Australia New South Wales Government Railways NSW Ballast Train Version 1.0 BBS Files are dated February 2005 =========================================== Designed by Brian Bere-Streeter Email: bbss@bigpond.net.au Chief Executive Officer The Short North Carriage and Wagon Engineering Workshops Suppliers of Bespoke Carriages and Wagons for Microsoft Train Simulator - for New South Wales Government Railways Routes =========================================== 1. Model Details 2. Installation Notes 3. Historical Notes 4. Copyright, Distribution, Terms of Use =========================================== 1. Model Details Original 3D models of NSW Ballast Train - by Brian Bere-Streeter Original 3D models of Workmen - by Chris Heighton (morpethcurve) These new wagons came about, because of a need to create authentic train formations for use on the Microsoft Train Simulator route - 'Coals to Newcastle' - by Peter Newell. These models would also be suitable for working from the Ballast Quarry at Bombo, on the `Illawarra - Stage 1 - Kiama to Bombo' route by Paul Woozley. New models were created for: NSWGR BBP Bogie Ballast Plough Van NSWGR BBW 40T Bogie Ballast Hopper - empty NSWGR BBW 40T Bogie Ballast Hopper - loaded Special wagons for a STATIC CONSIST set-piece scenario: BTIS-1 - Ballast Hopper with scenic un-ploughed ballast attached BTIS-2 - Ballast Plough Van with scenic ploughed ballast attached See also Special Note below regarding the 3D Workmen Having spent some considerable time repainting others models, this is another venture into building new rolling stock from scratch. I am not yet skilled enough to build transparent windows and interiors, but many of the other NSW coaches and wagons do not either. They may not be the most detailed or totally accurate, but in the absence of other better models, I hope you enjoy running them on your NSW routes in MSTS - at least it gives a bit more variety and authenticity to your passenger and goods train workings. These models are for your personal use only, and may not be sold or distributed in any way without the original creator's permissions. =========================================== 2. Installation Notes Double click on the self installing EXE file and follow the instructions. The models will be automatically installed into a folder called << AU_nswBallastTrain >> Sample consists for a typical loaded Ballast Train and an empty Ballast Train are included. Please note - the Consists as supplied use the D50 Class 2-8-0 engines by Paul Gausden - use the Activity Editor to substitute any appropriate NSWGR locomotive to suit. There is also a special consist called << Ballast_Train_In_Section >> - this consist is designed to be used only as a STATIC CONSIST in an Activity scenario. There are two `special' wagons - a ballast hopper, with a scenic section of heaped, un-ploughed ballast trailing from it - and - a ballast plough, with a scenic section of flat, ploughed ballast trailing from it. The Consist is setup with a D50 loco, several loaded ballast wagons, the `special' hopper, another normal empty hopper, and finally the `special' plough van. It is designed so that it gives the appearance of a ballast train performing re-ballasting work, a strip of heaped ballast appears to come from under a partially empty ballast hopper, this heaped ballast strip runs underneath another empty ballast hopper, and partly under the plough van (up to the plough itself). Then there is another strip of flattened ballast representing ploughed ballast extending from under the centre of the plough van for a couple of hundred metres behind the van. It is designed to be placed on any suitable long straight section of track as a STATIC CONSIST - your scenarios would then require working all other normal trains around the worksite area. You could use AE to place a temporary speed restriction (default is 15mph) on the parallel tracks beside the ballast train work area. Please be aware that the `Ballast Train In Section' Consist is NOT DESIGNED to be used as a driveable consist (even though it has a driveable loco). You will need to create either a new consist to use these wagons, or add them to an existing consist. Consists are made, or edited, using MSTS Activity Editor or Carlos Gomes's ConBuilder. =========================================== SPECIAL NOTE: Also included in this ballast train pack, is a set of 3D workmen, comprising a group of 3 workmen, a single flagman and a single lampman. These were originally created by Chris Heighton (morpethcurve), and have been included with his generous permission. The original figures are in a comprehensive British rolling stock pack along with J27 locomotives and wagons called << UKTS_9782_J27_Trainset_V1.1.zip >>. This J27 pack is available for download from << www.uktrainsim.com >> As a minor concession to `Australian-isation' the workmen texture files have had the hair colour darkened to a more typical Aussie dark brown, and the overalls texture to the dark Navy Blue colour typically used by Aussie workmen in the 50's and 60's. The workmen have been especially set up by Chris as `wagons' - this is so they can be placed in various positions as static consists in Activity scenarios, rather than as a permanent part of the scenery in a route. When used with the `Ballast Train In Section' static Consist, it is suggested that one or two of the 3 workman group be placed about 2-3 wagons lengths behind the plough van, with the flagman and lampman each being about another 2-3 wagon lengths behind them. The attached screenshots BallastingWork1 and 2 give some idea of how to do this. =========================================== 3. Historical Notes The two main sources of ballast for track use on the NSWGR, were at Bombo on the Illawarra line, just north of Kiama, and at Martin's Creek, approximately half-way between Maitland and Dungog, on the North Coast line. Prior to building the BBW bogie ballast hoppers, NSWGR used 16T MH 4-wheel hoppers; a total of 105 MH's were built in 1931 and 1938 (metal bodied equivalents to the typical wooden LCH wagons used by most coal mines), for transporting ballast. Photographs showing Ballast Trains in use on NSWGR, generally show a typical consist of six or nine bogie ballast hoppers and a bogie Ballast Plough Van, which would be within the typical 550 ton loading capacity for a Superheated Class D50 2-8-0. Another common ballast train consist would comprise a set of BBW bogie ballast hoppers, then a bogie plough van, following behind these would be a small number of S-Trucks (maybe 4 or 5) loaded with `fines' for use on pathways and other paved areas around yards and stations, all this was then tailed by a normal LHG goods brake van. The Bogie Ballast Plough Vans, as well as having normal accommodation for the train Guard, also had additional accommodation for the Ballast Train crew. The twin centre-mounted ploughs under the floor would be wound down to track level by a set of winding gear inside the van. The plough van had two sets of ploughs, so that track ballasting activities could be carried out in either direction to suit conditions at the work-site. Watching a ballast train in action was fascinating - the train would pass slowly over the worksite at about walking-pace. The ballast train crew would walk alongside the BBW's using the control wheels to deposit a long inverted triangular strip of ballast between the rails; just enough to prevent the new ballast from fouling the wheels and causing a derailment. When the plough van reached the new ballast, with the plough lowered to working position, it would spread an even layer between the rails; the angle of the plough ensured the surplus ballast was directed over the head of the rail to the outside and also ploughed in an even layer. Once a suitable section was covered, the train would stop, and the fettling gangs `dress' the ballast in the normal manner. Prototype information for these models has been researched from the following sources: " Day of the Goods Train" , Preston, Eveleigh Press, 2002 "Railway Freight Wagons of New South Wales", Beckhaus, SCR Publications, 1970 =========================================== 4. Copyright, Distribution and Terms of Use -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These train models are released as Freeware. Copyright (C) Brian Bere-Streeter As freeware you are permitted to distribute this archive subject to the following conditions: - These models are intended for private, non-commercial use only; - These models and any of their associated files may not be retro-engineered or used for any purpose other than its original intended use without the prior written consent of the author; - Persons wishing to repaint this model may do so by requesting copies of the original texture files from the author; all such repainted or modified versions must acknowledge the author of the original work; - This archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with any original files added, removed or modified is prohibited without the permission of the author; in particular, this text in its entirety must not be removed or altered; - This model may not be distributed on CD without the prior written consent of the authors; - The inclusion of any individual file from this archive in another archive without the prior permission of the authors is prohibited; - No charge may be made for this archive other than that to cover the cost of its distribution. If a fee is charged it must be made clear to the purchaser that the archive is freeware and that the fee is to cover the distributor's costs of providing the archive; - This train is provided AS IS, I assume no responsibility or liablity for any MSTS or system hardware/software problems you may encounter after installing this train; - By downloading and/or using this model, you have agreed with these terms and conditions of use; - The authors' rights and wishes concerning this archive must be respected; - Copyrights: * MS Train Simulator, MS Windows: Copyright Microsoft Corp 2002 * 3D Model: Copyright Brian Bere-Streeter 2005 * Textures: Copyright Brian Bere-Streeter 2005 All other copyrights & trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. =========================================================================