DTG Weardale and Teesdale Rail Network

[RolandBP]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to make mention of my 5-part series of shunting scenarios for this route or not.
Anyway to find all scenarios for this route can be a bit of a mission, due to the official "tick the box" for this route shows absolutely nothing. The only way you find anything is to type either "Weardale" or "Teesdale" and you get a number of those uploaded. But if you have called your scenario by some obscure name like "I did", then you may never find them. So should you be interested in a steam loco only scenario, my collection can be found by typing in "Crook" as that is part of the name that I called the 5-part scenario. "Brick Making Supplies to Crook".
I have contacted DTG about the problem with the official link to this excellent route Ages ago, but have heard nothing back.
My next 2-part scenario will be called "Wear Valley ......" Maybe it will then be seen more readily.
Roland.

Thanks for that tip. It puzzled me as to why very few scenarios had been written for this excellent route. Agreed this search bug should be addressed but in the meantime I have a new search criteria at least.
Keith

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This problem has now been addressed {August 18th}. I received an email back a day after contacting DTG via their official channel.
Quote:
Roland

I have amended the Search entry in the Steam Workshop, this should now filter by the correct route.

Regards

Neal Short

Lead Tester
Dovetail Games End Quote.

Just go to Profile/Workshop/Tick-the-Box for Weardale and Teesdale Network route and "Hey Presto" All the scenarios are there in the current 2 pages. Marvellous.

[engineerbj]

Hello all, I've just come across this route after hearing about the TS:2016 release and popping over to Steam to have a gander to see if anything interesting had been added to the DLC rolls, and I was wondering whether it was actually any good, and what you get for your money. I have the Western Lines of Scotland route already, so far it's my favorite since it's of the proper time period for my collection of classic UK steamers and early claggers (diesels), and it's a properly long run from one of the route to the other, not counting the branch to Kircudbright (a nice addition to that route) it's about 120 miles.

I was also keen on the WLoS because it wasn't just driving the trains from point to point, there was a good amount of sidings to pick up and drop off cars, as well as interactive cargo loading/unloading points, a bit of a must since I like the ability to actually "do" something with the goods wagons instead of just imagining them being loaded and unloaded, particularly when I'm playing around in Free Roam scenarios.

I'd appreciate a little "mini-review" from people who actually have the route, what's it like? Would you recommend buying it?

Thanks, lads,

Brendan O.

[gptech]

Hi Brendan,
there's a mini review in this thread:

I have to say I think this route is fantastic. I don't do country routes, so I was a little hesitant about purchasing this route at first, however the Darlington to Durham section of the route, including both Crook and Spennymoor branches, is very intense with plenty of industry, sidings, stations, sheds, loops and track and has the feel of an inter urban route rather than a country one, so suits my needs very well and I would recommend the route to users who don't normally enjoy country routes. I'm quite surprised that the Darlington to Bishops Auckland section had enough traffic to justify all the track, even pre Beeching. Darlington looks great, a massive step forward compared to the Darlington modelled in the original ECML route. Durham is especially nice as well.

I thought it was strange that the wagon works at Shildon wasn't included as the track leading to it has been laid, but of course you can't have everything and should I get the route butchering/modifying bug again I'll have a go at building it myself.

I think the 'network' concept is a big improvement on traditional a to b style routes, and I hope to see more routes featuring networks. It certainly feels more playable.

I think that those who have the route would recommend that you buy it.

[tnleeuw01]

Plenty of workshop scenarios too, both steam and early diesel.

The new K1 from VictoryWorks will also come with scenarios for this route.

It's different in atmosphere than WLoS, but it's a very good route, and very period-authentic for '50s - '60s.

--Tim

[brummie]

Hi,
I also highly recommend this route, beautifully done, very atmospheric, and an interesting network. I bought the class 105 add on pack with it which together with the route gives a fair few scenarios to play around with. It's one route I find I go back to quite a bit lately!

[theorganist]

I too would recommend this route. It oozes atmosphere and there is plenty of route mileage. I love the fact it is a network rather than an end to end. There are plenty of industries too for those that like freight and shunting. Comes with some decent stock, I purchased the twin pack with the 105 which is a really nice model.

Just waiting for all the steamers which were announced some time ago, my wallet is certainly ready for the K1.

More like this and the Riviera please DTG!

Peter

[levisham]

I have just been going through my collection of NER books and came across this one: Railway Memories No.2 Darlington and South West Durham by Bellcode Books ISBN 1-871233-01-1. It just about covers most of the Weardale and Teesdale Route, not in great detail but with some history and lots of b/w photos, but enough to show what the area was like in it's heyday. I'll be giving it a read again in the next few days. AbeBooks have used copies for sale starting at just GBP3.08......................

To add to the above: a revised and expanded second edition 'Railway Memories No. 17 Darlington & South West Durham' by Stephen Chapman was published by Bellcode Books (1-871233-17-8) in 2005.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darlington-Sout ... 1871233178

A very useful article appeared in 'Steam Days', November 2005: 'Bishop Auckland in the 1950s' by Colin Ryder (page 678-692). http://www.magazineexchange.co.uk/steam ... ?&cat=3345

Last but not least: A reprint of the Summer 1953 Darlington District WTT is available from http://www.wttreprint.talktalk.net/

Marcus

Marcus,
Rummaged through my collection and found the expanded No.17. I order a back copy of Steam Days and it has given me plenty of ideas for scenarios, when I can find the time, and I purchased one of the WTT reprints and they are excellent. Digitally cleaned up and printed in a 'genuine period' booklet. Highly recommended.
Thanks for the heads up.

Regards, John.

[Aclet]

Hi, there is a fair amount of information on it's production here:
http://dereksiddle.blogspot.co.uk/

A

[749006]

Until 30th September the route is 40% off at £14.99 or £17.99 with the Class 105 included
http://store.steampowered.com/app/277777/

Peter

[stephenmartin]

Hi,

I recently purchased this route in the sale and I am loving it. However I have noticed, on my setup at least, that the AWS does not function correctly on the class 25 when using it on a route with colour light signals. The AWS horn doesn't sound at all and the bell is audible only very briefly. From my very limited knowledge of bin files etc it does appear that code exists for AWS functionality and the .dav files also seem to be present.

I notice that this was briefly mentioned previously in this thread (see page 19) and so I was just wondering if anyone has found or can suggest a possible solution.

Thanks

Steve

[SimpsonBrooker]

I have just Purchased the Weardale and Teesdale Route. Could someone please tell me what WVR stands for many thanks.

[almark]

Wear Valley Railway I think.

[Aclet]

http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/history.htm

The network was only meant to be from Bishop Auckland to Wearhead when it was first started.
However, it evolved into the network we know now.