Atomic Systems

Just a thought about BR Blue:

How different would the track layout in the early 80s have been? Just thinking that although NSE effectively existed (as LSE) in 82, the NSE brand as such only appeared from 1986 onwards, so there is some scope there (although possibly only a little bit of scope).

I don't know enough about the history of the routes as to when the layout would have started to alter dramatically, but guess that Southern Region Green is definitely too far back?

Hi Geoff,

I think you will quite safe going back to the BR Blue Era,but definatley not BR Southern Region, I think the Bournemouth through lines were taken out before the 1988 electrification of the line from Bournemouth and Weymouth.

I've just done a search on Wikipedia for Bournemouth Central and according to them the through lines were taken out around the time steam finished and that was 1967.

The Bournemouth to Weymouth Line was electrified in two parts,the 1st part was opened in 1967 that was Waterloo - Bournemouth -Branscombe,It was electrified as far as Branscombe to allow trains to get to TMD at Bournemouth West,the second part of the electrification was in 1988 when it was extended to Weymouth

Michael

Aha,

That'll be the main issue then - NSE commenced in 86, yet if electrification didn't take place until 88, I'm guessing that would be an issue as the 3rd rail will show.

I know this might be being slightly picky, but all the train care facilities still show South West Trains signs and the Siemens signs.

Sorry to appear stupid, but why wouldn't they - they are not stations and not subject to the advice in the guidelines.

You will note that the large "Welcome to..." signs are still the same - this is correct after discussion with SWT in their webchat last month.

Seems little point in having the ability to change eras, If only the station signs are changed, since the signs on the train-care facilities are larger and more noticeable. Like I said perhaps I'm just being too picky!

Fair point - it's up to Dave what actually happens though and I suspect that signs on other structures may be a little more complicated depending on how the textures were done.

A couple of points here.

The main differences between the modern layout that I have done and the BR Blue era is of course the Eurostar Terminal and the singling of the main line between Moreton and Dorchester South.

The former you can just get away with as I guess the construction of the Eurostar Terminal must have been well under way during the latter stage of the NSE reign, so the NSE era is positioned between 1988 and about 1995.

With regard to the depot signage I assume that davejc64 is referring to Northam EMU depot near Southampton. I think that I have done all the other depots with correct signage, but the Northam Depot I am a bit stuck with as the depot did not even exist until well into the SWT era, so I could put NSE signs on a non existant depot, but I can't really see the point.

Dave

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification Dave, I was unaware that Northam did not exist in BR NSE days, and now that has been pointed out to me I apologise for being a little bit too picky on what is an excellent route, that will teach me to do a bit more research before I post an opinion.

With regards

Dave ( davejc64)

Any dvd news please guys?

Salisbury Track Layout in the 80's

I am continuing with the creation of my activities for Dorset Coast V6 in the 'Blue Era' of the early 80's and have been looking at some further activities around Salisbury. Having visited the area for years I know that the sidings adjacent to Weymouth Town station weren't cleared until the late 80's when electrification took place and have tried to be as realisitc with the traffic as much as possible. I know much less about Salisbury and trying to recreate the services an the way the area is modelled on modern day with the SWT depot and platform 1 gone is causing some crazy results where traffic meets.

I wondered if anyone knows how the track layout in the 80's differed particularly for the section sidings and Salisbury west. I also assume the main platforms were 1 and 2 and the loop platforms mentioned in the WTT were 3 and 4?

BT

Re Salisbury in the 80's

The 2 Bay platforms at the Exeter end of the Main Platform were still in use,during the 80's

I can remember seeing Clan Line in one of them.

Michael