The Battlefield Line, Shackerstone to Shenton, UK - (Work in Progress - Large Images)

[georgem2010]

Hello All!

I have been posting images of the project in another thread but I want to keep it up to date and not drown that thread with just my 'work-in-progress' shots.
So I'll be posting everything in here now.

So just some information.

The British preserved heritage route 'The Battlefield Line' it a stretch of the now closed Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway. That joined the town of Nuneaton to the Burton to Leicester Line. It was jointly built by the Midland Railway and the London North Western Railway. The Battlefield line now operates steam and diesel passenger trains on weekends for normal running and special events.

So here's my progress up to now.

Sidings north of Shackerstone Station

Saddle tank waits for guard whistle to depart Shackerstone bound for Shenton.

Class 26 pulls northbound train past Shackerstone Engine sheds into the station.

GWR 2-8-0 No.3803 waits for her orders.

The first base board, no way near complete. But you can see the Ashby canal and the sidings north of the station.

Track laid for first 5 base boards and the terrain topography done.

Comparison map.

Hope you enjoy the shot, any information on the line or advise and suggestions welcome!

George

 

[oknotsen]

I think you have made a nice start and am looking forward to your progression.

A tip when "painting" larger area's:
To avoid the "checkerblock" effect, use a very small brush and keep a "turning" button pressed (either the "[" or the "]") while painting. Try it and see the effect.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

 

[tmz06003]

That's a good start, keep up the good work.

The footbridge has distinctive brick staircases as shown here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/593890...dEo-dqwA4J-bJmMiZ-e3N2HZ-94rPU6-94uVDj-9484xe

If you have a look at my Shackerstone- Shenton route rework you'll see I've used a lash up of various splines to make the stairs. I've seen an asset on the DLS recently that looks pretty close, if I can find it again I'll post the kuid.
You may be able to use a mk3 coach on a piece of track instead of the LMS grounded van body?

 

[georgem2010]

Ahh tmz06003! I have your route, I must say, it was your route that inspired me, and the fact The Battlefield Line is but 15 minutes away from my home.
Yes I still have lots of work to do to the station, and the footbridge is definitely an area in need of improvement!

Yeah, do you know of anywhere with a maroon mk3 coach? That would be very helpful!

Thanks for your comment!

George

 

[tmz06003]

I could do a reskin of the Auran built in asset as I have the new improved meshes but only for TRS2010 which may not be of any use to you? Can you download build 3.2 assets, ie. the GNER HST reskin for instance?

 

[georgem2010]

Despite what my account says, I actually am using TRS2010 (at the time I could not remember my login details for this account so my TRS2010 is registered to a different login). So a TRS2010 repaint would be perfect!

Thanks!

George

 

[tmz06003]

Ok, would you be able to get some pics of the coach sometime, if the pics are straight on to the subject then I could even do a phototexture reskin.

 

[georgem2010]

Yeah I should be able too!
Best one I can find at this time is this one

Looks to me like just a Mk3 sleeper with a plain maroon paint of coat! Haha, believe it or not its actually a 2 star hotel!

George

 

[fen_tiger]

Hi George.

I must say that I'm very impressed with your own route. Mine is more difficult to do as most of the old Wisbech railway no longer exists, except the remaining closed in situ March - Wisbech line, and I have to work mostly from my railway books. Now working to get Wisbech Harbour Junction, Wisbech East (GER) station and Wisbech station tram depot track installed to match identically the original 1847-1968 GER station. Next job after this is to recreate Wisbech East Goods Yard and its nine long sidings and two loops.

Andy.

 

[georgem2010]

Wow! Looks like you have a lot of work on your hands Haha! Best of luck!

Here's a nice comparison shot from me

Enjoy, comments more than welcome.

George

 

[tmz06003]

@George, those photos will be fine, looks like there's no lettering or logos so it's just a matter of applying red paint.

@fen_tiger- good luck with your Wisbech route, that sounds interesting.

 

[georgem2010]

Not entirely about the route, but this loco does operate there and I took this video on my route.
For the first time I tried my hand at making a custom horn sound. I made one for the GWR 2-8-0 no.3803, how do you think it sounds?

Let me know what you think. I'm pretty pleased with it

George

 

[fen_tiger]

Hi tmz06603.

Yes. Many thanks indeed for your support in my overly ambitious project to bring back to life the former 1847 - 1968 17.5 mile GER Branch across the Cambridgshire Fenlands, long since forgotten by the town of Wisbech, but not by me. I'll try to keep adding more screenshots as and when I can drag myself away from laying sleepers and track around my version of Wisbech East Station. Once all the track on my 17.5 mile branch is complete, next job is getting my stations properly built as close to what they were like in real life. My two railway books are helping me, by me copying its signal box track diagrams onto my Trainz2012.

Look out for Wisbech East Station and Wisbech Tram shed, from photos from my books and my version of it on my WIP thread by this weekend, hopefully.

Andy.

 

[georgem2010]

@tmz06603 Thanks for offering to do the repaint! It will add a nice spot of authenticity.

Too many flippin rulers! Haha, resulted in a nice mile long curve though.
Track laid from Shackerstone to Market Bosworth. Terrain not done yet, those cuttings are just so I can see the track with the gradients applied.

I know my progress seems to be very slow haha. I'm simultaneously packing for Uni and whenever I sit down to progress the route I spend a lot of time because I wont be happy unless is perfect haha. Ahh well, that's my curse.

More attractive shots soon I promise!

George

 

[tmz06003]

One maroon two star hotel on the way



I've just remembered it needs buffers and other bits so this will take a little longer....Trainz projects are never as straightforward as you initially think they will be!

 

[Paulsw2]

Hi George - responded to your message on the Wisbeach thread. Let me know if you need the DEM for this route as I think I may be able to help.

Paul

 

[georgem2010]

One maroon two star hotel on the way

Hi George - responded to your message on the Wisbeach thread. Let me know if you need the DEM for this route as I think I may be able to help.

Paul

@tmz06003 Thank you so much! It looks great!! It will be a perfect addition to the route.
@Paul Hi Paul, thank you for the offer, how over I am fairly far into the creation of the route now so I will leave out the use of a DEM this time as I'm managing the terrain. However I have plans at some point to create the Burton On Trent to Leicester Line, and a DEM for that would be incredible.

Thank you both,

George

PS More shots soon.

 

[fen_tiger]

Hi everyone

DEM is also off the agenda here at Wisbech, not much call for me using DEM when the Cambridgshire fenlands are flatter than a pancake. Mind you, because we are below 4 to 6 ft sea level here, there are numerous pumping stations and man-made drainage ditches all over the place to keep us dry. My route will have to reflect these low-lying lands - so I'll have to get my spade out and dig loads of ditches along my branch line landscape.

Andy

 

[LieLestoSbrat]

Hi everyone

DEM is also off the agenda here at Wisbech, not much call for me using DEM when the Cambridgshire fenlands are flatter than a pancake. Mind you, because we are below 4 to 6 ft sea level here, there are numerous pumping stations and man-made drainage ditches all over the place to keep us dry. My route will have to reflect these low-lying lands - so I'll have to get my spade out and dig loads of ditches along my branch line landscape.

Andy

I would strong recommend to reconsider that opinion. I helped do part of the Spalding Diversion route on the ECML found in TS2012 and TS2012. I used DEM terrain for that and what looks like a featureless flat landscape is anything but. There are rises and falls in the landscape, just no where as noticeable as somewhere with hills. The relief that the DEM will provide your route will really help in bringing it alive, and I do think it would be a mistake to turn down Paul's offer.

Rob

 

[tmz06003]

@George- could you get in touch please by pm with your e-mail address, the mk3 sleeper is ready but I'd like you to test it first to ensure that the build is Ok for your system. Unfortunately I can't backdate it any further than the build 3.2 of the original Auran mk3s. Also ensure you have the TRS2009 BT10 bogie that is on the DLS -25:966 or the bogies might default to the older TRS2004 version which is not as good as the TRS2010 version.

@Rob- nice to hear from you again, I was wondering if there was any progress with that project we were working on a while back? Agreed re DEM, I spent 1 1/2 years building Edinburgh wiithout DEM, then Stuart got in touch to recruit me for ECML. I then spent the next 4 years starting from scratch rebuilding the lot and adding the 60 miles to Berwick. The difference between both versions is vast and it's much faster and accurate building with DEM than without.

It would be interesting just to get the DEM anyway to compare and then we would know for sure if the land is dead flat or not....