.................................Simulated Railway: BVE

 BVE is a Japanese freeware rail simulator and has proven to be very popular. For full details on what BVE is see:
http://www.trainsim.org.uk/bve.html and for more routes Rail-Sim Routes

Whilst I was waiting for MS Train Simulator to be released I thought I'd have a go at a Great Central route in BVE. As BVE has no visual editor it can be quite a time consuming process but equally very rewarding. I won't go into how to make BVE routes here as there are other sites able to do that far better than me!
Routes are created from text file commands along with 3D files for the structures, cuttings, bridges, etc. These 3D objects have to be made from text files where by co-ordinates are plotted to form the object then Windows bmp files are texture mapped on to them. Please read the following info - you could start the download and read as it downloads...

Features:

• The route runs from Belgrave & Birstall station to Quorn & Woodhouse via Rothley. I chose these stations as they are preserved and I have recently taken pictures of most of the buildings at Quorn and Rothley meaning I'm able to model them quite well. Birstall is cloned from the other two stations as it no longer exists.
• The route passes through the attractive Leicestershire scenery including Swithland Viaduct.
• The route has accurate track layouts from both Rothley and Quorn yards (as they were in 1920's) along with Swithland sidings (as it is today).
• Cuttings, embankments, telegraph poles and semaphore signalling.
• The curves & gradients are reasonably accurate.
• Loco in use will be a BR Class 40 Diesel as it's about the closest thing that BVE has to what ran on the GCR. You can also choose to use a steam loco too!
• I will be updating the route occasionally (don't think I'll ever run out of things to make better!) and updates will be posted on this page.

• Some things were not done 100% accurate- i.e. the distance is 3.3 miles whereas in real life it is 5 3/4 miles.
• The Kinchley Lane 'pipe bridge' is not present
• Signals are not in any way accurate! They've been BASED on the real thing.
• The station buildings are not perfect due to the limitations of my camera and the difficulty in obtaining clear shots but are reasonably close. All three stations look similar because a) they are very similar and b) some pictures taken at Quorn were used for Rothley and vice versa. Also Birstall station no longer exists.
• The signal box is not original.
• I'm not intending to extend the route at present.
• Some objects are not in the exact right place but hopefully close enough :) Just don't look to far from the track ;)

• Signalling. For those more used to colour light signalling rather than semaphore then here's a quick guide. In BVE you have signals that can be green (for clear), red (for stop), yellow (for caution next signal at red), double yellow (for caution next signal at yellow) and a few other combinations for Japanese routes. With semaphore things are a little different in that there are different signals for different functions. Firstly you have 'home' signals. These have a red arm with a white line down it along with a small colour light indicating red or green- stop or go. You also have distant signals. These have a yellow arm with a zigzag black band on them with a small colour light indicating yellow or green- caution or clear. If set at caution then the next signal could be at danger. If not the next signal then the one after it in stations. Signals are set at danger/caution when in the horizontal position and clear when at 45 degrees (upwards on my route). Some signals have more than one arm on them- such as combined distant and home signals or at junctions. You'll see a number of different types on my route. Look out on the siding lines for a shunting signal - in original GCR style.
• Driving- the Class 40 is quite a lumbering heavy loco and takes a large amount of time to get going and to stop (far more fun!). So be aware of this if you're used to electric trains! Slow down well before the stations- you'll find a distant signal set at caution a while before stations.
• Remember to whistle when you see the 'W' sign or when EB flashes up on the warnings panel!
• Stopping at stations- you can't see the stop indicator on my route (wouldn't look too good!) - you need to stop just as you go under the station canopy- take it slow and look for the yellow bar moving down the screen indicating the position of the stop point. You'll know if you're in the right place when the doors open!
• The timetable is fairly relaxed so you don't need to zip along - not that the class 40 will zip along...

• Crotrainz BVE object library provided the signal box (Site no longer active)
• Main Line - the preserved GCR's quarterly magazine - some good pictures were taken from these
• The Signal Box - the basis for all of my signals (Site no longer active)
• The Class 40 loco was produced by Paul Robins

Downloads:
NOTE (21/9/05) This route is now about 5 years old so is nothing on more modern routes. Also, it is untested with the latest BVE version so I'm not even sure it will work anymore. However, no more work will be done it.

UPDATE (28/6/02) - Some people have told me they are having problems with missing object files- extract the following zip file and this problem should be fixed.
XtraObjects Zip file

The Route & Scenery Data - Version 1.0 2mb file - to install simply run the self extracting archive. This file is now hosted by Angelfire.

Update! Route adapted to run with BVE 2 (I've eliminated too much wheel slip that occurs!) and now includes fog to create a better atmosphere. Alternatively you can download a version using a steam loco! For more locos see Crotrainz.

 Version 1.2 rw file only tiny file - to install overwrite old rw file with the new file (corrected to work properly this time!)

 Version 1.2a rw file only tiny file - to install simply extract to BVE2/Railway/Route directory. You'll need to download the Class30 steam files (see below). (corrected version)

 BR Class 40 Loco Data - A new link with many BVE locos available. If this link no longer works let me know! Extract files into Bve\Train\ directory. Feel free to try using the number of other good locos on the same download page. To use with my route simply open the GCR.rw file (in BVE\Railway\) into notepad and change the File=40 to File=37 (for example).

S636-Class 4-6-4 (Australian NSWGR 30 Class) Loco Data - download on this page.

If you have any problems with my route then feel free to get in touch!