Welsh Railways - Everything West of Port Talbot?

XPTE · Post by **XPTE** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:16 pm

Any news on the much extended version of the Swansea-Carmarthen route? Welsh Railways - Everything West of Port Talbot I believe it was called. It's been quite a while since we last heard anything. I know that different route authors take a different approach to promoting their route, some keep quiet until its all finished, some give irregular updates, and some give frequent updates.

Is it still going ahead? If so, how's it going?

DarwinS · Post by **DarwinS** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:46 pm

Sorry, everything West of Port Talbot...

...does that include Swansea (Victoria) to Craven Arms and
Swansea (St Thomas') to Brecon and Hereford??

37180sirdyfed · Post by **37180sirdyfed** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:06 pm

As far as I know, the route currently runs from Swansea - Landore loop - Carmarthen.
As I live in Wales, I'd love to see a modern route version say 1988 - to present day.
We have some great routes here in South Wales, including the Cardiff Valleys, freight runs to Aberthaw via the Vale of Glamorgan Line, Swansea Burrows Sidings, Llanelli Trostre Works and Milford Robeston Terminals.. and not to forget the Swansea - Paddington Main line!

johnarran · Post by **johnarran** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:14 pm

It does indeed include Swansea Victoria - Cravens Arms AND Swansea St.Thomas - Brecon.

The Swansea Victoria Station has been modelled by Jonathan Powell and it looks really good. The St Thomas and High St stations I have modelled myself.

The route(s) period is 1950-60. Progress is slow at the moment but nevertheless work is continuing.

Track and terraforming for all the routes from Bridgend to Neyland/Milford Haven (helped here by IKB - thanks Mike), Swansea - Llandeilo, Carmarthen - Llandeilo, Swansea District line Trostre - Briton Ferry, Swansea Bay to Rhondda had all been laid. This version of the route (all in UKFS) has been given to some individuals to use. However, during the summer I came across better reference material and I decided that I would restart the work again. This time with more accuracy and with DEM terrain data. As I said progress has slowed, but I am in no rush. I was getting rather stressed and decided that it was time I took stock, slowed down a bit and start to enjoy the hobby again.

The route mileage is huge so I intend to release in stages with all lines from Swansea included but with each updated as they are completed.

There is high detail in the current work and when complete it will require a high end spec PC. But as I am primarily doing the work for my pleasure I decided I would not cut back in detail. It's not commercial work and therefore I am free to take time over it and more importantly enjoy the route building once again.

The time consuming part for me is model building. I'm getting to grips with GMax, Paint Shop Pro etc and it all takes time. I have had help from Jonathan who has provided me with Swansea Victoria Station and some excellent Dock Cranes (thanks Jonathan) but he is very heavily involved in his own route. So anyone who would like to help with some model building please feel free to email me.

I keep promising myself (and a few others) that I would provide a web site with screenshots and news updates but never seem to find the time to do it.

Anyway, hope this information is helpful. Now i'm off back to GMax.

John

jbilton · Post by **jbilton** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:40 pm

Hi John
One to really look forwards to.

Cheers
Jon

XPTE · Post by **XPTE** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:21 pm

Cool, sounds good. Look forward to it. Cheers for the update.

fairlie · Post by **fairlie** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:31 pm

Sounds good

Is the Swansea and Mumbles Tramway included next to the Swansea Victoria line?

johnarran · Post by **johnarran** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 8:15 pm

No, I'm not including the Mumbles Railway at this time. Enough to do at the moment.

John

JonathonAG · Post by **JonathonAG** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 8:28 pm

Will Neath be on the route?

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:45 pm

JonathonAG wrote:Will Neath be on the route?

depends which side of Llanelli its on as it's a central wales route.

DarwinS · Post by **DarwinS** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 7:13 am

Sound fantastic, I am looking forward to it.

johnarran · Post by **johnarran** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:31 pm

Neath is a Swansea - Paddington mainline station and is included. In myroute the mainline goes east as far as Bridgend. In fact in the period I am doing Neath actually had 2 stations: One on the mainline and one on the Neath - Brecon line. Both are included.

John

jonrach73 · Post by **jonrach73** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:36 pm

Sounds great John - I was always a fan of the first Swansea route so very much looking forward to this...

Cheers

jon

JonathonAG · Post by **JonathonAG** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 1:35 pm

johnarran wrote:Neath is a Swansea - Paddington mainline station and is included. In myroute the mainline goes east as far as Bridgend. In fact in the period I am doing Neath actually had 2 stations: One on the mainline and one on the Neath - Brecon line. Both are included.

John

Sorry to bump this thread, but yes, it sounds like you are doing the Neath Main Line station and the Riverside station. I have photos of the current Neath Vale line ( that's the Neath - Brecon ) which i could send to you if you like?

MattRyys · Post by **MattRyys** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:46 am

Can't wait to see some screenshots. I was born in Pembroke and I used to travel up that line alot to get to my aunts house in Cardiff.