The truth about GNER Eastcoast.

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 6:16 pm

Right, Gentlemen, i've noticed a lot of posts in the past week or so asking about GNER Eastcoast...i have been authorised by Goingnorth, the routes authour, to make this post in his absense. The route is currently being rebuilt with UKFS to a better standard, it will feature trackwork as accurate as possible, scenery will be the same. The route will feature new, bespoke buildings, giving each town a realistic air. In short, gentlemen, if it's on the East Coast Mainline, it'll be on GNER Eastcoast. This route will truely be 'as real as it gets'. Due to the large amount of time and effort being put into the route, the next version will be a commercial release. With the route will be a set of appropriate stock, reflecting that used on the route today. If any more information is required, please post here, and either I or Goingnorth will endeavour to answer as full as possible. I hope this clears some thing up. Yours,
Shapstormer

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 6:25 pm

Isnt this EastCoast Mainline, and not GNER Eastcoast.

I thought i read that Goingnorth was working on a commercial ECML route, and the current GNEReastcoast was going to be updated and released for free by someone else.

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 6:27 pm

By commercial, do you mean in the Shops, or on UKTS CD?

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 6:28 pm

Your right, the present GNER Eastcoast is going to be updated and re-released for free, however, as yet, the new route has not been named, as far as i'm aware, so i've made the mistake of calling it GNER Eastcoast...for clarity, GNER Eastcoast will be re-released as a free download, and the new route, the East Coast Main Line will be a total rebuild, and will be a commercial add-on. Thanx for pointing that out, Lucazone.
Shapstormer

Post by **martinhodgson** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:51 pm

Will the commercial version be up to york, or will it be venturing even further up north?

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:53 pm

As far as i know, only as far as York. I've heard vague rumours about a Northern Extension, nut nothing concrete as yet. I'll get Goingnorth to post when he get's back, i'm sure he'll tell you his intentions.
Shapstormer

NickCollier · Post by **NickCollier** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:19 pm

Right before i go to bed i think i aught to clarify a few things......

The original route is in the process of once again being uploaded for people to download... There are NO changes to this version from the one uploaded 8 months ago.

The original one in which is being uploaded is currently being scenefied with Default AND custom models. This will then be uploaded by the quicksilver team and COMPLETE the freewhere ECML (GNER eastcoast)

After this all operations at the traditional SRBC will be scaled down to technical support, all personel from the original team are being transfered to the new offices being constructed at Kings Cross (Route builders house.)

This will see the continualtion of our project "Number B" this being a completey new ECML set out into diffrent period's. This will be the COMMERCIAL version and therefore have complete custom objects models and stock. The quicksilver team in which is named after an A4 (not a clothes brand!) will open a new webpage shortly and updates will be posted as and when it is deemed nessecerry.

The current project status is as follows...

Freewhere Version::

Project Manager: Nick Collier
Objectives: Fill in areas with scenery to give an authentic feel....include default and custom building's.
Completed from previous project BETA: 75%
People to contact for information: James Horgan, Edd Copping, Nick Collier

Paywhere Version::

Project Manager: Robert Thoburn
Objectives: Completely new version of ECML using 100% default objects.
Completed: Terraforming, 35% Track Work
People whom can assist with quiries: Rob Thoburn, Shapstormer, James Horgan, Nick Collier.

Hope this assist in the matter
Nick

Quicksilver

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 10:20 am

Can you have a project 'number' b ?

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:28 am

connex wrote:Paywhere Version::

Objectives: Completely new version of ECML using 100% default objects.

I take it that's a typo Nick?

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 12:16 pm

connex wrote:Right before i go to bed i think i aught to clarify a few things......

Nick, think you must have been real tired, I'd go back and correct a few things.

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:00 pm

Allow me to correct Mr. Collier, gentlemen. Goingnorth has just mailed me, he is currently around Alexandra Palace taking photographs for the model in the route, which will feature NO default objects! The Quicksilver team feels that if a route is to be done representing real-world locations, then surely, the buildings outside the railway fence should also recreate the self same locations? All of our projects, current and forthcoming, will be built upon this principal. We hope you find this agreeable, and i believe i speak for the whole Quicksilver team in saying that we are 100% commited to re-creating real routes, with real features, and re-creations of the real trains that ran on them, with NO diversion from this demanding set of tasks which we set ourselves,
Shapstormer, for Quicksilver.

NickCollier · Post by **NickCollier** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 6:46 pm

saddletank wrote:
connex wrote:Paywhere Version::

Objectives: Completely new version of ECML using 100% default objects.
I take it that's a typo Nick?

. me....if your an air hostess!!

NickCollier · Post by **NickCollier** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 6:48 pm

Shapstormer wrote:Allow me to correct Mr. Collier, gentlemen. Goingnorth has just mailed me, he is currently around Alexandra Palace taking photographs for the model in the route, which will feature NO default objects! The Quicksilver team feels that if a route is to be done representing real-world locations, then surely, the buildings outside the railway fence should also recreate the self same locations? All of our projects, current and forthcoming, will be built upon this principal. We hope you find this agreeable, and i believe i speak for the whole Quicksilver team in saying that we are 100% commited to re-creating real routes, with real features, and re-creations of the real trains that ran on them, with NO diversion from this demanding set of tasks which we set ourselves,
Shapstormer, for Quicksilver.

Quicksilver also agree that our PR system should not contradict previous post's.....So that customer's and perspective client's don't get confused and board the wrong train

bigvern · Post by **bigvern** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:22 pm

Just to say I wish Rob and his team the best of luck with this project. If it's even half as good as what was on display at the NRM it will be a showpiece route for the sim.

Only one thing I would add when planning to use lots of individual models - optimisation! As an experienced route builder I know only too well how quickly the file sizes mount up. I was staggered when the SMJ came in at over 200Mb. An average model with snow and night textures probably uses around 500kb of hard drive space though obviously the same basic texture can be used for more than one model.

Remember too it's a railway line to drive along, not an exact 3D model of a portion of the countryside, all too easy to get carried away. Outside of 200m from the line judge very carefully what you need to place as regards buildings and scenery as to whether it will be seen from the train.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 12:29 am

bigvern wrote:Remember too it's a railway line to drive along, not an exact 3D model of a portion of the countryside, all too easy to get carried away. Outside of 200m from the line judge very carefully what you need to place as regards buildings and scenery as to whether it will be seen from the train.

I don't want to get into a debate about this but I disagree. My route is really a depiction of the Wiltshire countryside of the inter-war years with many many details. It will stand up to leisurely inspection in RE, and in fact driving the trains without the detailed scenery would be pretty boring in my view (and I find that with many routes - they are great models by authors who built them to do a job but I personally need to see some depth and detail to the scenery). Along the way I have discovered that with good optimisation you can still get acceptable framerates with very intricate scenery.

However this level of detail is on a 10 mile route. If Rob and his team can do likewise on the 200 miles betwen KX and York then I take my hat off to them, and wish them luck!