Matt said that new route-builders should "start small," so here's my take on small. The Bromley North branch line in London is under two miles long, with three stations including the junction station. Southeastern operates a shuttle service called "the popper" every 30 minutes (20 during peak times) using a Class 465. (map source) In this thread, I'll chronicle my progress and share my discoveries and lessons learned to aid other route builders. While I'm primarily approaching this as a learning exercise, if/when I complete the route I'd like to release it as a freeware download.
Can't wait to see your progress! I just know you'll give it the love and care you give all your other work! Good luck friendo
Resources for UK routes I live in the US, and a research trip isn't in the cards at the moment. There are a few invaluable resources I use to try to build an accurate route remotely. First, Google Maps is invaluable. I use the overlay in the editor frequently to align tracks, platforms, and in the future roads, buildings, and more. I also use the 3D satellite view in the browser, which is more detailed than the 2D satellite overlay in the editor, and lets me see more details. The real Holy Grail to find for your route, though, is cab ride videos. The Bromley North line has two, facing both north (with audio of AWS magnets that really helps locate them properly) and south out the rear window. There is also one for the mainline at Grove Park. I also use YouTube videos taken at stations to see what's on the platform, like car stop signs and platform monitor screens, and to understand how services use the station. Videos with commentary are especially helpful, as are videos that show freight services. When it comes to signalling, OpenTrainTimes has an excellent map that shows signal numbers, platform numbers, and the overall layout of signals, so I don't have to worry about missing a signal when watching a cab ride video. Finally, when laying track, it's crucial to know the gradient. The UK publishes this data, and I use RailMaps to get the gradient data I need for my section of line. (You can click on any section and a popup will show you the exact gradient.) EDIT: Checking back in December 2024, RailMaps now requires a login. You might try RailwayData instead. I have a bookmark folder of all the resources I find, organized by topic, so I can find my references when I need them.
Which direction to lay track? When laying track, the direction you create the ribbon is part of that ribbon forever. This determines Line Side Left and Line Side Right, which you'll use when defining stations, placing third rail, and more. It is extremely valuable to lay all your track in one direction, say from south to north, so that left and right are consistent. Sometimes this isn't possible -- portals for example are tricky to connect to, so you might have to lay track from the portal to your existing track -- but generally it's worth getting it right. Often it's easiest to lay out track in whatever direction is required, cut off the excess to find where the final ribbons start and end, and then delete and re-lay track in the correct direction. Trust me, it's worth the extra time. Adding third rail electrification Before laying track, you'll want to set up your track lofts (visual appearance) and track rules (behavior). Find ones you like from other routes and copy them to your plugin folder. I left the lofts alone but edited the track rules to my needs. First, I set up my two primary track rules for the two main types of track in my route: jointed rail on the branch line, welded on the mainline. Then I made copies of each for the different speed limits that are used for crossovers, sidings, etc. It's easier to change the track rule of a ribbon than to mark a speed limit manually using the "Edit ranges of track properties" tool. Electrification details are defined in the track rule. Notice that I've set the third rail side to Neither: I'll lay third rail manually. To lay third rail, use the "Edit ranges of track properties" tool to select a section of track, and set the third rail side to Line Side Left or Line Side Right. (Aren't you glad you laid track in one direction and your left and right are consistent?) Stations and other named tracks In the screenshot above, you'll also notice that I set the Marker properties of this range to create a station. I assume Display Name is player-facing while Marker Name is editor-facing, but I keep them the same. The Marker Type determines the colour of this track section on the minimap. Options are Platform, Siding, Destination, and Tunnel. Line Side is another excuse to pat yourself on the back for being consistent with track laying direction (or kick yourself for failing to do so). Third rail is immediately visible, but doors opening on the wrong side takes more work to check. Platform Class is a dropdown with prefilled options. The data assets you can select from only contain the platform height in millimetres, so I assume it controls things like automatic stair trapdoors on Boston-Providence and maybe at what height passengers exit the train -- I haven't gotten that far with stations yet. Once named, these destinations appear in the timetable editor and Load/Unload instructions will open doors on the side you specified. Portals Unlike stations, portals are special. They are objects that you drag into the level. Move and rotate them with the Selection mode in Network Edit Mode. To finely adjust their height you can use the "Edit the Start/End Height of Track Curves" tool to select the end node and enter a value in the Details panel. This is also how you name your portal. Once named, your portal will appear in the timetable editor. If you try to set a portal as a destination in the timetable editor and the editor crashes consistently, your portal has broken somehow. Delete it and build a new one.
Signalling Signalling your route should wait until after all the track is laid. I followed the official masterclass by Lukas and used a combination of Google Maps 3D satellite view, Google Maps overlay in the editor, cab ride videos, and the OpenTrainTimes map to place signals in the correct locations. Signal view When you click on a signal in the 3D world, the Details panel shows the signal view. This is how the signal appears to the player, and is independent of how the signal actually works (the Model, described below). The location of the signal is set in the Location dropdown, and includes not just Left and Right but also different types of gantry positions. You'll find plenty of templates which provide most standard signal setups and lots of niche arrangements, but you will almost certainly have to make some modifications. Signals are built from: Heads Posts (despite the name, does not include the post but all the other hardware like the deck, signal brackets, telephone, etc.) Signs Splines (the actual post, plus ladders) Each of these items has a parent, referenced both by mesh and name, with a target socket on said parent. Set these properly and the item will snap to the correct location. For example, here is the signal head parented to a mounting plate, which is in turn parented to a universal mounting plate. The hierarchical construction takes some time to understand and it's a bit finicky to build out a complex signal, but it's very powerful. Signal model When you use the Fill button in the Track Section Tool, signals generate a route table. (If you've changed things and need to re-generate a route table, you can right-click the signal in the 3D world and select "Regenerate Signal Table.") Once your signals have route tables, you can program them to function as you want them. Click on a signal to open its view, then click the "Edit Property" button to open its model. The Signal Display ID is what shows up on the ID plate on the signal itself. An underscore creates a line break, so "TL 333" would be all on one line but "TL_333" creates the two-line arrangement of the real signal. I have not experimented with Signal Type, since my route is mainline-only. Options are Mainline, Yard Entry, Yard Exit, Yard, and Running Shunt. Route table The route table contains all routes to either the end of track or another signal, whichever comes first. If there are no junctions between this signal the next, you can ignore the route table. Junction signals, especially before a large and complex junction, may need some routes disabled. For example, at a crossover a train would never cross to the other track only to cross right back. The "Route Data" section of a route in the route table is also where you set route indicators that appear visually on the signal. For example, here is the setup for a "1" in a theatre-style route indicator. Feather-style route indicators are a bit different. Add a Custom array element and type in 'F' and the position. For example, here is a position 1 route indicator. You'll notice that there are fields for speed restrictions past this signal. This would be useful for a crossover, but I tried it and the AI did not slow down. I set the speed limit of the crossover track ribbons themselves using track rules. Signaling near portals Signal aspects are based on how many blocks the dispatcher has reserved for the train. A portal is one block, so the last signal before a train enters a portal will be either red or a single yellow. There might be a way to set this up to show green, but I get around this by building enough signals before the portal that signals visible to the player can show green.
Setting up AWS, TPWS, and other signalling equipment The UK_Content_Pack plugin contains blueprints for UK signalling equipment in RailNetwork/Signals/NetworkEquipment. Place these in "Attach linkable objects to the track" mode and snap them to the Network Property Location, like with signals. Most signals in the UK, except some in very congested areas, have AWS magnets 180 metres before the signal. I use cab ride videos to locate these when possible, or eyeball the distance based on other nearby magnet-to-signal distances. AWS magnets in third rail territory are green to denote their extra strength. Set this in the Details panel by ticking the "Green" tickbox. There are two types of TPWS installations, which have separate blueprints. TSS installations are a single loop which stops a train which has just passed a stop signal. (Of course, without permission this is a game-ending event in TSW but if you get the signaller's permission to pass a red signal this TPWS loop will still be active, and you'll need to bypass it.) These installations are not everywhere, but you'll find them at junction signals where a SPAD could result in a bad collision and at some block signals. Make sure these are placed just before the signal marker so it will apply to the correct signal. Click the "Edit Property" button in the Details panel to find additional options to make the magnet bidirectional or permanent. You do not need to set which signal(s) the magnet is for, but if you've already filled your signal tables you can right-click the magnet in the 3D world and select "Regenerate Signal Table." OSS installations are for overspeed protection, either approaching a stop signal or approaching a buffer stop. They consist of two loops: one which arms the system and starts a timer, and a second to trigger a brake application if the train reaches it before the timer ends. Click the "Edit Property" button to configure their trigger speed, which will automatically set the distance between the arming and trigger loops. Overspeed TPWS installations approaching buffer stops should have "Permanent OSS" and "Override Set Speed" ticked. The overspeed here is always 10 mph, at a distance of 65 metres from the buffer stops. Overspeed TPWS installations approaching signals are only energized if the signal is at danger. The overspeed here is dependent on a variety of factors. My only installation of this on this route is on AI-only track, so I've left the calculated numbers in the box, but would appreciate any info on how to set these properly in the future. You do not need to set which signal(s) any TPWS loops are for, but if you've already filled your signal tables you can right-click the magnet in the 3D world and select "Regenerate Signal Table." I also added impedance bonds, which are used in third-rail territory at signal block boundaries. These do not work in the Link Objects mode, so I created them in the Loft Offset tool. You can select them and make them Double (double-sided). I use cab ride videos to place these appropriately, but would appreciate more info on exactly where these are placed in relation to signals and junctions (some are long past their signal, perhaps at the end of the overlap?) and why some are double-sided.
Another potentially useful source is OpenRailwayMaps, only useful if the route is set in the current state but does also show historical line overviews. https://www.openrailwaymap.org//mob...874811689958&lon=0.021183830103836954&zoom=14
Sounds great. I was planning to do an even shorter route for my first go but got in a muddle and just gave up Your guide sounds a great way for me to give it another go. (Already your thread seems very interesting). And, although I am in Yorkshire now, I did use to live approx 3 miles from Bromley North station
To add, I use ORM mainly for two reasons because I can't get anywhere else these information from. In ORM you have several modes, one of it is "infrastructure" or signal mode. In this mode you can see every signal on its exact location and even wirh its associated network code. Really cool feature and so helpful if you ain't gota single cab ride video just like in my case. The second thing is that it shows you all type of other maybe important stuff, like old and abandoned tracks (which irl do not exist at that spot anymore and therefore can't be seen on the satellite imagery). Actually a third very important thing is that I use OpenRailwayMap to detect the path and shape of tracks when they're covered under trees in the satellite view. Also this is quite helpful for large and curved tunnels.
I haven't reached "write a tutorial" level of understanding on anything I've done lately, but I have been busy. Ground textures are in and I'm starting to rough in the main scenic elements. I also took a moment to set up an initial station directory to get destination boards working. I can't delay the inevitable much longer: Bromley North and Grove Park need custom platforms, and I have a steep learning curve ahead of me in Blender.
Was struggling again today trying to remember how to set up Theatre and Feather indicators after a long break away from the editor. Discovered there is some very useful information contained in this thread, it’s almost worthy of being pinned.
Oh wow just down the road from me! I'm looking forward to this. It's a very good idea to start small, advice that many have not heeded.
For anyone looking forward to this, sorry to let you down: I am no longer working on the Bromley North branch. That said, I am busy with other things which I can't talk about here.
Hi all , the route is 2 mins away from me used to go in to London as a child when they were slam door carriages 45 yrs ago and we knew the driver and always got to ride in the front with the driver , some of the rush hour trains went from Bromley north direct to London , and it was used for mail trains as the sorting office is opposite the station , it’s not to busy now days especially after covid
