Written by: Edward Fisk Edward Fisk, of Partner Programme developer MeshTools, delves into the all-new and Pro Range-suited Class 506, which is to be included with the upcoming Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue route! READ MORE
I did notice that in the introduction, the Class 506 has very little left which is the cab area and guard area, the Class 306 I believe are quite similar and one's intact so in theory, you have some resources to work from - save from the modifications from DC to AC. However, I do have a bigger challenge and its a project I am currently working (those that know me well, know what I am talking about). Its a model I'm working on for a different sim and hopefully will in the future end up in Rail Simulator, is 20003 or more precisely Bulleid's Class 70 to which, absolutely nothing (as far as I know of) exists apart from a load of photos and an article on how they worked. That is unless someone is willing to correct me. I was lucky to even find a cab photo of which I only know of one in existence. Long gone rolling stock like the Class 506 aren't the only ones to suffer lack of resources, but I've noticed that in particular cases like these, you can only do some approximations. My biggest headache is going to be sounds - like the Class 506, good luck with that one, I think I'll use some artistic 'flexibility'. While dealing with the cab which I am currently working on, I am using some practices (right word?) used in other loco's, again, due to the lack of resources.
Is it me or do the Pantograph's of all these new Woodhead locomotives have varying heights in all of the images?
Yes, of course. At Glossop the Overhead wire was quite high because in steam days there was a water column near the platform. In other places the Overhead wire was lower to clear underneath bridges - it's the same on the real railway today where the wire height varies on the location. A bit lower in Hadfield - this was in 1984 after the Woodhead line closed beyond Hadfield but before the Voltage changed in December 1984.
Just wanted to say what a stunning piece of work this is. I built the cab for the Class 485 underground standard stock and worked on the sounds. The 506 acceleration works on the same principal as the 485 with relays notching. This has been portrayed and I can here the relays notching in the background. I now the extra effort required to go the extra mile for this. Brilliant job. PC's broke now but can't wait to get back in the cab.
The 76 and 506 are great but the route is very poor. DTG have taken the old route and stuck a modern looking Piccadilly station at Manchester - But the track layout is wrong Signals are missing or in the wrong place. Speed signs in platform coping stones. Quick Drive Eastbound causes the game to just Crash before it's loaded the run. Just a very poor effort by DTG I'm quite disappointed with this re hash of the line Peter
Great pictures, Peter! As the 506 doesn't have a speedometer, how did the drivers adhere to the speed limits? Just training and familiarity with the train?
Basically yes. A lot of the drivers were old Steam men and most of the smaller engines did not have a Speedo either.