My disappointment at the rather lacklustre Spirit Of Steam for TSW has had an unexpected side effect… Namely I’ve discovered the wealth of wonderful steam locos now available for TSC. Already added a few of the Bossman collection and last night the Victory Works Large Prairie tank locos. (Could do with a B set to go behind them, though). They are great and show how far TSC has come since the original Kuju steamers in RS. Also eyeing up Caledonia Works so looking at recommendations where to start. The Dean Single brings back memories of Triang Hornby in the 70’s but really needs some period clerestory coaches to run behind it. However just watched a YT clip of the GCR A5 and that also looks lovely. Drawback with CW, can’t see any of their range on Steam which makes it harder to get the purchases past the wife! I also got the impression from the video that CW locos are not “Advanced” or Pro when it comes to controls, though happy to be corrected. Thinking of the 70’s again and the model railway fad of the time, we really need some more GWR branch lines to run the VW stuff in particular on. Though as I may have commented before the “pure” GWR branch line like Fairford or Kingsbridge were not that common. Much of their rural network was actually through secondary lines, such as Cheltenham to Kings Sutton or the M&SWJR route.
Vern do you own the Malmesbury Branch. If you want short and sweet, this is the one for you. https://store.steampowered.com/app/562376/Train_Simulator_Malmesbury_Branch_Route_AddOn/ Mike.
When i purchased it in the dark mists of time. I thought it was a misprint, thinking it meant 30.75 miles. Not 3.75 miles.
Here is your next Steam purchase Vern, Smokebox's Bigboy. This is a video that I made and has had 11,242 views even with the distorted sound which was caused by me having the microphone turned on on my webcam so the sound was recorded twice mind you not many people would notice. This is on the Cajon Pass route doing about 70 MPH. Railworks 2021 06 09 14 36 17 01 Smokebox Big Boy Steam WS scenario Billionaire Benefactor. - YouTube
Ah, my wallet! Thanks Trev. In the meantime, I’ve added the CW CR123 and CR812’s to the collection (both very kindly free on the site) and bought their CR956 which is a stonking great loco. Also got the first set of Matrix 12 wheel CR stock to go with it. Fair to say I’m in steam heaven at present.
The Speyside line is another lovely freeware route and suitable for the CR locos http://rails.hamishweir.uk/product/speyside-line/ If you use Facebook there is the "recreating Britains lost routes" page which has a lot of freeware steam period routes to download, including a very nice recreation of the Ruabon to Barmouth line with the Blaneau branch. There are several South Wales routes and some from North Wales. There are other lines like the Moretonhampstead branch and one of the route builders is making the Exe Valley Line.
There is a lot of good freeware about particularly steam period stuff, I am often finding more. Another one here if you are a Southern fan https://www.golden-age-developments.co.uk/
As a note, there are free Steam locos on UKTS by kngtrains, but I have not used them yet. The King Edward shows up in Birmingham 2010 which covers north of Lichfield to Derby (Nuneaton too, Bromsgrove and area in there as well) while the payware goes south of there.
Bump/postscript. Finally bought the Malmesbury branch in the current sale. Nice but, erm, a bit short! Plus added North Somerset which is also quite short but some challenging gradients. Also finally got round to buying Trainz 22 though that’s a bit OT.
Ah..1970's & 1980's GWR branchline models. To those periods as O gauge Southern is to the 2000's. I remeber when we used to exhibit Darenth or Elms Lane there was always a GWR branch. Often beutifully scenic'd and quite often not running that well. Those Peco OO point blades. Happy Days...
I currently have a three month subscription to the back issues of Railway Modeller and it does seem the 70's and 80's were the golden years of the hobby. Not to mention the whimsy of Alan Downes (RIP).