Northern Illawarra V2.0 - Sydney to Wollongong

BrianB · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:38 pm

It can now be revealed that the next version of Northern Illawarra, V2.0 will extend the route North from Waterfall right into Sydney Central (and Darling Harbour).

Originally, I had only intended it to go to Sutherland (the edge of the Sydney Metro Area), but the attraction of the 'gauntlet track' over Como Bridge got to me, then I thought why not take it 'up the hill' to Hurstville (where the quad-track starts), but it kept eating away at me, so I thought I'd go to Meeks Road Junctions, where the Metropolitan Goods Lines diverge from the Main Illawarra lines, then I thought its only a few extra miles to go to Erskineville to meet up, where Peter Newell's 'Coals to Newcastle' route ends.

Then I tried an experiment - and it worked!!!!.

With Peter's generous permission, I have been able to merge the last four Sydney end tiles from CTN onto the top of NI - so, we now have the full route from the buffer stops at Sydney Central (and from Darling Harbour) right down to Wollongong. As the main intent of this Sydney end extension was the correct operation of trains along the Main Illawarra Lines, I have selectively 'pruned' some of the non-essential signals and other interactives from the 'borrowed' CTN tiles to help reduce the load on MSTS in these heavily populated tiles.

I'm also including the first stations (but only the first stations) on the Bankstown line out of Sydenham (Marrickville), the East Hills line out of Tempe (Turrella), the Cronulla line out of Sutherland (Kirrawee), but the Royal National Park line will go all the way to the terminus near Audley (remember this timeframe was before the Tramway Museum took over that section of line). These extensions are mainly to allow AI 'red rattler' suburban electric traffic in the background for 'Driver' activities over the Illawarra Main.

But don't get too excited - I'm not intending the route to grow into a de-facto full Sydney Metropolitan Electric Route!!!!

I'm aiming for around the end of September / early October for release. Trackwork is laid, but there is still a LOT of work to do yet!!!

So far, only two minor problems with V1.0 have been advised to me, and they have been corrected, and will be issued as part of the new V2.0

Secondly, I have now accepted an offer from another well-respected Australian route author to do thorough Beta testing, not only over the new V2.0 work, but also retrospectively over the original V1.0 work. This can only help to enhance the quality and accuracy of the Northern Illawarra route. All due thanks to Allan Lowndesborough (author of the excellent 'Adelaide and Hills' route) for his valuable input.

Further information and screenshots will be provided, as and when they come to hand!!!

Regards, Brian Bere-Streeter

taggy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:09 pm

BrianB mate, you are a champ. I will be able to run the Illawarra Express all the way from Central! Best of luck in you route building. Oh, btw, I am enjoying V1 heaps! Laughing

Aaron

3801, pure beauty.
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trolleybusracer · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:40 pm

V 1 rocks i love it

nazarail · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:12 pm

sounds awsome look farward to seeing some pics of it, also will be good to compaire it to the same line im building in trainz.

the right place at the right time
http://nathanlyons.fotopic.net/ updated! 29/3 NOW WITH EMUs

BL35 · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:34 pm

are you going to put the xpt maintenence centre in?

'On my train layout, I can just lift trains from one track to another (Five Finger Shunting).
Why Can't The Railways?

Cs4 · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:35 pm

I think you'll find that Brian is modelling the era beofre the XPT maintenence centre was built.

Cheers

William

Fred3801 · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:47 pm

GeoffreyHansen · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:04 am

What was at Meeks Road before the XPT maintenance centre?

BrianB · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:43 pm

Meeks Road Junctions – within this triangular space were a small number of local sorting and storage sidings for both Up and Down traffic, along with a siding for the Electricity Substation, one for the Pumping Station and one for the Permanent Way Department.

PhilChorusch · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:39 am

Hi Brian,

I was wondering would it be possiable if I could have a copy
of either this route or the prevous version please
you don't have to if you don't want to
mate it's becasue I have tryed looking for
it but cannot find it

Thanks for reading my post mate cheers

ARG706 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:45 am

It's not released.

Cautiousness is very wise when distributing an unfinished product

Chris Anderson · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:48 am

But... but... but.... GIMME!!!!

Mr. Anderson... surprised to see me?

Henry · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:45 am

Chris Anderson · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:58 am

Wrong Illawarra route Henry... nice try though.

Brian's route is out there on "the net", but it is version 1. Version 2 will come out when it is finished.

Mr. Anderson... surprised to see me?

steam4me · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:39 am

version 2 is finished......... it's currently with th packagers.

PHIL, SHUT UP................ DON'T SAY A WORD.... NOT A WORD ...................

Yuri.

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