Highworth - keeping the route alive.

[bigvern]

Actually I think there's a few learning points for all us route builders, regardless of which sim we're working in.

The first thing is that you absolutely don't need to have a 150 mile plus behemoth of a route for it to be appealing or interesting. So many of us get distracted by the clamour for "Euston to Manchester" or "Glasgow to Inverness" that we are apt to forget that quantity is not always quality.

While a 7 year development lead in is *perhaps* a tad long, it is a cogent lesson for the interminably impatient like me, that you can't always churn out a 15 to 20 mile route in a matter of weeks. Good results take time and if you're having to spend more than a couple of days getting that densely populated town or station/yard tile done then sobeit. Good things come to those who wait.

The other thing I liked about Highworth branch is the way the activities tell the story and history of the line. That really makes it interesting, not just a couple of identikit drives up and down in different seasons/weather conditions.

Just a few things to consider/discuss (in a separate thread if the mods wish).

[AndiS]

For me, it is actually two projects. First, the route building. Second the history telling.

I guess, you could do a similar thing with any existing route, if you are inclined to do so. The point is, that it takes as much time (rough estimate). You need to do a lot of research to come up with rich quality information. Then, you sit with loads of scenarios. If you want to limit their duration, you quickly end up with a huge number, if your research drew up a nice quantity of interesting background.

[refman]

A great work of art, well done to all involved.
Reg

[trcroft2001]

Hi,
a big thanks to all involed with this project,
it,s a great route and well worth the wait.
kind regards
Alex

[douglee]

Hi All,
I am living this route.
A new standard has been set in route presentation.
I especially like the scenery objects as wagons to limit the Route length ect.

I said in a post before it would probably be worth the wait. (It was)
MSTS dying?: Long live MSTS it has it's place with all the others.

Good luck
Doug

[nwallace]

Slightly gutted that I lost interest in Train Simulation before this was released.

[NiallGray]

Slightly gutted that I lost interest in Train Simulation before this was released.

Hello user with great first name!

It's never too late (unless you sold/got rid of the sim!) to get back into it.

[saddletank]

Phew. Well, the day has come that I thought I'd never see. I pretty much walked away from MSTS and UKTS when we had that big pay/free bust-up back in... um? When? January 2006? I think. And the route stagnated at 95% completion for about 3 years.

The route was actually begun in 2001 and the weekend field trip Decapod and I took to walk the line, take GPS readings, photos and soak up the atmosphere and local beer was in November 2001. There have been so many people involved in this who did so much work who are no longer around like Mark Ollard and Robin Howell that its like reading a history book going back thru my old files and looking at the names. There are a lot of written documents, plans and photos included with the route in the 'Documents' folder, so enjoy those.

The fact it is here at all is entirely down to the tenacity and perseverance of great people like Ian Mac, Martin Heywood, DForrest, AndiS, KieranHardy and a few others who kept things going while I had given up and gone to do other things not related to trains at all. Kieran, though a late arrival in the testing group, has really been the person to give the route a kick up the arse and get it finished.

The concept of telling the line's whole life story from construction to lifting was not my idea. We should thank Martin Heywood for that. The BR era activities will end in 1962 with an engineers train hauled by an 03 that lifts the track on the upper half of the line and there is a 1964 freight run using an 08 that collects the last few wagons from the Vickers Factory... so yeah, this neat idea is not mine.

The Swindon tiles are really beyond what MSTS can handle and before MSTSBin I used to get crashes there so often I was ready to give up. It still might be a bit unstable and a modern PC may or may not help - I think its just a bit beyond what MSTS can do and of course many of the old scenery objects were not optimally built so there's that issue too. Luckily Swindon station itself sits across the junction of 4 MSTS tiles so that helped share the object count load a bit.

Sadly the route was built before UK FineScale was even thought of so it uses the coarse scale track layout of default track which means Swindon station is a bit odd looking - much too wide for its length

But its done and I'm really pleased it's out there for the few who still have MSTS installed to enjoy it. As Vern says, even though from buffer stops at Swindon to buffer stops at Highworth is less than 7 miles, the several stops on route and the speed limit of 25mph (and at some places 15mph) means I can happily spend over an hour running a branch goods train up and back along the line. There's also the gasworks and nitrate works and transfer yard at Swindon and Vickers factory at Long Marston that allow you to shunt to your hearts content for a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon.

Now we have the other... 40 odd activities to do.

[bigvern]

I could have sworn the track was UKFS! It certainly looks the part, anyhow.

Thus far I haven't had a problem with the Swindon tile(s), I guess we finally have the computers we could only dream about in 2001/2002!

Now you have to do it all again in RW, Martin!

[saddletank]

The track uses a set of clever textures from various talented people to trick the eye into thinking it's better than it is

Of all the activities I drove (and there are many I never have) the 3 that make up the WWI Timber Train are my favourites. Those three really make you stop and think and scratch your head.

[partyspiritz]

Well there is not much else to add MSTS has now been reloaded so tonight I am going to drive some trains. It will be more fun than driving the 7 Service from swindon bus station to highworth.




Regards




John

[bigvern]

It will be more fun than driving the 7 Service from swindon bus station to highworth.

Probably faster too...

Swindon Stagecoach Darts are a bit clapped.

I'm currently trying to get the missus interested in a tour round the old line this afternoon rather than driving up to Barbury, but I'm not winning!

[stephebm]

Presumably you have found the download to this fantastic route on uktrainsim.

The representation of Swindon is brill Not that there is anything wrong with the rest!

I look forward to a "24 hours at Swindon activity"! (1890 to 1960?)

Many thanks to the developers - I look forward to the other two activity packs....

Regards

Basil Stephens

[tads1970]

Just like to say thank you to the route builders involved in this project,it caught my eye straight away.I don't know how long this took from start to finish (just read Saddletanks post ( 2001) just amazing.
Started to work my way through the first lot of activities yesterday...... and enjoyed every minute of it.The amount of activities and variety is overwhelming.If you guys lived near me it would be a free night down at my local

Well done guys this will keep me going for ages,it really is appreciated.

Daz

[slipperman12]

Hi Gentlemen,
May I add my thanks for all the hard work which must have gone into this route. I've only run the demonstration activity, but WOW!, Swindon Works looks magnificent! I've only been there once in real life, but it gives the 'closed in' feeling as you are moving past. And the countryside is great; the quality of the scenery is fantastic, and, I may be wrong, but I didn't notice the distant trees 'popping up', as on other routes - they are just there! (Could be my eyes!!)

A great effort by all concerned, thanks again.

Regards,
Ged