Great Western Main Line: The Extension

[FoggyMorning]

It looks fantastic JB. Just wondering if you have any plans to modernise the track layout at Oxford at all?

[Kariban]

Here's an odd one; the track into Oxford 1 seems to be bi-directional ( as does the entire Oxford-Didcot section ) but it's only signalled one end; I've just been routed back out the down line all the way to Didcot(!). The routing won't be something for you to worry about I don't think, but it might be worth checking the signalling given how many trains turn round at Oxford. Maybe it is unidirectional, but that seems pretty rare these days.

[FoggyMorning]

They're in the process of upgrading it to bi-directional at the moment. The carriage sidings have also been vastly rationalised and the remains of the diesel depot ripped up

[keithmross]

JB, you're doing a fantastic job. It's about time we renamed this thread - it's getting embarrassing!!

[Kariban]

Okay, Didcot-Oxford and back done, nothing life-threatening there. A couple of lurches at 150mph, but noone should be doing 150mph anyway!. Most of the crossovers and some of the pointwork south of Oxford needs replacing, it's far too tight radius. I remember fixing the trackbed for that stretch, took *hours*. Culham wants it's platform jacked up again of course

Doing the up fast back to Paddington now - most of Didcot-Reading seems it could do with smoothing out, but that's a hefty job for little gain.

[davejc64]

JB, you're doing a fantastic job. It's about time we renamed this thread - it's getting embarrassing!!

How about "arise Sir Keith", because after your efforts with the WCMLN upgrade, you will surely be on the Queens new years honours list!

[stuart666]

Dont know to what degree you are taking this, but southall requires a rather large watertower like gasometer on the north side of the track, and also a rather wacky castle like watertower. Both are quite distinctive objects.

[loverswalk]

An exciting thread this one and as stated will add new life to an old favourite, many thanks for your time Keith and JB.
LW

[jivebunny]

Wouldn't have started without your upgrade Keith, I hadn't used the GWML in months butI haven't stopped using it since you gave it a refresh!

Thanks for the pointers Kariban, they've gone onto the checklist

Stuart, Keith seems to have already added the gasometers as part of the refresh (at least I don't remember them being there previously) - I've made a few alterations though...



And just for good measure here's a shot of a busy morning at Paddington...


And the new Westbourne Park LUL station...


JB

[keithmross]

Very nice JB. I'll maybe get involved again once I have a bit more spare time
I could take some tiles off your hands or maybe even head a bit further west...
...what am I saying? quick... coffee.....

[SHEEP]

I think what you guys are doing is realy great,

Made me think of this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOCgD33LH-I

[stuart666]

Southall looks very good (thats quite a good standin for the watertower it has to be said). The gasometer, or rather one of them looks a little different. This one is the bane of my life as im trying to build a southall based route and this thing sticks out like a sore thumb.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1023062

[jivebunny]

It's the best I can do using unmodified built-in assets I'm afraid, although it looks like it could do with an increase in height so I'll stack a couple more on top and see if I can find a vertical pipe to run up the side of it. This is the gasometer with the arrow pointing to London Heathrow isn't it? Do you know how many of the gasometers are still standing? I thought it was just the one (more's the pity as they're often beautiful structures) but it's a good few years since I last travelled on the GWML...

I've had a very kind offer of photographs of Greenford from Mike Wass so it looks like that branch will be going ahead, looks like an interesting station to model.

Cheers,

JB

[Kariban]

It is a bit wierd, one reason I suggested it. You're going to have to extend the line from OOC to it also, but iirc that's mostly trees and the central line anyway.

The slow lines seem better constructed than the fast ones! only thing I really noticed was that when the slow lines swing away from the fast for a few stations it's a bit sharp, but I don't know if that's really worth fixing either.

Stuart have you got any idea how big that gasometer is? if you need it also it's probably worth doing a custom asset.

[stuart666]

It is a bit wierd, one reason I suggested it. You're going to have to extend the line from OOC to it also, but iirc that's mostly trees and the central line anyway.

The slow lines seem better constructed than the fast ones! only thing I really noticed was that when the slow lines swing away from the fast for a few stations it's a bit sharp, but I don't know if that's really worth fixing either.

Stuart have you got any idea how big that gasometer is? if you need it also it's probably worth doing a custom asset.

Ive got a 1930s map that indicates it, so it would appear to be quite old. I can take the width off of that via google earth, but height ive no idea. Im thinking that laying a photograph in blender alongside the measured width will bet something fairly accurate. Must get back to that. Though in fairness grasping how to construct a shed is difficult enough...

Re gasometers, I think there is 2 left standing, or at least there is in google, though most of the old gasworks site is now laid out as carparking for heathrow airport. No idea about an arrow, but I do know that this is the site the featured in numerous episodes of 'The Sweeney', 'Dr Who' and at least once 'Secret Army'.

If anyone ever sees a diagram of the rail network around it, please let me know. I believe it did have one, but possibly in later years it was only sidings by the GWML. Im not sure.

Sorry for derailing things btw.