South Lancashire & North Cheshire
Version 4
**If new user, please download/install v4 route & assets before v5** |
Version 5
|
South Lancashire & North Cheshire v5.0 - Updated 11/11/2022
By Andy Freeman and Nick Hudson
Nick sadly passed away suddenly at the end of 2020. Nick created all of the track and signalling infrastructure, custom road traffic and reskinned several assets for the route – he was always far ahead of me with the track and had already completed the track through to Crewe ( along with sections between Manchester and Wigan, Frodsham to Hooton and the Northwich area ). I have decided to complete the scenery on all sections for which Nick had completed the track and associated infrastructure.
I dedicate this section of the route to Nick, we never met in person but I regarded him as a friend.
Andy
This Network is a continuation and enlargement of our previously published route "Liverpool to Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly - BR Blue Period". Details for that are included in one of the Manuals included.
South Lancashire and North Cheshire were at the forefront, and remained at the heart, of the railway revolution, initially because of the vast amount of industry based there, but also because of the vital link between the south and the north of the country (primarily London to Glasgow and Edinburgh). We aim to recreate this in the time period of 1975 to 1985. Because there were significant changes to the infrastructure during this era, some parts of the network will have a much tighter time frame (which could be different to other parts). The major part of the network will be based on several lines linking the two major cities of the North West - Liverpool and Manchester. The River Mersey, and then the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC) were the first links, and then came the various railway lines. We will also build the West Coast Main Line between the two railway centres of Crewe and Preston, and then link these two to Liverpool and Manchester. Another rail centre is Chester, as it has an important junction of lines. This will be connected to the other major cities in the network. Throughout the build, many of the industrial plants (and the power stations needed to generate the energy required to operate them) will be modelled.
The network will be released in stages, usually after a phase has been completed.
The planned phases are:
0. Liverpool to Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly
1. Warrington to Speke (connecting with the existing section of the WCML, and leading to Garston)
2. Warrington to Chester
3. Golborne to Wigan North Western
4. Wigan to Preston.
5. Runcorn and Warrington to Weaver Junction, and then on to Crewe
6. Windsor Bridge to Wigan Wallgate
7. Wigan to St Helens to Huyton Junction
8. St Helens to Widnes
9. Windsor Bridge to Euxton Junction (WCML)
10. Crewe to Chester to Hooton, and Hooton to Helsby
11. Crewe to Piccadilly
12. Mid Cheshire line (Chester to Piccadilly)
13. Stockport to Warrington
14. Others to be decided
Images of the progress of the build can be found at our Flickr site SLANC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/167137878@N03/albums/72157704083164142
Quick Drive scenarios from Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly, Wigan North Western, Chester station and goods yard, Preston station and goods yards, Warrington Bank Quay and goods yards, Garston goods yard, and Wilderspool loop are included. A large number of other scenarios are included with the route.
As well as the passenger stations, goods yards and carriage sidings, there are a number of facilities for loading/unloading freight. These include coal mines, power stations, minerals terminals, container facilities, plus non-working timber, oil, chemical and tar terminals.
This phase of the route covers the section between Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe, with the addition of the line connecting Ditton to Weaver Junction enabling through trains to be run from Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe. We have also added the industrial network at Weston Point.
DLC Requirements
keithmross\WCML2-WCMLoverShap
Kuju\RailSimulator
DTG\NorthWalesCoastal
RSC\LiverpoolManchester
RSC\UKLEDsignals01 (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
RSC\APStation (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
RSDL\Foliage01 (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
UKTS Scenery Freeware packs required
Blocks-Lofts-Bridges#1 v1.0.9
Clutter#1 v1.0.6
Commercial#1 v1.0.3
Foliage#1 v1.0.3
Housing#1 v1.1.1
Industrial#1 v1.0.3
Railway_Buildings#1 v1.0.4
For those who do not have these items already installed, they are available, free of charge, from http://www.uktrainsim.com/FreewarePacks/, or http://www.trainsimdev.com/forum/downloads.php?cat=22
Also included are PreLoad files which enable the stock from the following to be used as AI and statics in the Quick Drives (you can still choose whatever stock you have as the Player Consist).
DT\DT_class40; DTG\BRBluePack01; DTG\Class_45Pack01; DTG\Class24Pack01; JustTrains\Class20; Keithmross/WCML2; Kuju\RailSimulator; MichaelWhiteley\Class 50; RailRight\Class40Blue; RSC/BritishRailClass101; RSC/Class31Pack01; RSC/Class86Pack
PLEASE READ THE READ-ME for instructions on how to install, don't worry, it is simple.
Several other sets of assets have been used within the route, the developers of these have given us permission to bundle these in the download package and will be automatically installed when you install the Asset Pack.
This route regression could not have been built without the use of assets created by many authors who have donated the results of their efforts to the community. We are extremely grateful to them all, and in particular to those who have permitted us to bundle the majority of the assets into a Pack to make installation easier - in alphabetic order of Producer:
5653Barham, Ash Lightfoot, Bluebell Railway, Brendan, briyeo, CaptainBazza, Carinthia, Chaddock Engineering, Cunningn, Developer, DPSimulation, Futch, GordonMack, JeffLayf, Mundo, Niall Wallace, northernwarrior, NZTSWS, peterbot, PierreG, richardmaxted, Speedypete, Whittaker, Willburton, Wotawally, Yelland and all those who have contributed to the UKTS freeware packs.
We are particularly grateful to John Yelland, who has constructed a number of custom signals for this, and other routes we are building. And also to Brian Yeomans (briyeo) who has made a number of models for the route, particularly a new set of blueprints (Geo files) to replace the ones from WCMLoS for various signs so that they too can be bundled with the assets.
All station signs have been changed to 1980s BR, and many structures reskinned (see patch details below).
Please note - this is not, and can't be, a photo-realistic representation but is designed to have a 1980s "feel". Please see our comments on the earlier Phases. Many structures have been created out of default assets, so may not necessarily look like the real thing, but the asset box is limited.
Use of the AP Track Enhancement Pack
As the route has been created from the original “RSC - LiverpoolManchester” it is possible to use the Enhancement Pack from Armstrong Powerhouse to change the sleeper profile and ballast. All should be well, but there may be some visual anomalies with relation to trackside terrain and structure levels. One of our beta testers has got around this by using RW_Tools to raise the track by +0.07, and then lowering associated lineside objects (AWS, signals) by -0.03. If you are unsure how to do this, ask on one of the Railworks/UKTS forums.
We have also created some new track types - Track Concrete 01 Joints, Track Concrete 01 oily – these are not registered with the AP TE, so have to be made to look like the original Track Concrete 01 – an extra Asset pack is available for this. ONLY USE WITH THE AP TE
To re-emphasise- Once you have downloaded and installed this Route, Manuals and Asset Packs (which include a number of Reskins), the model blueprint files (which need to be present on the recipient's computer) have to be copied and pasted into the relevant folders - a batch file to do this automatically is included, it is a simple operation, and a Readme is included.
By Andy Freeman and Nick Hudson
Nick sadly passed away suddenly at the end of 2020. Nick created all of the track and signalling infrastructure, custom road traffic and reskinned several assets for the route – he was always far ahead of me with the track and had already completed the track through to Crewe ( along with sections between Manchester and Wigan, Frodsham to Hooton and the Northwich area ). I have decided to complete the scenery on all sections for which Nick had completed the track and associated infrastructure.
I dedicate this section of the route to Nick, we never met in person but I regarded him as a friend.
Andy
This Network is a continuation and enlargement of our previously published route "Liverpool to Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly - BR Blue Period". Details for that are included in one of the Manuals included.
South Lancashire and North Cheshire were at the forefront, and remained at the heart, of the railway revolution, initially because of the vast amount of industry based there, but also because of the vital link between the south and the north of the country (primarily London to Glasgow and Edinburgh). We aim to recreate this in the time period of 1975 to 1985. Because there were significant changes to the infrastructure during this era, some parts of the network will have a much tighter time frame (which could be different to other parts). The major part of the network will be based on several lines linking the two major cities of the North West - Liverpool and Manchester. The River Mersey, and then the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC) were the first links, and then came the various railway lines. We will also build the West Coast Main Line between the two railway centres of Crewe and Preston, and then link these two to Liverpool and Manchester. Another rail centre is Chester, as it has an important junction of lines. This will be connected to the other major cities in the network. Throughout the build, many of the industrial plants (and the power stations needed to generate the energy required to operate them) will be modelled.
The network will be released in stages, usually after a phase has been completed.
The planned phases are:
0. Liverpool to Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly
1. Warrington to Speke (connecting with the existing section of the WCML, and leading to Garston)
2. Warrington to Chester
3. Golborne to Wigan North Western
4. Wigan to Preston.
5. Runcorn and Warrington to Weaver Junction, and then on to Crewe
6. Windsor Bridge to Wigan Wallgate
7. Wigan to St Helens to Huyton Junction
8. St Helens to Widnes
9. Windsor Bridge to Euxton Junction (WCML)
10. Crewe to Chester to Hooton, and Hooton to Helsby
11. Crewe to Piccadilly
12. Mid Cheshire line (Chester to Piccadilly)
13. Stockport to Warrington
14. Others to be decided
Images of the progress of the build can be found at our Flickr site SLANC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/167137878@N03/albums/72157704083164142
Quick Drive scenarios from Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly, Wigan North Western, Chester station and goods yard, Preston station and goods yards, Warrington Bank Quay and goods yards, Garston goods yard, and Wilderspool loop are included. A large number of other scenarios are included with the route.
As well as the passenger stations, goods yards and carriage sidings, there are a number of facilities for loading/unloading freight. These include coal mines, power stations, minerals terminals, container facilities, plus non-working timber, oil, chemical and tar terminals.
This phase of the route covers the section between Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe, with the addition of the line connecting Ditton to Weaver Junction enabling through trains to be run from Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe. We have also added the industrial network at Weston Point.
DLC Requirements
keithmross\WCML2-WCMLoverShap
Kuju\RailSimulator
DTG\NorthWalesCoastal
RSC\LiverpoolManchester
RSC\UKLEDsignals01 (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
RSC\APStation (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
RSDL\Foliage01 (included with most DTG/RSC routes)
UKTS Scenery Freeware packs required
Blocks-Lofts-Bridges#1 v1.0.9
Clutter#1 v1.0.6
Commercial#1 v1.0.3
Foliage#1 v1.0.3
Housing#1 v1.1.1
Industrial#1 v1.0.3
Railway_Buildings#1 v1.0.4
For those who do not have these items already installed, they are available, free of charge, from http://www.uktrainsim.com/FreewarePacks/, or http://www.trainsimdev.com/forum/downloads.php?cat=22
Also included are PreLoad files which enable the stock from the following to be used as AI and statics in the Quick Drives (you can still choose whatever stock you have as the Player Consist).
DT\DT_class40; DTG\BRBluePack01; DTG\Class_45Pack01; DTG\Class24Pack01; JustTrains\Class20; Keithmross/WCML2; Kuju\RailSimulator; MichaelWhiteley\Class 50; RailRight\Class40Blue; RSC/BritishRailClass101; RSC/Class31Pack01; RSC/Class86Pack
PLEASE READ THE READ-ME for instructions on how to install, don't worry, it is simple.
Several other sets of assets have been used within the route, the developers of these have given us permission to bundle these in the download package and will be automatically installed when you install the Asset Pack.
This route regression could not have been built without the use of assets created by many authors who have donated the results of their efforts to the community. We are extremely grateful to them all, and in particular to those who have permitted us to bundle the majority of the assets into a Pack to make installation easier - in alphabetic order of Producer:
5653Barham, Ash Lightfoot, Bluebell Railway, Brendan, briyeo, CaptainBazza, Carinthia, Chaddock Engineering, Cunningn, Developer, DPSimulation, Futch, GordonMack, JeffLayf, Mundo, Niall Wallace, northernwarrior, NZTSWS, peterbot, PierreG, richardmaxted, Speedypete, Whittaker, Willburton, Wotawally, Yelland and all those who have contributed to the UKTS freeware packs.
We are particularly grateful to John Yelland, who has constructed a number of custom signals for this, and other routes we are building. And also to Brian Yeomans (briyeo) who has made a number of models for the route, particularly a new set of blueprints (Geo files) to replace the ones from WCMLoS for various signs so that they too can be bundled with the assets.
All station signs have been changed to 1980s BR, and many structures reskinned (see patch details below).
Please note - this is not, and can't be, a photo-realistic representation but is designed to have a 1980s "feel". Please see our comments on the earlier Phases. Many structures have been created out of default assets, so may not necessarily look like the real thing, but the asset box is limited.
Use of the AP Track Enhancement Pack
As the route has been created from the original “RSC - LiverpoolManchester” it is possible to use the Enhancement Pack from Armstrong Powerhouse to change the sleeper profile and ballast. All should be well, but there may be some visual anomalies with relation to trackside terrain and structure levels. One of our beta testers has got around this by using RW_Tools to raise the track by +0.07, and then lowering associated lineside objects (AWS, signals) by -0.03. If you are unsure how to do this, ask on one of the Railworks/UKTS forums.
We have also created some new track types - Track Concrete 01 Joints, Track Concrete 01 oily – these are not registered with the AP TE, so have to be made to look like the original Track Concrete 01 – an extra Asset pack is available for this. ONLY USE WITH THE AP TE
To re-emphasise- Once you have downloaded and installed this Route, Manuals and Asset Packs (which include a number of Reskins), the model blueprint files (which need to be present on the recipient's computer) have to be copied and pasted into the relevant folders - a batch file to do this automatically is included, it is a simple operation, and a Readme is included.