Train: ASEA/EMD Aem-7 Route: Northeast Corridor Washington DC- Baltimore Scenario: Amtrak's Independence (Modified with consists from 1982)
Installment 3 in a 5-installment depiction of an Autumn morning stopping passenger service, from Wycombe to Maidenhead, on Wycombe Branch Steam Workshop route. Our train is headed by a Caledonia Works' GWR "Armstrong" class 4-4-0 tendered steam locomotive, seen in its 1894-1905 livery. It must be said that a route of this size, less than ten miles, would almost certainly never see a train this long, but rather two-to-three coach trains. My excuse for running this configuration is that my original purpose was to test the Armstrong, which I'd not driven in ages, and additionally to gauge the route's screenshot potential. I got carried away, the results seen in this and future installments. Approaching Halt No.3: Halt No.3: Halt No.3: Departing Halt No.3: Reflection No.1: RWE2 (gimped), AP S&W2+Clouds TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Starting from Portola into a lovely day on the fabulous Feather River Canyon (Extended) with the California Zephyr. Enjoying the beauty of nature and leaving worries behind...
British Railways Fowler Class 4F '44523' begins in the railway yard at Bath, England in the United Kingdom during a 1954 Spring afternoon of light showers operating banking duties by assisting a freight train led by British Railways Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 '44826' up the steep gradients on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway after Bath Junction and up to the Devonshire Tunnel before uncoupling and returning to Bath where the locomotive will reverse into Bath Green Park railway station to pilot a passenger train of 5 British Railways Mark 1 coaches bound for Bournemouth with British Railways Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 '44839'. Unfortunately; the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway as seen here is closed in the modern day with the large majority of it being closed by 1966. Luckily though; there are various preservation groups that have taken to taking care of rollingstock used on the S&DJR and restoring sections of the S&DJR. Train: LMS Fowler Class 4F, LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 Route: Somerset & Dorset Railway Scenario: Bank On It Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Train Sim Community Somerset & Dorset Railway Track Replacement, ReShade
Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 '175009' of the Alstom Coradia 1000 model forms a 2 coach passenger train heading east on service 1K72 having started at Holyhead, Wales in the United Kingdom and bound for Crewe with the train being spotted here starting at Conwy and traveling 33 miles to Flint stopping 4 times in between for passenger stops at Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Prestatyn but other unscheduled stops had to be made at red signals due to '175009' following behind delayed passenger service 1H95 on a cold Winters night on the North Wales Main Line. Train: Alstom Coradia 1000 Route: North Wales Coastal: Crewe - Llandudno Scenario: [175] 05. 1K72 1823 Holyhead to Crewe Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Driving this train through the Marias Pass and enjoying the mountain views during the journey seems to be a very good option....... (Although the sun is about to set........)
With the sad passing of the designer of British Rail's High Speed Train, Sir Kenneth Grange, last Sunday at the age of 95, it is only fitting that I took a screenshot of an HST on this occasion. Here, BR Inter-City 125 with the late afternoon Bristol to London Paddington service picks up speed, seen east of Swindon in October 1979:
Metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft Class ME146/2 'ME 146-16' of the Bombardier TRAXX P160 AC2 model leased to Metronom by Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen is seen operating a passenger train of 3 Metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft Bombardier 4th Generation Doppelstockwagen starting at Uelzen in Lower Saxony, Germany heads southbound 93 kilometres for Hannover Hbf stopping 6 times for passengers in between at Suderburg, Unterlüß, Eschede, Celle, Isernhagen and Langenhangen Mitte on a lovely Summers evening. Motive Power: Bombardier TRAXX P160 AC2, Bombardier Fourth Generation Doppelstock-Steuerwagen Route: Hamburg-Hanover Scenario: A Midsummer's Night on the Metronom Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, Rail-Sim.de Default DTG Hamburg to Hanover Route Update, ReShade
Installment 9 in a multipart chronological depiction of an Autumn morning stopping passenger QuickDrive on Golden Age Developments' freeware West of England Mainline, phase 2, which extends tracks further eastward to Yeovil Town. Our journey begins there, stopping at all stations until the drive terminates at Exeter. Our train is powered by Caledonia Works' rendering of the LSWR 415/0415 class 4-4-2T steam locomotive, commonly known as the Adams Radial Tank. It is seen in Adams Brown livery, pulling six LSWR coaches. The loco proves insufficient for the task, though we finish the run by means I'll divulge at the appropriate time. This installment consists of images captured nearing and stopped at Seaton Junction, except image one which sees the train somewhere between Axminster and Seaton: Approaching Seaton Junction Station/Halt: Approaching Seaton Junction Station/Halt: Seaton Junction Station/Halt: Seaton Junction Station/Halt: RWE2 (gimped), APS&W2+Clouds TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Amtrak EMD E8A '208', EMD E8B '373' and EMD E8A '227' form a triple header leading the Silver Star long distance passenger service with 16 coaches; including the 2 baggage coaches depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States of America on a lovely Spring day and heads southbound 17 miles to Miami with 1 stop in between for passengers at Hollywood alongside an un-scheduled stop at a red signal outside Hialeah yard to wait for a passing northbound freight train. Motive Power: EMD E8A, EMD E8B Route: Miami - West Palm Beach Scenario: [E8] 02. The Days of Old: Part 2 Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Capturing a black train at midnight is a challenge. Colourful autumn in the Mosel Valley, with a stopping trainset of a green E18 and Silberlings. Southern Pacific Cab Forward with the second section of Pacific Fruit Express climbs between Emigrant Gap and Donner Summit. Start of a bright winter day at Massillon, Ohio. F40 service on the North Jersey Coast Line, approaching Long Beach, passing some sports field.
Yes indeed - it's excellent. I was in two minds about it, as I already have the Victory Works large Prairie packs, but the step up in visuals is well worth the £18.99 imo. I've fired one of these several times in real life and its uncannily realistic, although (as with all the PLD/BMG steam locos) the balance between steam generation, regulator and water injection seems a bit off. In real life you put the injectors on when the regulator is shut if the loco is steaming well (to prevent blowing off) whereas in the sim you have to turn the injectors off as the steaming rate seems to drop through the floor as soon as the regulator closes. Only a minor criticism and not specific to the Prairie.
Avanti West Coast Class 390 with the 15:55 Glasgow Central to London Euston service speeds south near Lamington on 28th July 2024:
ScotRail Class 320 '320308' forms a 3 coach single set consist operating a morning North Clyde Line passenger service starting from Helensburgh Central and traveling 26 miles east to Springburn with 10 stops in between at Craigendoran, Cardross, Dalreoch, Dumbarton Central, Dumbarton East, Jordanhill, Partick, Charing Cross, Glasgow Queen Street and High Street. Over the journey; the morning Summer weather started out nice but got progressively worse upon eastern progression into the suburbs of Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom. Motive Power: British Rail Class 320 Route: Suburban Glasgow Northwest: Springburn - Helensburgh Scenario: Clydeside Direct Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Vegetation Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Signal Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Installment four in a multiset chronological depiction of a cloudy Autumn morning passenger run QD between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Picadilly (via Warrington Central). The train consists of Caledonia Works' LNWR Webb Coal Tank No. 1054, in preservation livery, pulling AP MK1 coaches. All images are manipulated to mimic old, sometimes damaged photos or film stills, via Paint.NET (freeware image editor), Wondershare Filmora (payware video creator/editor), or both. Departing Liverpool South Parkway: Somewhere between Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross: Entering Hunts Cross station: Halted at Hunts Cross: Departing Hunts Cross: RWE2 (gimped), AP S&W2+Clouds+Veggies, Image manipulations via Paint.NET and/or Wondershare Filmora TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Network SouthEast Class 423s '7738' and '7793' form a double set consist of 8 coaches and start on a foggy wet morning at Portsmouth Harbour on the West Coastway Line and travels 7 miles east to Havant with 3 stops for passengers in between at Portsmouth and Southsea, Fratton and Bedhampton afterwards joining the Portsmouth Direct Line for a 43 mile journey northwards to Woking on it's journey to Waterloo with 7 stops for passengers in between at Petersfield, Liss, Liphook, Haslemere, Godalming, Farncombe and Guildford during the Spring of 1992. Motive Power: British Rail Class 423 Route: Portsmouth Direct Line Scenario: April Showers Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Signal Enhancement Pack, Vulcan Productions Track Pack, ReShade
At this nice winter day you are driving heavy train eastward. Four ES44DC in front and two rear-end are pulling 120 loaded coal hoppers.
DB Regio Bombardier 4th Generation Doppelstock-Steuerwagen with DB Regio Class 146.0 '146 012-1' on the rear form up south bound S-Bahn Dresden passenger service RE50 on with 5 Bombardier 4th Generation Doppelstockwagen seen starting from Riesa on a wet Autumnal afternoon in Saxony, Germany traveling 53 kilometres to Dresden Hbf on the Leipzig-Dresden Railway stopping 8 times in between at Glaubitz, Nünchritz, Niederau, Weinböhla Hp, Coswig, Radebeul-Ost, Dresden-Neustadt and Dresden-Mitte facing a few adverse signals along the way. Motive Power: Bombardier 4th Generation Doppelstock-Steuerwagen, DB Class 146.0 Route: Bahnstrecke Riesa - Dresden Scenario: 6. RE 50 on a Stormy Day Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Marsdonshire Railways Class 166 approaches Hebden-in-Rydale on a 15:15 Marsdon Central to Anstone working on 31st July 2024:
Starting at Gillingham, England in the United Kingdom Southeastern Class 465 '465246' form a 4 coach single set consist and provide the motive power for a driver training run to Gravesend during a somewhat hazy Summers afternoon. Starting from Gillingham mentioned previously the train heads 2 miles west over the Chatham Main Line to Rochester (which has since been replaced by a new station just 500m away as of December 2015) picking up passengers once there and once in between at Chatham. After the stop at Rochester the train joins the North Kent Line at Strood with a passenger stop there and afterwards continues 7 miles west to Gravesend facing adverse signals along the way. Motive Power: British Rail Class 465 Route: London-Faversham High Speed Scenario: Class 465: Driver Training Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Vegetation Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Signal Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Installment 3 in a chronological pictorial depiction of a stopping passenger service heritage rail-tour QuickDrive on AP's Wherry Lines - Norwich to Greater Yarmouth & Lowestoft, a somewhat recent purchase when these images were captured. To it is added AP's route enhancement pack, acquired during its most recent sale (as of Jul 2024). With enhancement in place, this is the most consistently visually appealing route in my possession. So pleasing that I drove and extensively captured images of four passenger runs in rapid succession. This series showcases the first of those runs, from Norwich to Lowestoft. Motive power is Caledonia Works' "Single-Wheeler" GER P43 4-2-2 tendered steam loco, another recent acquisition, seen in its super-heated coal-burning variant. The train is, admittedly, not ideally suited for stopping passenger duty; the P43 primarily an express locomotive, the train overlong for the route's often small station/halt platforms. (Coach count is reduced for the remaining three runs.) This is a between-stations installment. The train stopped at Brundall Gardens during this portion of the drive, but I captured no post-worthy images there: RWE2 (gimped) + AP S&W2+Clouds+Route Enhancement Pack TO BE CONTINUED . . .
"Badger" Railtour on the ECML South The Class 89 is actually quite nice, once you use the BackdatedTrainsim sound patch which replaces the copypaste DTG Class 86 sounds.
Lots of old school freight at Springfield yard with a clock tower just north of the yard. It's really cool how AP Sky&Weather combined with AP cloud enhancement pack really transform TSC
BR 294 moving to its next assignment at Vinnhorst: Class 08 with a shy driver takes a string of hoppers to Bishop Auckland: EMD SD40 quartet climbs to Soldier Summit: EMD GP9 in the yard, ready to move out with a short local: DD-DD-DD - Lots of wheels and power move this manifest across Sherman Hill:
Amtrak Northeast Regional #178 on it's way to NY-Penn, passing through the former NYNH Westchester Avenue station in the Soundview section of the Bronx. IRT Pelham Bay #6 subway line is above
A sunny summer's evening in 2016 finds us on the northern edge of the Peak District. A Leyland 142 soldiers on, well past its sell-by date, on a local service from New Mills to Manchester Piccadilly. New Mills Central Romiley On the viaduct between Brinnington and Reddish South. Route: Just Trains MML (Hope Valley Extension) Traction: Armstrong Powerhouse Class 142 Pack Enhancements: AP Sky & Weather 2.0, various lighting, foliage, track and signalling upgrades
Combined installments 10 & 11 in a multipart chronological depiction of a mid-autumn morning stopping passenger service Heritage Railtour QD, from London to Peterborough, on ECML London - Peterborough route. Motive power is Caledonia Works' GER T69 4-6-0 tendered steam loco, seen in LNER B12 Lined Black Livery. It hauls what QD terms the 1936 Queen of Scotland Coach Set. As such, I selected Queen of Scots for the loco's headboard. We travel the "slow" track, allowing stops at all stations en route. This installment documents the train traveling from Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City. Departing Hatfield Station: As above: Halted at Welwyn Garden City station: RWE2 (gimped), AP S&W2+Clouds+Veggies TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Part 1 of 2 Union Pacific Railroad Class 4884-1s '4018' and '4004' most commonly nicknamed as the Big Boys begin coupled together light engine at Laramie, Wyoming in the United States of America before reversing up to 18 ARMN reefer (refrigator) wagons and departing the railway yard of Laramie now headed east for Cheyenne on a nice Summers morning. The movement is seen here headed 31 miles over the Laramie Subdivision portion of the Union Pacific's Overland Route where the train will be forced to pull into a siding and await passing trains at Buford before continuing further east to Cheyenne with the reefers. Motive Power: Union Pacific Railroad Class 4884-1 Route: Sherman Hill Scenario: Big Boy on Sherman Hill Part 1 CS Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, ReShade
Installment 10 in a multi-set chronological depiction of an Autumn morning stopping passenger Heritage Rail Tour QD, from Newport to Shrewsbury, on Welsh Marches Line - Newport to Shrewsbury. Caledonia Works' GWR 3031 Achilles class 4-2-2 tendered steam loco, commonly known as a Dean Single, provides motive power. This installment sees us depart Church Stretton and begin the final leg of our journey to Shrewsbury, arriving there next installment, bringing the series to a close. Departing Church Stretton station: Remaining images capture the train in a rural landscape between Church Stretton and Shrewsbury: RWE2 (gimped), AP S&W2+Clouds+Veggies TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Part 2 of 2 Union Pacific Railroad Class 4884-1s '4018' and '4004' await for priority trains to pass at Buford, Wyoming in the United States of America and afters continue on their eastbound journey for Cheyenne with their 18 ARMN reefer wagons traveling 26 miles over the Laramie Subdivision portion of the Union Pacific's Overland Route during the late morning; with a distant haze overcoming the late stages of the journey during a clear Summer day. Motive Power: Union Pacific Class 4884-1 Route: Sherman Hill Scenario: Big Boy on Sherman Hill Part 2 CS Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, ReShade Game: Train Simulator Classic
Marsdonshire Railways Class 166 pulls into Grenton with an evening Anstone to Marsdon Central service on 6th August 2024:
Plains and hills of Ohio: Not using electricity, thank you: Need more coal, now: Trucks on tracks: Dark tunnel into a dark world - a less frequently seen driving trailer type:
Trying something a little different here. Lineside at Hemerdon It's a warm summer afternoon. You're standing in a field by a fence, along with several others. All clutch cameras, some with tripods and microphones complete with mufflers. There is a low babble of conversation and a general air of anticipation. Someone's noisy child is suddenly 'shushed' and there are excited whispers; 'I can hear it'... You strain to listen and after a few more seconds, the light westerly breeze brings the unmistakeable sound of two GWR engines, working hard against a heavy gradient, far off in the distance. As the sound grows louder the exhaust beats become more audible and speed is clearly dropping; you still can't see anything but the hills are starting to echo with sound. Soon though a towering column of exhaust emerges above the distant trees and the front end of a 'Castle' comes into view. With an increasing crescendo of sound the two locomotives hammer towards you with speed dropping and a cacophony of noise. 5051 'Earl Bathurst' leads 7802 'Bradley Manor' on the 1:42 Hemerdon incline. With an ear-busting climax the two locos storm past your position at (you estimate) about 20mph, with cameras clicking and photographers dodging around each other's shots to get the perfect 'going-away' image. The final few yards of 1:42 with Hemerdon summit just beyond the overbridge. Whistles clamouring, the GWR duo clamber to the top of the 1:42 and onto the slightly easier gradient for the final few yards to the summit, a long multi-liveried rake of charter coaches trailing behind. Relief for the fireman - they're going to make it... As the last of the thirteen coaches trails past, the locos are both whistling jubilantly as they pass under Hemerdon overbridge and away over the summit towards Ivybridge. You hear the 'Manor' shut off but the 'Castle' only seems to get louder as the train accelerates away up still-rising gradients to the edge of Dartmoor and beyond. With the surrounding hills still echoing, those around you are excitedly reviewing photos and the excited babble returns. "Wow, that was great!" More to come...
Amtrak EMD AEM-7 '945' is seen operating Amtrak's 10:05 New York-Harrisburg Keystone service with 6 Amfleet coaches seen starting at New York Penn Station, New York in the United States of America and headed as far as Trenton, New Jersey due to a major incident ahead forcing the express passenger service to stop it's service quite early on in the express run. Other than that; the service faces little to no troubles on the 57 mile southbound run on the Northeast Corridor with only 1 stop in between for passengers at Newark Penn in New Jersey during a lovely late Summers morning in 2000. Motive Power: EMD AEM-7 Route: Northeast Corridor: New York - Philadelphia Scenario: The Keystone Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, ReShade, UTS Creations Toaster Enhancements + Train Sim Community AEM-7 & Amfleet Car Upgrades w/ Train Sim Community Phase V Aem-7 Revamp
Up and Over at Dainton With word received of Hemerdon being flattened and the tour passing through Totnes, our first photographer carefully lines up their shot. Combe Fishacre is where the gradient to Dainton Tunnel becomes noticeably steeper and the two locomotives will be given their head. 5051 and 7802 are taking a run at the western incline to Dainton as they roar through the curves below Combe Fishacre. A small plane drones overhead and the pilot captures this once-in-a-lifetime shot of double-headed steam assaulting the Devon bank. Sweeping curves of the GWML in South Devon... The last half-mile to the tunnel is a crazy 1:36 and this draws the photographers, hoping to capture some fireworks. They are not disappointed as 5051 and 7802 storm through the curves and bridges in a magnificent display of GWR power and drama. Hammering through the curves, fighting the fierce 1:36 gradient... View from above the tunnel... And finally approaching the portal. From the exhausts a minimum of 18mph was estimated. As the long line of coaches finally roll past and into the tunnel, the locos can be heard whistling as they exit the other end and shut off for the long coast down to Newton Abbot, and later on to Exeter, Taunton and Bristol.
A lovely clear morning of trainspotting at Aston Station in Birmingham, England of the United Kingdom sees multiple Cross-City Line services pass through such as multiple London Midland Class 323s and Class 350s and even a DB Schenker Class 66 still wearing English, Welsh & Scottish Railway livery hauling a freight train! Motive Power: British Rail Class 66, British Rail Class 323, British Rail Class 350 Route: Birmingham Cross City Line: Lichfield - Bromsgrove & Redditch Scenario: [RailFan] Aston Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Vegetation Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Signal Enhancement Pack, ReShade, Alan Thomson Sim Class 323 Sound Pack
British Rail 2-HALs (later Class 402) '2691' and '2633' operate a 2 coach passenger service starting at Rainham, England in the United Kingdom and traversing the Chatham Main Line 28 miles west to Bromley South 5 stops in between at Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester, Meopham and Longfield during a terribly wet Autumn day taking place around noon with a few adverse signals along the journey. Motive Power: British Rail Class 402 Route: Chatham Main Line - London-Gillingham Scenario: [Class402] 1. Hals Odyssey Enhancements: Armstrong Powerhouse Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0 + Armstrong Powerhouse Cloud Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Track Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Vegetation Enhancement Pack, Armstrong Powerhouse Signal Enhancement Pack, ReShade
