New routes

[david1]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Keith Mross (if my memory serves me right) is working on any new routes, as i just love Port Road & WCML north

[TheTazman]

have a poke around on the forums and you will see some tweaks to the Oxford to Paddinton route.

[Darpor]

He has been actively posting in the screenshots area with shots of a modernised Oxford - Paddington, however, he has stated that is currently for personal use. He also stated that he has no major project underway currently.

[TractorBasher]

However, there is an update to WCML North to come, which also includes a fictional modern Port Road route. As I understand, they are with RS.com and awaiting testing before being rolled out to the masses.

[transadelaide]

However, there is an update to WCML North to come, which also includes a fictional modern Port Road route. As I understand, they are with RS.com and awaiting testing before being rolled out to the masses.

It is unknown if RS.com will release the update to WCML North because it apparently involves some changed track configurations and many changed markers, which will render all current scenarios useless. If they do release it, hopefully they will take the time to add TS2012 features like lighting and maybe block trees before releasing it.

[wright1949]

Any chance of the Somerset & Dorset route being extended to Bournemouth in the future?

[USRailFan]

It is unknown if RS.com will release the update to WCML North because it apparently involves some changed track configurations and many changed markers, which will render all current scenarios useless. If they do release it, hopefully they will take the time to add TS2012 features like lighting and maybe block trees before releasing it.

Really? Has this been said officially from RS.com? After all the update was finished and sent off to them for release many months ago (confirmed by Keith M. Ross) - if I were him I'd be quite a bit pissed at them throwing away all that amount of work.

[keithmross]

Hi,
Unfortunately, this year has had it's challenges - so route building has had to be sidelined for a bit.
The WCMLN update and extension has not yet been given the TS2012 treatment but that will come soon and then it will be released.
It is unfortunate that the original update did not make it to release, however the timing was just not right for RSC.
I still hope to send out the free bonus Glasgow & Southwestern route with the WCMLN update - don't know if this will be via RSC/Steam channels or otherwise - all I can say is that it is dependent on the WCML update and won't be available before that release. Also, unless someone can work some magic, these routes will be separate although they do overlap by a couple of miles.

Currently I'm playing about with the new features before embarking on the next big project. This has involved some fiddling with the core Ox-Padd route. So far I have added scenery and improved OLE on the electrified section, including an extension to Heathrow Airport. Lights have also been added to the whole route. I may or may not continue to refresh the scenery all the way to Oxford...
I will release this but not sure how best to do it. WCMLN and NEC assets are a requirement to run it.

When life gets a bit easier I'd really like to get back into big route building projects again, just bear with me
Best regards,
Keith

[transadelaide]

It is unknown if RS.com will release the update to WCML North because it apparently involves some changed track configurations and many changed markers, which will render all current scenarios useless. If they do release it, hopefully they will take the time to add TS2012 features like lighting and maybe block trees before releasing it.

Really? Has this been said officially from RS.com? After all the update was finished and sent off to them for release many months ago (confirmed by Keith M. Ross) - if I were him I'd be quite a bit pissed at them throwing away all that amount of work.

Keith has added more information since, but the fact we only had one unofficial comment which really didn't give away anything was the exact reason I said "it is unknown."

----------------

Merging routes is definitely possible, as I found out in an experiment with half-dismantling Test Trak and reconnecting the two parts again. Doing it on a large scale would be much tougher than spending an hour fiddling around with just some components of Test Trak, but it would definitely be possible if the routes had an identical origin (even this is possibly not required) and compatible terrain along the 'boundary' between the two routes. It would be extremely time-consuming but could be well worth it.

I don't know how you would go with signalling, for that you would need to look into how the Italians managed to merge two major routes. If a route was always intended to be a team build with an aim for all the segments to be created simultaneously and then joined together it would be a far more viable possibility, especially for people competent in the use of tools like RWTextEdit.

[DCBickersteth]

I cannot praise Keith's routes enough - whenever bored of new routes (through lack of realism at times) I go back to WCMLN and just wonder and delight at the detail and accuracy - good enough I would think, for 'real' driver training. It would be good to see the WCML venture south - perhaps initially to Preston, then Crewe and onwards, to the same high standard of the present WCML (even with the occasional stutter due to so much scenery).

DCB

[sundog]

I agree - to me the WCML is still RSC's flagship route even though it hasn't (yet) been updated. Don't get me wrong, as I suffer with severe frame-rate loss in dense parts, but that doesn't detract from what a magnificent route it is, and just how much there is to explore. It just seems to have the right feel to it

However, a long-standing mainstay for me is Port Road 3. I always, always seem to gravitate to this route if I just want to go for a spin, and it's brought me many hours of pleasure.

Thanks Keith for all your work!

Ken

[michaeldono]

If a 'payware merge' was done, the develper would have to make a kind of program to connect the tracks through the right mesurements to garentee it would work, or at least for a multipart one. Maybe RSC could do a 'update freeze' and release a extention for what, £10-£20? Then there'd be updates and no conflicts. I belive the route could go down to Euston if the RSC team+kieth built it as they are the Woodhead

[FoggyMorning]

Maybe. I'm not sure many people have the time or patience to play a 4 and a half hour scenario though

[ckmemphis]

Not just playing time, but the hit on your system to have the entire route load on you PC would be astonishing. Northern Europe seems to manage quite well with that, but then again, that route is more like driver's eye view. I would imagine that it would take ages orthe entire route to be built, and even then, it might just seem a bit much..... 90% of trackwork south of Preston is 125mph running... Either way, I would be suprised if RSC/Keith take up the challenge to push south to Euston....

[smarty2]

Maybe. I'm not sure many people have the time or patience to play a 4 and a half hour scenario though

Just do what I do matey, pause it when its time to go bye bye's or whatever and put the p.c into sleep, next time you fire the puter up you are ready to go again. Really good way of completing the Northern Europe route especially if you have a two way'er! (6 hours or so.)