New Digital Traction route: Plymouth-Penzance 1930s

[longbow]

Well now - two payware steam-era routes announced within two days. Things really are looking up.

The announcement is buried away in the thread on BR wagon packs but DT are proposing to build a Plymouth-Penzance 1930's route with the possibility of an eastward extension and a 1960's version.

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalTraction

[Stanlow]

Would it be prototypical to run Bulleids on the '60s route?

EDIT: My mistake, it seems that location would have been the responsibility of GWR.

[AllYourKitty]

More good news, things are looking up indeed.

[jetstream]

It depends how much of Plymouth is included. The SR ran over GWR rails from Laira (where the lines from Plymouth's SR terminus, Friary Station joined the GWR), west through North Road Station and veered off just west Victoria Park viaduct at Devonport Jnct en route to Devonport King's Rd and the SR 'north of the moor' route onwards to Tavistock, Meldon and Exeter. The GWR (WR) continued through Devonport Albert Rd, (Ford), Keyham and St Budeaux to cross the Tamar at Saltash.

This project from DT is a very welcome route but, if done properly, it is a HUGE project. All I ask is that time and care is taken to get it right - not 'approximately'. The research to place it time-wise to cover the 1930s through to 60s is a massive undertaking in itself but not impossible given the amount of archive material available. I'm looking forward to crossing the Tamar via the Royal Albert Bridge (IK Brunel Engineer 1859).

[johnrossetti]

Does that not make it 3 OR 4 ? ( with South Devon Banks route ?) or is it called English Riviera Route ?
I'm confused http://forums.uktrainsim.com/posting.ph ... 38d56c145a#

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 3&t=118213

Cheers John

[longbow]

The route is labelled as GWR 1930s so I doubt it will cover much of Plymouth beyond the GWR main line. The upcoming English Riviera payware route is modern era and finishes east of Plymouth: the long released South Devon Banks freeware route is steam-era and runs from Exeter to Plymouth.

As it happens Bulleid Pacifics made it as far as Penzance at least once:

http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p78 ... #h6d28a521

[moose4675]

A link to the blog on this new route

http://digital-tractions-blog.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

[SouthernElectric]

Great news another historical route to look forward to.
Simon

[rkk01]

JUST WOW!!!

DT displays the kind of ambition that was lacking / bemoaned in other recent threads...

I've not done any recent work on my own Exeter to Plymouth route, (waiting to see what assets would be in the RSC Paignton route). The prospect of the Royal Albert Bridge makes this an interesting prospect as a potential source clone!

The "ambition" of this route will be judged on the detail and execution. As jetstream suggests, just the Plymouth area is potentially huge. The LSWR route ran close to the GWR in the west of the city, so ought to be included, even if only for scenic purposes. Irrespective of how much LSWR is included, I will definitely want to use this as a base route for Plymouth - Tavistock - Okehampton - Exeter...!

[jetstream]

I've just read the 'blog' and it sounds fantastic which, I'll qualify again, if don e properly.

This route will really test the modellers to the full with such a diverse landscape (and cityscape in Plymouth) to depict. Creative did a superb job with their brief foray into Cornwall and captured the vistas and 'feel' of that part of the county very well.

There is a huge amount of illustrated literature available on the locations and lines west of Exeter.

There will be great opportunities for we 'amateurs' to work on all the other branches and mainlines not included. I can see that West Country easing into Tavistock even now.

Well done DT on taking on this - take as long as it takes because a really well produced route would justify a 'premium' price, in my opinion.

As a footnote to DT, make use of the 'community' for any additional information or holes in knowledge you may have. I'm sure many of us would (non bloggers or Facebookers) would love to help out on this one.

[theorganist]

Yes another exciting announcement both era's will be interesting, especially the 1960's version as it will be somewhere to run all those Diesel Hydaulics.

Peter

[tnleeuw01]

Well this is fantastic news - this is something to really look forward to, especially the Phase 2!

For some time now I've been wishing for a route set in the 20s or 30s, and the sea wall running along Dawlish set in the 30s just exactly fills the ticket for me!

This sounds like a must-have route for me when it's completed, something to save up for! I can forego the RSC route and wait for this one

[sean53]

Wonderful scenario potential. Must resist the urge to relay it all in broad gauge

[rkk01]

Methinks DT MUST have a Castle in the works...!

No way they'd announce this route without having the most important loco / handing that opportunity to a rival!

[Ximmy]

Fingers crossed they release it on steam