Seasons Greetings

Thank you for your support in 2014 and wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We look forward to making the rolling stock in the picture and some other items available to you in 2015.

Carflats: Trio Variety Pack

If there is one group of rolling stock that provokes huge amounts of discussion it's the carflats generally converted from mark 1 coaching stock under-frames as people try to trace donor vehicles and the like.

With the bullion carriers out of bounds as they had their shape test the chance was taken to wrap up the outstanding bits of the carflat shapes. The renders below show the three base shapes that will probably be continued through to release.

A dia. 1/088 carflat with steel ends, buckeye couplings, dual brakes, fixed sides and Motorail branding boards.

A dia 1/177 carflat with wooden ends, screw couplings, shorter split sides, vacuum brakes and through air pipe.

Based on a dia. 1/133 carflat, this render shows what appears to have been a later modification with taller split sides. The wagon itself is vacuum braked and has a number of wheel chocks on the deck used to stabilise vehicles.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Simple Barriers

A conversation with one of our customers asking about barrier wagons reminded me that we've already shown you the barrier wagons converted from HEA hoppers but hadn't got round to showing the full body versions.

These probably count as some of the simplest conversion going with just a change of TOPS code to identify their change of use. Most of the hoppers were looking pretty scruffy in this use but some did receive Railfreight Coal livery and will feature in a future post.

Bullion Carriers: Flat Completed

It's always good to get back to grips with projects and see them make tangible progress, especially after the trials of the previous few weeks.

The shape for the Bullion flat is now complete along with the containers for it to carry.

Built at Derby in 1971 the flats usually worked with the Bullion Vans converted in the mid 1960's from Mk1 BSK vehicles. Descriptions of the flats varies from reference to reference with some likening the to Frightliner flats but with buffers and B5 bogies and others to Mk1 underframes. Through the modelling process it would appear that the second description is much closer to the reality.

Also available in blue

When the battery powered Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) signs were first introduced around 1979 they were equipped with blue and white lettering which was then replaced with the yellow and black versions we posted previously from 1986.

As this was a relatively easy modification to make to the existing versions it seemed sensible to include them in this pack. With the exception of a little weathering the models are now complete and attention is turning to the manual and installer to accompany them.

Once released the signs and additional assets included with them will allow you to include Temporary and Emergency Speed Restrictions in Train Simulator scenarios from the late 1970's through until the mid 1990's

Battery Powered TSR Signs

We released a limited set of battery powered Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) signs with the ZCA Sea Urchins a couple of years ago and there was always the intention to complete the set and release them as a free download.

With the recent battle involving the website completed the need was felt for a quick win project to get back a productive feeling and the TSR signs fitted the bill.

The set now includes a wide number of variations of speed across the different styles of board and has gained arrows for restrictions that are through a junction ahead and a newly modelled Emergency Restriction of Speed (EROS) board too.

Most the modelling is now complete with just a few last tweaks needed. A folder move from out of our CommonAssets folder is also planned to make the filtering of the different types of signs a little more controllable.

The installer for the boards will edit the existing assets to mark them as superseded but make no other changes so as not to break existing scenarios.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Sparkling CEAs

Time is always at a premium over the summer months with all those little jobs and fun family things to do! However, time has been found to finish the last of the models and base liveries to be included in our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion pack for Train Simulator 2014, a milestone marked by the completion of the CEA hoppers.

For a small fleet of hoppers the variation in livery and lettering they have gained since conversion, when they were a nice uniform fleet, is amazing. As a consequence the red liveries are a bit of a best fit compromise that gives the correct feel but isn't necessarily correct for every wagon.

The first picture in the post shows a red liveried CEA (one of the few converted from the early batch with central ladders) in what feels like a bit of an interim livery to spruce up the hoppers but still very much in the style of the original Loadhaul livery.

 This second hopper has gain fully branded red and gold livery. Even with this livery there is little standardisation in the extents of the red paint and the positioning of some of the labelling specific to the CEA hoppers themselves.

Moving right back to the start we see the completed Loadhaul hopper that has had a trip back to the Paint Shop for the application of the lettering that was still to be applied in the previous post.

With the shapes and base textures completed, control of the project now moves to our texture artist to add a little grime to the clean ones and to be distressingly creative with the weathered ones.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Loadhaul CEA

A freshly converted CEA hopper is seen in Loadhaul livery, fresh from the paint shop before any of the lettering has been applied.

The CEA conversions were an interesting conversion of the standard HEA hopper by Loadhaul to convert them into a covered hopper utilising a fixed flexible sheet with an integral system to retract it for loading. Some 45 wagons were converted and have been tried on a variety of traffics which have either been short term or less than successful! At the present time a number are in store at Tees Yard.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Scrapped

Sorry, couldn't resist that heading given the subject of this post!

The stars of the blog post today, featuring items under development for our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion for Train Simulator 2014 are possibly some the most minimal 'conversions' ever. As domestic and industrial coal traffic declined British Rail started looking for further traffic that the HEA hoppers they had relatively recently invested in could be used for.

One such traffic was the carrying of scrap from collection points to processing plants. Given the nature of the traffic the bottom discharge capabilities of the wagons was not needed with locations loading and unloading wagons using electro-magnets or grabs. As a consequence conversion involved blanking off the hoppers at the bottom of the wagon to give a level base. Two methods of conversion were used, either the welding of a steel plate across the tops of the hoppers (as in the maroon version above) or a more basic conversion achieved by filling the bottom of the wagon with ballast (as with the flame red and grey wagon above).

In both cases the TOPS code was changed to HSA and an increased tare indicated for the ballast filled examples to take into account the weight of the ballast in the bottom of the wagon. In either case the wagons were not overly successful for the harsh treatment they received being loaded and unloaded with grabs and magnets with serious body damage taking place fairly rapidly due to the much lighter build compared to the specialist scrap box type wagons.

HEA Hopper Conversions: A Brake Van for the Sectorisation Era

Our latest screenshot of items to be included in our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion pack for Train Simulator 2014 is a dia 1/507 CAR brake van in Trainload Railfreight Sector livery.

Even though the days of every goods train conveying a brake van on the rear for the use of the guard were long past a number of CAR brake vans did surprisingly receive the Trainload Railfreight livery complete with sector decals. The vans were given this modern livery as they were still needed for use with hazardous cargoes and where propelling movements were required as a part of a trains booked schedule. It was probably good for public perception of some of these potentially controversial commodities to appear to be carried in smart, well maintained trains too!

The main reason for including a new version of the CAR in our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion is to work alongside the RNA Barrier Wagons for use with nuclear flask traffic. The vans were included in trains in the late 1980's and early 1990's to assist with shunting movements at terminals and in the unlikely event of something untoward happening to a train conveying nuclear flasks the guard would be able to protect the rear of the train without the locomotive crew having to pass the flasks carried on the train.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Loadhaul MEA

The last of the pre-privatisation shadow freight companies to place an order for MEA conversions was Loadhaul. These wagons were delivered after the acquisition of Loadhaul (along with Transrail and Mainline Freight) by a subsidiary Wisconsin Central, better known as EWS.

The livery of these wagons differs from others given the Loadhaul treatment in that they were delivered in all over black without the orange ends usually applied to Loadhaul rolling stock. The wagons are also notable for having a white band around the top rather than the more usual yellow carried by other MEA conversions to that date. Possibly these changes were dictated by the change in owning company at the time of delivery.

Our latest screenshot from Train Simulator 2014 shows an ex-works MEA wagon in tidy black and white Loadhaul livery posing for the official camera before entering service.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Hoppers in Action

One of the testers has been a bit creative while testing the scenario to be included in our HEA Hoppers - Post BR expansion for Train Simulator 2014.

The screenshots are taken around the Ribblehead area and feature a class 37/7 taking long stored HEA hoppers for conversion for MEA mineral wagons. 

HEA Hopper Conversions: Cut Down RNA

It seemed to be about time to have a break from pictures of coal wagons, so here's a wagon that used to be a coal wagon!

One feature of railway operation, which seems to have virtually ended now, is the use of barrier wagons to hopefully give some protection to the train crew should anything go wrong. Quite often these barrier wagons were empty revenue wagons placed at either end of the hazardous commodity being conveyed.

However, in April 1989 a design sheet was issued to convert 30 HEA hopper wagons into barriers for use with nuclear flask trains which were then the responsibility of the Railfreight Coal Sector. The work involved the removal of the hopper body, the addition of some extra weight and plating over of the hole left by removing the hopper.

The screenshots from Train Simulator 2014 show both sides of recently converted RNA wagons posing in the sunshine for the official photographer. The application of lettering does seem to have posed a problem due to the lack of bodywork and as such there are some non standard lettering features and no two wagons seem to be lettered in quite the same way which means we have had to go for a bit of a best average approach.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Mainline MEA

With the Easter break out of the way it's time to carry on with the first glimpses of the HEA Hopper conversions for Train Simulator 2014. Tonight sees a first look at the Mainline liveried MEA mineral wagon.

Following the formation of the regional freight companies in preparation for privatisation they continued to develop their wagon fleets as they sought out new traffic and modernised existing flows. As a part of this, Mainline placed an order for 60 MEA conversions in 1994, again from RFS industries in Doncaster. Although essentially the same as the Railfreight Coal conversions these wagons omitted the inspection ladder fitted to one end of the earlier conversions.

HEA Hopper Conversions: Railfreight Coal MEA

The spring sunshine has arrived just in time for the first of the MEA box wagons to pose for the official photographer on the works lawn.

Finished in Railfreight Sector executive dark grey and yellow livery the wagon sports the black diamond branding of it's owning sector - Trainload Coal.

HEA Hopper Conversions: MFA Render

It's always satisfying to see the first complete renders of a shape before the unwrapping for baking and textures starts. The MFA mineral wagon is certainly no exception to that feeling.

Just like in real life this shape is a conversion from an MEA mineral wagon with the height of the sides reduced and other small changes for it's use as an infrastructure wagon. The chunky nature of the body makes for a rugged looking wagon and if you've ever seen an excavator unloading one of these wagons during engineering works you can appreciate why they need to be tough!

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Long Lived Loadhaul

Continuing our exploration of the HEA Hoppers after British Rail we come to one of the unusual examples, a dirty Loadhaul liveried hopper that has survived long enough for the paint to fade and a bit of grime to build up. This long life has allowed it time to gain modern overhead warning stickers and have the end ladders removed.

Given the lack of information about the HEA hoppers and especially those that made it into Loadhaul colours this could be a bit of a might have been variation but at least it adds a little more variety!

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Tatty Transrail

Returning to the theme of HEA hoppers, it's time for the late in life Transrail version to make an appearance today.

The version shown has had the offset ladders and hand holds removed. As a consequence rust scars can be seen on the light body grey.

This wagon is also carrying a more modern version of the battery flashing tail lamp which is considerably slimmer and sports a reflective patch on the front.

HEA Hopper Conversions: MEA Renders

Making a change from the procession of HEA variations it's nice to be able to show some work in progress renders of the MEA box wagons we have under development as a part of our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion for Train Simulator 2014.

The top render shows one of the early conversions with the end ladder still in place. The second shows a later version with angled ends to the side ribs and the ladder removed as a safety precaution.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Murky Mainline

Having seen the HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2014 in their pristine shadow privatisation and post privatisation liveries it's now time to take a look at how they have stood up to the tests of time.

First up for scrutiny is an example of a Mainline liveried hopper that would have originally have had offset access ladders but these have now been removed, just leaving scars in the paintwork. A general fading of the paintwork has taken place and everything now has a liberal helping of dust and dirt.

One notable feature of all the hoppers that are still carrying these old liveries is that they are faded and generally grimy but not necessarily black. A surprising thing for a coal wagon but possibly due to their use on short term traffic flows and spending a fair amount of time out of service in sidings?

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Faded Railfreight

We've spent the last few blog posts showing you new liveries applied to the HEA hoppers in more recent years. What is noticeable from photographs is that there are still some examples of the original Railfreight liveried hoppers still in service, albeit in faded and work worn condition.

The HEA Hoppers - Post BR expansion pack for Train Simulator 2014 will feature work worn Railfreight liveried examples from both the early central ladder type and the later offset ladder versions.

Of note is the removal of the access ladders from the hopper ends, application of more modern overhead warning flashes, the painting out of the original logos and renewal/updating of the lettering on the wagon.

Ready for Conversion

Conversions are the main source of income for the works at the moment.

The resident ex-BR Class 08 is seen bringing 3 HEA hoppers in from the exchange sidings for conversions to MEA box wagons. In the background, newly rebuilt ZCA Sea Urchins wait to leave. Behind them, more VDA vans are stored ready for conversion to ZCAs.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Red & Gold Variation

Completing the series of posts revealing the different liveries to be applied to the HEA hoppers in our HEA Hoppers - Post BR expansion for Train Simulator 2014 is this variation on red and gold livery.

Making a much more bold statement compared to the previous version this wagon has a striking wide band at the top of the body and much enlarged lettering on the body.

With all the liveries now unveiled it's going to be time to take a look at the work weary versions (with subtle detail differences) that will accompany these sparkling examples in the expansion pack.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Red & Gold

The HEA hoppers have seen a lot of different liveries in their time. The latest version to be completed includes a representation of an up-to-date red and gold livery still to be seen around the network today.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Fresh paint Loadhaul

After showing you the Transrail liveried HEA for Train Simulator 2014 earlier in the week it's now time to give you a glimpse of the Loadhaul liveried version that will feature in our forthcoming expansion pack.

The Loadhaul liveried Hopper is a bit of a mystery as we've still only seen pictures of models but have a reference to a published photograph of a number of Loadhaul liveried examples in service.

With this in mind we've based the livery on the model and are prepared to add them to the expansion pack as they are more likely to have existed than not!

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Nearly new Transrail

The post BR versions of the HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2014 are taking shape nicely now - in many cases needing their own shape to make the livery sit properly and definitely new decals all over the place for each version!

Here we see the second example to be seen in the shape of a recently out-shopped Transrail liveried hopper. There's still a bit of work to be done blending decals in properly but we're 99% there!