New route under construction - South Yorkshire

[Mutton]

Hi

I thought people might be interested in the route construction phase of a new route I've been building for a while now. It's pretty much the majority of South Yorkshire, with a bit of North Derbyshire thrown in. It was originally intended to be the 'Old-Road' between Chesterfield and Rotherham but it's spread a bit since then. The layout is based entirely on accurate track layouts c1950 sourced from 1:2500 maps. This has been the most difficult phase of the construction - getting the maps, and then getting them accurately into Trainz (thanks Transdem ).

I've now completed the area map grabs, imported a number into Trainz and have now started track laying. So as way of introduction here are a couple of shots of Masbrough (Rotherham) South Junction.

 

[AntonyVW]

Looking good. Will this route by any chance stretch to Barnsley?

 

[Mutton]

Hi Anthony. Yes this route will encompass Barnsley.

This is a coverage map for the North West sector of the layout: (big image)

Sorry Barnsley seemed to have moved a bit, the stations are more to the west of the name.

Mutton

 

[John514]

MIGHT be interested???? I love this kind of projects!

 

[Mutton]

Rotherham Central:

Just a quick update that shows the track layout for Rotherham Central c1950, along with it's southern approach.

 

[H222]

Wow. This is impressive

 

[mattm]

Wow!

I'm having trouble keeping things moving with a small route, of around 5k's.

Good luck with this one.

 

[Tanvaras]

Very impressive and major undertaking, I look forward to seeing it progress

 

[trainboi1]

Amazing work so far man. I had trouble just doing the Copley hill yards so I salute your progress here.

 

[itareus]

Looking good !

May I ask, where did you get the 1:2500 maps ?

Chris

 

[matruck]

Amazing trackwork there Mutton you must have an awful lot of patience LOL. I look forward to seeing more of this Route as it progress's.
Cheers Mick.

 

[Mutton]

@itareus
The maps were grabbed from old-maps.co.uk using a custom program I've written. Then imported into transdem and then to trainz, It took me about 2 years of trying different things to get the detail that I wanted for the period that I wanted so in the end I decided to write a program to do it for me. Now it's pretty much automatic hence why the area covered is so large.

@matruck
Thanks for the comments, I appreciate the encouragement and believe me I am under no illusions about how much work is to be done, but so far I find the track laying quite quick and strangely relaxing. The hardest part is going to buildings, I want things to be as accurate as possible so lots of custom content is going to be required.

Martyn

 

[matruck]

I want things to be as accurate as possible so lots of custom content is going to be required.

Fair enough Martyn but without taking your thread here off topic can i ask why it has to be as accurate as possible ?, I cant route build to save myself but i have been trying to get into it lately and i have found i have to make do with what i can find and that will have to do and i have found sum of the great route builders here can put across quite a convincing story. Dermmy Xawery Nikitka and numerous others who i have not mentioned here seem to be able work wonders with content and all on a route not from there own country. So yeah i hope to see how you progress with this. I kind of find myself now trying to do the same thing as in use content that is the same size and comes close to the look you want and that way you can keep on moving along with your route instead of been stuck on one spot looking for the exact same object as in the real world. Hope this all makes sense LOL.
Cheers Mick.

 

[Mutton]

Fair enough Martyn but without taking your thread here off topic can i ask why it has to be as accurate as possible ?, I cant route build to save myself but i have been trying to get into it lately and i have found i have to make do with what i can find and that will have to do and i have found sum of the great route builders here can put across quite a convincing story. Dermmy Xawery Nikitka and numerous others who i have not mentioned here seem to be able work wonders with content and all on a route not from there own country. So yeah i hope to see how you progress with this. I kind of find myself now trying to do the same thing as in use content that is the same size and comes close to the look you want and that way you can keep on moving along with your route instead of been stuck on one spot looking for the exact same object as in the real world. Hope this all makes sense LOL.
Cheers Mick.

I guess I just want the most accurate representation of the area as I can, but don't get me wrong on the structures side, I will gladly use what is commonly available as you are quite right when you say there are excellent content providers out there. The aim is, at the moment, to provide faithful buildings for the important structures, i.e. stations, the infill buildings will probably be accurate to size and shape but just textured in a dark and grimy gray (which is how I remember most of this area anyway). This should give the right impression of the area. To me the railway infrastructure is the most important side of this project, this is why I've gone to such lengths to get an accurate track plan.

thanks, Martyn

 

[Mutton]

Rotherham Main Colliery, Ickles Wagon Works and Masbrough sorting Sidings:

 

[Mutton]

Its been a while (been busy writing Mosaic) since I uploaded any shots to this thread but here's a few showing the development of Sheffield Midland Station.

The route is now pretty much fully laid between Rotherham and Sheffield, and is progressing towards Doncaster. I'll publish a few more shots soon.

Thanks
Mutton

 

[cascaderailroad]

Well ... You have my full attention on this program ... I am speachless

Great use of maps, and fabulous trackwork !

I want to know more about Mosaic and your techniques.

 

[nicky9499]

Good lord, impressive doesn't even begin to describe your project's scale and complexity.

 

[chris2001trainz2010]

wow. just.... wow.

 

[JackDownUnder]

Any chance of you publishing the program

@itareus
The maps were grabbed from old-maps.co.uk using a custom program I've written. Then imported into transdem and then to trainz, It took me about 2 years of trying different things to get the detail that I wanted for the period that I wanted so in the end I decided to write a program to do it for me. Now it's pretty much automatic hence why the area covered is so large.

@matruck
Thanks for the comments, I appreciate the encouragement and believe me I am under no illusions about how much work is to be done, but so far I find the track laying quite quick and strangely relaxing. The hardest part is going to buildings, I want things to be as accurate as possible so lots of custom content is going to be required.

Martyn