Train Simulator 2022: Central Coast And Newcastle Line Australia (cancelled)

Route Description:
The Central Coast & Newcastle Line is a NSW TrainLink passenger train service that runs along the Main North railway line in New South Wales Australia, connecting the state's two largest cities, Sydney and Newcastle.
The service runs from Central through to Broadmeadow on the Main North railway line to Newcastle Interchange on the Newcastle railway line, and services the Hawkesbury River region, the Central Coast and the city of Newcastle.

Wiki page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Coast_%26_Newcastle_Line

Project Background:
I started my solo project in 2017 because there was no Australian content for TS, and concluded there most likely never will be. The main goal of my project is to create the most accurate route possible and to simulate a real drivers experience on the route.
I chose this route to replicate as I'm very familiar with the route and it's geography but also because of the beautiful scenic views along the route. The route also allows a large option of services to operate such as local, express, freight, regional, and empty stock/yard movements.
One of the main obstacles in creating my route is the lack of Australian assets so I'll be using the assets that are already available within TS while still keeping the route as accurate as possible.

Route Tools:
Google track overlay, official track diagrams for signal, speed and gradient locations, you-tube cab videos, my own photos and videos, and my own rail experience.

The route will be released in stages, with Stage 1 covering the 47km's/29 miles from Hornsby to Gosford.
Gosford Yard and Hornsby Maintenance Center will also be featured giving players more options to select from a range of stabling/preparing/empty stock moves/washing and general yard procedures.
Portals are being constructed along the majority of the route to allow for various AI services to operate.
All screenshots are a work in progress.

Rolling Stock/Assets:
One of the main obstacles in creating my route is the lack of Australian assets so I'll be using the assets that are already available within TS while still keeping the route as accurate as possible. Rolling stock will be decided at a later date. If you can help with creating rolling stock please let me know.

Real Cab Video:
Real life footage of the route can be found here. V1 of my route is covered from 35:21 mins / ending at 1h:18 mins.


If you like what you see, please give it a thumbs up as it keeps me motivated to work on the route while gauging interest.

Updates:
Aug 2020 - Added work in progress screenshots
Feb 2021 - Added captions for screenshots, mb
Oct 2021 - Added WIP Gosford screenshots
July 2022 - Renamed Point Claire screenshot to correct location of Tascott Station

 

Route Map:
Hornsby Station Platform 2 looking North
Asquith Station looking south towards Hornsby
Hornsby Yard looking south towards Hornsby
Hornsby maintenance center
Hornsby Platform 1
Rail corridor looking North between Asquith and Mt Colah
Mount Kuring-Gai Station
Looking North over Hornsby Platform 5
Rail corridor between Mt Kuring-Gai and Mt Colah
Rail corridor between Mt Kuring-Gai and Berowra
Local shops at Hawkesbury River
Looking South towards Hawkesbury River station
Looking North towards Long Island Tunnel
Berowra Platform 2 looking South
Looking North towards Cowan station
Looking North over Mt Colah station
Rail corridor between Cowan and Hawkesbury River
Mullet Creek
Looking North towards Berowra.

 

Rail corridor looking South towards Mt Kuring-Gai
Looking South towards Hawkesbury River station
Rail corridor looking North towards Berowra
Hawkesbury River Bridge with the old bridge pylons seen to the right of shot
One of the tunnels found along the route
Rail corridor looking North towards Berowra
Looking North towards Hawkesbury River station
Looking South over Wondabyne station
One of the many tidal pools found along the route

Hawkesbury River station
Hawkesbury River bridge
Wondabyne

 

Reserved for more screenshots

 

Looks great

 

Thanks Paul - much appreciated. The route is progressing along nicely and I hope to share some more screenshots soon.

 

I wish I had the talent to help.

 

Are you familiar with the line in real life?

 

I'm roughly 1000 k south of there so no .

 

Great work, awesome to see an Australian route in the works.

Tip: If you have access to the Woodhead route, the gantries for the overhead from that route would look the closest to NSW ones.

 

Wow that looks good.
I don't have a clue about the line as I'm stuck in the land of mountains, independence battles and rain but that looks good indeed.

 

Thanks, Oh nice - I'll take a look at the Woodhead gantries, cheers.

 

Haha, thanks!

 

The Woodhead line in real life was electrified at 1500V DC, same as NSW, so would probably be more prototypical in a way.

 

Here's a video of it. Not sure which version of the woodhead line would have the correct gantries but either one should do. (Original or BR blue version).

 

Any more news on this route?

 

It's a solo project and I haven't really had any spare time to work on it.
I hope to get back into it soon and release some more progress shots.

 

Gosford / Central coast highway overpass: Before -


After: Looking south towards Sydney


Looking North towards Central coast highway/Gosford:


Gosford looking South towards Central coast highway/Sydney:

 

Tascott Station looking North WIP:

 

Very nice work!

 

I hate to necropost, but this looks fantastic!
The biggest challenge I guess is the rolling stock...

 

No worries, thanks for your kind words!
Yes that's correct, not sure what rolling stock will be used, prob worry about that more once I'm close to finishing the route.
Signalling is an issue too but I can hopefully work around that.

 

I should also add that I would be more than happy to collect reference photos if required, I am very close to the route.

 

That's very generous of you, thanks!
What would help me immensely is HQ video recorded from a passengers view.
Is that something you might be able to help me with?

 

Yep sure

 

That's great, thank you. Any footage from the passenger view between Berowra-Gosford would be very useful.

 

This is really really cool! Can't wait until it's finished!
I also live right next to Point Clare so let me know if you need footage around that area

 

Thanks, hopefully I can get it finished sooner than later
Oh that's great I'll let you know, thank you.

 

I look forward to see the route.
About Australian rolling stock... The Danish railways has sold several diesel locomotives to Australia. And foryunately I have the rigthts to the 3D design of the DSB litra MZ to Train Simulator...

Se this https://www.flickr.com/photos/raichase/1427587198/in/photostream/

 

Thanks Knud! I have to be honest I didn't remember the DSB litra MZ in Australia but after looking at the photos from the link you provided I now do recognise it in the grey color and do remember seeing it around the tracks of NSW. Looks great!

 

I believe there are different variations of the MZ class were made

The ones sent to Australia are MZ III numbered from 1427-1446. 5 were scrapped on arrival being majorly damaged in transit

 

How's the route progressing?

 

I've had to put the route on hold as I'm getting out of memory issues when trying to test scenarios.
Attempted using the guides on steam for resolving the issue but it still remains.

 

It is rarely out of memory - that is a catch all error for when it shrugs its shoulders and goes "dunno, something bad happened".

When it happens to me I go back to basics. Clean install and add things back in one by one until it explodes then I know what did it.

You might want to ask other route builders for help they can check over what you've done.

Paul

 

Thanks for the suggestions Paul, I'll probably reinstall like you suggested but for a while the project will have to be on hold until I find a chunk of free time.

 

Just what we need a decent, well represented Australian route. Really excited and looking forward to this release.

 

That looks fantastic. What are you going to do about the signals? Some custom-made NSW signals would definitely seal the deal.

 

Thanks, I was contemplating at one stage to attempt to create custom signals but I prefer to be able to publish the final route on Steam. Steam won't let me publish the route if it contains custom content.

 

I think NSW uses a US style signalling system, so maybe use the signals from Marias Pass if you have it

 

It uses a British style signalling system, but it doesn't resemble anything really.

 

Keep it up and the electrification dates are the following 1965 Hornsby Gosford 3 April 1982 Gosford Wyong 1984 Wyong Newcastle NSW. Therefore your OHLE Poles must range from 1960s-1980s builds. If finished this will be played by Jamie on a Workshop Wednesday stream.

 

I'd go with the Woodhead route for the OHLE poles. While not exact, they're probably the closest to NSW style.

 

Thanks for the answer and for Woodhead Line Class 77 & 76 they are related to the NSW Class 46 locomotive which ran the January 1960 electrification to Gosford then 3 April 1982 to Wyong and 1984 Newcastle. Class 77 & 76 from Woodhead Line can run the NSW Class 46 service pattern.

 

We may not have to worry about using the woodhead 76 and 77.

Someone's made a Class 46 for their upcoming Stockton on Tees route featuring the MetroVick factory

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/my-stockton-on-tees-project.53076/

 

If we’re on the hunt for Aussie rolling stock, I think I’ll chuck this into the mix - https://www.christrains.com/en/ts_product_nzadladc.html - the ChrisTrains ADL/ADC. Although these now work in New Zealand (or at least did up until very recently), they did work in Perth in their heyday and the TS version comes with a fictional standard gauge variant for compatibility. Now, I don’t know much at all about NSW railways, but I feel that these might be a good fit on the route for some extra variety. They’ve certainly served me well on any freeware Aussie routes I’ve found in the past.

 

I think there's a Danish MZ class for train sim floating around somewhere. Would be ideal as these locos now work in NSW although heavily modified.

Danish MZ:



Danish MZ exported to NSW

 

Hey mate, any updates on the route?

 

Hey mate, No updates on the route as of yet.

 

This guy has a bit of updated video content on his channel
https://www.youtube.com/@STCV

 

www.railworks.dk
It's in Danish but MZ is clear and there are a few