First World War Centenary - The Railway Operating Division

[sem34090]

I should add here that we have been learning, all the time, just how slow route-building can be if a decent result is to be achieved and that this goes some way to explaining our apparent lack of progress. The other issue is that I've had a lot of slightly more important things taking priority of late.

[Alicatt]

Just found this piece of allied intelligence here deep behind enemy lines in darkest Belgium, where we are running operations across "The Wire of Death" that separates Belgium from Holland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_of_Death

Recently I was at the Mijnspoor Museum in As near Genk and quite near the border with Holland, they have a small railway museum based around the old station of Asch on the now defunct line to Maasmechlen.

They have a few coaches but I do not think they are old enough for what you are looking for, anyway here is a link to some espionage images that I under took while reconnoitring the area.
https://i.imgur.com/Cg9GHE0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EKhoOv8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3XLy9kC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NKs0Kiw.jpg

[locomotiveman1994]

Just found this piece of allied intelligence here deep behind enemy lines in darkest Belgium, where we are running operations across "The Wire of Death" that separates Belgium from Holland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_of_Death

Recently I was at the Mijnspoor Museum in As near Genk and quite near the border with Holland, they have a small railway museum based around the old station of Asch on the now defunct line to Maasmechlen.

They have a few coaches but I do not think they are old enough for what you are looking for, anyway here is a link to some espionage images that I under took while reconnoitring the area.
https://i.imgur.com/Cg9GHE0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EKhoOv8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3XLy9kC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NKs0Kiw.jpg

That's not quite what we are looking for, but it's definetly The right spirit!
The carriages are indeed too young, Type K from the look of it, which where first introduced in 1933.

And an interesting note is the 'Wire of Death' you mention, and I invite everyone to look it up!

[sem34090]

This message has been edited by a Moderator

[Moderator Comment: dorlan - Image changed to url as it exceeds the forum maximum of 800x640 pixels.]

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mm9kXwRv58g/ ... 019_13.jpg

Although outside of the scope of this pack, the Railway Guns were originally used in WW1 where they sported a much more colourful camouflage paint scheme and with our friends who are working on The Railway Operating Division Project in mind we have included this version as well. It was also a lot of fun to paint!

Well, this is definitely something of a positive development - Many thanks to Victory Works for doing this with us in mind! We are always keen to accept any support we are given with the project, particularly when it comes to modelling be it of rolling stock, buildings, appropriate figures or even something small like an ammunition box.

We are currently reviewing where we are going with the project. An update to the Great War Scenario pack should be released soon after the pre-grouping liveries are released for the Matrix Trains GNR and NER non-corridor coaches, further increasing the variety and authenticity of the pack. A pre-grouping British route is likely to follow at some point, with scenarios for the Great War period, then possibly another pre-grouping British route.

As shown above, some work has been done on a fictional route to represent ROD operations in Northern Europe. There is only so much that can be done on such a route currently, indeed on any route, as we require some more appropriate assets. Pierre Gauriat, who may be found on the RailsimFR forum has produced practically all of the custom assets used so far, and is working on more, but being a one man operation this obviously takes time.

I appreciate that within the month the project will have reached its first anniversary, and our original June 28th deadline has long since passed. Besides Pierre, Steve Pontin and Victory Works' contributions, there are only three more of us involved with the project - Gaetan (Locomotiveman1994) has done a considerable amount of research for the project, and is a master of scenario creation, I have been (very) slowly plugging away at the British routes and the fictional ROD route whilst a friend has been suffering near-constant setbacks whilst trying to get the track laid for our 'real' route. We will keep working, though all of us have other, more pressing, commitments. I guess this is, therefore, an appeal for any assistance that anyone reading this feels they can give to us!

This message has been edited by a Moderator

[locomotiveman1994]

For those who might have missed it: Victory Works' mighty WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 is available for Pre-order on Steam Sounds Supreme: https://steamsoundssupreme.com/wd-auste ... -pack.html

As mentioned before, Pete kindely incorporated a WWI version of the BL 13,5/18-inch railway howitzer 'Boche Buster' gun. At this place I'd like to thank Pete again for includeing this marvelous piece of art for us.
How the howitzer will be incorporated in the project isn't quite clear for the moment. We don't know if we should use it in the scenarios to be included with the route, or if it should get it's own set of scenarios, available seperately.

Anyway, the pack will shurely've seen it's share of sales by the time we are at any state of creating scenarios for the ROD project, and shure is, that we (from the project) will, and already have, pre-order this marvelous and eagerly awaited addition for Train Simulator 20whateverversionthisis.


For those of you waiting for the update of the Great War Scenario Pack

Great War Scenario Pack [2213506 bytes] - Great_War_Scenario_Pack.rwp File ID: 38934 Date: 01 Jul 2019 - 79 Downloads

:
The two already available scenarios are finished (so far). Both the NER Wagon Pack and the NER Non-Corridors (many thanks to Gordon here, who kindely send me a copy of the pack) have been incorporated.
I still have to make the (min.) two new scenarios I've promised, but I unfortunately have no idea for an interesting/entertaining scenario. If any of you have an idea or even data about operations in the area during the Great War, feel free to 'inspire me'!

[sem34090]

When the Waters were dried an' the Earth did appear,
("It's all one," says the Sapper),
The Lord He created the Engineer,
Her Majesty's Royal Engineer,
With the rank and pay of a Sapper!

We lay down their sidings an' help 'em entrain,
An' we sweep up their mess through the bloomin' campaign,
In the style of, etc.

They send us in front with a fuse an' a mine
To blow up the gates that are rushed by the Line,
But bent by, etc.

They send us behind with a pick an' a spade,
To dig for the guns of a bullock-brigade
Which has asked for, etc.

We blast out the rock an' we shovel the mud,
We make 'em good roads an' -- they roll down the ~khud~,
Reporting, etc.

We make 'em their bridges, their wells, an' their huts,
An' the telegraph-wire the enemy cuts,
An' it's blamed on, etc.

We build 'em nice barracks -- they swear they are bad,
That our Colonels are Methodist, married or mad,
Insultin', etc.

They haven't no manners nor gratitude too,
For the more that we help 'em, the less will they do,
But mock at, etc.

I have stated it plain, an' my argument's thus
("It's all one," says the Sapper),
There's only one Corps which is perfect -- that's us;
An' they call us Her Majesty's Engineers,
Her Majesty's Royal Engineers,
With the rank and pay of a Sapper!

Verse taken from Kipling's The Sapper.

Today is of course Armistice Day, and just over an hour ago the nation largely fell silent in honour of those who have fought and died in the name of Britain and her erstwhile Empire. It is in this spirit of remembrance and commemoration that I initiated this project just over a year ago, and despite very slow progress I have nonetheless been amazed by the amount of support that we have received.

I thought that today would be the most appropriate day on which to give an update on where the project stands currently, so here goes:

Released Content
Thus far we have released or had released for us:

• Great War Scenario Pack (Thanks to team member Gaetan/Locomotiveman1994)
  ROD Reskin for NER T2 0-8-0 (Courtesy of Victory Works)
  LBSCR Wagon Reskins (By myself)
  Great War period French wagons and assets (Made and Released by Pierre Gauriat)
  Belgian 'GC' Coaches (Made and Released by Pierre Gauriat)
  WW1 Period Paris-Orlean Tank Livery (Made and Released by Pierre Gauriat)

Content in Development

• British and French Basic Troops (Pierre Gauriat)
  British and French Trench Railway Stock (Pierre Gauriat)
  Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT (Steve Pontin)
  Baldwin 4-6-0PT (Kevin Martin/Pierre Gauriat)

Route Projects

• Hazebrouck District Route (Joint Project, progressing very slowly due to a resourcing problem.
  Fictional ROD Western Front Route (Based on the freeware 'Norford Branch' route, made by myself)
  'Home Front' route. We are currently investigating several options for this (see these below)

'Home Front' Routes
There are currently no period TS routes available, so we are looking to create one. The options currently being considered are largely based around industrial centres, and I'm going to be taking a look at the Southampton end of Southampton-Weymouth with a view to removing the later Western Docks and backdating a portion of the route. Other possibilities, which are probably still going to be pursued eventually, include a route set in NER territory and one representing the huge military port complex at Richborough. I might also take a look at the Longmoor Route with a view to take it back to WIMR WW1 condition.

Final Words
I think that largely concludes the update for now, though I would suggest that readers keep an eye on announcements from Victory Works as there's something rather special being developed currently...

[karma99]

I would suggest that readers keep an eye on announcements from Victory Works as there's something rather special being developed currently...

We have been tinkering..

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[michaelhendle]

Two other Uk routes which are short are the Richborough Route and the Newhaven Branch the Newhaven route would be ideal for both wars WW1 and WW2
One of my Grandfathers was in the 2nd Batallion Coldstream Guards. He was at the first Battle of Mons he's got the Mons Star and Bar and 2 roses, never knew what the roses were for. He was KIA 12 12 16
He is buried at the Guards Cemetry Combles France

[locomotiveman1994]

Two other Uk routes which are short are the Richborough Route and the Newhaven Branch the Newhaven route would be ideal for both wars WW1 and WW2
One of my Grandfathers was in the 2nd Batallion Coldstream Guards. He was at the first Battle of Mons he's got the Mons Star and Bar and 2 roses, never knew what the roses were for. He was KIA 12 12 16
He is buried at the Guards Cemetry Combles France

Thanks for sharing both the info of the routes and the story of your Grandfather with us, Michael.
I wasn't aware of these routes, would you mind to tell us where they are available?

We will remember them.

[brysonman46]

A new CH 5 programme starting tonight, 9pm 25/11/19, in the UK . It concerns WW1 railways, and is hosted by Chris Tarrent .

[sem34090]

Already noted and will be the main thing I watch this evening.

Should be of some use and interest.

[locomotiveman1994]

Unfortunately, I'm out. Can't watch it outside the UK...

[sem34090]

Finally got around to buying the Victory Works WD 2-8-0 Pack today, and hopefully very soon the animated version of the gun will be available to download on UKTS.

[michaelhendle]

I was thinking which is not good thing for me maybe someone could make a model of the Elham valley line that is where the Bosche Buster gun was bassed during WW2,It was hidden in a tunnel.

Although it was taken in and out of the tunnel, it never fired a shot in anger, later it was moved to Salisbury and eventually to Woolwich Arsenal and was broken up there in the 1960s

[sem34090]

Might be worth doing as a mini-route, just that section. Not for a while yet, though.

The Gun and Q6 reskin are now both available on UKTS.