The West Coast Mainline?

[Backfoot2002]

I know that Warrington Railways is a route which modells a section of the WCML, but I was wondeing is there a route, or is anyone doing a route of the WCML from Londons Euston is it? upto, i dont know Glasgow, or anywhere? Ive jsut been on the Warrington Railways route, and I can say that it is great, but its too short really. I was thinking if anyone has done this route is planning to do it ful length then i think it would be 'probably' the best route from MSTS .

The Mideast is still top of my list cos of the length and the amount of Activities you can do on it!

Anton

[bigvern]

There are indeed a couple of WCML's in production and I'm also pottering around with what I'm calling WCML "lite", which will be Watford to Milton Keynes Central as it was in the early 80's.

As regards the whole route from Euston to Glasgow, well it would be nice but I think it will remain a dream TBH. At 400 miles (and that's not including diversionay routes) it would take an age to build and finish to the standard now expected, even from freeware routes. You would very likely be looking at 18 months - 2 years work, by which time, 1. The route author would have been carted away gibbering in a straitjacket; 2. MTS2 will have come out so the danger would be a route for V.1 would have a limited appeal; 3. MTS2 doesn't happen but two years from now if that's the case MTS1 will have faded away.

The only possible way a route of this magnitude could get built is if route joining was easy (which it isn't) and a consortium of maybe 8 - 10 route builders all tackled their own 50 - 60 mile section.

[jonathanmlewis]

I hope to make the route from Carlisle to Crewe. So far I have the track done from Carlisle to Preston. I have uploaded a version from Penrith to Oxenholme.
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=25893

[Backfoot2002]

There are indeed a couple of WCML's in production and I'm also pottering around with what I'm calling WCML "lite", which will be Watford to Milton Keynes Central as it was in the early 80's.

As regards the whole route from Euston to Glasgow, well it would be nice but I think it will remain a dream TBH. At 400 miles (and that's not including diversionay routes) it would take an age to build and finish to the standard now expected, even from freeware routes. You would very likely be looking at 18 months - 2 years work, by which time, 1. The route author would have been carted away gibbering in a straitjacket; 2. MTS2 will have come out so the danger would be a route for V.1 would have a limited appeal; 3. MTS2 doesn't happen but two years from now if that's the case MTS1 will have faded away.

The only possible way a route of this magnitude could get built is if route joining was easy (which it isn't) and a consortium of maybe 8 - 10 route builders all tackled their own 50 - 60 mile section.

So this joining of route, can be done then, becuase I thought it was just a myth. But I knwo people on UKTS are not very keep on joining up as a team to create something . It would be good thought if 5-8 people were willing to do such a thing, as it woudl one great route, wouldnt you agree?
Also I didnt know teh route was 400miles, that is a bit long, I not totalsure where the WCML goes, I know it starts at Euston, and the goes up through Rugby and Stafford, and im gessing ti passes throught Birmingham New Street aswell. A route from Euston to Birmingham New Street would be great aswekk i suposed, becuase then when it is done, you can have the option of extending it.

Anton

[ccsdc]

Anton,

Which 5th largest city do you live in, because I always thought that the WCML connected the 5 largest conurbations in the UK - that is London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, and anyone with an interest in railways from any of those cities would know the route.

Anyway I am building Euston to Crewe via the trent valley to connect up with my Crewe to Liverpool route which is already available on UKTS. I am hoping to release at the end of May.

Regards,

Dave

[Backfoot2002]

5th Largest City in the UK is Sheffield, the termination point for Midland Mainline Services to London St. pancres. In order i know that London is the biggest with Birmingham following, then Manchester, and then I think its Leeds which overtook Sheffield as Sheffield was teh 4th largest at one point, then after that I dont know.

So you say your are connecting these routes up, so im takign ti is possiable. .

So when you do connect these up how long will the route be in total? cos like i said im not too up-to-date wiht the WCML and where it goes.

Anton

[alanhowat]

Hi there,

Here are figures regarding the UK's cities:-

http://www.citymayors.com/gratis/uk_topcities.html

Cheers,

Alan.

[Backfoot2002]

I never knew that Manchester was so far down the list!!

[simont]

It's because Salford, which accounts for a sizeable percentage of GM's population, is actually a separate city.

[bigvern]

Anyhow...

To do the WCML justice, you would need to include the 401 miles direct from Euston to Glasgow.

Then there's the little side loops made by the Euston - Watford DC line.

The Northampton Loop.

Via Birmingham which ought to include the Stour and Soho Roads.

Crewe - Manchester - Preston is questionable as not all electrified.

Finally all the little side lines in Glasgow itself.

Probably not far short of 500 miles in total. Some of the yards alone would take weeks to lay out properly. Laying the track isn't the hard part, it's fettling the terrain (the 90m DEM is not perfect), probably as many miles of road to lay and that's before 3D placement, terrtex etc.

Two years work minimum I would suggest.

[222004]

401.25 miles from London Euston to Glasgow Central.

I'd love to see the full-length of this route, but as bigvern as already said, it would take a long time. 2 years for a route builder with much experience, 2 and a half for less experienced builders I'd say.

[Backfoot2002]

Anyhow...

To do the WCML justice, you would need to include the 401 miles direct from Euston to Glasgow.

Then there's the little side loops made by the Euston - Watford DC line.

The Northampton Loop.

Via Birmingham which ought to include the Stour and Soho Roads.

Crewe - Manchester - Preston is questionable as not all electrified.

Finally all the little side lines in Glasgow itself.

Probably not far short of 500 miles in total. Some of the yards alone would take weeks to lay out properly. Laying the track isn't the hard part, it's fettling the terrain (the 90m DEM is not perfect), probably as many miles of road to lay and that's before 3D placement, terrtex etc.

Two years work minimum I would suggest.

Well 2 years work yeah, if your on your own, but if u get a team of people like u suggested then I think the time span woudl be a lot shorter wouldnt it?

[222004]

Indeed. However, implementing such a route building tactic is difficult.

[bigvern]

And by the time it's finished, MTS1 will have died away with tumbleweeds blowing round the room, or everyone will have moved on to MTS2! (If it ever happens).

[222004]

The latter is the most unlikely thing I've ever heard of on these forums since I joined!