Atomic Systems

Thank you for the update! Your work on the route - and efforts at making it accessible to those of us who missed PP - are very much appreciated. Keep chugging away!

Looking forward to seeing the other end of the WHR!
Couldn't resist a picture of DLG across Cei Mawr from the coach window after Steve Pontin updated the files.

WOW ! Will this be payware, or freeware I presume the route will be released eventually?

bailey7802 wrote:WOW ! Will this be payware, or freeware I presume the route will be released eventually?

It will definitely be released in the fullness of time, I think the discussion was freeware but it's not up to me.

Good luck, is it the full WHR & FR? those coaches look very nice.

Hi
Will it have the ex South African Narrow gauge Garrett locomotives and the South African Rolling stock?
I can remember the Garretts at Port Shepstone,on the route to Harding Kwa Zulu Natal

michaelhendle wrote:Hi
Will it have the ex South African Narrow gauge Garrett locomotives and the South African Rolling stock?
I can remember the Garretts at Port Shepstone,on the route to Harding Kwa Zulu Natal

Not unless someone else builds them, no.

These might not be what anyone is looking for - but just downloads these narrow gauge (1000mm) Mikado and Mallett locomotive here http://rail-sim.de/forum/wsif/index.php ... pur/#files. Also downloaded the very fictional nice narrow gauge route "Steam on the Sierra" - Not to trying to hijack the thread - not sure if the gauge is right -- but some nice locomotives

Hi all,

An update on progress, and screenshots, of the new bit of the route will follow in the next few days, but for now on the subject of suitable stock (and a teaser screenshot):

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =819559779

The stock from Clear Creek, Kwa-Zulu (South African), and that with the Mallett are indeed the 'wrong' gauge, but all actually fit in quite well on the WHR - as long as you don't look too closely at the wheels and don't mind the occasional bit of grazing through walls and bridges where clearance is tighter!

I'm really glad to see that this route is still keeping people's attention... a proper more detailed update about the route is on the way reasonably soon!


ThePhantomPhish

The Welsh Highland railway have got 6 class 16 and 1 class 15 ex South African NG GARRET locomotives in service,South Africa had for mainline 3'6",and some narrow gauge routes in Kwa Zulu Natal,and in Cape Province.,the narrow gauge routes were 2ft gauge
Mike

Hello,

The WHR stable of Garratts really gives the line a certain individuality from other UK NG routes, that is for sure! But unless someone decides to build a digital one for TS20xx then we will have to live without for the time being. Personally, I'd like to see the ALCO Mountaineer loco, and would love the 1990's 'C' set with Criccieth Castle and push-pull carriage 111, but I'd never be able to create either of those - however, I also thought that there would never be a double fairlie so you never know!

So, as promised, a more detailed post considering further development details relating to recent discussion...

I am certain that the route will be released somehow - I have put far too much effort put into it for it not to be shared with everyone. Even unfinished North of Waunfawr it is a really wonderful playground for all the freeware (and limited amount of payware) NG stock currently available.
Exactly how it is released is still being worked on but there is an idea which may involve a well-known site hosting the route... but I will update more in that area once something proper is decided.

It will *probably* be freeware (reserving the right for this to change, for example if people want to send me crates of beer for it I would find it hard to refuse!!). Basically, as there is a considerable route dependency list it would not be popular to charge for it as that would add even more cost to anyone not already in posession of all the requirements. Also, a payware route generally needs to come with a whole load of custom assets such as station signs and buildings (so basically, most of the FfR and WHR buildings!), and normally a bespoke loco and route-related rolling stock too - the building of which would add considerably to the time in development. My personal preference is currently for it to be freeware, with the suggestion that if anyone wants to donate a payment to the real world FfR it would, I am sure, be welcome there.

In terms of other progress, I am still having issues with some scenarios loading darker than they should. It is route related in some way, as all other routes I have are unaffected, so not linked to the graphics settings on my machine. When creating a new scenario, I can change the weather but can't even change the seasons, so there must be some issue within the route programming setup somewhere - I know it used to work, and sometimes it still does, so that is all a bit odd and whatever the problem is will eventually need fixing somehow.

Meanwhile, the latest extension is effectively complete and I am now happy with the entire new section from Rhyd Ddu to Waunfawr, although I still need to drive it a few times to look for floating trees, fenceposts, etc. Despite the above paragraphs about wealth of lovely available rolling stock, and with due regard to the weather/season issues with new scenarios, I have kept it simple for now and just used a basic bright sunny day and PP rolling stock for a run along the new bit rather than trying to be more imaginative:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821036456 - just after leaving Rhyd Ddu, the railway approaches Llyn Cwellyn through some of the most highland-like scenery

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821036849 - Snowdon Ranger is a good starting point for hikers, who appear to be ladies wearing business suits when this photo was taken

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821037201 - Plas-y-Nant, looking back towards the lake

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821037763 - the line continues through landscapes which become increasingly more river valley than agriculatural mountainside fields as the descent continues

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821038439 - Betws Garmon station has not been restored in the real world but the remains have been (vaguely) represented in the route

Bonus screenshot:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... =821038914 - the excellent models by the other Steve (Mr Pontin) of DLG and carriage 110 at Glan-y-Mor looking absolutely gorgeous in the sun

Finally for now - there are still no timescales on any of this yet (to avoid the inevitability of missing them!) other than it being a lot closer to complete than it was before, but the end is in sight and I will keep updating as I get nearer. If only the line just ran straight to Caernarfon it would be so much easier - around three miles rather than seven still to go! But I might as well crack on and try to do the rest now, especially as there is a clearly defined target to aim for, so it shouldn't be too long before that bufferstop is reached!

All the best, and looking forward to seeing any continued thoughts and discussion about this ongoing project!


ThePhantomPhish

Phantomphish,

I have two things to say...

The first is: Thank You!

The second is: Don't forget to take time off for Christmas and Hogmanay!

Kind regards,

John M

Phantomphish,
Will this be Payware or freeware?
And the screenshots are looking great

bailey7802 wrote:Phantomphish,
Will this be Payware or freeware?
And the screenshots are looking great

Read his post!
He said freeware!

thephantomphish wrote: It will *probably* be freeware (reserving the right for this to change, for example if people want to send me crates of beer for it I would find it hard to refuse!!). Basically, as there is a considerable route dependency list it would not be popular to charge for it as that would add even more cost to anyone not already in posession of all the requirements. Also, a payware route generally needs to come with a whole load of custom assets such as station signs and buildings (so basically, most of the FfR and WHR buildings!), and normally a bespoke loco and route-related rolling stock too - the building of which would add considerably to the time in development. My personal preference is currently for it to be freeware, with the suggestion that if anyone wants to donate a payment to the real world FfR it would, I am sure, be welcome there.

Yes, a freeware release is most likely although if the circumstances were such that a payware route with significant good custom assets were viable I would consider the idea.

Having had discussions with some well-known payware providers, I suspect that the time and associated labour costs in producing the extensive amount of custom-built station infrastructure features, signs, and suchlike required, along with some prototypical rolling stock - at least one FfR loco, some carriages, and some wagons would be a minimum - would be prohibitive for any such developer to take on. I personally don't need financial reward from this project as I have built it for fun and for the enjoyment of others; but any developer building so much stuff for a payware release would need something to pay for their coffee to fuel the endeavour!

At present the plan is to release the route is to release it for free, but with the fairly extensive DLC requirement list that it needs some people will need to expand their collection to avoid having missing assets. The routes required are actually all worth getting in their own right anyway, in my opinion! Although of course, I still need to get some work done to remove the need for the Phorum Peninsula route - that is high on the list of things to do but may now wait until the last few miles are finished.

Oh, and as for taking Christmas off ... I am hoping to use that time to make a whole load of progress towards Dinas Junction whilst the rest of the family watch lots of TV!!


ThePhantomPhish