A Trip on the Southwestern Flyer

[joeferrito]

Hey all!

Back into OpenTTD after quite the hiatus. Finally got a game going that I was satisfied with. Just finished laying my second division's worth of track and thought I might show it off a lil' bit.

Before I start, question: I've never used CargoDist before this game, and I really like it, but holy S**t some of my local trains are hemorrhaging cash. Is this normal?

Anyhow.

Brunham Citadel Station is the heart of the passenger network, and where we catch the southbound Southwest Flyer, the pride of the Great Southwestern Railway. Today the crack express is hauled by 2 "Illustrious" Class 4-2-2s. These locos are getting a little old, but their performance is still good enough to avoid their replacement by new, expensive 4-4-0s.

Great South Western Railway, 8th Dec 1908.png

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After about an hour, we reach Wunford. There's no scheduled stop here, but we're checked at the signal, so the driver of the pilot engine takes time to water No. 760.

Great South Western Railway, 3rd Jan 1909.png

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Out the left hand side of the train we can see the Wunford Industrial Complex - a metal fabrication shop, an iron mine and a farm. Lots of goods traffic passes through here - there are relief lines to the north as well as the south. Control appears to have sent us down the middle road today - we'll cross the bridge over the goods line as we continue towards Brindingworth.

Great South Western Railway, 11th Jan 1909.png

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[joeferrito]

On both sides of the train we can now see the town of Warnhall. This sleepy little village has become a major junction point on the GSWR. The iron mines in the area prompted the company to build the steelworks to the southwest - the ore unloading station and several inbound trains are seen. The massive 5 track station was built to join 3 branch lines heading in all directions. Today we're on the central avoiding line that runs right through the heart of the town. The council were unusually permissive in allowing its construction!

Great South Western Railway, 16th Jan 1909.png

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It's growing late in the day as No. 760 whistles for the approach to Brindingworth Central Station. Here we'll change locomotives for the Mountain Division - there are some heavy grades, and the company has splurged on its first 4-4-0s to tackle them. The Flyer departs behind 2 of these - No. 1000 "Pikkabird" (named after a common local animal) and No. 1045 "Tempest."

Great South Western Railway, 18th Feb 1909.png

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Soon we begin the climb into the mountains. The two Edwardians dig in for the long climb ahead, with the 1045 losing her footing several times. The train eventually tops the rise at a leisurely 45 miles per hour and rolls across the great steel bridge before the final, short climb to Bascom Summit, just beyond the rocky outcropping at the top of the picture.

Great South Western Railway, 3rd Mar 1909.png

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[joeferrito]

Soon we're descending, and eventually reach the lakeside city of Little Graborough Bay. Here we stop to take water - unfortunately the signalman lets a local stopping service out ahead of us - hopefully we'll pass him at the next town where there is a junction of some branch lines.

Great South Western Railway, 15th Mar 1909.png

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The 1000 decides to steam poorly and as a result we continue to taste the stopper's smoke. Soon the fireman has the bank built up nicely, however, and we rocket through the sleepy town of Gedingworth Falls only a few minutes behind schedule. Both Edwardians whistle loudly in greeting of the plodding railmotor on a service to a popular resort town to the East.

Great South Western Railway, 29th Mar 1909.png

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We manage to pass the stopper on a stretch of quadruple track near the end of the Division and roll into our final destination right on the advertised. We can now enjoy a relaxing few days in the bustling seaside city of Bonfinghill before catching the return Flyer.

Great South Western Railway, 8th Apr 1909.png

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[arikover]

Nicely done!

[S-Transport]

Nice!