Latherbrush bridge

Latherbrush bridge which Etherley lane passes over.

This is a view from the other side from the image below, looking away from the station and i have also picked up the litter.

P.S. Thanks to my wife for the few hours i needed to make it.

x

Trip North

I had a flying visit to Bishop Auckland this weekend, mostly seeing folks, however I managed to get out and have a walk around town with my camera.
I managed to get images of Railway St all the way up to Cockton Hill school.
(It’s amazing how strange people think you are taking photos of buildings)

Here is a photo of the Bridge at Etherley lane looking towards the station, the view left me feeling sad.

Merry Christmas

All the best

regards

Derek

Dam head

WIP of the dam head view from the weardale line.
Newton cap viaduct in the back ground.
regards
Derek

View of Viaduct

I am waiting on a couple of books about Bishop Auckland station, however I am currently painting the terrain and laying some foliage. Here is a shot of the Viaduct from the Wear Valley line, I guess it is about a mile or so across the valley to the bridge, and about 5 or 6 to Binchester hill.
As you can see there are a fair number of trees, however in the 50’s it was not so over grown, in fact even in 80’s it was much more cut back, you could even see Newton Cap road bridge, but not anymore.

I look forward to posting up my version to see how they compare soon.



regards

Derek

Not much going on this weekend, I'm in quarantine in the attic, got the dreaded lurgy. Only lemsip and foliage to help me through it.




regards

Derek

3D track

I made the switch from a 2d loft to 3d sleepers. As you can see they make a world of difference.
Just need to make sure that the extra assets don't effect performance.
However they worked fine on the IOW route so no reason to worry too much.
As long as I don't create Shildon shops!




regards

Derek

I had a little bit of time to make some new lofts and foliage.
Just focused around the station bridge.
I am editing the terrian and foliage textures so they sit together.
Currently there are no assets from the core sim, I am only using 3 terrain textures (I will add more as I need them.) at the moment which means the route loads in under 2 seconds.
The more I add the longer it will take to load but hopefully much quicker than most.

regards

Derek

I had a few hours to work on some foliage, more shots to follow soon.

This week I have be mostly tracing roads in google earth, bringing the markers into Rail Simulator then laying key roads.

Once Newgate Street, Etherly lane and Escomb road are down the landscape becomes very familiar.
I will soon need to make a call on how many unique buildings and structures I'll want to model, not sure I'll be able to recreate everything.

BR Blue

Close to being the first 37 off the production line.

Class 03

I've not been in the right frame of mind to do much this week after dealing with some very sad news.


To keep busy I picked up an old loco and started to add some details.



I'm still working on finishing off the 37 engine and start the cab.

d

Spent am hour or so blocking out the BA station area, the 2d scale is about right but evreything else is just place holder.



I'll do further blocking out before I start to texture any of the elements.

derek

Just a quick one today. Blocking in colour and textures for the 37.
Had to remap a section around the grills as I had modelled them big. Interesting the errors you notice once you come to texture your shape.



derek

Signal box West!

Back on topic for once, I have managed to piece together enough to create the west signal box at Bishop Auckland, knocked down in the 70's, not sure when.

I have a painting of this signal box that shows the door on the left hand side however all the black and white photos show it in this location. The bricks look like a slightly different grade around that area so it probably was moved for some reason. If I find out I'll let you know.



I also bought a book this week about Bishop Auckland during the 2 world war by Barbara Laurie, not much information on the station but an interesting read none the less.

regards
Derek

Barrow Hill

Had my first trip to Barrow Hill at the weeked, and I have to say it is a wonderful place.
Up close and personal with so many different locos.
I'd like to say thank you to Paul and all the staff who went out of their way to help.
I now have a few ideas about what locos I'd like to model next!


Class 37 being moved onto the turntable.



Charybdis looking rather sorrowful.

Derek

Baked the main 37 body, still lots of bits and bobs to add but coming along nicely.


Derek

Hi, not much being going on this week (I seem to be saying this more often than not!), had a week off from work and mostly unwrapping the 37 (inbetween working on my Kitchen), nothing to see untill the shadow bake.
I did grab a few hours to cut out some leaves, 2 lofts and still lods more to make.
Off to Barrow Hill this weekend, first time and looking forward to it.


derek

Not much but it is a good start, now for the other hundreds of assets I need to build!





Derek

All but finished on the east signal box, It still needs a stencil shadow and a winter variation.
Might add some railing detail too.

Derek

Just a short update as my house feels like it has been put in a bag and been stomped on.

Still it will be worth it in the end, they keep telling me.

Anyway, managed to grab a few hours on texturing the East signal box. Still a further few hours required but am pleased with progress.

Next image will see it in the editor.

derek

Ok, last one on my 37 for awhile.

It may not look like much at the moment but it is set up as a basic diesel in RS.

I wrestled my way through Adam's 'how to' get an engine working doc.

Hi,
While I have not touched my route for a few days I have been busy with some other house keeping tasks.

At the weekend I left London at 5am to arrive in Bury for 8am.
Chris Baily kindly invited me to take pics of the 101DMU, I think this may just have to make it into my route as it was the train I use to travel to Darlington on as a Kid. (Though not in that livery!)




After a few hours in and around the yard (and a chat about maybe a future western) I jumped into the car and headed north.
Shildon and the Locomotion http://www.locomotion.uk.com/was my destination and a walk around the steam gala.
A big thank you to Anthony and friends for making me feel so welcome.


The Duke was very impressive...


Though it was nice to see a familiar loco...





A number of reference pictures from around the Bishop Auckland and Shildon area then back to my Brothers for some food and a sleep.

Up at 3am to make the long journey home to my wife and daughter.

A great day out but not one I would want to do every Saturday!

Derek

Well it seems this is turning into my class 37 blog, however at the weekend I am off on a research trip to photograph the class 101DMU, more on that later, for now here is the 37 with the fixed curved window and hinges on top panels.

Here is a model of Bishop Auckland's East signal box. As far as I know there was a north and west signal box but no southern one. If anyone one knows anything different please let me know.

I'll be modelling them all as separate assets.

I do have a few small photos of the signal box but nothing i can make a texture from. This will mean sourcing the correct bricks, slate and wooden planks from other buildings. Should be fine though and I am looking forward to seeing it brought back to life and finished for my route.

Derek

A little bit more on Sunday, still loads to do but taking shape.

Just a quick one for today, managed to grab an hour or two back on my 37.
Will it make it into the WVR route? only time will tell.



regards

Derek

Hi,
For some random reason I started modelling a few bridges first, mainly because I had good reference photos of them.
One of the major challenges of creating this route will be gathering the correct material. So much has gone and replaced with soulless buildings.
First up the station Bridge on Newgate St as it turns into Cockton Hill road.



I'm afraid I don't remember the lines ever going over the Viaduct. (Image below) Last train to go over the bridge was in 1968 I believe. (I will check)
I do remember the tunnel entrance on the bridge side that was turned into a shooting alley for the Bishop Auckland gun club.

The viaduct was going to be knocked down in the 90's however the whole town got involved and it was saved and transformed into a road bridge, the first of its kind in the UK.
I have very fond memories walking across this bridge, and the views were great of the valley in both directions. Hopefully I will be able to get this across when placing the assets.




More to come soon.

regards

Derek

Welcome, to the start of my Wear Valley Railway Blog.



Wearhead to Shildon and the Bishop Auckland branch lines are being developed as an addon for Rail Simulator.

http://www.railsimulator.com/

The main reason for producing this route is to recreate a much loved area that sadly no longer exists.
There are a few more reasons but those are best saved for a later date.

Brief History:

The first railway to Bishop Auckland opened in 1843 as an extension of The Stockton & Darlington Railway from South Church to The Wear Valley and the town eventually developed into an important interchange point with lines radiating to all parts of the railway network including Darlington, Crook (until 1939 this was a through route to Swalwell on Tyneside via Tow Law, Consett Steel Works [Derwent Iron Co], Shotley Bridge and the Derwent Valley) & Weardale, Spennymoor, Barnard Castle and Durham. The station was unusual in shape being triangular, it was no problem if a locomotive needed turning.
Find out more about the line Here .

Ok, getting started was the hardest part, I will leave you with the Bishop Auckland track laid within Rail Simulator:







Next time screen shots of some of my early assets.

Derek