1994 09:35 SO Carmarthen - London Paddington HST

[Ricardo]

Hello all,
I am in the process of creating a new activity for BrisCard3.2. Based just before privatisation (around 1994), so no 'colourful' liveries, it consists of driving an IC Swallow HST (from the MT pack), from Carmarthen to just past Caldicot. Stopping at Llanelli, Swansea (where you will reverse), Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Cardiff Central and finally Newport. As its a saturday service, the train is routed via Gloucester and Kemble, so will not call at Bristol Parkway.
I have hit a stumbling block in terms of stock, obviously there are the hourly HSTs, the other Regional Railways services in the form of 158s, 153s, 150s, 143s and 142s, however I am unsure of any other passenger services, or the timetabling of freight services. So any help would be lovely.
Once finished you will require MSTSBin for the reverse at Swansea, however I cannot add a stop at Swansea due to the limitations of the reverse!

Any help would be greatly appreciated, or any general interest.

Cheers
Richard

[expressboy1983]

With regard to other passenger traffic, you could always throw in the odd class 37/47 hauled service, as they would still have been around all be it few an far between, but would add some more variation if nothing else.

Freight workings is easy - after all this is South Wales we're talking about. Coal trains (class 56/37 hauled) to and from Bristol/Aberthaw, and steel trains(class 37/60 hauled) between Llanwern, Port Talbot and Trostre, with the odd container train from Wentloog 47 hauled to Southampton.

As for the reverse at Swansea, you could always do what i had to do with my EWS Excursion activity, and use popups in the station to inform the player of where to stop, how long for, and give right away messages when at departure time. Just be sure that there are no HST's int e station if you do chose this method, as i found with HST's or units in the station with 'high density' sound and popups being used together, caused MSTS to crash a lot - as the popups are seen by MSTS as sound files.

I've done many an activity for BrisCard, it can be a fiddly route to work with when the activity start getting complex, but most things can be overcome with a little persistence.

Good luck with the activity.

Simon.

[Ricardo]

Just to let everyone know this activity is being worked on again, as I'm back from Uni now!
However, one stumbling block I've found is, in testing, running my train at linespeed throughout it's journey the train is always early. The speeds on BrisCard are not as prototypical as I thought, so I have come up with an idea, to put popups at every speed change (except where there are several in quick succession). Would this put people off the activity/is there a better method?

Cheers
Richard

[gswindale]

I'd try and use a "blocker" service at times in front of you - gives you some signal checks along the way. Not too sure if there are many branches included, but if so, then the blocker can disappear down those every so often to give some full speed running.

[Ricardo]

Evening gents (and ladies).
The activity is nearing the beta testing stage, I'm not 100% happy with it yet, but when I am it will be available for testing.
So, form an orderly que, and please in your post or pm to me would you state whether you have the MT HST pack of not.

Thanks
Richard

[expressboy1983]

Hiya Richard.

I have the MT HST pack, also Briscard patched up to latest version sitting dormant on my HDD. I don't mind giving this a spin whenever you need it to be done. If you need my e-mail addy grab it off my profile thingymajigger.

Simon.