BR Blue Steam Engines? This route was made famous in the BR era for having steam engines in Rail Blue. Thankfully most of the damage done by BR (oil firing conversion, poorly vacuum brake systems, and rail blue) has been undone. THE ROUTE: The line runs 11.75 miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. The railway was built in 1901, and 1902, as a 1 ft 11.75 inch route to carry lead and timber. The Cambrian Railways took over in 1922. TOURISM: In 1922 the famous Great Western Railway took over the operation of the route. Cambrian livery was replaced by GWR middle chrome green and chocolate and cream carriages. Brand new carriages were built in 1938, all of which still operate today. Swindon Works built 3 new engines (on paper they rebuilt one and built 2 new ones) in 1923 and 1924: 7, 8, and 9/1213. Tourism took over and by 1933 the line was running solely in the summers for that purpose. BRITISH RAILWAYS: In 1947 British Railways (Western Region) took over operation. All 3 locos gained numberplates as 7, 8, and 9, cabside and smokebox. In 1956 Welsh names were added: "Owain Glyndŵr", "Llywelyn", and "Prince of Wales", respectively. In 1968 the locomotives were renumbered (not physically) 98007–98009, and painted plain rail blue. In 1978 BR converted loco 7 to oil firing, and by 1981 all the engines were using oil. Eventually the rail blue was revised with brass embellishments and striping. By the mid 1980s, the rail blue faded away to GWR green, Cambrian black, umber, and crimson. The line was privatised in 1989. PRIVATISATION TO PRESENT DAY: Following privatisation the worn locomotives were lovingly restored by the owner and General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway. Eventually the partnership dissolved, and a trust took over operation. Up until around 2010 volunteers were not employed by the railway. In recent years the locomotives have been converted back to coal firing, and the worn out vacuum brakes replaced by stronger air brakes. For 5 years the locomotives carried air pumps prominently mounted on the front, however the railway is now placing them in a compartment inside the side tanks. The nameplates have been removed, and currently all 3 locomotives are in Great Western Railway "Middle Chrome Green". STATIONS: Aberystwyth: the connection with the Cambrian Line, and once home to a VoR branchline. Llanbadarn: Glanyrafon: Capel Bangor: Home to a full station yard with building and engine shed. Nantyronen: Also a water stop Aberffrwd: Home to a passing loop and water tank. Rheidol Falls: Rhiwfron: Devil's Bridge: The end of the line.
ROLLING STOCK: GWR built 3 2-6-2 side tank "Rheidol Tanks", at Swindon in 1923 (7 and 8) and 1924 (9/1213). These are 2 cylinder locomotives, operating with 165 PSI boiler pressure, burning coal. All 3 locomotives burn coal, and have trainline air brakes and engine brakes. No. 7 (Finishing Stage of Overhaul) No. 8 No. 9 (GWR 1213) LIVERY OPTIONS: Cambrian Black GWR Green British Railways Lined Brunswick British Rail Plain Rail Blue British Rail Improved Rail Blue Cambrian Yellow/Umber Cambrian Maroon/Crimson British Railways Unlined Black View attachment 3543 Cambrian Green View attachment 3542 GWR Wartime Shirtbutton CARRIAGE STOCK: The carriages were all built new in 1938. Most of the fleet consists of closed 3rd Class carriages, plus summer time open carriages, a vista observation saloon, and a first class saloon. CLOSED THIRD: Built in 1938. Painted GWR garter and numbers on the side, with VoR numbers on the ends. [4143, 4144, 4145, 4146, 4147, 4148] OEPN THIRD: Built in 1938. Classified as a summer tourist carriage. [4149, 4150, 4151] FIRST CLASS OBSERVATION: Built in 1938. The VoR has 2 of these, an all first and a composite brake, both with rear windows. [4995, 4996] 1923 OPEN THIRD: Built in 1923, and painted in Shirtbutton Livery. 2 old Swindon carriages are also in use. [4997, 4998] Thank you for reading this proposal. Feel free to comment away.
DIESEL EQUIPMENT: VoR has 2 diesels, only one of which is operable. No. 10 built by the Brecon Mountain Railway with spares from Baugley-Drewry in 1987 The line also runs "Thunderbird" a Permaquip Inspection vehicle built in 1985/ Let me know which livery is your favourite.
My preference would be for this route (should it ever be created) to be set in either the lines Cambrian or Pre-Cambrian period, but I went for 1930's GWR as it was the earliest offered.
Ooh, I sooooo like these liveries! Especially the Cambrian Yellow/Umber! And all the other ones! Really hope DTG do these... GWR5029 Also, about that Permaquip, if DTG really does this route, they could just release a slightly enhanced version of the one from the IoW route.
Chant it with me! NARROW GAUGE, NARROW GAUGE, NARROW GAUGE, NARROW GAUGE, NARROW GAUGE! I'm a little enthusiastic about this idea. Seriously, DTG, if you do this well, I'd happily shell out £25+ for it. Plus a Corris-style expansion for the diesels, let's say.
I'm currently in the progress of making the Cambrian Line (Mach - Aber, very slowly) but will be including the Aberystwyth side of stuff on the route like the engine sheds at Aberystwyth, so someone could build it onto that when I release the Cambrian Line if they want.
Voted for 1980s (Improved BR Blue & Oil Firing). This could be a very interesting route to see in TS and particularly, in that period. From the start of the 1980's up until the line was sold off by British Rail in 1988, with the gradual change in liveries from BR blue to the historic liveries that the three Rheidol tanks wore until the line was privatised. (No.7 in BR Green, No.8 in GWR shirtbutton, later Cambrian invisible green and No.9 in the original Vale of Rheidol livery.) This could offer for some very interesting scenarios such as PW trains with one of the Rheidol tanks, trial runs with the then new diesel loco No.10, themed weekends that happened during that time period and a scenario based on the final day of BR operations on the line. After spending many hours playing on the Corris add-on, I think Vale of Rheidol would make a very welcome to addition to TS. As British Rail's final steam operation, it would certainly make for a very unique add-on.
Love the route to be on ts2020 and any liveries too travelled on it when i was knee high to a grass hopper.
You might find this of interest, I don't have it so cannot vouch for it. https://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-info.php?form_fileid=24671