KWVR REPORT - Worth The Wait!

If there is one question we are asked more than any other, it is this: 'How is the KWVR coming along?' We haven't posted any new screenshots for quite a long time. For a while, the question of how the route is progressing has been a difficult question to answer. Why? Because for a few months we were stuck. Stuck by an problem none in our team of Steam Sounds Supreme, Vulcan Productions and Skyhook Games had a solution to - getting signals & level crossings to work! We were in danger of the project stalling completely. What would we do. . . . . . . . 

A few months ago, Mark from Vulcan Productions, told me he had a positive discussion with a well known signal and script creater. Step forward Mark Brinton!! We were delighted to welcome Mark into the team. And it's given the project the injection it needed in order to move it towards completion. All the signal are now working! And baring one or two fixes, the level crossings work too. As you will see in the following screenshots, things in the route are looking really good now. News and updates will become more frequent from now on!

So lets take a trip along the line, with Black 5 45212 in charge:

45121 makes a powerful display departing Keighley

Topping Keighley Bank and Coming Onto the Great North Straight

45212 Arrives at Ingrow West

Ready to Depart Ingrow Through the Tunnel

Approaching Damems. The signal is clear.

The Black Five Raises the Echoes in the Worth Valley Departing Damems

The signal is clear at Damems Junction.

Rounding the curve half way between Damems and Oakworth

Approaching Oakworth Platform

Passing through Oakworth station

Powering away from Oakworth

45212 is digging into the climb towards Mytholmes tunnel

Approaching Haworth

Having passed through Haworth 45212 now pass the locomotive sheds.

Accelerating away from Haworth

The final approach to Oxenhope

So what's left to do?

While Mark.W tackles the last areas of scenery, our job will be to work on the audio over the next few weeks. Echo and reverb effects will be added as well as ambient audio, which was recorded around the real railway. Sounds will also be added to the custom signals.

In an effort to make train movements around Haworth shed work within a scenario, a set of ground signals have been created:

All the signalling needs a thorough test to make sure they work as expected. But Mark.B has done a terrific job!!

On the loco front: The feature locomotive - BR Standard 4 75078 - has a script bug which we are looking into with the help of our friend Chris Barnes. Once that is complete, scenario creation will start.

NOT LONG NOW FOLKS!!
 

The Hunslet Fitzwilliam - An In Focus Special

The Hunslet Engine Company was founded in 1864 in Hunslet, Leeds. The company manufactured steam-powered shunting locomotives for over 100 years, and currently manufactures diesel-engined shunting locomotives. The Hunslet Fitzwilliam was a batch of identical engines built for work at collieries and quarries. Preserved examples include Ring Haw, Kingsley* and Newstead. Ring Haw is in traffic and operational at the North Norfolk Railway at the time of writing, and is a very popular locomotive.

*It was discovered that Kingsley had aquired the tanks of Fitzwilliam at some point. So this loco might also bear that name. 

The long-awaited Hunslet Fitzwilliam locomotive pack is almost ready to launch. Here's what you've got to look foward to:

Hunslet 0-6-0ST in Five Liveries

This punchy little tank engine comes in 5 liveries. They are as follows:

So that's Black, Prussian Blue, NCB Maroon, Red and Green. There is also a separate model depicting Ring Haw with a fixed nameplate(more about nameplates below). 

Lamps and Discs

In-game you can set any combination of lamps or discs on the locomotive using the keys Ctrl+1, 2, 3, 4 for front lamps. Ctrl+5 gives you a rear red lamp in the front number 4 position. Ctrl+6, 7, 8 & 9 will put lamps on the bunker.

For discs, you use Ctrl+Shift+1, 2, 3 & 4 for the four front disc positions, with Ctrl+Shift+5 used for a rear disc.

 And similar to the lamps, Ctrl+Shift+6, 7, 8 & 9 puts discs on the bunker.

Changeable Additional Fittings 

With all the locos apart from Ring Haw, you can also add a vacuum chamber and handrail to the front of the loco. Ctrl+N adds/removes a vacuum chamber to the front running plate, on the drivers side, next to the smoke box. Ctr+M adds/removes an additoonal hand rail round the top of the smoke box.

Fully Detailed Cab

Dynamic Nameplate

The loco comes with the ability to create your own name for any loco. The plate has a 9 character limit. Here is a full list of names that will be generated when you place the loco on the track in scenario editor or load a QD scenario: 

- RING HAW -

- JESSIE -

- NEWSTEAD -

- KINGSLEY -

- HUNSLET -

- BEATRICE -

- REVENGE -

- THE FITZ -

- WILLIAM - 

PLEASE NOTE: Some names have been made up. To create your own name, double-click on a loco in scenario editor, and enter a new name in the loco name/number field. The name must be 9 characters. Use a - to create a space.

Other Features

There are many other features for you to enjoy including:

• Custom Sounds Recorded from Ring Haw
• Realistic Particle Effects
• Animated Inside Valve Gear
• Quick Drive Ready
• Scenarios for Just Trains North Norfolk Railway and Andy Gough's superb rendition of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

To run the included Quick Drive consists, you would benefit by owning the following stock:

• Falmouth Branch(Steam)
• GCR Demo Freight & Windcutter Wagon Packs(SSS)
• West Somerset Wagon Pack(SSS)
• Woodhead Route(Steam)
• 4MT Tank(Digital Traction)
• BR Wagons Pack(Digital Traction)

 And to run the included scenarios, we recommend you have the follwing installed:

• 4MT Tank(Digital Traction)
• GNR N2(Digital Traction)
• BR Wagons Pack(Digital Traction)
• SR Vans(Digital Traction)
• Wagon Pack 3(Digital Traction)
• Departmental Wagon Pack(SSS)
• LMS Period 3 Set 2(Marketplace)
• Gresley Teaks Sets 1, 2 & 3(Marketplace)
• Y14/J15 Pack(SSS)
• 4MT 2-6-0 Advanced(Just Trains)
• Great Central Railway(SSS)
• UKTS Freeware Pack UK Wagons(UKTS)
• UKTS Freeware Pack UK Carriages(UKTS)
• BR Standard 9F(Steam)
• Falmouth Branch(Steam)
• West Somerset Diesels(Steam)
• Wear Valley(Steam)
• GCR Demo Freight & Windcutter Wagon Packs(SSS)
• BR Standard 4 2-6-4T Enhancement Pack(SSS)
• LMS Black 5 Pack(SSS)
• Ian Riley Black 5 Pack(SSS)
• West Highland Extension(Steam)
• Raven Q6(Steam)

So that covers everything you can look forward to in this new locomotive pack, brought to you by the Rust Engineman's Loco & Carriage Workshop. Pre-order customers can expect an email about downloading the pack very soon!!