These notes will help you get the most out of this project.
BACKGROUND
The route runs from Swalwell Junction on the Tyne Valley line west of MetroCentre, to Berwick upon Tweed on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). Local services between Swalwell, Newcastle, Morpeth, Chathill and Crag Mill Loop have been modelled, as well as main line services between Newcastle and Berwick, displaying most of the stopping patterns on the route. There’s also a freight run, modelled for three different engines. Each run has passing trains in more or less the correct places.
The route is set in the recent past, in mid-summer, though the timetable used is the current one (Dec 07 –May 08).
DISTANCES AND GRADIENTS
Between January and November 2006 I visited (on my bike!) as many locations as possible to take photographs and pace out such things as platform lengths. Photographs of Tweedmouth Box were provided by a forum member, and Google Earth used to estimate its size.
Gradients and distances have been checked against railway drawings, QUAIL maps, Ordnance Survey maps and Google Earth. I'm confident the gradients are correct, and signals, crossings and stations are largely in the right places. Curves have been estimated from Ordnance Survey maps and digital maps from Fugawi. I used the same maps to locate cuttings, and Google Earth to check distances, positions of buildings and additional foliage. Overall, I reckon the route distance between Newcastle and Berwick is correct to within less than 500m (ie., it’s about 99.21% accurate); the position of most structures is correct to within a few metres.
The steepest gradient on the main line is Benton Bank, north of Benton Junction, at 1 in 96. The approach to, and run through, Askew Road Tunnel before the King Edward Bridge has a 1 in 64 gradient.
ROUTE ELEMENTS
SCENERY: The scenery is as complete as it's going to get. I made a new ballast texture, and Steve Green provided a new track texture. I've used Switch to build custom radii curves and switches.
I've rebuilt MetroCentre to Bensham Tunnel to make it more realistic... could do with more houses in Dunston in the fullness of time.
Newcastle Central was completely new. I've built curved platforms for Newcastle, Manors, Cramlington, Pegswood, Widdrington and Berwick.
Overhead uses RouteBuilder elements, which I think look OK for gaming purposes; I've modified them to make them more "British" and a bit lighter, and to make the files efficient.
SIGNALLING: The ECML through Northumberland is largely three-aspect (it was done on the cheap!). It's signalled throughout for bi-directional working.
The route largely uses BRSigs from the trainsimcentral team. With permission, I've built some extra working feathers. I've added TPWS throughout. For version 1.1, I built a brand-new signal post.
Signalling is simplified at Newcastle, and there are probably not enough ground signals provided.
THE RUNS PROVIDED
All the runs use Platform 2 at Newcastle. This is an easement. Most local services usually use platform 5/6, but this would mean building a whole new station for those runs; so I've modelled them through P2.
Passenger runs are provided for the Voyager, HST, class 156 and both of the 142s now available. From December 2008, the Chathill services were often operated with a 158, although most of the 158s seemed to have left the North East by February 2008. I’ve used a 156 and a 142 so that I can show them as passing trains in other runs. If you wish to use a 158, you can edit the .Folder section of the route file – remove the ; semicolon from the train you wish to use, and place a ; semicolon beside the train you want to omit.
The drives vary in duration from 20 minutes to 1hr 43min.
One freight run - coal empties - is provided, for three possible locos.
Some notes on some of the runs and features:
I’ve modelled the complete service to Chathill and Crag Mill loops, together with the following high speed trains, two other local services, other high-speed services to show most of the stopping patterns, and a freight run.
Stopping Positions: unit-specific stopping positions are provided at Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth and Berwick.
1657 MetroCentre – Chathill: Like many parts of England, the ECML is particularly congested at teatime. The run that took the morning train an hour takes almost one and a half on this service, as it’s looped twice to allow faster trains to pass. You will see the 142 in the loops when you drive the 1728 220 and the 1740 HST. At Newcastle and Pegswood, switch on the DRA and go make a coffee....
Cramlington Station is hidden on a curve. Take power off after Dam Dykes LC, and start braking as the curve starts.
Morpeth Curve: really is as long as I've modelled it, and really is this tight. It has a 50mph limit, enforced by TPWS.
Approaching Alnmouth: Alnmouth is at the end of a significant “downhill” stretch. If you’re going through non-stop, you’ll still need a significant amount of braking to slow down to the 85mph line speed at the station. If you’re stopping, try starting to brake as you come off the curve before Wooden Gate crossovers (more than a mile before Alnmouth, before the loops start).
Approaching Berwick: Again, it’s significantly “downhill”, so brake in good time. The Royal Border Bridge is deceptive – it’s got an “uphill” gradient, but not enough to slow you.
Page updated 12 July 2008