New route just begun - "The Golden Valley Line"

[thethirdrail]

Hi all

For those of you who don't know, the Golden Valley Line branches off the GWML at Swindon before joining, and sharing track with, the Bristol to Birmingham main line at Standish Junction. The line serves Kemble, Stoud, Stonehouse and Gloucester before terminating at Cheltenham Spa. I chose the line because it's local to me and one that I've traveled many a time. There's also a lot of potential for expansion, maybe past Swindon on to Didcot, West to Bath, Chippenham and Bristol, or maybe North towards the Midlands. But I'll be concentrating on the GVL first and foremost.

I'm waiting for my cab ride DVD and Track Map to arrive from Amazon before I can really get going, but I have laid the track at Gloucester. It's quite a unique station as it's located off the mainline, so trains heading North or South are required to stop at the station and then reverse direction to continue onwards...

This is my first route and I'm very pleased with how quickly the first section has come together, but even that was a good half day's work and there's still a long way to go. I make no predictions or promises as to when it'll be ready but I'm working on the basis of "little and often" rather than going at it hammer and tongs for two weeks then not touching it for 6 months, so expect regular updates!

Thanks,

John
The3rdRail

[Acorncomputer]

Hi John

Keep the screenshots coming so that we can see how the route is developing.

I suggest you ask a moderator to move this to the TS2013 screenshot section where it should get a wider audience.

[petero114]

Looks great, just asking if you will be using or creating any custom assets for the route?

[thethirdrail]

Acorncomputer - will they move it? Because then would it not be in the wrong section?

Petero - I'd like to. I'm currently using default Kuju assets and the UKTS freeware but there are several objects I'd like to build myself. I'm just unsure of how to go about it at the moment. There appear to be several options - I need to do a bit of digging. Right now I'm concentrating on the basic infrastructure, specifically track, signals and markers 'cos if they don't work then the rest is pointless!

Here are some screenies around Gloucester. My track Map arrived today and now all the markers for this section are in place. Platforms are also in. Gloucester has the 2nd longest platform in UK after Colchester, divided into Platforms 1 & 2 and can handle 2 HSTs at once.

T3R

[Acorncomputer]

Acorncomputer - will they move it? Because then would it not be in the wrong section?

I think the Route Building Section is more to do with route building queries and problems and non-route builders tend not to be interested, but everyone likes to see shots of the progress of a route and more will look at the screenshot section. If the moderators think it would be OK in the screenshot section then they will be happy to move the whole thread.

[thethirdrail]

Oh ok that does sound like the better option. I'll send a request tomorrow.

Thanks!

T3R

[stuart666]

Nice to see a modern version of this route being done. In retrospect, I think you picked the better era to model!

[thethirdrail]

Thanks Stuart. It's a shame that Swindon and Gloucester station buildings aren't a little bit more in keeping with old GWR style but there you go! That said, if I don't manage to build any custom assets, I might well have to use something prettier!

I've actually started the route again from scratch, and consigned Gloucester station to the bin This is in part because I had omitted to load the DEM data for Gloucester, and doing so would have buried the station about 10m under the ground! Also, and probably more importantly, I hadn't really planned the track layout properly and had ended up with a lot of joins in the track which forced me into locating a lot of the junctions incorrectly. Additionally, the cab ride DVD is filmed in the opposite direction from which I was building. OK so this wasn't a big problem but it seemed more sensible to build from the South upwards because of this!

So, I have put it down to experience (or lack thereof) and labelled Gloucester as a "practice run", albeit a very valuable one. I've learned a lot building that station and have been able to put it all into practice building this....

The area around Swindon is a bit different to Gloucester, mostly in that there is much more space between the tracks so using Railworks' multiple track laying capabilities wasn't an option for majority. The offset tool really came into its own here to get the tracks laid out nice and neatly. It also showed the value of practicing before you attempt any serious work, and also the importance of learning what the editor tools are for and just how powerful and useful a lot of them can be when used properly. The track at Gloucester took me the best part of a weekend - Swindon took me just over 5 hours!

I'm now completely confident that I can successfully build this line. There's still a long way to go - the GVL currently extends only 3 miles past Swindon, but things are certainly gaining momentum. I have no other projects like this on the go, so there's no danger of the route being put on the back burner in favour of something else.

I will be looking for beta testers when the track & signalling are complete. I want to be sure that it all operates properly and that working scenarios can be written for it before I start to make it look pretty!

Cheers for now!

| T3R ||

[Acorncomputer]

Hi

I think you are approaching this in the right way.

There is a great deal to learn about Route Building and much of it will be via the trial and error process so if you have to re-do sections of track, the that is what you have to do. The important point is that you should learn from your mistakes and don't make the same mistake again which is exactly what you seem to be doing.

Can I suggest you create a virtual notepad on your desktop and every time you learn something, note it down and you will soon build up a comprehensive volume of very useful information. My own notebook is now well over 60 pages and I am constantly referring to it for those tiny bits of important information that otherwise get lost in the brain.

You also have to be single minded and don't give up until you have finished, so it so always best to ensure that the projects you start are such that there is a real chance of you finishing them.

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[thethirdrail]

That's a good idea, thanks. The route is looking good and I've really settled into it now. What seemed like an insurmountable task few weeks ago has become a very enjoyable endevour.

I have had a thought though, which I wanted to run by you guys before I built any more. My primary goal is to build from Swindon to Cheltenham, then at very least extend east to Didcot which would allow for joint Scenarios between my route and Oxf-Pad. Before I started this route, I practiced a little bit of track laying by extending the OXF-PAD route past Didcot for a few miles. Looking back on this, it occurs to me how good it would be to extend the route to Swindon instead, then on up to Cheltenham.

Obviously, there's nothing to stop me doing this and using it, but what is the situation with regards to redistributing a modified default route on UKTS, because if I can pull it off then obviously I'd like to share the fruits of my labour...

Then who knows, maybe to Bristol - but let's not get ahead of ourselves quite yet eh?

[Acorncomputer]

This may help a little regarding what you can and cannot do -

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... &start=120

Also read the EULA that came with TS2013 (modified in December 2012). This can be found in the manuals folder in the Railworks Folder.

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[thethirdrail]

Of course I was forgetting that new instalations of TS2013 don't come bundled with OXF-PAD, so by distributing it I'd be providing it free to the users who would otherwise have to download it

Ah well, it'll just have to be a stand alone route...

[stuart666]

The assets are fairly cheap. As long as you reference RSC assets and dont provide them, I cant see there is any difference to what ive already done with Western Rails. I think 3.99 to run any extant freeware routes (if you dont already have oxpad that is) is not bad value for money.

There is not a lot I can add about route building, other than put in lots of weeds right by the tracks. That can be more important than distant objects, simply because it drags your eye down.

The gradient profile on this route is horrible. Not putting you off in saying that, other than get the track gradient right first and everything else will fall into place. If you need the profile (I expect you already have it) Ill try and look it out and scan it for you.

If I may make a suggestion, if you are doing the present day, be aware there is a strong suggestion that the former LMS/Midland Railway station in Stonehouse is due to reopen. May be worth including it so you have a short run to gloucester, followed by a reversal to Swindon. Not sure they ever do that but it would be an interesting run.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0177qqb

Or if you are considering the 1980s, I seem to recall there were still some sidings open in Stroud in the 1980s. Cant recall them ever being used though.

[Acorncomputer]

The gradient profile on this route is horrible. Not putting you off in saying that, other than get the track gradient right first and everything else will fall into place

Good advice

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[thethirdrail]

Hi Stuart

Many thanks for your advice. I actually don't have the gradient profile and the UK gradient book is £20 an amazon! Currently I've reached just past Sapperton Tunnel. The line from here to Stroud promises to be the most challenging part of the route. I'm using a combination of Google earth, my decals, the cab ride DVD and the elevation of the DEM data, whilst trying to maintain the 1/60 gradient mentioned on the DVD to get a nice smooth descent into the valley and it seems to be working quite well, but any information you could provide would be very gratefully received!

I've driven Western Rails and I have to say I'm very impressed. You were brave to take on such a classic era. I normally stick to diesels and electric but driving steam was a lot of fun! I hope I can do the route as much justice as you have.

With regards to the assets etc I'm still toying with the idea of knocking this on the head as a stand alone route and building at as an extension of the GWML.

I've taken a little break from laying track and have done some cosmetic work around Kemble. Here are some screenies...

Kemble tunnel looking southwest

'Station Road' bridge

Looking across to Platform 1 with the remains of the Cirencester branch line and old platform to the right

That's all for now

T3R