DTG Weardale and Teesdale Rail Network

[Carinthia]

Would some kind person please post an indication of the durations of the included scenarios for this route, please?

It's definitely on my wishlist but as my time comes in limited chunks these days, if it's all Donner Pass-length then there's less point for me.

All provided scenarios, including those for the Class 105 add-on, are 60 minutes or under.

A K Person.

[ttjph]

Would some kind person please post an indication of the durations of the included scenarios for this route, please?

It's definitely on my wishlist but as my time comes in limited chunks these days, if it's all Donner Pass-length then there's less point for me.

All provided scenarios, including those for the Class 105 add-on, are 60 minutes or under.

A K Person.

Good to know - thanks!

[08994]

I have to say I think this route is fantastic. I don't do country routes, so I was a little hesitant about purchasing this route at first, however the Darlington to Durham section of the route, including both Crook and Spennymoor branches, is very intense with plenty of industry, sidings, stations, sheds, loops and track and has the feel of an inter urban route rather than a country one, so suits my needs very well and I would recommend the route to users who don't normally enjoy country routes. I'm quite surprised that the Darlington to Bishops Auckland section had enough traffic to justify all the track, even pre Beeching. Darlington looks great, a massive step forward compared to the Darlington modelled in the original ECML route. Durham is especially nice as well.

I thought it was strange that the wagon works at Shildon wasn't included as the track leading to it has been laid, but of course you can't have everything and should I get the route butchering/modifying bug again I'll have a go at building it myself.

I think the 'network' concept is a big improvement on traditional a to b style routes, and I hope to see more routes featuring networks. It certainly feels more playable.

[RolandBP]

I have created several scenarios for the TS Workshop and have noticed a repeated problem with "AI" trains "crashing" during the "uncoupling process" at a number of the sidings. I have had to alter my scenarios several times to avoid these AI trains from any uncoupling in certain sidings. It first came to light during the setting-up of several shunting manoeuvres in the Middleton-in-Teesdale yards. I am wondering if the problem is due to some 'Sidings Markers" being too close to the "Buffers" [Track End] ? It has been mentioned also in the "Old Forums" by others. I have myself made mention of it in the official DTG Feedback.

[Carinthia]

I have created several scenarios for the TS Workshop and have noticed a repeated problem with "AI" trains "crashing" during the "uncoupling process" at a number of the sidings. I have had to alter my scenarios several times to avoid these AI trains from any uncoupling in certain sidings. It first came to light during the setting-up of several shunting manoeuvres in the Middleton-in-Teesdale yards. I am wondering if the problem is due to some 'Sidings Markers" being too close to the "Buffers" [Track End] ? It has been mentioned also in the "Old Forums" by others. I have myself made mention of it in the official DTG Feedback.

If by the "Old Forums" you mean http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... 32&page=12 I have given up reading this thread as it has descended into pathetic off-topic gibberish.

I have looked at the route in the editor and cannot see any markers passing through the buffer stops (although the way the editor displays them makes it hard to be certain) but this is not an unknown error in routes - there are some similarly arranged for collisions with the stops in the West of Scotland routes - Down side at Dumfries for instance.

If this is the issue, the use of Stopping Point markers in scenarios will easily prevent it happening. It is a good idea to use these in shunting scenarios anyway as they can be used used to stop trains running all the way to the buffers (unrealistically) to uncouple but stop just in clear as was usually done in real life.

John

[woggit]

I don't know if this is the right place to raise this topic, but I seem to have 'lost' the Quick Drive for this route! It WAS there when I bought & downloaded the route - I ran a QD to Weardale on it! But now it does not appear in the list of QD routes. Also, I notice the Class 25 which came with the route has also disappeared from Quick Drive. I have "verified Cache", and tried to uninstall DLC on this route and re-install. All have failed to help. I will now have to re-install all my AP and SSS files!!!
Can anyone help with this ?? I have e-mailed DTG - but not sure what help they will be!

[RolandBP]

I have created several scenarios for the TS Workshop and have noticed a repeated problem with "AI" trains "crashing" during the "uncoupling process" at a number of the sidings. I have had to alter my scenarios several times to avoid these AI trains from any uncoupling in certain sidings. It first came to light during the setting-up of several shunting manoeuvres in the Middleton-in-Teesdale yards. I am wondering if the problem is due to some 'Sidings Markers" being too close to the "Buffers" [Track End] ? It has been mentioned also in the "Old Forums" by others. I have myself made mention of it in the official DTG Feedback.

If by the "Old Forums" you mean http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... 32&page=12 I have given up reading this thread as it has descended into pathetic off-topic gibberish.

I have looked at the route in the editor and cannot see any markers passing through the buffer stops (although the way the editor displays them makes it hard to be certain) but this is not an unknown error in routes - there are some similarly arranged for collisions with the stops in the West of Scotland routes - Down side at Dumfries for instance.

If this is the issue, the use of Stopping Point markers in scenarios will easily prevent it happening. It is a good idea to use these in shunting scenarios anyway as they can be used used to stop trains running all the way to the buffers (unrealistically) to uncouple but stop just in clear as was usually done in real life.

John

Hi John, I have often used "Stopping Points" in places like on the Mainline next to a siding, but if I have not misunderstood your comment, they can be used 'on top' of and existing Siding marker? If that is so then that would be great. I shall go test it now.
Roland.

[Carinthia]

Hi John, I have often used "Stopping Points" in places like on the Mainline next to a siding, but if I have not misunderstood your comment, they can be used 'on top' of and existing Siding marker? If that is so then that would be great. I shall go test it now.

Absolutely, Roland. If that is the cause of your problems at Middleton, that is your solution.

John

[RolandBP]

Hi John, I have often used "Stopping Points" in places like on the Mainline next to a siding, but if I have not misunderstood your comment, they can be used 'on top' of and existing Siding marker? If that is so then that would be great. I shall go test it now.

Absolutely, Roland. If that is the cause of your problems at Middleton, that is your solution.

John

I have just redone an old scenario, where my AI train derailed everytime it uncoupled in the Middleton-in-Teesdale Siding 8. So I put one of these "Stopping Points" in place about 1 1/2 wagon length from the end and "walla" success, there was one more I placed at the Quarry Siding and "Bingo" another success story.
I realised I had not used these "Stopping Points" before and it took me a while to workout how they were used. The ones I was thinking of were "Stopping? Markers, like Siding and Platform Markers. Forever learning and many thanks.

[RolandBP]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to make mention of my 5-part series of shunting scenarios for this route or not.
Anyway to find all scenarios for this route can be a bit of a mission, due to the official "tick the box" for this route shows absolutely nothing. The only way you find anything is to type either "Weardale" or "Teesdale" and you get a number of those uploaded. But if you have called your scenario by some obscure name like "I did", then you may never find them. So should you be interested in a steam loco only scenario, my collection can be found by typing in "Crook" as that is part of the name that I called the 5-part scenario. "Brick Making Supplies to Crook".
I have contacted DTG about the problem with the official link to this excellent route Ages ago, but have heard nothing back.
My next 2-part scenario will be called "Wear Valley ......" Maybe it will then be seen more readily.
Roland.

[Ximmy]

its not just this route that is affected by the workshop tick box thing. both the west highland routes and i think trent valley are the same

[Sillo]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to make mention of my 5-part series of shunting scenarios for this route or not.
Anyway to find all scenarios for this route can be a bit of a mission, due to the official "tick the box" for this route shows absolutely nothing. The only way you find anything is to type either "Weardale" or "Teesdale" and you get a number of those uploaded. But if you have called your scenario by some obscure name like "I did", then you may never find them. So should you be interested in a steam loco only scenario, my collection can be found by typing in "Crook" as that is part of the name that I called the 5-part scenario. "Brick Making Supplies to Crook".
I have contacted DTG about the problem with the official link to this excellent route Ages ago, but have heard nothing back.
My next 2-part scenario will be called "Wear Valley ......" Maybe it will then be seen more readily.
Roland.

Thanks for that tip. It puzzled me as to why very few scenarios had been written for this excellent route. Agreed this search bug should be addressed but in the meantime I have a new search criteria at least.
Keith

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[levisham]

I have just been going through my collection of NER books and came across this one: Railway Memories No.2 Darlington and South West Durham by Bellcode Books ISBN 1-871233-01-1. It just about covers most of the Weardale and Teesdale Route, not in great detail but with some history and lots of b/w photos, but enough to show what the area was like in it's heyday. I'll be giving it a read again in the next few days. AbeBooks have used copies for sale starting at just GBP3.08......................

Regards, John.

[marcusboon]

I have just been going through my collection of NER books and came across this one: Railway Memories No.2 Darlington and South West Durham by Bellcode Books ISBN 1-871233-01-1. It just about covers most of the Weardale and Teesdale Route, not in great detail but with some history and lots of b/w photos, but enough to show what the area was like in it's heyday. I'll be giving it a read again in the next few days. AbeBooks have used copies for sale starting at just GBP3.08......................

To add to the above: a revised and expanded second edition 'Railway Memories No. 17 Darlington & South West Durham' by Stephen Chapman was published by Bellcode Books (1-871233-17-8) in 2005.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darlington-Sout ... 1871233178

A very useful article appeared in 'Steam Days', November 2005: 'Bishop Auckland in the 1950s' by Colin Ryder (page 678-692). http://www.magazineexchange.co.uk/steam ... ?&cat=3345

Last but not least: A reprint of the Summer 1953 Darlington District WTT is available from http://www.wttreprint.talktalk.net/

Marcus

[levisham]

http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/films/teesdale.html

A short film which includes Barnard Castle.