Updates, Updates and More Updates.......................................

  As part of our Progress Report Day, we present a report on the various updates in development. Some of these updates are free, whilst others will be released as brand new products. We'll make it clear with each product whether they are free or not.

SDJR 7F Enhancement Pack Version 2

  It has been in development for some time, but thanks to the work of Chris Barnes and the advice of our testers, the new version will be released very shortly with a new, simpler installer, improved scripting, tweaked sounds and particles. This update will be free to all owners of the pack. If you purchased this pack before September 2013, and you haven't done so yet, please Contact Us for a download link from the current shop, and then the update will come to you automatically upon release.

GWR Hall Enhancement Pack Version 3

Here is an update that has been on the go for many months. It started out as simply adding snifter valve puffs of steam, for when the regulator opens. But now we have a rather a lot being updated. Here's a run down:

6960 Raveningham Hall

As packaged with the West Somerset Railway, we always felt that the livery was too dark for 6960 in it's current form. Will Cook took up the challenge of trying to better represent 6960's current lighter green, which it has carried since returning to steam in 2011. What do you think?

One thing has led to another and 2 brand new Hall packs are in production - more about that next time! 

Collett Halls by Will Cook

  Will has kindly updated the textures for his collection of Collett Halls that came with our enhancement pack. Here are some before/after images:

Chris Barnes has also managed to update many elements of his script. Here are the improvements:

• Fixed cylinder cocks effect bug on AI and static locos.
• Added AI controlled cylinder cock effects that automatically open and close realistically as appropriate.
• Reduced alpha channel of main smoke stack to make it look less lumpy.
• Upgraded cylinder cock effects that are timed with the wheels.
• Corrected the incorrect directionality of the vacuum brake handle on original RSC Hall.
• Regulator, firebox lever and large ejector now grab-able in-cab.
• Added simple brake operation of auto-ejector when the brake valve is at the far right position.
• Added steam chest with realistic delay and jigger/jockey valve deadzone.
• Toggle between steam chest with authentic brake operation or simple regulator with auto-ejector.
• Improved water in gauge glass sloshing effect.

All the above will be applied to the Falmouth Branch Hall loco. However, we will no longer be supporting the old and long withdrawn HallPack01 Halls. This update is nearly ready and will be made available free to current owners.

Steam Era Carriage Sound Pack Version 2

 It has been our desire for a long time to update this pack. However, whilst in the process of working on the carriage sounds for the Peppercorn A2 Pack, we realized that a completely new pack was in order, not just an update. We have learn't, and recorded a lot more since version 1 was released. What's more, there are an awful lot more carriages that we can add our sounds to! PLEASE WATCH THE BELOW PREVIEW VIDEO:

This pack will have to be released as new, meaning a new payware package. However, we feel confident you will all feel it's worth picking up. Version 1 will remain available for those that want it. Here is a full list of the carriages which will have these new sounds applied:

> MT Collett

> MT Hawksworth

> MT LMS Period 3

> MT Bulleid Set

> DT Maunsells

> DT Teak Set(All Liveries)

> N15 Add-on Mark Ones

> WSR Mark Ones

> DT GWR BSet

> Falmouth Branch Mark Ones

> Kuju Mark Ones

> Settle to Carlisle Mark Ones

> Woodhead Mark Ones

> B1 Add-on Mark Ones

> GWR Centenery Coaches

More may well be added before release! If you have specific request, feel free to comment below.

Some Smaller Updates

•  A much smaller update will be for the Tornado Sound Pack. An AI controlled loco will now have improved cylinder drain cocks code to improve realism. 
• Another intended update is for the LMS Jubilee Sound Pack as we wish to add improved exhaust loops for higher speed running. The dreaded 'machine-gun' effect was more than I could cope with when driving a 'Jub' the other day!
• West Somerset Railway Members Edition is receiving a little bit of attention. Added are some new ambient sounds, and track rumble sounds. Scenery adjustments are being contemplated, but not certain of that yet.
• Adjustments are planned to the 8F Collection packages to overcome the issues some have had installing.
• The Jacobite Pack will be updated soon with improvements to the carriage sounds and adjustments to the scenarios. New scenarios may be added, but there are limits to what can be done that's new.

That's all for now. We hope to get as much of this cleared ASAP! 

Another Month - Another 2 Miles! Wycombe Railway Progress Continues. . . . . . . . . .

 Another 2 miles. "Is that all!?" you may say. However, as you'll see, these 2 miles are packed with sidings, and masses of detail and a major destination/starting point - Oxford!

Above, a Castle is seen passing Kennington Junction, heading north to Oxford. The Wycombe Railway branches off here, and crosses the Thames.

Left: Looking south from the end of Hinksey Up Yard, towards Red Bridge. Two extra lines were laid during the War. The signal box was built to Air Raid Precautions specifications with 14 inch walls and an eleven inch thick concrete

roof [The Heart of the Great Western/A.Vaughan]

 

Thanks to Mr John Yelland for allowing the use of his signals. The current signal placement will be subject to some revision.

 Right: Hinksey Up Yard. It was built by Italian PoWs in 1942 in preparation for the D Day invasion. 

 Below are a series of shots featuring Hinksey Yard, both Up and Down. The lakes on either side were formed after gravel was excavated during the construction of the original line. 

The Devil’s Backbone is the name given to a footpath which crosses the site of the Up and Down yards on long bridges.

 Below: We are approaching Oxford Gasworks. In the 1950’s the Gasworks operated 2 Bagnall 0-4-0's and a Peckett 0-4-0. [Rail Centres: Oxford/ L.Waters]

Below is the gasworks bridge over the Thames. The bridge survives, however it stands alone. The area is now a grassy park.

Below: We return to the mainline, cross the Thames and approach South End Yard

Various views of South End Yard:

Now we arrive at Oxford. The original Oxford station wasn't on the present site. In 1844, a terminus station opened in what is now Western Road, at Grandpont. When the Oxford and Rugby Railway began building their line to Banbury(the line onto Rugby was later abandoned), they built a through station on Park End Street in 1852. Operational difficulties dictated the closure of the Grandpont station and the ORR station became the main Oxford station. When the London and North Western Railway opened a station in Rewley Road, the GWR station was renamed Oxford General. 

  

 Oxford General was a busy place! There were fast services calling there, goods traffic and branch trains serving the Wycombe Railway, the Oxford, Witney and Fairford Railway and the Blenheim and Woodstock Branch. As well as that, Southern Railway through trains, to and from the north, would call at Oxford General. Here, a locomotive change would take place. Trains heading would more-often-than-not change to Great Western Power, while trains heading south would often have a loco change to a Southern loco. 

Oxford Rewley Road closed in 1951, and Oxford General became simply Oxford once again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Right: A Castle-hauled train  passes under the Osney Lane  footbridge and past Beckett  Street Yard. with the Oxford Skyline in clear view. The Manor is acting as station pilot. In the Picture above, a Southern Railway 'King Arthur' class is waiting to take over an inter-regional train.

That concludes our update of things with the Wycombe Railway version 2. As you can see, Peter is making wonderful progress! Enjoy the following images to conclude:

Above, a Great Western Hall arrives at Oxford with an inter-regional service, heading south. The King Arthur is ready to take over.

Above: A Collett 0-4-4T is ready to leave Oxford with a stopper along the Wycombe Railway.

In the above two images, a Stanier 8F is handling a mineral train passing Beckett Yard and passes under the Devil's Backbone bridge.

More Soon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Two New Loco Packs Coming Soon

Double Chimney Standard 4 4-6-0

  WE ARE absolutely delighted to announce that very soon we will be releasing the Double-Chimney Standard 4 4-6-0 for Train Simulator! 

  A class of engine introduced in 1951 for secondary routes, the 4MT's were a really successful design. Some were fitted with a double-chimney to improve steaming and power. It is thought by some, that a double-chimney class 4 is almost the equal of a BR Standard 5! The BR2 and BR2A tenders were intended for use with these locomotives. However, the last 15 were built and allocated to the Southern Region. These loco's were given the larger BR1B tenders, due to needing a higher water capacity on the Southern routes. This is because there being no water troughs on the Southern Region. 

  All locos will come with an extensive set of particles and authentic sounds. The full set of features are still being finalized.  

  We're working on the final touches now(no timescale known for this). So, hopefully it wont be too long before you can enjoy the sight and sound of a double-chimney BR Standard 4MT on your computer!!

Single-Chimney Standard 4 4-6-0

  It's also with great pleasure that we announce that the single-chimney version of the 4-6-0 will be available soon as well. These locos were previously available from Digital Traction. However, they have been extensively updated with improved textures, steam effects and SSS sounds.

 Both the BR2 and BR1B tenders will be made available in the pack. As with the double-chimney pack, the final features have not been finalized. We'll announce news on these additional features soon.

More Soon. . . . . . . . . . .  

Wycombe Railway and Joint Railway Extends Towards Oxford

Peter Brings us up to date with progress being made with version 2 of the route:  

In our last report we told you about reaching Morris Cowley on the High Wycombe to Oxford line. Well, now the line has reached Kennington Junction, where it joins the Didcot to Oxford line. Here are some pictures:

Approaching Littlemore Station on the southern outskirts of Oxford. It was built in the shadow of the Oxfordshire County Lunatic Asylum.

Coal trucks for the Asylum were positioned on a wagon turntable over which locos were forbidden to go.

The original station of Littlemore burned down and the GWR replacement was in the style of the Joint Line.

The track on the left was a very long siding. There was no passing loop here.

The view from the road bridge. My attempt at the asylum was built from WH sheds and AP stations.

Here is an old postcard of the scene

Beyond the bridge the line descends through a cutting which has been quarried.

A spur off the main siding served a National Benzole oil terminal.

The long siding ended at a source of sand where trucks were occasionally positioned so the station staff could fill them.

They were possibly then taken to Oxford loco shed.

Descending to the Thames valley

Crossing the Thames at Kennington

Joining the Didcot to Oxford line at Kennington Junction for the marshalling yard at Hinksey just south of Oxford

Looking north towards Hinksey yard which was built in 1943 to handle wartime traffic.

On the horizon are the dreaming towers of Oxford gas works.

Southern Region train heading for the north via the Great Central

Heading for Thame and Princes Risborough Crossing the River Thames

Looking back towards Kennington Junction and the bridge over the Thames

More Soon. . . . . . . . . .