Phase 1 Beta of The Stoke to Market Drayton Line..

[petestuart]

Hello guys!!

I'm just putting a notice on here that I will be releasing Phase 1 (Beta) of me second route 'The Stoke to Market Drayton Line' (including the Potteries Loop Line) within the next few days. It has reached the stage now where I am fairly happy with most of the route in a first stage form, though of course there is still a lot to do.
I would say about 95% of all track is now down, though I can still think of some areas that need quite a few sidings put in place. As regards to trees, shrubs, fields etc I would say only about 10% if that, is done and I am making good use of RSDL's Super Foliage Pack.
When I package the route on UKTrainSim I will list all that maybe required.
I hope that you will enjoy exploring this route.. and yes theres quite a bit to explore..!
I have also set a suprize starting location for you!!!

Best regards

Pete Stuart ............. letsRole!

[Acorncomputer]

Great stuff Pete

I will look out for this.

[M1ckran]

Looking forward to this. Thanks for the early release.

[petestuart]

No problem quys.. don't forget this is just first stage, so some bits will look a bit sparse. I will not include a consist to start with, as I am leaving that up for you to decide.

Pete

[petestuart]

Hi there again.. I have just uploaded the first phase of my route to UKTrainSim and is waiting approval.

.... Edit.. has now been uploaded!!

Regards

pete

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Pete

Just to say that I have downloaded the route without any hitches although I still need a couple of items from your list.

You have been very busy and there is more than enough track to keep anyone busy for days just driving around. This is clearly going to be a long project to complete but if you can keep going, I think this will be an excellent and popular route for the library.

[petestuart]

Thank you AC yes I do hope it will... when it gets finished!

[ladyoflynn]

Hi Pete,
thanks for uploading the route,I^ve just had a couple of hours riding the route and it was great,
I drove a Voyger from the cab and got good speeds up on the signals.

Eric (ladyoflynn GWR man)

[M1ckran]

Top-notch work Pete, and a superb example of a work in progress. You've captured the hilly nature of the area and some of the torturous gradients are very nicely incorporated. I expect you used DEM data for the terrain but that's only half the story. I admire the way you've blended terrain and track into something so realistic.

This route is a fine example of routebuilding for the rest of us. What to include and what to leave out, in order to make overall progress must be tricky at times. So full marks for releasing it in such an unfinished form, at the risk of adverse comments from those who might expect a more complete product.

There are some features that I don't recognise. Things I was not previously aware of, such as the traverser, were a surprise to me. What era are you modelling in?

I still think you could spend the rest of your life tuning this route! Let's hope you have a long one.

[petestuart]

Hi Pete,
thanks for uploading the route,I^ve just had a couple of hours riding the route and it was great,
I drove a Voyger from the cab and got good speeds up on the signals.

Eric (ladyoflynn GWR man)

Thank you. Good to see the signals being ok with trains going at high speeds

pete

[petestuart]

Top-notch work Pete, and a superb example of a work in progress. You've captured the hilly nature of the area and some of the torturous gradients are very nicely incorporated. I expect you used DEM data for the terrain but that's only half the story. I admire the way you've blended terrain and track into something so realistic.

This route is a fine example of routebuilding for the rest of us. What to include and what to leave out, in order to make overall progress must be tricky at times. So full marks for releasing it in such an unfinished form, at the risk of adverse comments from those who might expect a more complete product.

There are some features that I don't recognise. Things I was not previously aware of, such as the traverser, were a surprise to me. What era are you modelling in?

I still think you could spend the rest of your life tuning this route! Let's hope you have a long one.

Thanks M1ckran yes the DEM data did come in handy, though of course I have had to tweek it in places.
As for the Traverser.. that might be an error on my part ... not looking at the maps carefuly enough!! (I'm sure now it is just a small shed with tracks comming up beside it... this will be altered in the next update. I am modelling the route in the early 20'th C.

Kind regards

pete

[stephenholmes]

Hi Everyone
I wish to say to Peter, Thankyou very much for a great looking route
I remember as a teenager taking a narrowboat trip along the Trent Mersey Canal through Harecastle Tunnel.
Kind regards Stephen

[petestuart]

Hi Everyone
I wish to say to Peter, Thankyou very much for a great looking route
I remember as a teenager taking a narrowboat trip along the Trent Mersey Canal through Harecastle Tunnel.
Kind regards Stephen

Thank you Stephen, I'm glad the canals on the route bring back good memories! I, myself have never been through the canal tunnel. Hopfuly some day I will.

Regards peter

[stephenholmes]

Hi again Peter and all reading this post.
On the subject of Harecastle tunnel, it is controlled by a tunnel keeper and boat owners had to contact the controller prior to entering the tunnel.
There was only room inside the tunnel bore for narrowboats to travel in one direction only,
On one occasion we were half way through the tunnel and to our astonishment another smaller boat was heading towards us.
Because our narrowboat was so long the owner of the smaller craft reversed back out of the tunnel.
It takes approximately one hour to pass through the tunnel and is not an easy tunnel to navigate.
Nowadays the tunnel or should I say tunnels have set opening times and are still under the control of the tunnel keeper
The canal water in that location looks like tea with milk and has a strange look about it and is definately not suitable for swimming in.
This is due to all the iron ore etc in the water.
Thanks once again for bringing back happy memories
Kind regards Stephen

[petestuart]

If you are finding problems with signal posts missing from this route, it would seem that the latest version of the GWR Signal Kit (version 2.0)has these missing... try and look for the 'GWR Semaphore Signal kit Version 1, Part 1' and install that first.. then version 2 after that.. making sure you uninstal version two first.
I have posted this note on here and in the signals section... I will also post a note to Johny to see it this is the case or not.

Regards peter