Atomic Systems

Hi Everyone,

Thanks and Congratulations to a huge effort by numerous people both recently and indeed over many years, not to forget Saddletank and the others involved in the route, stock and activities original creation - I am thrilled to say that this route is now finally released and available for download.

Unfortunately for a number of reasons the route will never be able to make it on to a CD, so grab your download now.

This little route has been one of my favourites for many years and has been the subject of much discussion over those years. We've had it on demo at shows, it's been talked about on the forum - it's been said that it would never come out - well, eat your hats folks because it's here now

It's not a huge download either really considering how much stock there is.

The activities are really entertaining and show some real innovation even *now* which is amazing given the activities themselves were largely written several years ago.

I highly recommend this add-on for your Microsoft Train Simulator - go get it now

Matt.

MSTS will have to be reinstalled me thinks Highworh is not very far from me.


Regards



John

It is a wonderful route - see my comments in the other thread.

I'm also wondering how much of the stock and loco pack is driveable for other routes - the GWR clerestories look amazing (reminders of Triang Hornby in the 70's!).

You should be able to use the stock on any route.
Considering the age of some of the stock they are a match for current models.

If you don't have the route installed you need Stuart Williamson's SWB wagon sounds

File ID 3290

just wondering? what stock and locos were used on the branch in the fifties?

Locomotive wise for the 1950's activities on my system are 13xx 0-6-0 pannier tanks & 58xx 0-4-2 tanks. But i would think various types of Panniers would have been seen along with the odd small prairie perhaps? Stock wise the consists seem to comprise of two mixed b set coaches. The route infact closed to passengers in 1953.

If you look in the Highworth route folder and click 'media', then 'images' and 'real route' you will find many shots of the route. There are a couple of colour shots of 16xx pannier tanks working the branch in the very early 60's with goods trains. (goods traffic continued on the full length of the line till the early 60's.)

ianmacmillan wrote:You should be able to use the stock on any route.
Considering the age of some of the stock they are a match for current models.

If you don't have the route installed you need Stuart Williamson's SWB wagon sounds

File ID 3290

Which explains the failed to load message "uk-swb-fit-wag01.sms", since rectified.

John

Many thanks to all the people that created the Highworth route. It is fantastic.

kieranhardy wrote:Locomotive wise for the 1950's activities on my system are 13xx 0-6-0 pannier tanks & 58xx 0-4-2 tanks. But i would think various types of Panniers would have been seen along with the odd small prairie perhaps? Stock wise the consists seem to comprise of two mixed b set coaches. The route infact closed to passengers in 1953.

If you look in the Highworth route folder and click 'media', then 'images' and 'real route' you will find many shots of the route. There are a couple of colour shots of 16xx pannier tanks working the branch in the very early 60's with goods trains. (goods traffic continued on the full length of the line till the early 60's.)

Prairie tanks never ran on the line, their 6-coupled wheelbase was too long for the sharp curves and they were too heavy. Ditto for the more common large panniers like the 57xx's

In the early years 850 class 0-6-0 saddletanks were used and '517' and 'Metro' class 0-4-2 tanks were the mainstay, in later years the 850s in their pannier tank form were seen but 58xx 0-4-2s ruled the roost. The 1361 class 0-6-0s were used in the later 50s because they had a short wheelbase. The line also saw various interesting things tested on it because it was local to Swindon works and it had a steep gradient. A steam railmotor was tried a couple of times (the stock pack screenshot shows the superb model build by Mark Ollard many years ago), and more famously the ex-broad gauge (and unique) 4-4-0 saddle tank No.13 was used frequently on the line in the mid 20s. You'll see that engine in the post-grouping era activities. Lastly in BR days 03 and 08 diesels went up the line and I think an AC Cars railbus was tried once or twice.

All these locos are included with the route, or will be with the later activity/stock packs. The later packs will include several coaches that make up a unique Highworth B-Set which had a reduced loading gauge by having the roof ventilators mounted lower down the roof arc.

I think a document included with the route lists all the loco types that ever worked the line.

Nearly fell off my chair tonight when I breezed past here and saw in the downloads "Highworth Branch"

Congratulations to all concerned for finally finally pushing it out the door

So exactly WHEN was the first virtual sod of earth dug for this then? 2001, 2002?

Will grab it when I can (being a non-premium member these days0

Delighted to see over 950 downloads for a route uploaded yesterday.

Well done to all concerned in adding what looks like a quality route to the MSTS portfolio.

The route was started in 2001, within a few weeks of MSTS being released in the UK though it was effectively finished 5 years ago. Sadly I just grew bored with it

The reason you are seeing it now is not due to me but to others enthusiasm to get it finished - all the work of the last 3 to 4 years has been on rolling stock and activities.