Borders Railway [WIP]

[codemunkeh]

Hi all. I am scratching a route building itch, by building the re-instated line running from Waverley to Tweedbank.
It is modern day, which I prefer. If the slow march of scenery ever reaches the end of the track, I may clone the route and make a backdated pre-closure version. Unless there is a strong preference for that in the first place, but I'd be back to square one on research if I switched to the former Waverley route.

Current state:
Trackwork Waverley to Shawfair. Patches of scenery and OHLE from Waverley to Newcraighall. Trains westerly at up to 90mph with a chance of signalling errors.
So far using the Edinburgh to Glasgow assets, the DTG/Academy assets, and the UKLEDsignals pack (so minimal payware). Would be good to keep it workshop compatible, hoping to make it easier for people to distribute scenarios - but I expect I'll give in to temptation and just use the freeware packs.

Questions:
Where are the units stabled? Haymarket? I was considering adding the suburban loop via Slateford to Haymarket if that adds to the scenario possiblities. Otherwise I want to avoid doing too much of scenery-hungry Edinburgh.

Does anyone have any resources about Millerhill or Craigentinny - layout wise?
I have laid out the trackwork as per satellite imagery but no real clue of what is what. I have the sectional appendix and some related plans with signalling information but they don't cover the yards.
Much of Millerhill seems to be in the process of track lifting, although I am sort of aiming for 'as opened' in 2015.

Screenshots:
Should probably show off a bit! Dropbox Album which may grow over time.
Images are 800px, you will see the extent of the trackwork at Craigentinny, the scattered bits of scenery, and a 6-car 170 at Brunstane.

[rkk01]

Interesting project - hope it all goes to plan... Both ends are represented in existing routes - in fact, I made a point of driving the southern end when the VW S160 came out

[rkk01]

Should have expanded - Carlilse to Longtown is driveable in the Western Lines of Scotland route, and I believe that the Millerhill area is modelled in JT Necastle - Edinburgh

[codemunkeh]

Thanks. Two routes I haven't got, ha. I had a look at a cabride on the JT route, but there are real world passenger videos which are more useful.

I've laid track past Haymarket for the depot. Nice change from doing terrain and scenery, to just blast down some track.
I have through lines at Millerhill but I am digging to find more info about the new electric depot that will be there (slated to open late 2017).
Thanks to some tips on here I've been able to clean up all the overlapping rails around pointwork, got some very nice double crossovers in Waverley now as opposed to the previous mess.

Unearthed some handy gradient information, in amongst this pile of documents. I have missed a short 1 in 300 through the Mound tunnels, and a small climb through Haymarket. Due to the amount of pointwork I can't easily retrofit a slope - but it only makes ~1m difference and the main bulk of the route is going the other way anyhow.

[codemunkeh]

Update time:
Joined the ends on the Suburban line, which will now be part of the route. I now have a full 20-ish minute loop from one end of Waverley station to the other.
According to the asset report, so far there are 202 signals, 840 track segments, and 278 points.

The suburban loop is signalled with 2 aspect plus distants but at one end there's a 4 aspect main signal with 3 aspect repeater. Score 1 more for using non-workshop assets.
I also discovered (after laying 6 miles of the loop) that the gradient profile is not completely to scale, and has the statement "mileages do not match sectional appendix" written on it Bah, it's close enough.

Added a route map to the album showing the current trackwork (still haven't gone beyond King's Gate jn), and current scenery represented by green brush strokes, though still far from done.

[codemunkeh]

Update time: Obligatory "been busy with work etc." but I'm back into the swing of it.

I have a video showing the current state of things, with a trip (in 2x speed) around the Edinburgh suburban loop, where I also talk about the project:
Route progress on Youtube

Essentially there are about 2-3 barren miles, and lots of areas that have empty patches, but other areas are taking shape. Most recently I put together the bridges and embankments around Abbeyhill junction.

Also having some trouble with signalling - EP610 at Portobello junction is failing to clear, in some circumstances. It can be made to clear by having traffic cross in front of the player toward Leith, or sometimes by just having a train pass on the Down line. Or, it might not clear at all in the same setup. More testing required.

[levisham]

Nice and I appreciate your humour, too.

Regards, John.