WEARDALE ROUTE STEAM ENGINES (HAS IT BEEN FORGOTTEN)

[theorganist]

Hello,

We have seen some wonderful Great Western engines released with more in the pipeline, which are all very exciting. With Matrix trains carriages and the various freight available running scenario's with realistic and varied stock on the Riviera line is quite easy.

However, with the Weardale route which is still my favourite steam era route (despite being more of a Western man) there seem to be very few native steam engines.

I seem to recall (although can't find it now) a thread listing engines which were to be released J21, A8, G5 were amongst them, I think they were a mixture of Victory Works and Digital Traction releases. However we haven't seen any of those. We have had the lovely K1 but I don't think that would have ventured that far onto the network, particularly as far as Middleton in Teesdale or Wearhead. The J50 and Standard 2MT, are from what I can see the only engines we have which were shedded on this network. Running a J50 with two Gresley Teak coaches or the Thompson Suburban Coaches from Barnard Castle to Middleton in Teesdale looks reasonably okay but is not really realistic!

I know that Victory Works have announced the J21 for this year which would fill one large gap but I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of others in the pipeline. From what research I have done the G5 was for much of it's life THE engine for the Middleton branch. I do intend to email Digital Traction and DTG.

It just seems a shame that this wonderful network does not have enough stock to do it justice (in my opinion) yet the Riviera line has so much.

This thread is not intended as a criticism in any way, far from it, just some observations and I wonder what other people feel, or maybe it is just me?

Peter

[michaelhendle]

Hi

Peter you've got the B1 and V2,part of the Woodhead route the 04,as well, you can also use the A1,A3 A4,on the main line Darlington-Durham,and diverted trains Via Bishop Auckland when the mainline was closed due to engineering works.

Don't forget there are some nice reskins of the B1,V2 and O4,and of course you have the DT Br Standards,and the Just Trains Standard 5

What we could do with is a J5 Great Northern Locomotive or a J27,if you look under Railworks,there is a N2 tank locomotive
I think the main problem lies with the fact the only Commercial stem route for Eastern Region steam era is Weardale,for Western Region you've got Glorious Devon 60 Riviera 1950,Wycombe Joint,which means model builders forget about Weardale

[tnleeuw01]

Hi Peter,

A J21 from VictoryWorks would indeed be marvellous if Pete is still planning to make that engine. I haven't been on the Weardale a lot recently, been too busy with too many other routes and engines!

If you want to drive some scenarios utilising a large amount of different rolling stock, I feel that user TobBirk usually publishes good scenarios using a lot of different DLC, giving you a lot of variety of things to see, always making the trip more immersive for me. His scenarios can be found on the Steam Workshop.

And thanks for giving me the inspiration for a very enjoyable QD over Weardale

--Tim

[pjt1974]

Fully agree with Tim

I don't know if this is the definitive TobBirk collection but an excellent collection none the less
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =500528241

[theorganist]

Thanks for your replies all.

I know there are several LNER loco's available, which I have but I was thinking of loco's of loco's which are native to the lines contained in the route, in particular Bishop Auckland shed. I have all those mentions but you would not have seen a B1 hauling a local train to Wearhead or a standard 4 on a Middleton in Teesdale branch train, and as much as I love the J50 I doubt they hauled Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle locals.

I agree it may be because this is the only north eastern commercial route so maybe commercial developers aren't so interested in developing for it. I just think it is a shame. I love the Western and the Riviera in the 50's but there is a definate bias to developing for that route and not the Weardale, yet when it came out we were told of all these potential releases. One wonders what would have happened if DTG hadn't released the Riviera 50's route.

I know in the end all creators will make what interests them or what will sell and there is no criticism from me, I just wondered what other users thought.

Peter

[marcusboon]

I fully agree with Peter’s plea for some ‘native’ NER/LNER locos that would fit the NER Weardale route network, and in fact the same goes for Mark Thompson’s beautiful freeware Whitby to East Cleveland route. However, there have been a few announcements over the years so I remain hopeful. Digital Traction said in June last year on their Facebook page that they would be doing both the A8 and the J38/J39, mentioning also that Victory Works would do the G5 and the J21. In fact, the only other typical engines still missing for these routes would be the Q6, the J26/J27, the J71/72 and L1.

Of course, speaking of ex-NER routes, one day there will also be the Stainmore route that Ben Yates, Phil Baines and others are working that will in a way complement/extend the Weardale route, but from the fifties until closure this was mainly the territory of ex-LMS Ivatt 2-6-0’s and various BR Standards (of which some are also still lacking…).

Bishop Auckland in the 50s is the subject of a long article in Steam Days, November 2005, that has a lot of useful info on train workings through Bishop Auckland (up to LNER pacifics…).

Marcus

[michaelhendle]

Hi

I've put a post on DT face book page about the D17 and the J 38 they announced last July,asking if they were still going to make them,seems Victory Works were going to make the J 21 and G 5 and that's why DT decided not to make them.

Mike

[windberg]

I use the DT M7 as a G5 replacement. Its a pity there is no BR early emblem version. Together with the LNER Twinset it looks like a good branch passenger stopper for me. But we need more authentic steam engines for this route. I hope we will get a J21 and a Q6.

Can anyone recommend good books about this network?

[marcusboon]

Some books I found useful:

- Brian J. Dickson, Northumberland & Durham Railway Pictorial 1948-1967 (Southampton: Kestrel Railway Books 2010)
- Stephen Chapman, Darlington & South West Durham with Richmond & the Stainmore line (Railway Memories No. 17) (Todmorden: Bellcode Books 2005)
- North Eastern Operating Area Working Time Table 8th June to 20th September 1953 (reprint http://www.wttreprint.talktalk.net)

Marcus

[theorganist]

I suppose the M7 would be an okay substitute, trouble is I am quite a stickler for realism (as much as is possible). The J50 and the twinset look fine and the J50 worked in this area, however as far as I cab find out, they were not used on branch passenger workings. If anyone knows different I would love to hear about it.

Peter

[michaelhendle]

Hi Peter
I got a reply from Digital Traction and they say they have a lot of LNER items,and will be announcing them shortly
Mike

[johnrossetti]

>>>>they say they have a lot of LNER items,and will be announcing them shortly
<<<< ooo goodie, I hope one of them is the P2 Not really Weardale I know, but I really love this loco.
John

[theorganist]

Hi Peter
I got a reply from Digital Traction and they say they have a lot of LNER items,and will be announcing them shortly
Mike

That sounds exciting thanks for that.

Peter

[sundog]

Maybe not appropriate for the routes discussed above but I would really like to see a C1 Atlantic, and/or even better (but a pretty remote chance I guess and time-wise being well out of the frame!) a C2 Klondyke (GNR C1).

DT..... if you are reading this thread ....... please....

Ken