Which Route?

Frsimplex1993 · Post by **Frsimplex1993** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:21 pm

THE WELSHPOOL IS A FANTASTIC re-creation of the Old Days! Anyone who thinks it is 'is'nt worth it' well they are MAD! (sorry for being angry)
William

Tonysmedley · Post by **Tonysmedley** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 5:02 pm

Once again we have a situation where someone is unable to make a comment, however accurate. except in an offensive manner.
I have my problems with WLLR - the bit just after the Welshpool terminus where it is almost impossible to get past the first few hundred yards without stalling or charging at it. BUT the route is a very good representation of what most of us know as the WLLR as it used to be. Of course it is not perfect. Let the critic point out a route with which he can find no fault, preferably one he has devised.
I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind and a desire to trun an attractive little route.

Tony now aged 83

Earl1 · Post by **Earl1** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:37 pm

I appologise to anyone who I have offended with my comments. I suppose if you have spent a lifetime visiting a line you will quickly find any faults in a representation of the route.
I admit the W&L route is in terms of track layout, length, and even curves very accurate, and the gradients are probably correct. my main problems are with the positioning of some items of scenery (New Drive Cottage being the prime example of this)(In fact the cottage itself is a great representation).
The Running of the route is limited the capability of the engines, and the way MSTS copes with steam and diesel operation.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:41 pm

This message has been edited by a Moderator

[Moderator Comment: pitleyfalley -

No worries, thanks for the apology, end of issue, consenus being that the WLLR is a good download and well worth it. Lets get back on subject. .

]

This message has been edited by a Moderator

PWHolmes · Post by **PWHolmes** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:25 am

A truly fascinating read - I am the author of the WLLR on Trainsim and I thank you all for your kind comments (yes, even you Earl1!!!).

I built the route whilst I was living 10000km from Powys in Taipei (where I am still living now) and spent some 12 months on it. I called on the resources of a number of friends on the line who supplied me with jpegs of key locations. All of the critical buildings along the line of route are bespoke from photographs and I made them as accurate as I could.

Why didn't I sell it?? I built it for pleasure and not for a livelihood and I wanted other people to be free to enjoy it.

Yes there are some awful gradients but I think they fully reflect the line. The main problem I have is the climb up to Bryn-Elyn Viaduct, but this is because the sanders dont work in reverse. I am a life member of the W&L and also know the route intimately as I used to be a guard. I personally know of places where there are more inaccuracies than the distance between Raven Square and New Drive which I didn't think to be too bad.

My Chinese wife is also a life member and it was us that arranged the shipping of the Taiwanese Diema to Llanfair. There is a model of this also available but if anyone wants a real one, please get in touch.

I also built the wagons, coaches and the two Beyer Peacocks.

I have largely dropped out of the Trainsim scene due to other commitments but I have started to create a modern W&L with a totally fictitious history of non closure and modernisation by BR. It is operated by Blue Diemas with air braked stock, modern hopper wagons, container wagons and a completely remodelled Welshpool. The old station has gone and trains are now routed across the old goods yard to give cross-platform access at the main station. A modern container and bulk transfer terminal has been built adjacent to the main line to the north and the whole route is now equipped with Colour light signals. All crossings are fitted with lifting barriers.

Yes, I know its preposterous but its my imagination. One day I will get round to completing and upoading it.

Paul

Earl1 · Post by **Earl1** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:32 am

I'd actually like to see it.

One suggestion on that line would be the elimination of Coppice lane crossing (line lowered and road raised) to allow a road overbridge.
Blue Diemas, hmmm might look a bit better actually (can one carry a name plate of 'Ming the Merciless'?).
The Diema has proved useful certainly, and thanks is very much in order (where else can you get a big Diesel for Â£25K these days).

PWHolmes · Post by **PWHolmes** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:25 am

Basically you cant, not now.

The costs of shipping, insurance, road haulage, police escorts, port taxes, packing etc and the basic locos have increased quite dramatically in the last 2 years with the escalating oil costs.

I have produced 4 modern Diemas with TOPS numbers, names & liveries as follows (all with waspy ends):

00 401 blue with yellow buffer planks & BR double arrow logo
00 402 blue with red buffer planks & BR double arrow logo
00 403 green with later BR steam era logo
00 404 black with unicycling lion logo.

I chose the TOPS numbers 00 *** as what Br could have numbered "unclassified' locos eg
00 1** = VoR Steam
00 2** = VoR Diesel
00 3** = W&L Steam
00 4** = W&L Diesel etc

(I really must get a life!!!!)

I have named them ( a la L&B) after local watercourses:
Severn, Meifod, Banwy & Lledan (Cant rememer which is which).

I have also prepared an "easy to relivery" Diema complete with the raw texture files in Paintshop Pro so that anyone can do an easy repaint for their line. I must upload some of this someday.

Paul

RobertM · Post by **RobertM** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:05 am

Sounds interesting

One day, do you think that you would update your current W&L too its preserved version

RobertM

PWHolmes · Post by **PWHolmes** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:37 am

I doubt it... after all, we can go and see that in the flesh, so to speak. I did think about it once but, well, life's just to short.

I have thought about doing the Alishan Railway here in Taiwan (70 km long, climbing from sea level to 2,200m, 2'-6" gauge, 50 tunnels & viaducts, quadruple spirals, zig-zags and incredible mountain scenery). It my favourite bit of railway in the world and almost unknown.

I must go when they have the Shays running.

Paul

davidaward · Post by **davidaward** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:33 pm

That sounds absolutely fascinating- If you do go a few pictures would be of great interest to us I'm sure!

Frsimplex1993 · Post by **Frsimplex1993** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:20 pm

Can't wait, it's bound to be FANTASTIC, as is every thing else built by Mr Homes!

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:35 pm

PWHolmes wrote:I have largely dropped out of the Trainsim scene due to other commitments but I have started to create a modern W&L with a totally fictitious history of non closure and modernisation by BR. It is operated by Blue Diemas with air braked stock, modern hopper wagons, container wagons and a completely remodelled Welshpool. The old station has gone and trains are now routed across the old goods yard to give cross-platform access at the main station. A modern container and bulk transfer terminal has been built adjacent to the main line to the north and the whole route is now equipped with Colour light signals. All crossings are fitted with lifting barriers.

Hmm, sounds interesting. I think the Beyer Peacocks might look nice in BR blue too

*Heads for flameproof bunker...*

john13 · Post by **john13** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:03 pm

WLLR may not be perfect - but few things ever are. I'd like to add my compliments to Paul on a great MSTS route. I don't have the close experience of others, but, over the years I've passed through Welshpool and Llanfair many times. A real buzz in recent years to see activity on the route rather than rusty rails. Great route - well worth downloading.

Talyllyn (v2 on CD if you can) is good too. Again - not perfect - but captures the a lot of the 'feel' of the real thing.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:57 pm

Talyllyn (v2 on CD if you can) is good too. Again - not perfect - but captures the a lot of the 'feel' of the real thing

Not perfect but pretty close to it, from the years I spent on the footplates of Talyllyn engines I can vouch for its autheticity!

Steve's done an excellent job on it.

Chris

john13 · Post by **john13** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:22 pm

pitleyfalley wrote:
Talyllyn (v2 on CD if you can) is good too. Again - not perfect - but captures the a lot of the 'feel' of the real thing
Not perfect but pretty close to it, from the years I spent on the footplates of Talyllyn engines I can vouch for its autheticity! Steve's done an excellent job on it.

Chris

Absolutely - my comment wasn't intended as any form of complaint! Just an extra vote for the route to anyone who's looking. The CD version is a great buy.

John

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Which Route?

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