Revamping the Wales and Borders

[tubemad]

Hello all,

Having more time away from the net at the moment has got me thinking about the Wales and Borders route, a route with a lot of detail and a lot of variety but with some issues in some places.

Would anyone be interested in a community project as has been done with other routes? The hard part is wondering how to actually get permission from Ghostcav who hasn't been on since 2010, there is nothing to say that it can be worked on and uploaded for free (it would be put up for free on UKTS of course), but there's also nothing in the readme to say you can't either...

I've been toying with the idea of doing something different from scenario writing (but still doing it of course) and trying something in the route editor, revamping the route might be a good start then adding a small extension to get the idea of track laying etc. The signals are in need of a overhaul, I also don't think the mix of colour lights/semaphores work too well either, because the semaphores never really seem to work once coming out a colour light section.

Trying to fix that might be a good way to learn it, so I may need help there, but I'd also appreciate help on what needs fixing. There's so many paths to try out to see if the signalling works and to see what AWS ramps/speed signs are missing. Scenery will be filled in where the gaps are too.

Is anyone in contact with Ghostcav still? Do we need permission for a overhaul to revamp a beta route to be uploaded here for free?

[37114]

Hello all,

Having more time away from the net at the moment has got me thinking about the Wales and Borders route, a route with a lot of detail and a lot of variety but with some issues in some places.

Would anyone be interested in a community project as has been done with other routes? The hard part is wondering how to actually get permission from Ghostcav who hasn't been on since 2010, there is nothing to say that it can be worked on and uploaded for free (it would be put up for free on UKTS of course), but there's also nothing in the readme to say you can't either...

I've been toying with the idea of doing something different from scenario writing (but still doing it of course) and trying something in the route editor, revamping the route might be a good start then adding a small extension to get the idea of track laying etc. The signals are in need of a overhaul, I also don't think the mix of colour lights/semaphores work too well either, because the semaphores never really seem to work once coming out a colour light section.

Trying to fix that might be a good way to learn it, so I may need help there, but I'd also appreciate help on what needs fixing. There's so many paths to try out to see if the signalling works and to see what AWS ramps/speed signs are missing. Scenery will be filled in where the gaps are too.

Is anyone in contact with Ghostcav still? Do we need permission for a overhaul to revamp a beta route to be uploaded here for free?

Shane and I have been friends for 20+years. I'll drop him a message. I can't imagine he'd have a problem.

[FrankJ]

Sadly I would not be able to help except as a tester but as it has been one of my favourite Railworks routes (along with South West Wales) I would love to see it finished/updated. Both these routes have an atmosphere of realism which is missing from most commercial routes.

I wish you the best of luck with this project

[david1]

would be nice to see this route get a revamp, this is my favourite freeware route, but sadly not used it for over a year now as there have been so many new routes that have come out and I have been making scenarios for them as I prefer making my own but it takes too long and sadly never have time to just drive the routes I have. Recently bought Riveria Line and download around a dozen scenarios so that I could drive the route.

I keep thinking about adding scenery to the missing sections of the Wales & Borders just to find out what it is like, as I have never done that before, but I think that would be all, would not want to starting changing anything like track and signals.

[mckenziejames04]

I was actually in the process of revamping this route in my spare time. Personal use, however.

[Clemmo47]

W&B js still one of my favourite routes in spite of its age. I managed to 'adjust' it some years ago so I could run all the scenarios from each version on one route.
I keep meaning to check on Google Earth to see what the missing scenery is in that bare section.

[37114]

I've messaged Shane about this. Awaiting his response.

[stuart666]

Its one of those routes that would have worked really well as a commercial release. Its still one of my favourite routes, and I really dont play it enough.

[Silverstar46]

Wales & Borders remains my favourite route due to the length, operational variety and atmosphere of the route. If the missing scenary and a tidy up could be undertaken as a community project that would be amazing. I'd be happy to assist and hope that this wonderful route can gain a new lease of life.

[56115]

Wales & Borders remains my favourite route due to the length, operational variety and atmosphere of the route. If the missing scenary and a tidy up could be undertaken as a community project that would be amazing. I'd be happy to assist and hope that this wonderful route can gain a new lease of life.

I second that!

[passedcleaner]

Another idea to revamp the route (one of my favourites as well);

How about singling the 'Cambrian' line beyond Llanbadr? Both lines/platforms could be left in at Yr-Breichiau to provide a crossing loop, and the signalling could be simplified to two-aspect colour light operation with longish sections. I've always felt Llanbadr seems like a natural fringe to the West Mids network (perhaps with a local service terminating from Castleford / New Street) and beyond there the line has a feel of decay and ageing infrastructure. It would have been a prime candidate for BR to rationalise and make savings, removing track and simplifying signalling down to the bare minimum.

[tubemad]

37114 - Thank you mate, look forward to the response, I'm sure he wouldn't object to his work being carried on to a full v1 release.

Thanks for the support guys, should be a good learning curve!

Passedcleaner - Is it based on the Cambrian I wonder? I interpret the line to be based on the NWC, with Aber-Ystrad being something like Holyhead. The NWC has that feel, it basically ends at Bangor with the quieter deserted area beyond that to Holyhead

[passedcleaner]

That's interesting, I always imagined the inspiration was a combination of Heart of Wales and Cambrian. Suppose that's the beauty of a fictional route, it is different things to different people!

Bit like the Midford Wells line - in my imagination the 'straight on' route eastwards from Ruotsbridge is the start of the Cotswold line to Oxford via Moreton-in-Marsh. Which means NSE loco hauled trains (with 50s) and HSTs working through to Midford Wells (Great Malvern?) and Hereton (Hereford), alongside the DMU service from New Street.

I love flexible geography

Seb

[skoda]

I think one of the lines is based on part of the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line (though it's upside down in Direction compared to real line)

Oakengates tunnel = Oakengates
Telfraud central = Telford central
Madley junction = Madeley junction
Branch to Eastridge Power station = Ironbridge PowerStation
Shefnal = Shifnal .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverhamp ... sbury_Line

Still an excellent route despite it's age

[37114]

I think one of the lines is based on part of the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line (though it's upside down in Direction compared to real line)

Oakengates tunnel = Oakengates
Telfraud central = Telford central
Madley junction = Madeley junction
Branch to Eastridge Power station = Ironbridge PowerStation
Shefnal = Shifnal .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverhamp ... sbury_Line

Still an excellent route despite it's age

It is. We were both signalman at Madeley Junction in the early 90's.