First World War Centenary - The Railway Operating Division

[sem34090]

Psst...

Dahn't tell a sole that I's told yer this, but I believes it's one of these 'ere junshuns at the bottom left 'and corner of this 'ere map...
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101464885

[sem34090]

Courtesy of Victory Works, we now have another reskin available for the project!
http://sem34090.simplesite.com/441152272

Many thanks to Pete for this one - More details can be found on the webpage above.

[locomotiveman1994]

The Ministry of War is proud to announce:

• With the VictoryWorks providing us with major repaint work for the acquired NER T1s, we are proud to announce of another, peerless example of civil companys helping the war effort. The (virtual) Boston Lodge Works, under Chief Engineer S.Pontin, will provide us with licence build Andrew-Barkley NG 0-4-0WT.
  Cheers to this patriot!

[locomotiveman1994]

A good question indeed. You can do your part: The War Department has received plans, and an unfinished prototype, of a 2ft3in gauge "american style" engine for our trench railway system. Unfortunately, it's engineer, the brilliant
Mr. Kevin Martin, went out of business several years ago, and is not able, to finish it off.
You can. If you are willing, and able to, finish the loco of, then enlist today!

Enlistments are to be given to Capt. G. Hinterscheid.

The British Public will thank you.

God save the King!

[sem34090]

Huzzah!

I have little to report from my end of the wire, I'm afraid. I've been rather busy of late and unfortunately my TS PC is not faring too well currently. I hope to try and get it started soon, but it might yet just crash again. Probably because it's still on Windows 7, or some such reason.

[sem34090]

I have added another update to the website, though Steve's very kind contribution has already been noted here.
http://sem34090.simplesite.com/441152081
I shall be providing more details regarding the British route and what else is to be released on June 28th soon - watch this space.

[locomotiveman1994]

To give you folks a taste of what is (eventually) to come:

ROD 2-8-0 N° 2004 with supply train which consists of: Two french MIDI covered trucks, one captured bavarian covered truck with 'Bremserhaus' (brakeman's cabin), each four captured german bolsters and french MIDI flat cars, one german, two CR open wagons and a CR brake. As the route is not finished yet, the WSR had to stand in as a Belgian branch to the front.

[sem34090]

With 8 Days to go until our originally-scheduled release date we have, unfortunately, had to postpone much of what we had hoped to release.

We will, however, be releasing something next Saturday and we hope that this will raise some interest in our project, even if it may not pertain to the Railway Operating Division itself.

http://sem34090.simplesite.com/441152081

[sem34090]

Today is the day - June 28th 2019.

Today is our original planned release date and has marked the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the moment which brought the Great War to an official end but, as we sadly have seen, arguably merely sowed the seeds for the Second World War.

But that is not what we are here for, and today is one for commemorating the event. I spent today at the National Railway Museum in York, compiling a list of books and other documents relating to Railways in both the First and Second World Wars for a private research project, also looking at the brilliantly executed Ambulance train exhibition in the corner of the Great Hall. A sensitive and interesting display, and one that I highly recommend for anyone interested in this area of military and railway history, should they be able to visit.

Regarding our release date, we have in fact got a pair of scenarios for you, set on the eve of the beginning of the war. Others will follow shortly, but these first two ought to give a flavour of what is to come. Gaetan has a fantastic way of creating scenarios that are engaging and interesting and his first two Great War scenarios may be downloaded here -

Great War Scenario Pack [2213506 bytes] - Great_War_Scenario_Pack.rwp File ID: 38934 Date: 01 Jul 2019 - 79 Downloads

We hope you enjoy these scenarios but also spare a thought for remembrance as you do so. We know these scenarios aren't direct commemorations in themselves, but they're paving the way for a series of wartime scenarios and of course, eventually, the ROD route.


On the eve of the war - An NER C Class 0-6-0 makes its way from Durham to Bishop Auckland on August 5th 1914.

[brysonman46]

Another suitable scenario is included in the route "Bacup-The Facit Branch", available from UKTS https://members.uktrainsim.com/filelib- ... leid=38152

It covers a Troop Train from Bacup to Rochdale taking a company of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the first leg of their journey south on their way to France.

The carriages have troops as passengers! These may be used in other scenarios with the author's permission (here given)

Nick

[sem34090]

We apologise for not having asked.

[brysonman46]

We apologise for not having asked.

I gave you permission a long time ago!

[sem34090]

And I completely forgot!!!

[JohnM1945]

Gentlemen, you seem to have captured the wartime atmosphere - the confusion, the chaos, the lack of materiel - so very well.

We will, however, be releasing something... ...even if it may not pertain...

The carriages have troops as passengers! These may be used in other scenarios with the author's permission (here given)

We apologise for not having asked.

I gave you permission a long time ago!

And I completely forgot!!!

SNAFU?

Not to worry; it will, doubtless, all be over by Christmas.

Kind regards, and best wishes for your continuing campaign!

John M

[sem34090]

Thank you John - We don't ask for thanks (and I have no right to claim any as of yet!) but it is very much appreciated and can help to keep up our motivation!

We were hoping that releasing these scenarios would raise interest in the project so thank you for your response as well!