Atomic Systems

Hi all,

Ok, I said I wouldn't do it, but I thought I'd share some screenies of a route that I am determined to finish and get to the download stage. The route is called "Through Limestone Hills" and will be a recreation of the freight lines between Buxton and Hindlow/Briggs sidings and Buxton and Peak Forest. I am trying to get things as accurate as possible in terms of scenery, gradients, signaling etc. Naturally, some compromises will have to be made in terms of using stock RW items such as bridges etc, but hopefully these won't detract from the whole effect too much. The whole route should be around 15 miles or so. Not massive I know, but I wouldn't get anything longer finished!

For those who don't know the area, Buxton lies at the end of a passenger only branch line from Stockport, approximately 26 miles long and is the highest town in the UK, lying 1000 ft above sea level. The line was constructed by the LNWR in 1863- ish. Buxton is a terminus for the line from Stockport, but up until the 1960's, had two stations (LWNR and MR) side by side. The Midland Railway route from Derby terminated at Buxton, with another LWNR route heading out over the moors to Ashbourne and Uttoxeter. The line to Uttoxeter was singled and cut back to Hindlow/Dowlow to serve the massive limestone quarries there.

Similarly, the Midland route to Derby was closed between Matlock and Blackwell Mill, leaving a single line from Buxton to Great Rocks junction, to serve the huge limestone quarry at Tunstead. The line continues to Peak Forest and onwards towards Manchester. The whole route is dominated by steep gradients. 1 in 90 from Blackwell Mill to Peak forest summit and 1 in 62 from Buxton to Hindlow.

As of today (2/7/10) the track laying is about 50% complete. The single line from Buxton to Hindlow/Briggs sidings is completely layed and the line to Peak Forest is as far as Ashwood Dale Tunnel. The gradients and heavy trains on this route should make for some interesting driving. For example, the gradient from Buxton to Hindlow is pretty much 5 miles at 1 in 60. I ran a test earlier today using 2 x 37's and 16 IHH 'Summers' hoppers (which are the ICI bogie limestone hoppers in a different livery). Lots of slipping and 13 mph on full throttle!

The route has been created using Rw decal and DEM data, so the terrain should be as accurate as it can be. I've added a few screenies to show the stage that the route is at. It will be freeware and no, I don't know when it will be finished, but as I'm doing a bit every day, hopefully not too long! The route will also incorporate the TMD at Buxton station, rather than the current situation of stabling locos at Peak Forest.

Enjoy the pics, questions and comments welcome!

Jim

Buxton Yard looking towards Great Rocks (line to the left of the signal box) and Hindlow (line to right of the 'box)


Buxton Signal Box


Hogshaw Viaduct over the town centre. Single line to Hindlow


Site of Higher Buxton station. Steep gradients here! 1 in 64!


On the way to Hindlow the line crosses Dukes Drive viaduct, still climbing.


Nearly there! Close to the summit, the line eases to 1 in 200 for a very short stretch, then back to 1 in 62 through Hindlow tunnel


Briggs sidings to the right, Hindlow and Dowlow straight ahead.


Hindlow sidings


Map of the partially completed area around Buxton (although still no station or TMD!)



Map of the area around Hindlow/Briggs sidings

Looks good Jim.

A route through the Peak district, not bad, not bad at all . Looking forward to further developments.

Greets
Jos

Hi,

A few more pics of some more progress. Station area is about 95% complete in terms of signalling and complete trackwise. Enjoy!

Jim

Overview map of station area



Closer overview map view



Looking towards Buxton station



Buxton TMD



Buxton TMD 2



Buxton TMD 3



Spotters view over the fence (how many times did I stand here in my youth??!!!)



And again...



Over view of the TMD, looking towards the Buxton spring water factory (right) and the signal box (centre)

Looking very nice indeed!

Thats looking great Jim, well done so far! That will be some route when it finaly all comes together.. all those steep gradients!!

Regards

Pete

Hi,

Thanks for the kind comments guys, they are really spurring me on! Keep them coming! A few more hours work today has seen the line to Peak Forest progress further down Ashwood dale, as far as Pic Tor tunnel. I've found the use of LOTS of reference material absolutely invaluable. For anyone contemplating recreating a prototype route (or, for that matter, a fictional route) I'd advise getting as many books, photographs and track plans as you can. My route is steeply graded and I managed to pick up a BR gradient profile of the route on ebay for a bargain price of £4.99. Google street map can be a real help too, as unless parts of your route are totally isolated, street view pics from over/under bridges, over fences alongside lines etc are a real help. Anyway, here are a couple more pics from todays progress. In order to keep me sane, I do a couple of miles of track laying, then switch to some basic scenery to add some variety to my building sessions.

Jim

08 698 is a long way from its' home depot of Thornaby as it stands on the Buxton fuel road .


Overview of the route so far. Buxton top left, line to Hindlow bottom left, line to Peak forest middle right.


Summer 1984 and a 25/3 struggles up grade towards Buxton with a rake of empty Peakstone PGAs


Summer 1984 part 2. Peakstone wagons being dragged over the river Wye by a 25/3.



Hikers eye view of the same train crossing the A6 and the river Wye

ahh, I remember looking at that same spot not so long ago myself.. and looks very recognisable.. might take another trip up there as I don't live too far away.

Keep up the great work Jim!

Pete

Hi again,

Some more little bits of progress on the route. Track laying has taken a back seat whilst I fiddled about with some scenery this afternoon. Its' starting to come together and, although its' far from finished, I'm happy with the look so far. I took a test drive, starting at the furthest point along the Great Rocks branch, up to Buxton, run round and up to Hindlow. Then light engine back to Buxton and on shed. (this would be a typical scenario) .16 ICI Bogie hoppers and 2 Class 37's. All in, took just under an hour, with lots of wheel slip, maximum thrash up the grades and not even reaching the 20 mph speed limit on the Hindlow line! No wonder the real 37's were knackered out on this kind of work! Anyway, a few more screenies for you to enjoy.

Regards, Jim

Looking across Lightwood Road to Buxton Signal Box


Class 60 stands in the sidings with an Speedlink service.


A pair of Tractors thrash up the 1 in 66 gradient towards Buxton yard with a heavy ballast train.


Overhead view of the same train


Buxton yard


General view of the scenery around Buxton yard


Class 60 departs as a DMU on a service to Manchester heads up hill towards Dove Holes


Buxton Yard

Looking forward to this, I live in leek not too far away, so have spent many hours up there when I was younger watching all the stone trains come out of peakdale. Good luck with the project certainly looking great atm.

Cheers,
Cameron

Thanks to AustCoop for reducing the size of the posted pictures. They are such great pictures of what looks like a really good route.

carry on the great work and keep the pictures coming please.

Looking great so far and an interesting area to cover.
Simon

Well, this route is really taking shape Jim, well done so far. One question, will the route be set up for Diesel only, or will you incorporate steam facilities as well, for the 'old' steam-drivers like myself?
Cheers
Jos

Hi Jos,

Initially it will be diesel only. The modern day Buxton is radically different to what it was like in the days of steam. Even up until the 1960's, Buxton had two seperate stations in the town centre and a third, Higher Buxton, a short distance away. It had a large engine shed, with turntable, mechanical coaling tower etc, as well as a large goods yard and associated facilities. I will see how long it takes to finish the current route, but I wouldn't rule out doing a steam version of the area either. The only major issue would be that the current "branch lines" to Hindlow and Peak Forest were, in steam days, mainlines with regular passenger traffic. The route to Peak Forest was part of the Midland Mainline to Derby and the route to Hindlow was the LNWR line to Ashbourne. Incorporating both in any kind of meaningful length would probably quadruple the current length of the route! That said, I do have lots of reference material for both routes, so it would be interesting to do them. Perhaps the Midland line as far as Rowsley and the LNWR to Ashbourne?

regards, Jim

Austcoop wrote:Hi Jos,

Initially it will be diesel only. The modern day Buxton is radically different to what it was like in the days of steam. Even up until the 1960's, Buxton had two seperate stations in the town centre and a third, Higher Buxton, a short distance away. It had a large engine shed, with turntable, mechanical coaling tower etc, as well as a large goods yard and associated facilities. I will see how long it takes to finish the current route, but I wouldn't rule out doing a steam version of the area either. The only major issue would be that the current "branch lines" to Hindlow and Peak Forest were, in steam days, mainlines with regular passenger traffic. The route to Peak Forest was part of the Midland Mainline to Derby and the route to Hindlow was the LNWR line to Ashbourne. Incorporating both in any kind of meaningful length would probably quadruple the current length of the route! That said, I do have lots of reference material for both routes, so it would be interesting to do them. Perhaps the Midland line as far as Rowsley and the LNWR to Ashbourne?

regards, Jim

Hi Jim
Sounds good to me. I hope that when you finish this one you will still find enough pleasure and inspiration to do the steam era version You can be sure it will be much appreciated when you do. And in the meantime I do not mind driving diesels when this route is finished
Greets
Jos

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words Jos. I will definitely be considering a steam era version for the future! A couple more screen shots from todays progress. Just some scenic work today, but its getting there!

Regards Jim

Just past the old Higher Buxton station lies Grove Lane. The real thing would be a spotter's dream! If you like stone trains that is..


Grove Lane 2


Class 60 heads to Hindlow with a rake of empty MEA box wagons. (Nice wagons Meshtools!)