Having arrived at Rugby, our stopping passenger service QD continues on to Birmingham New Street. Only, we are now on DTG WCML South rather than Trent Valley. The train remains the same; CW's LNWR Greater Britain 2-2-2-2 tender steam loco, seen in Lilac & Cream Royal Livery, pulling five SSS/MT LNWR coaches. My one regret is forgetting to move the run's start time forward to match when the Stafford-to-Rugby run arrived at Rugby station. Rugby Station: The Hill: More to follow...
It's been a bit over a year since my YT channel went dormant. Up until the last few months of 2022, there was no reason for it beyond a combination of laziness and forgetfulness. Then my primary PC issues began, which took months to solve. My excuse now is that I'm not yet wholly satisfied with the combo of RWE2 and APSW2. If and when that gets sorted out, I'll likely come up with another excuse. That said, I don't see the channel as officially dead by any means.
These are really, really just excuses. Go make some video again. I've grown quite fond of your channel, mostly because of the textual accompaniment. That's a godsend for me as a non-English speaker.
Two very different journeys in the sim this morning. The 6.10am Carlisle-Preston is seen at Oxenholme and (I think) Milnthorpe. (BMG Stanier 5MT 2-6-0, running on the Stainmore & Eden Valley Route) A refurbished C77 stock train works a late night service from Putney Bridge to Edgware Road, seen at Notting Hill Gate and Paddington. (LU District Line)
SNCF 67000 Class No.67511 passes Picon Busserine (Marseille) on a Aix-en-Provence to Marseille Saint-Charles regional working: BR Class 47 No.47143 leads the 16:00 Newquay to Par local service as it passes Luxulyan in June 1983:
The beginnings of an evening / nighttime stopping passenger service QD on Portsmouth Line Direct - London Waterloo to Portsmouth, Portsmouth Harbor our ultimate destination. Locomotive power is supplied by CW's SR class U No. 31625, the only loco in the pack, and one of very few in my steam loco collection, that can be fitted with high-intensity lamps. The lamps are admittedly weaksauce, but better than nothing for night runs. London Waterloo station: A side-view not far beyond the station: Boarding passengers at Vauxhall: Vauxhall: Steaming gently into that dark night: There might or might not be further installments from this run, depending on how many post-worthy capture opportunities it provides.
Second set of captures from an intentionally short early-daylight drive on GAD's Dorset Coast railway. The train consists of a CW LSWR A12 0-4-4 tendered steam loco, seen in Adams Green, pulling four SSS_MT LSWR Salmon coaches. The run ended not long after this set's final image. You might have noticed that the loco contains no Disk Code. I forgot that the Disks enabled at the run's start disappeared when I loaded the save. Had I noticed, I'd have restored them.
This shot in particular is absolutely stunning. Do you mind if I set it as my desktop wallpaper image?
Of course, but you must add copyright and add every logo somewhere to acknowledge their use - DTG, Kuju, AP...
A fairly long sequence from a scenario of my own creation. It is July 1999 and the North Wales Coast main line is enjoying the last months of the Class 37 loco-hauled swansong that was such a feature of my railway interest growing up. We're in the cab of EWS-liveried coastal stalwart 37426 hauling 1D67 10.07 (SO) Birmingham New Street to Holyhead. In 1999 this was nominally diagrammed for a Class 158 but regularly dropped a loco-hauled set due to First North Western unit shortages, plus heavy passenger demand (a 2-car unit on a summer Saturday was ludicrous in the author's experience.) This service was also notable for its stopping pattern after Crewe, with only Chester, Rhyl, Llandudno Junction and Bangor being served prior to Holyhead - again due to its popularity with punters. Our first shot is between Talacre and Prestatyn, where we encounter 37698 on 1K61 1022 Bangor-Crewe. This nominally freight locomotive made several appearances on Coast services during 1999 deputising for unavailable Class 37/4s. Note also the hired-in railtour Mark 1 coach in the formation, another legacy of FNW's excessive 'pruning' of the coaching stock fleet. We move forward to Penmaenmawr where 37411 heads 1G97 1116 Bangor-Birmingham. Despite appearances, the closing speed here is approximately 140mph as neither service called at this station. (The linespeed drops to 55mph to pass through Penmaenmawr Tunnel. After departing Bangor our locomotive heads across the Menai Straits and into Anglesey. Shortly thereafter, we hammer through Llanfairpwllgwyngyll (gogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch) and pass 2D70 1220 Holyhead-Llandudno stopping train, worked by heritage 'power-twin' 101676 of Newton Heath. The Met-Camm units had been a regular fixture on the Coast route for many years, but now their time was coming to an end. The final examples withdrawn by the end of 2003, having mainly been relegated to local services on the Manchester-Rose Hill and Marple lines since Class 175s ousted them from North Wales. Upon arrival at Holyhead, I dashed round to the carpark to capture our locomotive prior to run-round. You can also glimpse a pair of Class 156 Sprinters in platform 2 awaiting departure with 1H42 1323 (SO) Holyhead-Stockport & Blackpool North. I took a few further photos at Holyhead which will appear in Part Two shortly...
Some photos from Holyhead. We first see a close-up of the 156s awaiting departure in Platform 2. This service was an oddity in the SO timetable as it split at Warrington Bank Quay for Stockport and Blackpool North. On weekdays it ran as a 2-car unit only, to Stockport (via Earlestown and Manchester Piccadilly) without the Blackpool portion. Note the two varieties of Regional Railways livery. IIRC only a small number of 156s were ever painted into FNW's house colours before the franchise was merged with ATN into 'Northern Trains'. Meanwhile on Platform 1, a Virgin (West Coast) HST set - distinguishable from its Cross-Country brethren by the extra Trailer First - thrums gently while preparing to form 1A70 13.38 Holyhead-London Euston. This was a boat train connection and would whisk Irish customers to the capital in a little over 4 hours (so not all that impressive really!) A more general shot of the weird shape of Holyhead station. How many passengers missed their connecting train while searching for Platform 1? It's 1320hrs and we still have a 'full house'. Finally another close-up of 37426, still waiting for the shunter before running round. This set would then form 1G11 13.54 (SO) Holyhead to Birmingham New Street, albeit with a more standard Coast stopping pattern. Hopefully my mental reminiscences aren't too tiresome. There are more exciting routes to drive but the combination of the AP 37 and coaching stock, plus access to the working timetables (https://history.networkrail.co.uk/uncategorized/SO_506bb63b-dadf-497e-901d-1673556bcffd/) means I can lose hours immersed in Train Sim relieving my youth...
Second set of images documenting a stopping passenger service QD from Rugby to Birmingham New Street on DTG WCML South. The train consists of a CW's LNWR Greater Britain 2-2-2-2 tender steam loco, seen in Lilac & Cream Royal Livery, pulling five SSS/MT LNWR coaches. This capture at The Hill replicates the final image in Set 1, with different camera positioning: I added the below to my TSC Win10 desktop background folder: More to follow. . .
BR Class 37 takes charge of the 13:30 Carne Point to Lostwithiel china clay empties, seen at Milltown Wood in June 1983: BR 7F No.53806 pulls out of Balfron Station on an afternoon Lennoxtown to Aberfoyle working in June 1950:
Images from a recent early-daylight stopping-passenger-service QD from Edinburgh to Newcastle on East Coast Mainline, courtesy of Just Trains - Newcastle to Edinburgh route. This first set was captured very early in the run, the train illuminated primarily by sometimes harsh artificial lighting. Motive power is provided by a CW LNER A5, seen in a latter-day weathered BR livery. At Edinburgh station, the sun but a glow on the horizon: To be continued . . .
An early evening run on the Temsby branch, with one of Carmarthen shed's railcar allocation. It's 1950 and colour schemes are changing.
I haven't posted that often for a while here so I hope to get going with some screenshots again. I will begin with a bit of a variety. Screenshots 1-2: ScotRail Class 320 '320303' leads a 3 car long morning passenger service stopping at all stations from Partick to Airdrie. Screenshot 3: It's World Cup semi-final day and DB ICE TD '411 030-0' with '411 511-9' at the rear is leading a 4 car long passenger train from Eschede to Hannover Hbf with eager football fans awaiting the semi-finals. Screenshots 4-5: Regio DB Stadler FLIRT '429 617' and '429 121' are coupled to '429 619' and '429 124' to form a 10 car long passenger service beginning at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and heading to Koblenz Hbf but I only took the train as far as Mainz Hbf. (I don't know the lighting setup you would use for the Stadler FLIRTs so I just took my best guess and selected lighting option 2.) Locos: British Rail Class 320, ICE TD, Stadler FLIRT Routes: Suburban Glasgow: Airdrie, Hamburg-Hanover, Frankfurt - Koblenz
Where I live, standard would be triangle medium on the front and two reds on the rear, indicating active, non-separated train and the direction of travel. When parking, only one white light is on. When traveling in the night, drivers sometimes flash or otherwise use a strong setting due to fog or distance, but otherwise it's impractical. Lots of drivers are complaining about headlights anyway. If you drive cars you know too well what I mean. Mistakes do happen, although less with smarter electronics, I saw plenty of trams and some trains with white lights on both ends.
Seventh/final set of images chronologically documenting a stopping passenger service QD from London Victoria to Raintree (via Herne Hill) on Chatham Main Line DTG route. Motive power is provided by a GAD-enhanced DT LSWR Adams Radial Tank 4-4-2T steam loco, clad in Holly Green livery. It pulls DT LSWR Salmon Coaches. Rochester: Gillingham: Raintree: The end.
Virgin Class 390 '390 141' forms an 11 coach long early morning high speed passenger train service beginning at Liverpool Lime Street and ending at London Euston. Today we will be taking the train from Stafford to Rugby with a stop at Nuneaton in between. Loco: British Rail Class 390 Route: WCML Trent Valley
Third/final set of images documenting a stopping passenger service QD from Rugby to Birmingham New Street on DTG WCML South. The train consists of a CW's LNWR Greater Britain 2-2-2-2 tender steam loco, seen in Lilac & Cream Royal Livery, pulling five SSS/MT LNWR coaches. Marston Green: Approaching Birmingham New Street, end of the line:
First Capital Connect Class 319 '319362' leads an 8 coach long morning passenger train from Brighton to East Croydon with 7 stops at stations in between on a rainy day. Loco: British Rail Class 319 Route: London to Brighton
Union Pacific EMD SD70ACes '8636', '8657' and '8537' lead a long intermodal freight train with '8451' at the rear begin their 65 mile journey at Kansas City in Missouri and cross the border into Kansas and head for Topeka on the Kansas Subdivision. Loco: EMD SD70ACe Route: Granger Heartland: Kansas City - Topeka
ScotRail Class 68 '68006' 'Daring' pulls 6 coaches on the second half of a Fife Circle Line service against the morning sunrise of Autumn. We begin at Glenrothes with Thornton and stop at all stations, except for Dalmeny and Edinburgh Gateway, until the train reaches Edinburgh Waverly. The train will cover a distance of 31 miles on the journey. Locos: British Rail Class 68, British Rail Class 158 Route: Fife Circle Line: Edinburgh - Dunfermline
A short, second set of images from a recent early-daylight stopping-passenger-service QD from Edinburgh to Newcastle on East Coast Mainline, courtesy of Just Trains - Newcastle to Edinburgh route. Motive power is provided by a CW LNER A5, seen in a latter-day weathered BR livery. I don't consider these three captures to be all that interesting, but they at least document a long segment of the drive (and look better than the many rejected images that ended up in the recycling bin). More (and better) to follow . . .
Excellent shots Blazin & decrepitts! I noticed something you may want to report. All shots have a slightly faded Take screenshot hint in the bottom right.
SNCF Class 186 '186 260-6' leads an intermodal freight train out of the Strasbourg Port-du-Rhin railway yard headed for the nearby railway yard of Strasbourg-Neudorf where '186 260-6' will shunt around the freight train to head to Karlsruhe where another driver will take over for the rest of the journey to Frankfurt as the sun sets in Autumn. This usually unnecessary shunting movement has taken place due to the shunter at Port-du-Rhin breaking down requiring '186 260-6' to do this shunting movement at Strasbourg-Neudorf to continue north. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be an estimated 1 hour and 20 minute journey was cut short only 20 minutes in once I was northbound and passing through Kehl due to me accidentally running a red light because rather embarrassingly, I didn't really know how to read French signals as this was my first drive in a French place in the game. Looks like further inspection of the manual is required for next time. Locos: NS Class 186, TGV Duplex Route: Bahnstrecke Strasbourg - Karlsruhe
TfL Rail Class 315 '315821' and '315827' operate 8 coach long driver training service 5Z11 heading direct from Gidea Park Carriage Sidings to London Liverpool Street with no stops in between during the Spring of 2016. Loco: British Rail Class 315 Route: Great Eastern Main Line London-Ipswich
Bonus screenshot of a busy scene of passenger trains next to Bethnal Green heading to and from London Liverpool Street. Locos: British Rail Class 315, British Rail Mk3 DVT Route: Great Eastern Main Line London-Ipswich
A postcard from Wales. The 'twins' Linda and Blanche climb away from Tanygrisiau towards the summit of the Ffestiniog line and the start of the long descent to Boston Lodge and Porthmadog.
Route: Bahnstrcke Strasbourg-Karlsruhe, Frankfurt-Koblenz, WCML south. Train: Vr DB BR 185.2, Class 350, JT Class 60, Stadler Flirt SUWEX, DB BR 101, DB BR 415 ICE T. Random Picture Compilation! (FINALLY) 1) Load it up! 2) Fast Freight... 3) Combined power... 4) Beautiful swiss design! 5) Nighty Night!
Part 1 of 2 DB Class 66 '66137' leads a train of 15 HKA and JMA wagons loaded with sand(?) as service 6Z57 beginning it's journey at Ipswich Griffin Wharf and bound for Watford but first the train makes it's way to the sidings nearby Marks Tey to wait at a signal for around 15 minutes for trains to pass during the Autumn of 2014. Locos: British Rail Class 66, British Rail Class 90 Route: Great Eastern Main Line London-Ipswich
67006 does a stock move to Crewe carriage sidings 5Z67 by 87002RS-John ATS https://alanthomsonsim.com/downloads/rs-67006-5z67-1450-wembley-yard-crewe-c-s-2012/
Thanks!! These are the specs that are probably the most useful for Train Simulator Classic, my GPU is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, my CPU is an Intel Core i7-11700F and I use a 4k resolution monitor to play Train Simulator Classic. It produces some amazing results, I love it!
