1973 Tube Stock (73TS) uploaded!

C-stock can't run west of Earls Court or on the Olympia branch.

Forgive my ignorance here, but is it that C Stock does not run normally west of EC, as of course we have recent evidence on this forum of C Stock running to Richmond, and I believe Ealing Bdy is not unheard of? That latter part is under correction! C Stock certainly has been to Olympia in the past, and there was a photo in UNDERGROUND NEWS many years back when I was a member of LURS. Perhaps the situation has changed in intervening years?

For those interested, I remind that on the D Stock Tour, we went to Amersham and also Chesham, so it can be done but the latter is probably going to remain unique! The train reversed at Hounslow Central, and that will never be repeated because of the replacement bridge at Hounslow East, regrettably.

I have noted replies before...apart from cheery waves and salutations I gather that it can cause a nice headache for the Picc Controller if the District operator does not profess to have route knowledge. As I shave said umpteen times now, once upon a time there was a cross-over at North Ealing, and this was removed and replaced by plain track. I cn say that when it was being discussed amongst us LURS members, we thought at that time that it was a mistake but, and I am wracking my brain for the official reasons, costs of maintenance versus actual usage, and the effect on the Rayners Lane/Ruislip/Ickenham/Uxbridge service as it then was, of reversing trains at NE seem come to mind. It cannot help to have trains proceeding slowly at 5 mph under bridges, then finding a slot at South Harrow and then EB? Does the District Controller have to buy their counterpart a few drinks to assuage him/her? Tea or coffee of course!

This is from the D79 Metroliner Tour which if memory serves me correctly went via Rayners Lane...here it is at Uxbridge:

mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/LUArchive/html/d78_metroliner_tour_11.html

I know of only one official diversion of a 1973 Stock (as we knew it) to Ealing Broadway, and that was a footie special that ran non-stop to Arsenal.

On the Auto Tube Rambler of 1979, we went left at Hanger Lane Junction thence to the Broadway, and reversed onto the Central via the cross-over.
mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/LUArchive/html/auto_tube_rambler_1.html

If you ever see any photos taken right at the end of the tour, you will see Yours Truly holding one of the two boards made for the tours...the other two went to the Museum I gather. Goodness knows why I did but I bought them and another tour board and gave them to LURS when I moved house.

Solidbond also mentions the Jubilee Rail Tour of 1983 which I did not go on.

John - regarding your question as to MSTS Stocks...

We currently have CO/CP, 38TS, 59TS, R49, 73TS, 73TS REFURB, D78.

A refurb D78 will be released within a week.

The next train to be released was just received from the 'body shop' and is awaiting a realistic cab (courtesy of Darren) and some appropriate sounds/physics/lighting/etc. from me. This train will remain a secret until release day. I think it will be a surprise to all.

A C69/72 is now in the 'body shop' under construction. it will either get a new cab from Darren, else I'll re-do my c69 cab and fix the errors in it and make some improvements. Also updated sounds/physics/lighting/etc. as usual. No idea as to release date yet - it's too early in the build cycle to tell. So we WILL have a realistic C69 for the WimbleWare runs (and simulated Stock refresher training )

Also on the drawing board (and being researched) is a re-do of the silver R49 stock complete with the usual improvements (cab/sound/physics/lighting), and a similar re-do of the CO/CP.

We'd also love to do a Q stock one day.

With all the above, I think we (will have) covered a number of historical eras for the DL and Picc that should allow for some fun. Plus some can be used on other lines (Circle, Northern, Bakerloo, etc.) should anyone build those routes.

Regarding DEV DVDs - yes, I have the ELL/DL video (staring our own DD at Richmond). Also the Picc DVD and the Met/Dsitrict DVD. Plus hours of cab video from SB and 'other sources' It all gets considerable use as I build the route (sometimes DVD on one screen and Route Editor on another so I can check details). Plus - truth be told - I simply enjoy watching the videos ;D I'm not an Anorak - more of a vicarious Operator I think ;D

Thanks for those links! It's been a while since I saw those pics, and it reminded me I must build Northfields correctly as part of the route. That looks to me like a Holden station and I'm fond of those designs. Not too hard to model either, which is a bonus. I'd better build the depot too so the small trains that invade the DL metals have somewhere to slumber ;D

Great!

Whoa! Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated, but I deserve no praise at all. That is all Richard's fine modeling work, so please offer your plaudits in the general direction of the Dorset body shops ;D Much thanks also to SB who supplied the reference photos of the units. Richard is also building some appropriate Turbot wagons with various loads for these to haul around. You can likely expect a Darren-quality cab and the usual level of sounds, lights, physics, etc. I'll have to research this one as I suspect my 'generic' stock physics model will be a touch off

BTW, here's a view of one of the units shown in the 3D Canvas Pro modeling tool. If only MSTS would let us have that level of detail (bump maps, etc.)



D78 Refurb out in a day or two, then I work on the DL for a bit, then we'll address finishing the "Ever Ready" unit while the C69 is in the body shop and the R49 research is completed. Busy ain't we? ;D

I realize we've spent a lot of time building trains recently, but I'll work at it so you will have something to run them on by Christmas.

No. You are hallucinating again Damon, sorry.