DPSimulation

Woodhead Line - Out Now!

2012-01-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

The Woodhead Line has been released and is available here.

Running from Sheffield to Manchester via the rugged landscape of the Pennines, the Woodhead Line was electrified way back in the early 1950s with the Class 76 electric locomotive being built especially for the line. A major feature of the route is the Woodhead Tunnel system, comprising three tunnels (the third being added specifically for the electrification of the line) to enable the line to run through the hilly landscape of the northern Peak District. The Class 76 electric locomotive was first produced as a prototype (6701) in 1941, with full production beginning in 1950 in Manchester. Under British Rail, Class 76s hauled freight and passenger services along the Woodhead Line until 1970, after which they handled only freight workings. Now closed to traffic since 1981, the Woodhead Line and its tunnels are still a regular destination for rail enthusiasts and hikers, and they have now been brought back to life in Train Simulator 2012. Download size 842 MB - please check your ISP download restrictions before purchasing.

* 60-mile Woodhead Line route from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield Victoria including Wath branch and Woodhead Tunnels

* Class 76 electric locomotive

* Class 08 diesel shunter in BR Black

* 8F Steam Locomotive

* Mk1 coaches in crimson livery

* 7 scenarios, including career and standard, plus 4 free roams

LMS Period 3 "Stanier" Passenger Coaches - Railworks 3

2012-01-25T06:21:00.000-08:00

Long time creators and publishers for Microsoft Train Simulator, Making Tracks have now made the step into Railworks 3 content with the LMS Period 3 "Stanier" Passenger Coach Pack. Developed by Gordon (aptly nicknamed Gopher on UKTS), a prolific freeware developer who has created some much needed period stock for the program and published by MT, this pack is very reasonably priced at £6.99.

The following is taken from the Making Tracks website, where you can find further information, screenshots and the facility to buy this fantastic pack.

The LMS Period 3 "Stanier" coaches were built in large numbers by the LMS from 1933 the P3's could be found all over the LMS system. They were used in all types of train, from express to local stoppers. After nationalisation they could be found all over the BR system, not just the Midland Region, until the mid 1960's when they were removed from passenger operations. After withdrawal many took up duties as departmental stock.

What’s in the pack:-

The stock is supplied in LMS standard livery, BR Crimson & Cream (Blood & Custard) and BR Maroon.

Coach types included:

BR designation:

Brake Standard Corridor (BSK)
Composite Corridor (CK)
Standard Corridor (SK)
Restaurant Standard Open (RSO)

LMS designation:

Third Class Corridor Brake (CH)
Composite corridor (CC)
Corridor Third (CT)
Restaurant Third (RT)

All stock have passenger and non-passenger versions selectable in the scenario menu.
There is a BR SK without passengers and lighting for night static consist use.

All stock is supplied with Railworks controlled tail lamps.

There is a passenger view provided in the BR Composite Corridor(CK)/LMS Composite corridor(CC).

There are six scenarios included to get you going, set on the default Somerset&Dorset route using the P3 set and default stock.

A PDF manual is included with comprehensive details and instructions, including how to use the set in your own scenarios.

Armstrong Powerhouse - Class 37 Pro Sound Pack - Released Tomorrow - Railworks 3

2012-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Armstrong Powerhouse have this evening announced the latest in their line of quality sound packs for Railworks 3. Recorded using state-of-the-art equipment at an especially organised recording session, the Class 37 pro pack is designed to maximise the experience of using the Class 37 on Railworks 3. The following was taken from the AP website where the download will be made available from tomorrow.

Starting from tomorrow (20th January), our first Pro sound pack will be released. You're probably wondering though,what's so different about a Pro pack compared to our previous releases? If a sound pack is classed as being Pro, it means that most, if not all, of the sounds used have been recorded using state-of-the-art equipment at an especially organised recording session. This allows us to acquire the exact kind of sounds we require to create the best experience possible within the simulator. As well as excellent audio quality, Pro packs will include separate cab and exterior sounds because as anyone whose been in the cab of a locomotive knows, there is really quite a difference! Finally, all efforts have been made to make the sounds are as realistic as possible. Whether that's the slight audible change in engine note when a field divert kicks in or the subtle hum of the traction motors in the cab.

Without further a do though, we are very pleased to announce that the first locomotive to receive the Pro treatment is the popular class 37 which owes its popularity to the sheer racket it makes. Released tomorrow, this pack will be available for the standard £4.99 which, we're sure you'll agree, represents excellent value for money. Please note though that due to the time and investment that is required to create a Pro pack, we are unable to supply a free update to the standard Class 37 Sound Pack which will be discontinued from tomorrow.

Digital Traction Winter Sale - Railworks 3

2012-01-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Digital Traction currently have a winter sale in progress which lasts until 25th January and offers 75% off all products. These savings mean that you can pick up items such as the well used Mk2e coach pack for only £1.06!!!

More information can be found here.

Woodhead Line - Released 26th January! - Railworks 3

2012-01-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have now announced the official release date for the Woodhead expansion pack for Railworks 3. The scheduled release is now for 26th January. The following was taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

The Woodhead Line, complete with Class 76 electric locomotive, will be available as an expansion pack for Train Simulator 2012 from 26 January. Running from Sheffield to Manchester, the Woodhead Line was a vital link across the Pennines for the transportation of coal, and of course passengers. Electrification of the line in the 1950s saw the introduction of the Class 76 (as it later became known by British Rail), which hauled trains over the viaducts and through the famous Woodhead Tunnels alongside the steam locomotives of the day. Traffic reduced in the 1970s and the line finally closed in the early 1980s.

Now sadly missed by many who remember this wonderful scenic line in its glory days, the 60-mile Woodhead Line will soon be alive once again in Train Simulator 2012. Complete with the Class 76, plus 8F and Class 08 locomotives, the Woodhead Line will be available from 26 January.

Class 153 Advanced - Railworks 3

2012-01-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

Just Trains have posted a new video on Youtube giving a preview of the advanced version of the Class 153 and all of the included features. If you already own the Class 153, you should be eligible for a free upgrade to this newer version. The expected release date is 25th January.

Bishop Auckland to Darlington - Railworks 3

2012-01-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Just Trains have announced an upcoming route release for Railworks 3, the modern day Bishop Auckland to Darlington branch line in North East England, part of the famous Stockton and Darlington Railway which opened in 1825. More information can be found on the Just Trains website.

Iron Horse House - Class 25 Upgrade - Railworks 3

2012-01-17T01:56:00.000-08:00

Iron Horse House have announced the next of their stock upgrades to take account of TS2012 technology, the Class 25 pack. This pack is a free upgrade for all existing owners or otherwise is priced at £9.99 + VAT.

As usual, this is a very highly detailed model and comes in both the 25/0 and 25/3 variants along with eight scenarios. More details can be found here.

ICE 1 - Available 19th January - Railworks 3

2012-01-17T01:46:00.000-08:00

It has been announced that the ICE 1 will be released this Thursday (19th January) for Railworks 3 via the Steam Store. The following is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

Available from 19 January with all new scenarios!

The ICE (Intercity-Express) is Germany’s high-speed flagship, linking cities such as Frankfurt, Mannheim, Berlin and Hamburg in great comfort and with short journey times. The 410-metre long ICE train is capable of up to 300kph (186mph) and looks after its passengers with air conditioning, electric power points, on-board music and radio listening and more. It also looks very sleek and impressive on the move! Developed by Virtual Railroads and fully optimized for TS2012, the ICE 1 is a recreation of the original ICE 1 trains introduced at the beginning of the ICE services in 1991, which have since been refurbished and improved for the 21st Century. With realistic features including automatic drive and brake control and moveable cab blinds, plus more than 20 scenarios on the Haagen-Siegen and Seebergbahn routes including free roams, the TS2012 ICE 1 offers hours of exciting high speed driving.

If you want to drive something cool, you need the ICE… available 19 January.

Fort Kent Eagle Lake "Optimized" - Railworks 3

2012-01-17T01:43:00.000-08:00

It has been announced that the Fort Kent Eagle Lake route for Railworks 3 will receive optimization to include TS2012 features. It is to be released this Thursday (19th January) and will be free of charge to existing users of the product. The following is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

Available from January 19, the Fort Kent – Eagle Lake expansion pack has been optimized for Train Simulator 2012.

Developed by All Aboard, Fort Kent – Eagle Lake is set in the state of Maine, USA and runs for 19 miles almost to the Canadian border. The local industries provide plenty of switching work for the railroad engineers, and hours of entertainment for TS2012 players. Fort Kent – Eagle lake includes 20 scenarios so you have plenty of time to learn your way around this rural route with its industrial yards and small passenger stations.

Optimized from January 19 and upgraded free of charge to owners of the original version.

Ohio Steel 2 - Released 12 January - Railworks 3

2012-01-11T02:30:00.000-08:00

Developed by reputable US creators All Aboard Rails, the latest in their line of high quality addons for Railworks 3 is to be released next week, January 12th. Named Ohio Steel 2, the route is an upgrade of the original Ohio Steel route and features everything included in the original release plus much, much more. The following is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

Ohio Steel 2 puts you straight into the cab of an SD40-2 during the boom years of steel production around Dover, Ohio.

An upgrade and expansion of the original Ohio Steel by All Aboard, Ohio Steel 2 includes everything from the original pack, plus an extension to Massillon, new blast furnace and steel rolling mill, and additional scenarios. With a steel works, lots of different plants and yards, and an extension to Massillon to learn your way around, Ohio Steel 2 offers many hours of driving and switching for engineers everywhere. Available to download from Steam from 12 January. Developed by All Aboard.

PRR K4 - Released January 26th - Railworks 3

2012-01-11T02:24:00.000-08:00

Railsimulator.com have now given a release date for the upcoming PRR K4 steam locomotive for Railworks 3. It will be released via the Steam platform on 26th January. The following is taken from the RSC website.

The classic PRR K4 is coming to Train Simulator 2012 later this month! From 1914 right through to the end of Pennsy steam in 1957, K4s were the Pennsylvania Railroad’s premier passenger locomotive and were familiar to passengers across the northeast United States. The K4 soon proved its worth and a grand total of 425 examples were produced by PRR and the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Despite the large number built, only two K4s have survived into preservation - however, rail fans all over the world will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of this glorious steam loco in Train Simulator 2012. Available to download from Steam from 26 January 2012.

Virgin Broadband - Speed Upgrade

2012-01-11T02:17:00.000-08:00

Not strictly Railworks news of course, but given that the regular stream of content being released these days, a fast broadband connection can be vital. Virgin Media have announced the excellent news that current users are to be upgraded free of charge. The changes are as follows:-

10mb - Doubled to 20mb
30mb - Doubled to 60mb
50mb - Doubled to 100mb
20mb - Tripled to 60mb
100mb - Increased to 120mb

The press release can be viewed here.

"Darkness Falls" - Scenario Released - Railworks

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

I have recently released another scenario, this time for the default Newcastle to York route. It can be downloaded here.

Another New Scenario Released! - Railworks 3

2012-01-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

Another new scenario has been released that requires nothing more than default or freeware stock! Grab it now at DPSimulation.

Class 58 "Coal Sector" - Railworks 3

2012-01-02T04:35:00.000-08:00

With the recent releases of my freeware based scenarios, on creating further ones it made me realise there was an issue with my coal reskin of the Class 58 and in particular, the reskin not being viewable on certain systems. This has been rectified with the .nmc textures added and uploaded to my site here.

Now this is fixed, it will be a requirement in certain future scenarios.

New Scenario Released! - Railworks 3

2011-12-31T03:33:00.000-08:00

Another new scenario has been released that requires nothing more than default or freeware stock! Grab it now at DPSimulation.

Two New Scenarios Released! - Railworks 3

2011-12-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

Two new scenarios have been released for Railworks 3 that require nothing but default or freeware stock! Grab them now at DPSimulation.

InterCity Swallow Mk3 - Loco Hauled - Railworks 3

2011-12-30T07:07:00.000-08:00

In addition to the previous announcement regarding scenarios that utilise default/freeware stock, I have released a modified version of the InterCity Mk3 provided with Railworks 3 which will feature in the upcoming scenarios. This sits alongside the default HST Mk3 but has a modified .bin file to enable other locomotives such as the Class 47 to haul them. This is a fairly adequate workaround to compensate for what is not available as default/freeware.

It can be download from the reskins section of my website.

Upcoming Freeware Scenarios - Railworks 3

2011-12-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

Although I tend to release a fair few scenarios, the vast majority utilise large amounts of payware, simply for my aim to be as realistic as possible and because they generally start out life as ones for personal use.

However, with the recent Steam sale, coupled with Christmas and a lot of new users coming on board, I have decided to complete the vast array of scenarios I had lying around, modifying accordingly to only use either default, or freely available stock. With the first batch based around the mid 90's era, this does not affect realism in any way, with real timetabled services from the period served by prototypical stock and reskins. Utilising new and old features, including scenario specific scenery and temporary speed restrictions, hopefully these scenarios should provide enjoyment for both new and veteran Railworks users.

Here are a couple of screenshots depicting one of the scenarios, "Inbound Commute".

The Crabenmore Branch - Railworks 3

2011-12-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

Quite often new routes are released that receive no fanfare or slip under the radar without being even noticed by the majority of users. One such route has appeared in the Uktrainsim download library and I only noticed because someone reported it on the forum! (Cheers Rob)

Called the "Crabenmore Branch", it's a fictional highland line set in the 1950's/60's and features very impressive detail along with stunning terrain. The following is taken from the author description of the route which can be downloaded from here.

A fictional branch line set in the heart of the highlands of Scotland. Built as a light railway from Glenait to Crabenmore in 1875, the railway was extended to the fishing town of Portdornoch in 1887 including a ferry peir at Kilbrachan. Though now in BR hands and set during the 50s/60s, the main traffic includes fish from portdornoch, export from Crabenmore Distillery, as well as the local passenger service.

REQUIRES

- (Payware) RSDL Falmouth Branch expansion pack available from steam
- UK Buildings pack 1 (Free from steam)

4 standard scenarios and 2 free roam scenarios are included with the following assets required:

- (Payware) Digital Traction Class 4MT expansion
- (Payware) RSDL Class 101 expansion from steam
- UKTS 27433: 'Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 tender loco for TSX2012' by Kevin Martin
- UKTS 27347: 'Mk1 Maroon Pack' by adburgess1992
- UKTS 24309: 'BR 16T Mineral Wagon - Grey rusty' by rocky291
- UKTS 26443: 'Digital Tractions Brake Vans' uploaded by 67025

Use railworks package manager to install.

Armstrong Powerhouse - Christmas Sale - Railworks 3

2011-12-27T03:47:00.000-08:00

The following is taken from the Armstrong Powerhouse website.

We at Armstrong Powerhouse would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. To celebrate, we are holding a week-long sale with a massive 40% off most of our products. Take a look around our well acclaimed packs and treat yourself this Christmas. We also recommend checking out the 'Train Simulator 2012 Compatibility Document' above to see which of our products have been fully tested for use in Train Simulator 2012.

This sale will end at 23:59 GMT on Sunday 1st January 2012.

Fastline Simulation - ZCA Sea Urchins Released! - Railworks 3

2011-12-27T03:44:00.000-08:00

Fastline Simulation have announced the latest relese in their line of quality products for Train Simulator 2012. The ZCA Sea Urchin addon comes with both of the main body variants, on two different chassis styles and painted in Engineers grey and yellow 'Dutch' livery. Priced at only £3 including VAT, this is a very attractive package at a very competetive price. The following is taken from the website where you can view and purchase this pack.

To complete the year in style we're pleased to announce the release of our ZCA Sea Urchins addon for RailWorks Train Simulator 2012 based on the chassis of our highly successful VDA vans stock pack.

Featuring both of the main body variants, on two different chassis styles and painted in Engineers grey and yellow 'Dutch' livery this RailWorks addon also contains loaded versions of the wagon with four different ballast and aggregate loads, an empty version and rear versions of all of these with a BR mk1battery, flashing tail lamp.

The enclosed scenario allows you take your new wagons for a late evening spin behind a class 37 from Acton to Hinksey Yard near Oxford for loading in preparation for engineering works during the coming weekend.

As a bonus, and to improve scenario realism, a set of battery powered temporary speed restriction signs and portable AWS magnet are included in the pack and used in the enclosed scenario.

At a stupidly reasonable £3.00 including VAT can your simulator really feel complete without this add-on?

WCML North - "The Cumbrian Explorer" - Scenario Released - Railworks 3

2011-12-19T03:45:00.001-08:00

A new scenario entitled "The Cumbrian Explorer" has been released. Download it now at DPSimulation.

Lavender Line Released! - Railworks 3

2011-12-17T04:25:00.000-08:00

A labour of love lasting over two years, the Lavender Line by Geoff Potter has now been released. Although a short line, the attention to detail is absolutely stunning, with dozens of custom assets made specifically to complement the route. The following is taken from the download page for the route.

The Lavender Line comprises of about a mile of track running from Isfield Station to the disused bridge over the River Ouse. It was originally anticipated that this route would not take very long to build as with only about a mile of track, there seemed nothing particularly difficult about it. In fact it has taken over two years to complete mainly due to other projects distracting me and also my decision part way through the project to use this as a opportunity to experiment and improve my modelling and route building skills. Now that it is finished, there is still not very much track to play with, but the route is full of models and features that each have their own story to tell.

Included is a base free roam scenario with nothing in it except the route itself. You can use this as a template to create your own scenarios or perhaps to access the route to make changes. There are four included standard scenarios which are designed to demonstrate the way in which the seasons can be used to good effect on a small route like this and also how scenario specific scenery can add to the enjoyment of a scenario without altering the route itself.

More information and a link to download the route is here.

Iron Horse House - Scenario Creation Tutorial - Railworks 3

2011-12-17T04:15:00.000-08:00

I wasn't actually aware of this until today, an excellent "start to finish" tutorial complete with voice commentary that covers the main areas of scenario creation which should be invaluable to any new user that wants to start dabbling in making their own.

Armstrong Powerhouse - Class 86/87 Sound Pack - Railworks 3

2011-12-16T04:28:00.000-08:00

Armstrong Powerhouse have today announced the latest release in their range of quality soundpacks for Railworks 3. With the majority of the sounds recorded exclusively at Willesden depot, this pack promises to be of the highest quality.

More information on this latest sound pack along with details on how to purchase can be found here.

Below is a video of the pack in action.

Iron Horse House - DP2 Released! - Railworks 3

2011-12-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Iron Horse House have now released the latest in their range of quality addons, the DP2 (Diesel Prototype Number 2). Built using the base of a Class 55 bodyshell and similar to the legendary Deltic in initial appearance, there were quite a number of apparent differences between the two. This can be purchased at IHH here.

More information can be found about this interesting project on the Wikipedia page by clicking here.

Class 70 - Coming Early in 2012! - Railworks 3

2011-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

A locomotive that certainly divides opinion amongst enthusiasts, development of the General Electric Class 70 has been announced by RailSimulator.com and is to be released in early 2012. The following is taken from the website.

Coming to Train Simulator 2012 early next year! The Class 70 is not only one of the most distinctive locomotives on the UK scene today, but also one of the most advanced. Built by General Electric for UK operator Freightliner in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Class 70's diesel engine produces an impressive 3,690 horsepower but still meets the latest EU emissions regulations for locomotives. The driver's cab has also been designed with more thought towards crew comfort and safety in the event of a crash. The class 70 for Train Simulator 2012 looks set to be a great addition for fans of modern UK stock - just watch out for cranes..... Available early-2012.

Freight At Night - Work In Progress - Railworks

2011-12-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quick couple of WIP screenshots of the next major project I am currently working on.

Just Trains Christmas Sale

2011-12-14T03:18:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Sale is now underway at Just Trains and Just Flight with 20% off all addons. All you have to do is enter the code "XMAS11" in the shopping cart to get the discount.

Visit here for more details and to browse the range of products.

PRR K4 - Available January! - Railworks 3

2011-12-13T04:47:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have announced the exciting news that an iconic North American steam locomotive is now in development. The following is taken from their website.

The classic PRR K4 is coming to Train Simulator 2012 in January! From 1914 right through to the end of Pennsy steam in 1957, K4s were the Pennsylvania Railroad’s premier passenger locomotive and were familiar to passengers across the northeast United States. The K4 soon proved its worth and a grand total of 425 examples were produced by PRR and the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Despite the large number built, only two K4s have survived into preservation - however, rail fans all over the world will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of this glorious steam loco in Train Simulator 2012. Available to download from Steam in January 2012.

"Railworks USA" Value Pack - Railworks 3

2011-12-12T05:10:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have announced a new value package for Railworks 3, the "Railworks US" Value Package.

This limited offer includes four of the recently released USA packages:

Northeast Corridor Expansion Pack
Horseshoe Pass Expansion Pack
Donner Pass - Southern Pacific
General Electric GG1 Locomotive

Sold seperately, the normal retail price for this bundle would be nearly £82, but can ba bought as part of this package for only £49.99, a saving of over £30.

More information and purchase details can be found by clicking here.

WCML North - "Under The Wires" - Scenario Released - Railworks 3

2011-12-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

A new scenario "Under The Wires" for WCML North has been released. Download it now at DPSimulation.

"The Cumbrian Explorer" - Video - Railworks 3

2011-12-10T04:03:00.000-08:00

"The Cumbrian Explorer", one of my upcoming scenarios that is currently in final testing, Manuel (msdejesus) has made this stunning video to give a small preview of what is on offer.

It is well worth watching directly on Youtube, in HD and full screen with the sound turned up. Fantastic.

General Electric GG1 - Available Now! - Railworks 3

2011-12-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

The all new General Electric GG1 locomotive has now been released via Steam. The product page can be found here.

The following information is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

The GG1 electric locomotive is a true icon of North American railroading, and now you can drive this impressive loco in Train Simulator 2012!

The fantastic, futuristic shape of the GG1 has been instantly recognizable to rail fans around the world since it first rolled out onto the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1935. The GG1 (so named because it ran on an articulated pair of 4-6-0 frames, or ‘G’ frames in PRR terminology) was built by General Electric to run on 11,000 volts AC supplied by overhead power lines. It had twin crew cabs positioned some distance from either end of the loco with small windows for forward vision, giving a driving compartment much like conventional steam locomotives. The GG1 was a truly impressive locomotive, measuring over 79 feet long and weighing in at 475,000 pounds (215 metric tons), and capable of 100mph on lines like the Northeast Corridor. 140 were built for the PRR, eventually passing into new ownership and continuing to work for Amtrak, Conrail and Penn Central with several remaining in preservation today. PLEASE NOTE the GG1 Add-On requires the Northeast Corridor Expansion Pack (available separately) in order to run.

Waggonz - Dynamic Passengers - Railworks 3

2011-12-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Another piece of news from Waggonz is the development of dynamic passengers for default stock. The following explanation is taken from the Waggonz website and screenshots are provided below to demonstrate this feature.

Trains that fill up and empty with different passengers in different seats as you stop at stations. Standing passengers appear when theres no more seats available.

Waggonz - Class 142 - Railworks 3

2011-12-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

Following their recent releases of both the HIA Hopper and 80' Container Flat, Waggonz are now working on a Class 142 DMU for Railworks 3. More information can be found on the development page here and as you can see from the screenshots below, this is shaping up to be a very impressive model.

Creative Rail - East Coast - Railworks 3

2011-12-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Unless you weren't aware, Creative Rail, creators of the excellent "China Clay for Export" are working hard on their next release, the first stage of a 3 part "East Coast" project for Railworks 3. The following is taken from their website, and more information along with regular development updates can be found by clicking here.

We are pleased to announce that an ambitious project has been launched to recreate part of Britain's premier route - East Coast Main Line.

Our aim is to reproduce this ever popular iconic route in stunning detail, to which CreativeRail are renown for. Having said that, the performance of the route will be a major consideration to ensure that everyone has a good experience of using it.

With so much detail involved, it means that our intended main line run from Peterborough to York will be divided into 3 seperate releases comprising: Peterborough - Newark, Newark - Doncaster and Doncaster - York.

The time period chosen is 1980. A time when loco-hauled services still dominated the railway scene, but also when the decline began to set in for the diesel classes first introduced to replace steam.

With more modern traction enthusiasts in mind, it is hoped that an electrified version can also be produced to enable an authentic run for Inter-City 225 sets.

Armstrong Powerhouse - Scenario Pack Updates - Railworks 3

2011-12-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Following the recent release of the updated WCML North, and the forewarning that existing scenarios may need to be amended, Armstrong Powerhouse have just released updates to both the AP12 & AP13 packs. The following is taken from their website.

As many of you will know, the excellent WCML North route was recently upgraded to TS2012 standard but in the process, broke the scenarios in our two dedicated scenario packs for this route, AP12 & AP13. We are pleased to say though that these packs have now been fixed and are fully compatible with the new version of this route. For existing customers, you can obtain this update by simply re-downloading both the scenario pack(s) and extra stock pack(s). For new customers, we have discounted both of these packs to only £2.99 for a limited period. So what are you waiting for? Bring your copy of this route into the 21st century and grab your copy of these packs today!

Sealink Mk1 Coaches - Railworks 3

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Should hopefully be released soon, enough work has been done on them.

Iron Horse House - Class 40 Upgrade - Railworks 3

2011-12-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

Iron Horse House have announced the next of their stock upgrades to take account of TS2012 technology, the Class 33 pack. It has also been announced that the price has been lowered, permanently, to £9.99 + VAT.

This excellent package now comes with 12 livery variations and five scenarios as well as being built to the usual high standard associated with IHH. More information can be found here.

WCML North - Upcoming Scenarios - Railworks 3

2011-12-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

Always one to have the odd scenario on the go, there are currently several for WCML North that need testing and will be released soon. Here is a small taster of what will be available.

Steam - Railworks 3 - 50% Off Any Product

2011-12-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Charles over at UKTrainsim for bringing this to the attention of myself and fellow users.

All Railworks 3 users should now have a 50% off coupon residing in their inventory on Steam. This can be used to grab any Railworks 3 product for half price, including the base product (for any new users of course). Instructions are as follows...

Simply open your Steam browser and click on "community" at the top. This should then have a screen on which when scrolling down, will show a blue 50% off coupon. Alternatively, if there is a "Steam (1)" tab present, click that to view the coupon. To the bottom right, simply click "view applicable games" and this will bring up a list of Railworks DLC. If you want to purchase something using the coupon, simply click "add to cart" and the discount will automatically be applied.

Help for 32-bit Operating Systems - Railworks 3

2011-12-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

Just stumbled across this earlier and it is worth making people aware of, especially for those struggling to run longer results that occasionally result in an SBHH (Something Bad Has Happened) error. This could be especially relevant for a route such as WCML North. As with any file modifications, take care and backup before making an attempt should you do it wrong.

The following text is taken directly from the original post which can be found here. It is also worth taking a look at the thread itself to see the feedback and results of other users performing this modification, the results seem very impressive for all so far. A big thanks to John (Jarmstro) for researching and making this information available.

I posted this in another thread but I thought it might merit a thread of it own as it will help lots of people with 32 bit OS's. For it to do any good you must have 4GB RAM.

"Those running a 32 bit Operating System with the full 4GB of RAM with at least 500MB VRam and getting freezes, SBHH and ctd's could well benefit from using the so called "3GB Switch". I run Win7 32bit and do not get any problems.

This basically lifts the 2GB program memory limit set by all Win 32bit OS's. The system still can't use more than 4GB but it will stop the OOM errors. The downside is that you really need to make sure you have not got any other other big memory using programs running at the same time as RW3 and its probably better to switch it off when you are not gaming.

At your own risk please but worth a try:

For Windows Vista and Windows 7:
- Create a Restore Point
- Proceed to start -> run and type: cmd (or: You must run CMD as Administrator so alternarively right click the CMD icon etc)
- In opened window type command: bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072 (You dont need to go the whole hog and could try say 2500)
- Restart PC

For Windows XP:
- Right-click My Computer. Click Properties.
- In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
- On the Advanced tab, under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.
- In the Startup and Recovery dialog box, under System startup, click Edit. The Windows boot.ini file will be opened in Microsoft Notepad.
- Create a backup copy of the boot.ini file. Note: Boot.ini files may vary from computer to computer.
Select the following line in the boot.ini file:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
Note: Do not overwrite any existing lines.

Press Ctrl+C to copy the line and then press Ctrl+V to paste it immediately below the original line.
Note: Your text string may be different from the text string in this solution, so be sure to copy the text string from your boot.ini file, and not the text string included here.

Modify the copied line to include " /3GB", as shown in the following example:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional 3GB" /3GB /fastdetect
Note: Do not overwrite any existing lines.

- Save and close the boot.ini file.
- Click OK to close each dialog box.
- Restart your computer.
- During startup, select the 3GB option. If you do not select the 3GB option, the system will default to the 2GB total memory setting.

Note: If problems occur during startup, you may need to update some of your drivers.

Hope this helps

John A"

Donner Pass: Southern Pacific - Update Tonight - Railworks 3

2011-12-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

Following the recent, well documented issues surrounding the initial release of the Donner Pass route, RailSimulator.com have today announced that the first in a series of patches will be released tonight in order to rectify the problems. The following was posted earlier:

Tonight we are releasing the first of a number of patches designed to address the issues raised by our customers about the Donner Pass. While this patch addresses many of the glitches and terrain issues it by no means solves all the issues raised. We will let you all know when the next patch is ready in the near future. We would like to apologise sincerely for any disappointment caused by issues with the Donner Pass. After the patch is released this evening you may need to verify your cache. If you need to know how to do this, please email support@railsimulator.com

Fix List:
• Fixed Floating Scenery at Truckee
• Fixed Floating Scenery at Colfax
• Fixed Tunnel Mouths around Donner Summit
• Cascade Bridge fine tuning
• Emirgrants Gap Improvements
• Added Casino / Arcade Signs to Reno area
• Checked all tunnels have correct cutting through terrain
• Fixed Floating buildings at Verdi
• Fixed gap in scenery north of Truckee
• More detail added to scenery south of Truckee
• Removed trees over roads near Donner Summit
• Added a missing bridge
• Added more weeds near Tunnel 29
• Improved scenery between Tunnel 28 - 23
• Added missing bridge at Auburn
• Fixed floating scenery at Auburn
• Improved Newcastle tunnel mouths
• Fixed floating scenery at Newcastle
• Added more scenery north of Tunnel 1
• Fixed floating scenery in the Rocklin area
• Improved Rocklin station area
• Fixed floating buildings east of Roseville Yard

Fastline Simulation - Scenario Packs - Railworks 3

2011-12-02T04:09:00.000-08:00

Fastline Simulation have recently announced that they are currently developing a series of scenario packs. If you have recently bought any of their rolling stock products, you will already know that the scenarios included were very engaging and of a very high quality, making this announcement very good news indeed.

The following is taken from their website.

A dedicated gallery for sccenario screenshots has been set up by Fastline Simulation here.

Ages of the Train is a phrase we've been punting around for a few weeks now and we're pleased to formally announce that it is the name of our new range of scenario packs for RailWorks Train Simulator along with an announcement of the first pack in the range.
Fastline Simulation - Ages of the Train: A class 40 working 8L81 1240 Tyne Yard - Healey Mills.

Building on the ethos of the scenarios included with our stock packs each scenario pack will contain five prototypical scenarios for one route with a common theme from a logical period of railway history. Actual periods that have been defined at this time are: 1968 - 1972, 1973 - 1986 and 1987 - 1994.

Each scenario features actual train formations and motive power (where known) for the individual services and prototypical routing where possible.

Rolling stock and routes will be drawn from our own and a range of other commercial products including Iron Horse House - our preferred motive power provider.
Ages of the Train 01: ECML Freight 1973 - 1986

The first release in the range features a selection of Goods Trains from what many consider the classic Diesel and Electric era of British Rail on the default Newcastle to York route.

WCML North - Update Now Released - Railworks 3

2011-12-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

The update to the WCML North route has now been released via Steam. Providing you are running the Steam client, and are not playing Railworks or any other Steam game, it should automatically download.

Also updated are the Class 86 locomotive which is included in the WCML North package to include TS2012 features such as rain as well as the Class 86 pack which is available as a seperate purchase on Steam.

Class 82 Electric Locomotive - Released Tonight! - Railworks 3

2011-12-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

In further WCML related news from Iron Horse House, they are to release the Class 82 electric locomotive tonight! Another top quality model, it features four prototypical liveries. More information can be found here.

Please note, this has been designed and due to be released with the WCML package in mind, and therefore does require the WCML North package due to cab and sound aliasing with the Class 86, however, it is very competitively priced at only £5.99 + VAT.

WCML North - Special Discount Package - Railworks 3

2011-12-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up for those who don't know. As well as the release of the Class 325 EMU, there is a heavily discounted package available from Steam which includes the following:-

Class 325 EMU
Class 390 EMU
WCML North

This is all available for a limited time at just £29.99, a saving of nearly £19.00 when bought seperately. Given both the Class 390 and WCML North route are to also be upgraded with TS2012 features this evening, this is a very good deal, especially for newer users of the program. Couple to that the fact that the Class 325 package has a set of bonus scenarios specifically for the WCML route, it adds even more value to the deal.

More information and purchase details here.

Class 325 EMU - Available Now! - Railworks 3

2011-12-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Class 325 EMU for Railworks 3 has now been released. For more information and details on how to purchase, click here.

WCML North - Update Tonight!

2011-12-01T02:10:00.000-08:00

Months of work, all undertaken in his spare time for the benefit of the community will finally come to fruition later today with the impending release of the WCML North update from Keith Ross. The following information has previously been released by Keith to give an understanding of the features included.

The update has built upon the original release and, after several months of additional development, provides additional track mileage, new stations, scenery improvement, revised signalling and, of course, the benefits of TSX technology and TS2012 features. Time has been taken to address issues within the route that needed some improvement including rationalisation of scenery in order to reduce the number and density of distant objects and thereby improve performance. Signalling and other track related markers have been overhauled with prototypical signal numbering and approach control set up as well as accurately named track markers and new operational markers added.

The scope of the route is now even more extensive and represents the ambition as originally planned. The northern extremity of the electrified West Coast Main Line is now included with the extension of the route to Coatbridge and its Freightliner Terminal. The Strathclyde commuter network is also extended with the addition of the Carmyle line from Coatbridge linking back to the mainline at Rutherglen, the branch to the terminus at Larkhall and extension of the low level lines from Bridgeton as far as Glasgow Central Low Level. In total the update includes nearly 20 additional route miles to explore.

Things to look forward to;

• 20 miles of new route; Mossend to Coatbridge, Coatbridge to Rutherglen, Hamilton to Larkhall, Dalmarnock to Glasgow Central.
• 11 new stations.
• New Coatbridge Freightliner Terminal.
• Improvements to Shieldmuir Royal Mail Terminal including postal platform asset.
• All stations upgraded with new signage, platform objects and lighting.
• All signalling updated with prototypical numbering and approach control setup with signals added to reflect the real layout.
• Lineside scenery and overhead electrification infrastructure improved with the addition of neutral section locations and other features.
• Track markers updated with correct references and additional destinations and portals.
• Multiple fixes to track properties including the addition of TS2012 track unevenness feature.
• Multiple fixes to scenery including floating objects and terrain issues.
• Rationalisation of scenery in dense areas to improve performance.
• Addition of TSX lighting to all areas; ambient lighting to urban areas and feature lighting alongside the track.
• New TS2012 sky dome and weather patterns with accurate seasonal day/night lighting cycle.
• New Inter City Executive liveried BG/NE brake vehicle to accompany Class 86 and Mk3a coaches.
• Class 86 tap changer physics update and the addition of TS2012 locomotive lighting and windscreen effects.
• Existing scenarios revised to operate on the updated route.
• 5 new scenarios incorporating new sections of the route.

Cresston V4 Update - Railworks 3

2011-11-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

Another small batch of screenshots showing Cresston V4.

AP23: Portsmouth Direct Scenario Pack - Railworks 3

2011-11-25T03:22:00.000-08:00

Armstrong Powerhouse have just released their latest scenario pack for TS2012, this time featuring Slam Door stock on the Portsmouth Direct route. The following is taken from their website where more information can also be found.

Armstrong Powerhouse presents a scenario pack for the excellent Portsmouth Direct route and more specifically, the class 421 slam-door electric multiple unit. This pack contains six scenarios which focus on when these units were operating in the post-privatisation era between 1997 and 2005. These scenarios really will immerse you and take you back to this period with the help of two new liveries for the class 421 (Connex & South West Trains) and one new livery for the class 455 (South West Trains). On top of this, projected light from the headlight has been added to the class 421 liveries so as to improve night-time driving.

In these scenarios, we've strived for realism in all areas. For example, each scenario uses the timetable of its relevant year to create an as realistic experience as possible. As well as this, all have their time of leaving, origin and destination so you can see which train is which!

Each scenario has been made to try and be as interesting as possible whilst retaining realism.

Cresston V4 Update - Railworks 3

2011-11-25T02:53:00.000-08:00

Just a few new shots showing some of the newer areas from Cresston V4.

Donner Pass: Southern Pacific Out Now! - Railworks 3

2011-11-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

The latest route addon, Donner Pass: Southern Pacific has this evening been released via Steam with an excellent opening deal comprising of 50% off for a limited period.

The following is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

Happy Thanksgiving! What better time of year for our biggest release ever – the 140-mile drama and majesty of Donner Pass: Southern Pacific! Available now with 50% off!

Set in the early 1990s during the later days of Southern Pacific operation, Donner Pass: Southern Pacific is the longest route we have ever created for Train Simulator 2012, and puts you in the cabs of 5 different Southern Pacific diesel locomotives (including the SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor) as you test your driving skills on this demanding route. Running from Roseville Yard, CA to Sparks Yard in Reno, NV, the route takes you high up into the Sierra Nevada range and along the infamous Donner Pass itself, complete with its tunnels and snow sheds and of course magnificent scenery. With hours of driving pleasure – and a few tough challenges along the way – Donner Pass: Southern Pacific is a ‘must-have’ for all fans of North American railroading. Includes Southern Pacific Dash 9, SW1500, SD40-2, SD40T-2 and GP9 and scenarios with good weather/bad weather variants.

Class 33 Locomotive (RSC) Out Now! - Railworks 3

2011-11-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

The Class 33 locomotive (RSC) has this evening been released via Steam.

The following is taken from the RailSimulator.com website.

Out now! The Class 33 (or ‘Crompton’ as it is popularly known) is a classic British Rail Southern Region diesel locomotive which first appeared in 1960 in the south east. The first British Rail locomotives to be fitted with a modern electric train heating system, the 33 quickly spread across the whole Southern Region and could occasionally be seen much further afield, mostly running passenger services but also turning its hand to freight operations. A total of 98 examples were built, fitted with 1,550-horsepower Sulzer engines, and 40 survived in service up to the privatisation of the network and continued working for their new owners, EWS. These have now been withdrawn from service, and a number survive in preservation today. The RailSimulator.com ‘Crompton’ comes complete with Sea Lion ballast wagons and 7 authentic liveries.

Iron Horse House - Class 33 Upgrade - Railworks 3

2011-11-24T03:26:00.000-08:00

Iron Horse House have announced the next of their stock upgrades to take account of TS2012 technology, the Class 33 pack. Even more exciting is that for a limited period, the price is £5.99 + VAT, excellent value. The following is taken from their website.

Further TS2012 upgrades, the class 33 Is now ready and released later today, the pack has been expanded to include the 33/1 variant ( sometimes you just can't leave some folks enough room :-) ).

Liveries are :-

33/0 in green, green small panel, green full yellow

33/0 BR blue, 33/1 BR Blue, 33/0 NSE, 33/1 NSE

33/0 in Dutch, Grey , Sector Construction, Sector Distribution.

I have also included a pre release model of the class 73... this will be for a limited time only

Yes, you did read that right, a pre release model of the Class 73 Electro-Diesel, a screenshot of which is below.

VDA Vans Expansion - Available Now - Railworks 3

2011-11-23T06:24:00.000-08:00

It's several weeks since they were released, but just in case anyone wasn't aware, Fastline Simulation have released an excellent pack of VDA Vans.

The VDA Vans are the second release in the Project East Coast range of add-ons for Railworks and were seen in most parts of the UK rail network during their lives. These vans come in a staggering 132 different versions and are available for the absolute bargain price of £3.

Go and pick up a bargain now here!

Class 325 EMU - Released 1st December - Railworks 3

2011-11-23T04:07:00.001-08:00

RailSimulator.com have today announced the release date for the forthcoming Class 325 postal EMU. The following is taken from their website.

Available for Train Simulator 2012 from 1 December! Looking like a freight version of the familiar ‘Networker’ classes, the Class 325 is a purpose-built electric mail train capable of running on 25,000-volt AC overhead lines or 750-volt DC third-rail lines. It is based on the Class 319 dual-voltage EMU and was introduced in 1995 to carry parcels on electrified lines, and intended to replace the older generation of locomotive-hauled mail trains. Visually, the most striking feature is the presence of roller-shutter doors instead of sliding passenger doors, and of course the lack of windows! Commonly seen operating along the West Coast Mainline, East Coast Mainline and Edinburgh-Glasgow line, the Class 325 can carry up to 12 tons of mail in each car at speeds up to 100mph. Complete with parcel trolleys and working shutters doors, and the dual-voltage pick-up systems the Class 325 is available from 1 December.

Armstrong Powerhouse - Station Lighting Enhancement Pack 2 - Railworks 3

2011-11-23T03:19:00.000-08:00

Armstrong Powerhouse have recently released their second station lighting enhancement pack for Railworks 3. The following is taken from their website.

Armstrong Powerhouse presents an enhancement pack for the station lighting on two of the most popular UK DLC routes for Train Simulator 2012. These routes are Bristol to Exeter & Portsmouth Direct.

Whether it's flying through the suburban stations of Portsmouth Direct or arriving under the great canopy of Bristol Temple Meads on Bristol to Exeter, this pack is sure to greatly enhance your night-time driving experience. Much care has been taken to ensure the colouring of the lighting is realistic in relation to each station in reality with the orange glow of tungsten lights being apparent as well as the whiter looking fluorescent ones.

Woodhead Line - Released 8th December - Railworks 3

2011-11-23T03:12:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have today announced the release date for the forthcoming and highly anticipated Woodhead Line. The following is taken from their website.

A superb Northern England line for Train Simulator 2012! The Woodhead Line will be available, complete with Class 76 locomotive, from 8 December. Running from Sheffield to Manchester via the rugged landscape of the Pennines, the Woodhead Line was electrified way back in 1955 with the Class 76 electric locomotive being built especially for the job. A major feature of the route is the Woodhead Tunnel system, comprising three tunnels (the third being added specifically for the electrification of the line) to enable the line to run through the hilly landscape of the northern Peak District. Closed to traffic since 1981, the Woodhead Line and its tunnels will once again provide hours of pleasure for rail enthusiasts in Train Simulator 2012.

Moving North - Railworks 3

2011-11-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Did this shot earlier this evening and was rather impressed with how it turned out. Bonus points for anyone who can guess the location of the distant hill......

DT OTA Wagon - Railworks 3

2011-11-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

In case anyone wasn't aware, along with the recent release of the Digital Traction Wagon Pack 2, they have also made one of the wagon variations available for free download.

An excellent gesture and very nice it is too.

More information and download here.

HIA Aggregate Hopper Wagon - Railworks 3

2011-11-18T01:20:00.000-08:00

Introduced in 2005 these 90 tonne capacity hopper wagons come in green and white as used by a major UK rail freight company.

Available now from the Waggonz website.

General Electric GG1 - Railworks 3

2011-11-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have today announced the forthcoming release of the General Electric GG1 locomotive. The following is taken from their website.

The fantastic, futuristic shape of the GG1 is instantly recognisable to rail fans around the world, and it will soon be available for Train Simulator 2012!

The GG1 (so named because it ran on an articulated pair of 4-6-0 frames or ‘G’ frames) was built by General Electric in Altoona, PA and entered service with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1935. The GG1 was a truly impressive locomotive, measuring over 79 feet long and weighing in at 475,000 pounds (215 metric tons), and capable of 100mph on lines such as the Northeast Corridor. 195 were built for the PRR, eventually passing into new ownership and continuing to work for Amtrak, Conrail and Penn Central with several remaining in preservation today. Complete with P70 passenger coaches, the fabulous GG1 will be available from December 8.

Just Trains - Class 67 Out Now! - Railworks 3

2011-11-17T08:56:00.001-08:00

Just Trains have now released their eagerly anticipated addon, the Class 67 locomotive "Advanced" which also includes IPA car carriers.

More information available here.

NSTPE "Transitional" Class 158 Pack - Railworks 3

2011-11-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

Now available from the DPSimulation website.

Donner Pass Release Date - Railworks 3

2011-11-16T05:24:00.000-08:00

RailSimulator.com have made an announcement regarding the upcoming "Donner Pass" route for Railworks 3. The following is taken from their website.

November 24 is Thanksgiving, and what better time of year for our biggest release ever – the 140-mile drama and majesty of Donner Pass: Southern Pacific!

Set in the early 1990s during the later days of Southern Pacific operation, Donner Pass: Southern Pacific is the longest route we have ever created for Train Simulator 2012, and puts you in the cabs of 5 different Southern Pacific diesel locomotives (including the SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor) as you test your driving skills on this demanding route. Running from Roseville Yard, CA to Sparks Yard in Reno, NV, the route takes you high up into the Sierra Nevada range and along the infamous Donner Pass itself, complete with its tunnels and snow sheds and of course magnificent scenery. With hours of driving pleasure – and a few tough challenges along the way – Donner Pass: Southern Pacific is a ‘must-have’ for all fans of North American railroading. Available from November 24.

Class 50 Locomotive Now Available! - Railworks 3

2011-11-16T05:23:00.000-08:00

The iconic Class 50 locomotive, developed by Meshtools and published via Steam by RailSimulator.com has now been released for Railworks 3. The following is taken from their website.

‘Hoovers’ at the ready! The Class 50 diesel locomotive is now available for Train Simulator 2012, with 9 liveries and scenarios for Oxford-Paddington and Newcastle-York, plus free roams for the West Coast Main Line (available separately).

Featuring a highly-detailed cab and realistic ‘weathering’ to the exterior, the ‘Hoover’ (so called because of the sound made by the loco’s air filtration system as first produced) was first built to haul passenger services on the non-electrified part of the West Coast Main Line, which it did for many years until electrification was extended. The Class 50s then found themselves in the Western Region and occasionally further afield, until reliability became a problem in the 1990s and multiple units were introduced in their place.

Recreate the days of loco-hauled passenger services and enjoy the detailed cab with opening windows, functioning wipers, instrument lighting and more. The Class 50 is available now priced £11.99.

The Class 50 Locomotive is available here

FTPE Vinyl Class 158 Pack - Railworks 3

2011-11-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

Now available from the DPSimulation website.

Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith - Railworks 3

2011-11-16T04:14:00.000-08:00

Today has seen the release of Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith, an excellent freeware route from author Ben Yates.

It recreates the 30 ¼ miles of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway in Cumberland (now Cumbria), England suitable for the period between 1930 and 1966.

A short section of the West Coast Mainline from Penrith to Clifton & Lowther, and the Eden Valley Railway from Eden Valley Junction to Weatheriggs, and the section of the
Cockermouth & Workington Railway from Cockermouth Goods Station to Brigham are also included for operational interest

It is available for download now at UKTrainsim

Getting Dirty

2011-11-16T02:57:00.000-08:00

Further to the post yesterday regarding the FTPE Vinyl reskin, I have now proceeded to add a weathered effect for enhanced realism. They were never very clean.

Just Trains - Class 67 "Advanced" Videos - Railworks 3

2011-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Just Trains have recently released a selection of videos which show some of the advanced features available in their upcoming Class 67 for Railworks 3.

FTPE Vinyl Class 158 Reskin - Railworks 3

2011-11-15T09:44:00.001-08:00

Should hopefully release this soon barring no issues. Will possibly be part of a pack including the Regional Railways variant that used the same vinyls.

Q1 Locomotive - Railworks 3

2011-11-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

Did you know?....................

That there is a Q1 Class Steam Locomotive available for free on DPSimulation? Created by Pete Gillam, the author of the excellent 56xx, the Q1 was designed by Oliver Bulleid for use during the war on the Southern Network and the first member of the class, C1, is a member of the national collection based at the NRM, York.

Download it now here

Iron Horse House Updates - Railworks 3

2011-11-14T03:52:00.000-08:00

Rolling stock provider Iron Horse House (IHH) have now started to roll out their programme of updates to incorporate TS2012 features.

Visit IHH now for details on how to upgrade.

Class 150 DMU Now Available! - Railworks 3

2011-11-14T03:48:00.001-08:00

An excellent collaboration between Thomson Interactive and Oovee Entertainment, the Class 150 DMU has been released.

Available now from the Steam store.

SGGRSS 80' Articulated Container Flat Wagon Available! - Railworks 3

2011-11-14T03:46:00.000-08:00

Capable of carrying 20',30',40, and tanks upto 120kph the SGGRSS 80' is widely used on the continent for rapid distibution of shipping goods

Available now from Waggonz

Cresston V4 - Screenshot Showcase

2011-11-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

Cresston V4 - Pre-Release Information

2011-11-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

With the release of Cresston V4 coming ever closer, I thought I would share some pre-release information about what to expect and what is included in the release. As the previous incarnations of the route have always seemed to be very well received, hopefully this information will be of interest.

It's worth noting once again from the outset that the payware "WCML North" route is required to run this final version of the route. There are various reasons for this which provide a benefit to me and to the route itself. Naturally, as the core of Cresston V4 is an electrified main line, the catenary from WCML North has completely transformed the visual feel of this particular line and coupled with the wide range of LED signalling, this also provides operational benefits.

Other features include:-

• Over 200 route miles, ranging from the 100 mile electrified main line, to various freight and passenger branches of differing sizes.

• Over 30 passenger stations, all with custom signage and varying amounts of realistic clutter.

• Multiple points of industry, from power stations, container yards, a mail depot, steelworks, logging yard and even a Tesco distribution centre.

• Many community suggested improvements have been implemented, such as an electrified traincare facility to extend scenario functionality.

• Parts of the original dated areas of the route have been improved/rebuilt ro reflect the improvement of route building standards since the release of previous versions.

• Over 100 custom assets with permission for them to be used and packaged with any freeware route.

• The route will come in a single package with all required assets included. Apart from the requirement of WCML North, no further downloads will be required to run the route.

• TS2012 features including custom night lighting utilised over the whole route in several variations with day/night cycle enabled and no shadow casting to improve efficiency. Certain portions of the route have also had track properties modified to reflect differing uneveness of track to help take advantage of the "cab sway" feature.

• 4 engaging scenarios included that utilise default stock alongside the WCML North (required) stock to enable users to run the route "out of the box".

• Further scenarios to be released either alongside the route or shortly afterwards which utilise available payware stock for a more realistic and immersive experience.

• Cresston V4 should continue from previous versions in being able to run on a wide array of systems and specs with the route having been built with efficiency as a top priority.

I still don't have a firm date on release at this moment in time due to the project being completed stage by stage, completely in my spare time. Despite this, I envisage that the route should hopefully be released either shortly before Christmas or early in the New Year at the latest.

Feel free to leave any questions/comments.

"National Express" Scotrail Class 158 Reskin

2011-11-06T03:22:00.001-08:00

Now available from the DPSimulation website.

Shop Til' You Drop.....

2011-09-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Kestrel Lives On!

2011-09-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Coming soon as a free gift from Iron Horse House, the prototype HS4000 locomotive known as Kestrel!

Check out http://www.ironhorsehouse.co.uk/ for further details.

Asset Packs Now Available

2011-07-20T01:41:00.000-07:00

Both of the new asset packs, Signal Boxes 01 and Warehouses 01 have been released over at http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/

Coming soon from DPSimulation........

2011-07-19T04:35:00.001-07:00

Cleveland Lines - Work In Progress

2011-06-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

Announcement - Cleveland Lines

2011-06-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

With Cresston V4 now coming to a close and hopeful of a release sometime towards the end of August, I have been looking for a new "spare time" project to follow it, another freeware route for the community.

Some who know me will be aware that in the early days of RS/RW, I had worked on the route from Darlington to Saltburn, however it never came to fruition for various reasons. Rather than start a new route from somewhere I am not familiar with, it was a no brainer to revisit my local area, a project that I could hit the ground running with that required little external research.

Rather than just build a specific line in the area, I have decided to create a completely new project under the "Cleveland Lines" banner. This means I can release the route in phases, pretty much like Cresston, and gradually add to the route in various directions to cover the whole Cleveland/Teesside/Yorkshire areas.

As with Cresston, this route will be built to the highest standard I can achieve, and will feature a wide array of custom assets. To avoid later confusion, I must stress from the outset that this route will require both the Edinburgh to Glasgow route by Thomson Interactive and also WCML North by Keith Ross/RSC. This enables me to take full advantage of the wide range of assets provided with these routes, allowing me to represent the area in the best way possible.

Screenshots to follow......

Cresston V4 Update

2011-06-14T03:36:00.001-07:00

Apologies for the blog silence recently, been a very busy time. To compensate, here are some of the latest development shots from Cresston V4.

"The Right Track" - Issue02 Available!

2011-05-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

The next issue, still very much work in progress but an improvement.

Can be viewed here or downloaded from http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/page_2400045.html

Something Different..........again

2011-04-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Take aim and fire!

2011-04-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

"The Right Track" - Issue01 Available!

2011-04-03T08:31:00.001-07:00

The "pilot" issue, please read and get involved.

Can be viewed here or downloaded from http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/page_2400045.html

PDF viewer required.

Two New Scenarios Available!

2011-04-03T03:15:00.001-07:00

There are now two new scenarios available from my website here http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/page_1921893.html

"1R45 - Edinburgh to Glasgow QS" for the Edinburgh to Glasgow route.

"A Change Of Plan" for Oxford to Paddington.

SPT Class 101 Reskin Now Available!

2011-03-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Download now from http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/page_1942940.html

Scenario "1R07 - Edinburgh to Glasgow QS" Now Available!

2011-03-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Scenario now available at http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/page_1921893.html

Class 58 - Coal Sector

2011-03-21T11:35:00.001-07:00

Reskinning is not normally my forte, however, I was fairly pleased how this turned out.

A trip with the NMT!

2011-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Just a "small" update showing some progress on Cresston V4. I have also added a nice storyline to try and make it interesting. :)

Awaiting the road south, the NMT sits at Crickfield as a GNER service arrives ECS from the main traincare depot. The East Coast operator only provides one service in each direction per day from this station.

Departing Crickfield, a rather large city with a population of around 400,000. As you can see, traffic can get quite busy on a morning!

With the outer suburbs of Crickfield starting to thin out a little, the driver opens up.

Passing Falmore, the first station en route. Only a one track platform situated off the main line, the Falmore layout forms part of a junction that serves the picturesque Hillerby line to the west. As well as the hourly passenger service, up until recently, this line used to provide regular Limestone workings.

Disappearing under the bridge, the Hillerby line can be seen diverging to the right.

With the station living up the "quiet" tag, the signal sets the road ahead at Pelton Wood, a small market town.

Now into the open countryside, the NMT passes the little used Network Rail maintenance depot with the driver now slowing for the restriction placed on the curves just south of here.

Snaking around the forementioned curves. This section is bound by a 50mph limit. In fact, the whole section between Crickfield and Welham is not especially fast with a maximum linespeed of 75mph.

Now entering the outskirts of Welham, the NMT passes various small industrial estates as it slows for the tight curve into Wexford Road.

Passing the now infamous "Richard Head Used Cars", the driver keeps the train at a steady 35mph.

Coasting through Wexford Road. This station has been earmarked for closure for many years due to it's close proximity to the mainline station at Welham but so far, pressure from local residents has managed to allow it to remain open. In fact, things are now looking up as Crosscountry now serve the station twice daily in either direction.

Looking from the north reception sidings, the train emerges from the branch alongside the main line.

Slowing for a signal check, the sidings can be seen in the background. Very rarely served these days, only the occasional timber or steel working uses them for run around purposes before heading south.

Now given the road, we see that the service has been allocated platform 1 where there will be a wait for mainline traffic.

Snaking its way across from the branch into platform 1, the driver applies the brakes in anticipation of the stop. Historically a place that has given headaches to the Network Rail planners, the single stretch and 15mph crossover from the branch means that any potential late running services can cause severe knock on effects to the rest of the timetable.

Congratulations RSC

2011-03-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

RailWorks 2 Train Simulator has been awarded the title Best Simulator of 2010 by the readers of Game Industry News (www.gameindustry.com). RailWorks 2, which was released on 18 October 2010, attracted more reader votes than its four competitors to take the Best Simulator category award. “We are absolutely delighted with this award,” said RailSimulator.com CEO Paul Jackson OBE, “and I would like to offer a heartfelt thanks to all those who voted for RailWorks 2, and of course to everybody who plays and enjoys our sim and forms a part of our growing community.” Nate Wooley, publisher of GiN, added “I've been a rail enthusiast for decades. Longer than I've covered the game industry, certainly. RailWorks 2 is the finest rail simulation ever released. I've gotten more enjoyment from it than any other rail sim. If you enjoy railroads you'll love RailWorks 2.”

Totham - Passengers, Power & Freight "Announced"

2011-03-14T07:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.justtrains.net/product.asp?pid=642