More seriously, I've just completed a new scenario based on the ECML and attempted to upload it and it crashed! Twice! So atm, no scenario. It has 2 Formations in it, I'll see if they are causing the crash. Otherwise I don't know.
Got the scenario up, but had to delete one of the Formations. The Scenario is called: "Dull Day to Donny" and is set (with some Modeller's Licence) on 25th June 1982 when I visited Doncaster station for the day. Available only on TSW4
My second scenario for ECML is taking a while to sort out. I've discovered how to use the Portals to feed trains in, but I'm having issues with the trains either not coming out or merging together and causing problems. Until I've sorted that, here are some items I've uploaded recently: VEA in BR Railfreight: 5-plank wagons masquerading as OCA wagons in BR Brown and Railfreight Please note that the application of Railfreight livery and TOPS Air-Braked codes does not make these air-braked when in game! I found this out when I couldn't get them to move with an air-braked loco!!
MFAs backdated to MEAs in BR Brown and Railfreight: 16T Mineral in BR Bauxite livery, weathered with rust patches. I think I've done one of these before, so here's another one!
Preserved 08s 08016 at Peak Rail ( screenshot taken at Rowsley, where the real loco is now kept) 08164 'Prudence' (Named after my childhood cat!)
Hi Dave, Re Portals and services. They have to come out in length order (Don't ask). Longest first and shortest last. If you try it the other way around then nothing will come out. Re services merging together then you also have to put things in the same portal that won't couple together in real life. (Ie a loco hauled service, followed by an HST etc etc). So on ECML I might put a very long freight in front of an Azuma, which is itself in front of an HST, which is in front of a DMU etc. Just have a play and an experiment and you will see what goes with what. I really like your MFA / 5 plank and VEA wagons. They will be far more suited to the various BR formations I now have up and running. (2281 at the last count).
I'll have a play around with the portal sequencing, I never would have guessed that! One formation I did get was a double HST, complete with open nose end hatches and a coupling bar!!
A P.S. on 08164. I haven't named it after my childhood cat - it was named by RFS and is coincidentally named after my cat. I would hate for you to think I ever mess about with BR locos!!!
Never knew that the song "Dear Prudence" was about a cat. You learn something every day I have seen that but TBH didn't look at how they were coupled together. Could you have 1 HST rescuing another? I believe that if you have a MML HST (8-car) depart before a GWE (7-car) then they won't couple together. (All you need then is to have a good Livery Creator make you a couple of suitable liveries. Do you know anyone? ).
Not sure if one HST rescuing another ever happened in real life, there may have been operational difficulties, but I would love to see a pic. Maybe a few more HSTs from both stables could be in order...
Well seeing as this only happened a handful of times ever then you couldn't really see a double HST turn up in every scenario. But having one appear in a blizzard in one scenario doesn't seem too bad an option (No coupling bar though in Scenario Creator just the electrical wires. Is it any different in Formation Designer?). Interestingly, when I reran the scenario the 2 HSTs appeared the other way around with the Blue/Grey unit on the rear???
While preparing a scenario, I came to realise that I was not happy with the BR Blue & Grey MK1 and MK2 coach rakes, mainly as there are no catering coaches. Nearly every rake of 8, 9 or more coaches should have a Buffet coach or a Restaurant - Buffet coach. To correct this, I looked to see what could be done - as a compromise, you understand! The MK1 BSO was chosen as the least terrible of the alternatives for a Buffet coach and was subsequently prepared. I did a single variation - without Inter-City markings: How much better a rake of MK1s in Blue / Grey looks now! Of course, these MK1 catering vehicles were used in the early MK2 rakes too, as no catering vehicles were built from MK2a,b or c variants. But the dreaded Formation Editor Brake police would not let them play together! Sadly, a MK2 rake with MK1 Buffet was not going to happen. So, compromise number 2 was enacted and a MK2 TSO became the only potential for a MK2 Buffet. Its not ideal, but for the moment it will have to do, variant 1 with Inter-City markings... and variant 2 without Inter-City markings:
A couple of HSTs uploaded recently. These are Class 254, ie ECML rakes, but rather than 2+8 sets which were standard on the East Coast, these are 2+7s and represent sets 254012 and 254017 in 1982. 254012: And 254017:
TSW5 came along just 2 days before I went on holiday, just enough time for me to realise that the WCML needs seriously backdating! In a short period of time, I have worked on a scenario set in the 1950s, with ex-LMS steam locos and early Green diesels. There have been some compromises, including a total lack of LMS Pacifics and other express passenger classes, such as Royal Scots. The Jubilees will have to cope! The OHLE presented its own problem - what would be running electrically? So the Class 323 was backdated and given a rather unusual livery, albeit a genuine livery, just not found on EMUs! My first uploads have been a small selection of Classes 20 and 40 in 1958 BR Green, that is, without any yellow warning panels. D8024 + D8033 D8010 D8012
D8026 / 8039. This single Class 20 has different numbers on either side and is designed specifically for the Formation Designer for double-headed Class 20s.
Class 40s D217 - without nameplate, which was not added until the 1960s D230 - also without nameplate D254
A few more repaints for TSW5. First is a pair of Class 08s, or more accurately, EE 350HP Shunters D3849 and D4138 in BR Green. These are also available as a formation and will appear as such on the 1950s Scenario:
As warned about in an earlier post - Cl 323 in 1950s - inspired BR Electric Blue, complete with Aluminium 'Ferret & Dartboard' logo! Laugh? I almost choked on my 'Old Peculier!'
The above 3 posts are for TSW5, but the following are available in TSW3. I don't know why I didn't do the red Underground stock in TSW3, but if there is any demand, I will do one. Meanwhile, Underground stock in 1950s LT Silver and 1980s LU Silver:
I've also done 2 Willesden 08s in BR Green for TSW3 D3271 in all-over Green and D3695 in Green with wasp stripes
While sorting out the details of my 1958 WCML scenario, I've decided to do a 1980s WCML scenarios too. So here are a selection of locos that will be required, mostly Willesden TMD and Bletchley TMD shunters; 08381: 08535
I am happy to announce a 'new' loco class to my livery stable! Well, not quite, I've already done a couple of variations, one genuine, one What if...; but here for your delectation is the BR liveried ex-LMS Black 5! Its based - obviously - on the Jubilee, but with a little imagination, it's not far off. Nice and grimy, the locos are represented with the Late crest, but the Early crest will follow. For starters, here are a quad of Black 5's: 44771 44842
The final batch - for the moment - of Black 5s, this time with the early BR crest, commonly known as 'the Cycling Lion'. 44668 - built by BR in 1948 at Horwich: 45116. Notice that the Lion always faces the front of the loco!
Slightly off topic, but I love train nerding every now and again: Here is 47401 in 1976, still with numerical headcode boxes: 47401_1976_06_Dundee_A3_800dpi | The first of five hundred a… | Flickr But here in 1977 it has plated over headcodes in yellow (the description wrongly says the loco was scrapped in 1989): 47401 (D1500) 19.07.1977 | 47401 is seen approaching York fr… | Flickr So I think it is safe to assume 401 never had black headcode plates while in BR blue...
When I did my D1500 / 47401 sequence of repaints, I had to choose between using the WSR 47 which gives alphanumeric headcodes, but with a headlight, or the NTP 47 with no headlight but a blank headcode that can be painted either black or yellow. I hate that kind of compromise, but that's what we have.
Oh I appreciate the limitations of the stock, it was more aimed at your original post wondering if it ever had black plated headcodes, as there are no photos of it. So I researched it and found this, hence my statement that I assume it never had them
Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Thanks for the research. I think I've always assumed that all headcoded locos got domino's, but actually I always knew it wasn't true. I even have a pic of a Class 20 with alphanumerics in the early 1980s. If there was a rule, there was also an exception!
