UK Routes - Have These Been Done?

Vern

Trainz Maverick
Contemplating a number of projects to put on my 2017 vapourware list; a browse of the forums indicates all of these appear to have been under construction or at least consideration at some point, but nothing about a final release ever appearing. The top three (so far) are:

1. Taunton to Barnstaple (possibly Ilfracombe) via Wivelscombe, (the "real" North Devon Line).
2. Banbury (or Kings Sutton) via Kingham and Stow to Cheltenham (Banbury & Cheltenham Direct Railway).
3. Morpeth to Rothbury and possibly Redesmouth, part of a once extensive network serving rural Northumberland.

Any information appreciated, as always these are just ideas and no guarantee they would get started let alone finished, but I always see little point duplicating the efforts of others when there is so much track mileage still to be built!
 
I've got Barnstaple both GWR and LSWR as part of my L&B route I'm working on, that's all three stations the Barnstaple loop etc I've made the dem so the edges tie in with the OS grid squares with a view to adding bits on later, roughly covered 4 miles of track either side of Barnstaple for all lines. GWR as far as Swimbridge Station to the East. Fremington on the N Devon Line to the West.
 
Contemplating a number of projects to put on my 2017 vapourware list; a browse of the forums indicates all of these appear to have been under construction or at least consideration at some point, but nothing about a final release ever appearing. The top three (so far) are:

1. Taunton to Barnstaple (possibly Ilfracombe) via Wivelscombe, (the "real" North Devon Line).
2. Banbury (or Kings Sutton) via Kingham and Stow to Cheltenham (Banbury & Cheltenham Direct Railway).
3. Morpeth to Rothbury and possibly Redesmouth, part of a once extensive network serving rural Northumberland.

Any information appreciated, as always these are just ideas and no guarantee they would get started let alone finished, but I always see little point duplicating the efforts of others when there is so much track mileage still to be built!

Hi Vern, as a Northumbrian who lived in Morpeth I can just about remember the last days of the Morpeth, Rothbury & Reedsmouth Wansbeck Valley Line or the Wannie Line as it was locally called. That is one route I would happily pay good money to run on Trainz so I do hope you do find the time to have a go at building it.
 
If I do something based on Rothbury, it wouldn't cost a penny (other than DLS access) as I just do freeware these days. The reason I queried Rothbury was that a forum search threw up reference to someone doing the station building. However there was no subsequent discussion of any route and a quick look on the DLS didn't show the item as being released either. That's why it can get confusing as to who has done what, or which projects are still live. The list of UK routes is useful up to a point but there are probably some in existence but not listed there.

It will be well into the New Year before I might make a start on any of the above, as I've still got a couple of other projects I'm trying to work through and get finished.
 
Hi Vern and everybody.
Vern it may have been my North Devon Branch Lines you found in your research and I am still working on that project after nearly ten years. It is absolutely huge as it has been my sole build in all that time and something I view as somewhat of a lifetime achievement.

It is a strange coincidence that you posted at this time as I am within two or perhaps three baseboards of completing the lines although I would then commence making some improvements up and down “my railway” (LOL). It has all been created in Trainz 10 and I have no doubts it could never be transferred to any other version.

Here Is a breakdown of the lines and they all interlink. See Google maps for reference to place names. I have stated imaginary or real in regard to being part of the North Devon lines pre Beeching

  1. Real. Line from Ilfracombe to Barnstaple junction via Braunton.
  2. Imaginary. Line from Ilfracombe to South Molton via Blackmoor gate
  3. Real. Line from Blackamoor Gate to Lynton via Woody Bay and Martinhoe.
  4. Imaginary. Line from Woolacombe to Braunton via Croyde and Saunton.
  5. Real. Line from Barnstaple Junction to Great Torrington via Bideford East of Water.
  6. Real. Part of line from Barnstaple junction to Exeter terminates at Bishops Tawton (portal)
  7. Real. Line from Barnstaple Junction to South Molton via Swimbridge and Filleigh.
  8. Real. Line from Bideford East of Water to Appledore via Bideford Town and Westward Ho.
Still under construction is the line from Barnstaple St annes station to Blackamoor gate which will complete the the full Barnstable to lynton line. As stated approx three boards to go.

My North Devon Branch Lines project was started in TC3 then transferred to Trainz 9 then on to Trainz 10. Over the years the building of the branch lines has been a great source of relaxation as the earlier versions of Trainz up to twelve are so uncomplicated. That still is the great attraction for me, to just go up to my home office boot the PC and carry on building my world, no fuss no bother, just quiet relaxation at the end of a day.

How I would get it off my computer I have no idea. I have backed it up onto a seconds external hard drive, so I would imagine it could be transferred to dvd. As I have built the lines I have put in all the scenery of which some of the buildings content I added myself but have never uploaded any of them to the DLS.

It's always been my own personal project that I have never wished to share with anyone else. I hope everyone can understand that.

Bill
 
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Good luck with that one Bill, it would be nice if there was some way to share the end result at some later stage but file size is going to be a major issue.

At the moment I think Rothbury is probably looking favourite, not least because Malc's excellent FR/WHR textures and buildings will translate to a Northumbrian setting, along with the various other bits from a few others. However as noted I have something further south (as in south of the equator) that I would like to finish before getting too distracted by another project.

Having been born in the North East (Gateshead) albeit living away for many years, it would be nice to do something from that area.
 
Hi Vern.
If anyone had any ideas how the route could shared on a limited basis I would be open to suggestions. I have never atempted to upload it even when it was much smaller. I have always felt it was my personal project and therefore I have never wanted others to "mess about with it" or go making comments on it in this forum seeing the verbal treatment some content gets when uploaded by the rivet counters.

That stated directly sharing it with some forum members if it where possible I would be open to
Bill
 
I too would be very interested in your route Wholbr, how about Google drive to share it on?
All assets would be there too and a fast download to boot.

Ani
 
Hi Vern

Some years ago now I read an article in a Railway Modellers magazine on the Scotsgap-Rothbury branch line, and have had an interest in the line ever since. I started one Trainz version in 2009 - all done by hand basically and I wasn't overly happy with it. I have only recently finished (if you can ever call any route finished :)) another version in Tane based on DEM data which look much better.

I have a few screenshots on the "Trainz Gallery" site here http://www.trainzportal.com/mytrainz/search_media_posts (just do a search for my user ID stokia01 or Rothbury Branch)

My only hesitation with sharing would be that I have modified some assets by other and do not have any permission to upload with these assets.
 
I'll check those out Ian... shame about the obstacles to uploading.

One interesting off shoot that I might focus on is the erstwhile Catcleugh Reservoir line which joined the (Redesmouth section) route at Woodburn. Thanks to the UK/Ireland Rail Map project it's now possible to discern where that ran, other than the immediate exit from Woodburn which would require something like a 1 in 15 drop to the river.

I'll keep my little project simmering in between my South American (!) projects.
 
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