[OTTD] Dave's New Screenshot Thread

[Dave]

Yet another new game... I've really put some thought into the story and how things have organically grown but it'll no doubt be short lived. Standby for yet another excuse for having a power station before its time...

It's 1872, and the Stockton Railway have constructed lines to a new coal yard, where coal is stored in large circular towers for distribution by local merchants. The complex consists of a pair of yards, a West and North yard, with a single line connection between the two. In the V of these two are the railway's works - a multi-purpose facility combining locomotive production with carriages and wagons. Workers make their own way to the facility and can then hitch rides to the various locations served by the company in open wagons. This practice has long been condemned by the Board of Trade, but it hasn't yet got round to serving an improvement notice on the Stockton. For its own part, the Stockton's directors had no qualms with disobeying the Board, and actively encouraged workers at the mines and quarries to use empties from the yard to get to work.

In this shot, engine No. 3 0-6-0 Long Boiler leaves the West Yard with empties to the Rothwell Colliery Company. You can see a rake of new wagons being prepared for the company's other coal service from the Deeney Coal Company, where a new seam has been found. An extra engine - No. 5 for this frequency increase is on No. 3 road in the shops.

Stockton Yard.png (192.86 KiB) Viewed 2515 times

Shortly after opening the line to the Deeney Company, the Ilkley Quarry Co was established to quarry limestone from a rich outcrop west of the River Sherhead. The line was partially funded by the company, due to the cost of building a bank and bridging over the river at a suitable location. Here we see Engine No. 41 0-4-2 Tank at the head of a short train of 4-wheel gravel wagons, waiting for the up coal to clear the junction. Note the embankment which extends from the main line to the bridge. This formed much of the cost of the railway. Engines number 41 and 44 operate these trains on a daily basis.

Ilkley River Branch.png (250.55 KiB) Viewed 2515 times

Finally, we see the town branch from the West Yard to Stockton North Goods. Originally passing loops existed north and south of the bridge, but with the company's intention to build a double track passenger railway from here to Rothwell to facilitate better movement of workers in the area, the company had gained planning rights to build a station on the site of the north loop. The station works are yet to begin, but an extra bridge deck and the line south of the river have been completed - note the new connection from the south loop to the new stretch.

Stockton Plans.png (564.9 KiB) Viewed 2515 times

[Dave]

I've settled right into this game... Here's a few more.

Between 1872 and 1877, the Stockton Railway benefited from the trade investment boom seen across the country, and quickly extended south west. The land south of Stockton was undulating, and a rather circuitous route was taken to avoid large sums of money being spent on earthworks.

Here's the station at Stockton. Note the bay and short branch down into the town - the Stockton recognised that building the station on their alignment to North and Co Engineering meant their station was poorly placed for the town's growing population. An 0-4-4T Metropolitan No 1501 Sandy works the branch.

Stockton Station.png (515.51 KiB) Viewed 2436 times

In this shot, centred on the market town of Rothwell, you can see the main line work its way south through the hills, including the Rothwell Tunnels on either side of the town.

Rothwell Mainline.png (371.52 KiB) Viewed 2436 times

After reaching the foothills, the mainline then passes through Aldershot, Halifax and Sittingbourne before arriving at the capital city of Newton at a station befitting of its stature. The city faces the town of Lyonshall across the water, but the Stockton hasn't yet convinced the towns of a need for a packet steamer to connect Lyonshall to the railway.

Newton.png (540.96 KiB) Viewed 2436 times

[Dave]

With boom times continuing and the Stockton renamed the South Central Railway, the company quickly expanded their metals to the south coast.

At Aldershot, the lines branch with stations on both sides of the town - the company considered a single junction station here but were convinced not to by the town's decision to pre-empt the national Sanitation Law requiring building of new homes to replace slum housing in urban areas. The road having already being laid out, the station's location seems strange at this stage, but plans will see the town surround the station.

Aldershot.png (626.92 KiB) Viewed 2435 times

The south end of the line again splits into two and serves the twin towns of Rushden and Grays. Grays is larger but Rushden is much more advanced in building laws and is expected to grow quicker than Grays. Both stations have provisions for future extensions. Despite the towns' close proximity, a short branch line runs between the two stations. Note the "backwards" facing bay at Rushden. In this zoomed out shot, 0-4-4T Metropolitan No. 1502 Sarah heads a train on the branch line, and 2-2-2 Lady No. 1011 leaves Grays with a service to Newton.

South Coast Twins.png (395.26 KiB) Viewed 2435 times

The railway to Grays and Rushden splits at Welwyn Junction. Saxondale is the resulting junction station with 4 platforms. The town refused planning for a new building and so the company, in classic 19th century corporate petulance, have bought the land and refuse to return it to for the town's use.

Saxondale Junction.png (503.83 KiB) Viewed 2435 times

[Dave]

Finally, here's a set of shots from Halifax throughout the period.

First in 1873, here's a shot of Halifax shortly after the railway arrived in the town. A sleepy place interrupted by the snarling, dirty, noisy metal monsters.

Halifax 1873.png (218.2 KiB) Viewed 2434 times

And then in 1875, when the railway had opened to the south coast, we see the impact of Aldershot's two separate stations. Passengers now use Halifax as an interchange to get to Stockton. The company had built two extra platforms here but were already being swamped, necessitating a rethink.

Halifax 1875.png (216.85 KiB) Viewed 2434 times

And here's the solution in 1877 - a station the grandeur of which had until this point been reserved for important stations. An extension had been made and plans to separate Stockton and South Coast trains were also afoot. The large town of Stanley to the north offered an extra connection, and the town of Halifax would never be the same again.

Halifax 1877.png (228.61 KiB) Viewed 2434 times

[arikover]

Nice screenies! And nice story too.

[Pilot]

These are looking excellent Dave

[Kerbiter]

Nice screenies! In which GRF I can find these stations?

[Dave]

Search Alexandra Palace and British Stations on BaNaNaS

Meanwhile, no screenie, but a Network Map from 1884. It's grown again!

[Chrill]

That is nice looking. I still cannot figure out how to create such route maps!

[Kevo00]

Great set of screenshots and great story Dave! Love the 'town branch'.

[Dave]

15 years after the last set of screenshots, here's some more...

First at Halifax, which is now the central hub of the network, and has grown to 6 through platforms. A 2-2-2 Lady is steaming in from the south coast, whilst at the bottom of the shot an 0-4-4T is drawing, bunker first, a local train to Stanley. These trains have already started to omit Sittingbourne, and there is an expectation they will eventually be cut back to Halifax, due to the congested main line to Newton.

Halifax 1892.png (638.53 KiB) Viewed 2160 times

One of the few additions to the main line between Stockton and Halifax is this pair of branches either side of the South Rothwell Tunnels. Alexandria Quarry sends gravel to two locations - a longer train hauled by an 0-6-0 Goods takes gravel to North Engineering in Stockton. The shorter, hauled by an 0-4-2T, forms short trip workings between the two - note how it generally stays at one end of the train, pushing and pulling as necessary. Another of the standard 2-2-2 Lady-led consists heads south past the intriguing working.

Alexandria Branch.png (783.8 KiB) Viewed 2160 times

Whilst a strong passenger network was the basis of the company's strategy in the 1880s, it was the vast industrial potential of the south west which forced the company's hand towards the end of that decade. Whilst Nantwich had been connected in 1884, the proposed line across the Great South Plain wasn't built until 1890. Only one intermediate station exists at Whitstable, but the strength of this mainline is the new Oil Works at Whitstable and two lucrative undersea coal mining operations at Nantwich. The eastern end of this line terminates at Grays, but a loop connects the line to Saxondale (High Level) - an oil field exists north of the station, whilst clay trains reverse here to head to Aldershot Yard (next screen).

saxondale-1892.png (714.15 KiB) Viewed 2160 times

[Dave]

In the fork of the main lines at Halifax, a transfer and trip yard has grown. In this shot you can see a clay trip train for the brickworks at Rothwell loading. Clay comes from the South and is transferred across trains here.

Aldershot Nth Yd.png (264.87 KiB) Viewed 2157 times

The company's passenger network, whilst booming, has been tacked on and added to as and when required... Now, 22 years after inception, a company of 74 trains, 10 trams and 3 ships will be dramatically overhauled using existing stock to create a frequent, reliable passenger service for passengers in the south west.

Here's the expanded Route Map

SCR1892.pdf

(37.15 KiB) Downloaded 120 times

The company still operates from its single works at Stockton - it's time for remote depots to be built at strategic locations across the network.

[S-Transport]

Very nice pictures!

[STD]

Great story. Awesome screenshots

[Dave]

By 1895 the company's ambitious plans to spread their operations across the network were almost complete. The screenshots that follow are a selection of the new facilities.

First at Stockton, the large roundhouse has been constructed - here it is before use. Most engines that operate into or around Stockton are allocated here.

Stockton-Facilities-1895.png (604.02 KiB) Viewed 1984 times

On the other side of the city, a carriage siding has been constructed next to North and Co yard. The bridge deck has been widened to increase capacity before the peak, and an extra platform has been added at Stockton, allowing for an extension of the overall roof. The company has ambitious plans to reroute the River Stock to allow a better approach, and also to extend the Town Branch through the town, north to the goods lines near the company works, and on up the hill to Ilkley.

Stockton-North-1895.png (664.73 KiB) Viewed 1984 times

At Flaxpool, the yard and small shed (a company-standard 4-road design) extend to either side of the railway. 1318 waits at the head of 7L42, an iron ore train for the United Steel Co in Lyonshall. 0-4-4T Metropolitan No. 1507 Frances leads 2F90, the local passenger train from Flaxpool to Zeals through on the main line.

Flaxpool-1895.png (556.33 KiB) Viewed 1984 times

[Dave]

Here, 0-6-0 Goods No. 1319 steams through the Lyonshall Forest complex, with 7L05 to United Steel. In this shot, Lyonshall Forest hasn't yet opened. Here's another 4-road roundhouse, and some storage sidings on both sides of the railway.

Lyonshall-PreOpening-1895.png (372.51 KiB) Viewed 1978 times

At Halifax, wholesale changes have taken place - the small lake which sat next to the railway has been filled in, and the railway has been rerouted through to Sittingbourne. A large carriage complex, with sidings facing in both directions, sits near the station. The long term intention is to quadruple between Newton and Halifax, adding a new intermediate station to the new suburbs on the far side of Newton Bridge.

In this shot, 2-2-2 Lady No. 1006 Baroness Lyonshall approaches Halifax with 1G20 to Grays. Classmate No. 1008 Viscountess Witney wait for the road towards Newton, with a service from Rushden. It will follow No. 1003 Princess Mary which originated in Stockton. 4-2-2 Spinner No. 801 City of Stockton takes on water in platform 5 with a limited-stop train from Stockton, which now takes advantage of the new avoiding line.

Halifax-West-1895.png (719.84 KiB) Viewed 1978 times

Finally, the company's southern base is at Whitstable, where a huge roundhouse faces the marshalling yard. There are also repair shops for all vehicles. Shore Yard has the grandiose flyover for trains to and from Whitstable. Partially obscured by the forest is 2-2-2 Lady No. 1024 Lady Lovesey, Baroness Zeals, with 1L21, the long distance train from Grays to Lyonshall, where it connects with the ferry to Newton. 0-4-2T No. 204, which was recently removed from the Whitstable Fuel Oil trip train in favour of a cheap 0-4-0ST Industrial, sits alone on number 5 road. [I know it's bad form to use big screenshots, but do open this one, it's worth it.]

Whitstable-Complex-1895.png (733.32 KiB) Viewed 454 times

[Dave]

Finally, as usual with any game I've settled into, I've established a database which I can refer to when posting screens. This one's a bit more detailed than usual, and notionally shows trains and consists as they stood on 28th December 1894. It's not finished.

South Central Railway Database.xlsx

(63.39 KiB) Downloaded 70 times

That day was the sad day when Daniel William Borthwick, company chairman and chief engineer, died at the age of 73 after a short illness. His son - Andrew Invictus Borthwick - immediately succeeded him as chairman of the South Central, and appointed the assistant chief engineer Charles D. Tollington to the top engineer role. For the first time, the railway had two different personalities at the head - something which is to cause severe tensions as it moves into the 20th century.

South Central Railway Roll of Honour.png (22.63 KiB) Viewed 1976 times

Finally tonight, compare this shot with the one here http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php? ... 0#p1158633...

When built, the tiny branchline between Rushden and Grays passed through fields. It now winds its way, via a new intermediate station, through a dense urban area.

twintowns1894.png (253.01 KiB) Viewed 1975 times

[Dave]

It's New Year's Day 1895.

Engine 201, a spunky little 0-4-2 tank and the hero of our piece, has been operating as Stockton Works Pilot since the closure of the Ilkley Quarry Company. With the opening of the wagon works at Alexandria, the wagons it had been using were scheduled for cleaning and repurposing for a new coal stream.

201 was tasked with this move. Wily old hack Alfred Bone and his cheeky young fireman William Cockle, the bain of poor Alfred's life, were in charge. James Grant was the man down the back. Here's a picture of Alf and Willie posing with their engine out near Quarry Jn just after the end of trains to Ilkley.

201.jpg (46.51 KiB) Viewed 1874 times

Having done a bit of "creative shunting", as Alf put it, the train ended up marshalled on the engine shed. The shed foreman watched in horror as Willie wound the turntable round and then called the train back. Here we see 201 pulling away. What you don't see is the foreman chasing the loco out of his yard!

Behind the shed, 0-6-0 Goods No. 1308 struggles along with a loaded coal train on its way to Stockton Yard.

201s-adventure-1.png (136.07 KiB) Viewed 1874 times

201 sidles past Stockton Works Box. James has got the heater on in the brake van to stave off the crisp cold day. Alf and Willie have got the warmth of the fire, but that doesn't stop Alf knocking up a brew and observing his young mate firing to get the engine ready for its unsually long run.

"Ere, Alf, when you gonna do a bit of work, eh?" asks Willie. Alf growls and clips him round the ear for his troubles.

201s-adventure-2.png (176.78 KiB) Viewed 1874 times

[Dave]

After working their way through the yards and sidings at Stockton, and reversing in the station (where Alf picked up three papers, much to Willie's bemusement), the little train starts. As they cross over the viaduct and past the Viaduct Box, one of the papers flies out of the cab and onto the steps of the signal box. Jimmy the Signalman waves.

No. 803 City of Oldham passes the other way with some armoured 6-wheelers full of valuables.

201s-adventure-3.png (132.21 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

The train is booked via the Avoider, to keep it away from the congested valley line through Rothwell (although, in a classic piece of railway planning, the train reverses at the brickworks in Rothwell anyway). Here it is passing emerging from Rothwell Bottom Tunnel. Alfred opens up the regulator and might be going a tiny bit quicker than the 40mph the wagons are permitted to do. James the Guard curses him out loud.

201s-adventure-4.png (220.11 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

Here's what happens to the other paper. Another fling and the paper ends up... embedded in one of the windows at Rothwell Valley signal box... The engine's out of sight before Bobby, another signalman friend of Alf, can emerge from the box and tell Alf what he thinks! Willie chortles on the footplate.

201s-adventure-5.png (200.58 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

[Dave]

Alf shuts off steam as they approach Halifax. There's a bit of a layover there whilst Alf runs round and the station pilot puts James' brake van on the other end. In this shot you can see 1015 Lady Andrews of Rothwell heading north with a train to Witney, whilst 1005 Countess of Newton and 1013 Baroness Welwyn both have trains in the station.

201s-adventure-6.png (308.97 KiB) Viewed 1867 times

The train stops at Aldershot Yard to let a couple of passenger trains pass. Here's Alf storming off as the signal drops from the siding, but he'll have to stop sharpish as the yard exit signal is against him to let 1002 Baroness Alexandria pass with a semi-fast to Stockton via Rothwell. 201's classmate 203 is the station pilot today.

201s-adventure-7.png (76.32 KiB) Viewed 1867 times

Another wait and run round at Harris & Co... Alf leaves Willie on the engine to have a brew in the Rothwell Stationmaster's house... He knows everyone, does Alf!

201s-adventure-8.png (217.27 KiB) Viewed 1867 times