Great Western Main Line: The Extension

[Kariban]

Very nice work JB.

Kariban, how do you get your flyout menu things to be almost transparent?
Is there a mod somewhere?

Sean

I edited all the front-end graphics, or at least the bits I could - they're a bunch of tga files in data/textures/frontend. You can do this much:

Click the image to zoom in


but you can't change the GUI layout or the font.

Let's not get too sidetracked though.

[thetrainfan]

Thanks very much, I'll have a go today.

Apologies for going off-topic.

[jivebunny]

Lost a lot of work today after RW crashed out on me whilst saving... so I've started more or less from scratch today at the Paddington end, which I'm happier with the second time around...









JB

[jivebunny]

I've restarted Paddington for the third time, having realised that there were in fact four platforms missing rather than three! Due to the shape of the Paddington model I've had to make a few adjustments but the overall track layout for platforms 13-16 is there. Signalling is also now done so I can start checking the built-in scenarios to make sure they still work. To add a bit of interest, I've extended the Hammersmith & City Line trackwork eastwards to Edgware Road , where the real track layout is kind enough to provide a convenient crossover for turning back AI services I'll also be extending West to at least Westbourne Park, which will give people a four-station section of London Underground to drive along if they so wish. Screenshots when I make a bit of scenery progress on those areas.

For now, a quick automovie of the Hammersmith & City Line at Paddington. The 4th rail will be going in once the trackwork is fully tested.
Really need some more modern tube stock though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUVcLZoHbtA

JB

[Kariban]

I was wondering when you were going to realise that it's quite easy to forget the suburban side of Paddington what with it being tucked away in a corner ( and rather gloomy ) - at least it's not Kings Cross where they're in an entirely different building. Does this mean extended platforms? also, great stuff!

D78 stock ( I think it is ) is coming with the VirtualDistrict - not H&C stuff but good enough for the length of track around Paddington.

[jivebunny]

Haha it's only when I was looking at some photos that I spotted there were two suburban platforms rather than just the one... oops. Took me quite a bit of looking at Google Earth and photos to figure out that the Northern-most line in the main station was actually Platform 13 and not 12, and that lines 11 & 12 only actually split under the main station roof and not at the station throat as they've been modelled.

Still, it's sorted now. Edgware Road and the sidings are now complete, just the station furniture and 4th rail to add then I can get some screenshots in.

JB

[batling]

I think you know you've made it when you get your own thread.

[jivebunny]

A bit more Hammersmith & City Line action for those interested in this. The trackwork is now entirely re-laid from Edgware Road to Westbourne Park, although I may extend a bit further towards Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith to provide a turnback opportunity. Just a bit more testing to do to ensure everything works as planned with regards to track rules and speeds and then I can put in the 3rd / 4th rail

JB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7HdLN5bgKg

[jivebunny]

Well...


Click the image to zoom in


Click the image to zoom in


Click the image to zoom in

That's those three wobbly bends sorted, much smoother running through them now - thanks for pointing them out. I've also fixed any "random buffers" I've spotted and also noticed a couple of junctions which had short sections of overhead wire missing (from the original core route) so I've also sorted those. I think superelevation is going to have to wait though as it seems not all sections of the track were laid with easements, and in any case it will mean a whole lot more scenario testing. Maybe in the next update? For now I've got all scenarios working except those with long trains starting on platforms 11 and 12, since these have been shortened.

I've replaced the concrete bridge at Royal Oak with a girder bridge, and I'm currently building the parcels platform at Paddington (complete with marker for scenarios).

More screenshots soon!

JB

[Kariban]

I haven't made it to Didcot yet without falling off, so I'll go test the other half of the route soon. SE itself shouldn't affect scenarios - you can apply SE to track with a train on it and it doesn't complain - but adding easements might, obviously.

[jivebunny]

Bit of a late night for me, sorry for the recent lack of updates! Quick run-down of where I'm up to with this and I'll go on a screenshot run tomorrow...

Paddington:
- Bishop's Bridge moved closer to the station.
- Parcels platform and Royal Mail depot added, with siding marker.
- Platforms 11 & 12 corrected / shortened.
- Platforms 13 & 14 (suburban services) and 15 & 16 (Hammersmith & City line) built.
- H&C line extended to Edgware Road and existing section re-worked to include the station at Westbourne Park. May extend towards Hammersmith.
- Bright, red-brick perimeter wall along the north side of the station approaches replaced with a grimier version from WCML-N.
- All incorrectly-rendered points (i.e rails where there should be a gap) fixed between Paddington and OOC - zapping these as I make my way along.
- Minor scenery changes to accomodate new track layout.
- Signalling updated to cater for new track layout and tested.
- Royal Oak station platforms extended.
- Concrete road bridge at Royal Oak replaced with a more prototypical girder bridge.

Southall:
- Large missing shed added alongside the down fast, gives a nice impression of speed as you whizz past

Slough:
- Platforms extended to more prototypical length.
- Tempted to extend the Windsor Branch to its terminus at Windsor & Eton Central.

Twyford:
Fast line curves ripped up and re-laid to prevent tea spillage at 125mph.

Reading:
- Platforms 4a and 4b extended to accommodate 8-car 450s.
- Third rail installed on the Waterloo line, which I may extended to Winnersh Triangle or further (old work commute...)
- Line south of Reading triangle re-worked to be curved, Reading West station built and scenery added .

Didcot:
- Railway Centre linked to the main line, looking at re-working the track layout.

Three scenarios currently in the works, all with heavy AI traffic for maximum immersion:
- Heathrow T5 to Paddington on the slow lines
- Hammersmith & City Line, Westbourne Park to Edgware Road and back.
- Parcels train from Reading to Paddington.

I'll add to this as and when I have updates, there's still a fair bit of work to do!

Cheers,

JB

[Kariban]

Great stuff! I will get back on at the track testing when I have a moment ( if I can also stop myself writing a genuine track measurement train script... ). Didcot shed is something you could probably spend weeks on...

You could try the Greenford branch, that's pretty short.

[jivebunny]

I hadn't thought of the Greenford Branch, I'm sure I could throw that in as well (although my priority for the time being is to get the main route updated before starting on any extensions (apart from the H&C).

Screenshot just for Kariban



JB

[Kariban]

wow. That's so many times better I can't count!

There was one other thing I forgot to point out; so far I think I've spent about a day's worth of hours dragging the ground on the original route up to all the floating lofts that appeared when track and fences started casting TSX shadows - you think you can fix those while you're at it? they're horribly magnetic for peripheral vision... I can't really point out spots because it's most of the original route!

[jivebunny]

Thanks

I think you did mention it at some point as I remember taking a look at various areas, and in any case it's something which I've been fixing as I go along but forgot to add to the "done" list. I too run RW3 on high shadow settings and find the shadows (and craters, in some cases!) alongside the track to be very offputting. Looks far better once it's sorted.

I'm almost regretting having started to fix the incorrectly-rendered points, it's a quick fix in itself but it quickly becomes tedious when you realise that nearly ALL of the crossovers linking a line to an adjacent one suffer from the problem. Still, they're all fixed now between Paddington and Reading, apart from one which is on a curve and can't be made to render properly without moving the points Reading to Oxford should be quite quick as there don't seem to be as many crossovers.

JB