives and sprinkle sand on the tracks where better adhesion is needed.
That, my friends, is how my railway started and, I’m glad to say, still exists. I’m happy to say that it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site which augurs well for the future.
Yours truly,
Franklin Prestage
It occurred to me that many of the people now enjoying Trainz may not be aware of the background of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, I would like to rectify that.
In the 1800s India was part of the British Empire and was home to many who came from Britain. They found the climate in India to be much hotter and more humid than they were used to and this prompted a search for places where they could move to during the hot summers. One such place was Darjeeling, at that time no more than a few squalid shacks.
Access was difficult, and initially a very rough track was created called the Pankhabari Road suitable only for foot traffic and donkeys. The next stage was the creation of the Military Road in 1839, not much better but allowing bullock carts and horse traffic. The authorities still looked for a better and shorter road and in 1861 the 25 foot wide Hill Cart Road was built between Siliguri and Darjeeling . Completed in 1869 it allowed somewhat easier access to Darjeeling but the journey still took about 2-3 days for the full distance.
I felt strongly that it was possible to build a railway on and following the road and eventually it was agreed that this should be done. Work started in 1879 and was completed, with a lot of difficulty, in 1881, having taken just eighteen months to lay the 49 miles of track. In the beginning it was being referred to as a Tramway because it shared the road with other traffic, but eventually the name was changed and it became a Railway. In those early days, there were few people living along the road but as the local population increased, more and more houses and shacks were built beside it.
The railway, now the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, as my young friends are portraying it, is as you would see it if you visited now. Should you be so lucky, you could still ride behind the oldest locomotive on the line, over a hundred years old. Your bogie coaches would be more comfortable than the early four wheeled ‘trollies’ but the journey still takes about the same seven hours that it did when the line was built.
There are some things that may be of interest. All the locomotives, even the new diesels are still 0-4-0, as these have proved to be the only ones capable of handling the sharp curves, and they always travel with the front facing uphill to Darjeeling. Other types have been tried but they all failed. The coaches are still braked by ‘brake men’ who ride outside the coaches down the hill and apply brakes as needed using a foot operated lever. Travelling uphill, the same men ride on the front of the steam locomotives and sprinkle sand on the tracks where better adhesion is needed.
That, my friends, is how my railway started and, I’m glad to say, still exists. I’m happy to say that it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site which augurs well for the future.
Yours truly,
Franklin Prestage
skiingiggy
gone
Does anyone on the team make videos of trainz or be willing too? i'd love to see a video of this route in action