I went to school in Weymouth and I've been modelling this area on and off ever since. The route extension is mostly depicted as it was in the early 1950s, but Weymouth station is how it looked after remodelling and resignalling in 1957 in anticipation of increased excursion and Channel Islands traffic. Wool is adjacent to the Royal Armoured Corps HQ in Bovington, hence the tanks on the loading dock. Dorchester South was originally the terminus of the Southampton and Dorchester railway, hence the odd platform layout that required a reversal by up passenger trains. Subsequently the curve was added to join the former GWR Westbury to Weymouth line at Dorchester Junction. GAD have also modelled the adjacent GWR station at Dorchester West, which will allow some short WR scenarios. The Weymouth to Dorchester section is notable for the steep climb to Bincombe, which required heavier trains (including, unusually, passenger trains) to be banked out of Weymouth. It would be hard to imagine a better rendition of the route as it appeared in the 1950s, with most of the railway buildings and signalling being custom models. It's a great tribute to the GAD team.
This interested me because I've done the trip down to Weymouth in modern times, plus a friend lives near the site of Radipole Halt. Some notes about the run into Weymouth which may be of interest: 1. Dorchester South's eccentric arrangement originated from Victorian era plans to build the line towards Exeter rather than Weymouth. Trains in the Up direction towards Bournemouth were required to reverse into the original station platform until 1970, when the current "new" curved Up platform came into use. The original station building shown in the game lasted until 1989. 2. Upwey & Broadwey was the junction for the Abbotsbury branch, which you showed us a brief aerial view of, and which was only accessible from the Weymouth direction. That branch was closed in about 1952, and the line was truncated as a long siding before complete removal. 3. Radipole Halt lasted in use until the end of 1983. It was demolished in 1984 and the only clues to its existence are old railing sections either side of the road bridge. My friend lives nearby and I'd like to see if her house and street are included!! 4. Weymouth engine shed as depicted in the game is missing the hand-operated GWR semaphore which protected, I think, the exit to the headshunt. The signal was operated by the engine crews themselves and was not connected to Weymouth box. 5. The massive bracket signal carrying the home arms for Weymouth, entry to the Tramway and Melcombe Regis station, also has a mechanical platform indicator - unfortunately it wasn't possible to see if this actually works in the game as you went past it a bit too quick. That said, I'm looking forward to the public release download, although I see I'm going to have to spend significant sums on payware routes first before Dorset Coast Phase 2 can be put to use.
A very pretty portrayal of the area, in which I was raised, but just before my time, except for the Class 33. That sound was engrained into me night and day. There are some odd bits of artistic license though. If there was ever a barber shop on the corner of Barnes way and Monmouth Road, it had been surgically removed by the mid-'60s, without a trace remaining. Barnes Way, at that junction is an unadopted road. It has never had paving or tarmac. It's just an uneven track. The houses on it would start further up, and up a bank, out of view from that position. That "canal" just before Wool is interesting, especially the straight section, running next to the railway. No such thing in reality. The River Frome winds through that area, too shallow for anything more than a large row-boat, I should guess, never mind those canal boats negotiating the bends. I think the river has to be dredged, to make it navigable from Wareham to Poole Harbour. It's pretty silted. I'd almost forgotten the old Wool station buildings. They were obliterated, when I was a child, and replaced by a grim, glass box. The down platform and canopy are all that now remain of what you see of Dorchester South in the game. The details of Dorchester South are remarkable though. Most of it was gone, by the time I used those trains. Initially the straight, up platform was still in use, as was the damp and slightly musty subway to the down platform. Even the signal box, as seen here, had been replaced by one slightly up the line. I went on an infant school trip to the newer box, walking across the lines, to get there. No third rail then.
does Golden Age Developments take like commissions at all? far as you know cause i got a project i'd like to hand over to as i've tried putting love into it and its being going on and off for 5 years now, and i really need an experts hand to take over for me, So do they take any sort of commissions at all as far as you know?
Not quite correct. The Great Western route that goes SE into Dorchester West is single, but the South Western route via Dorchester South is definitely double all the way into Weymouth. The tramway was ripped up during the pandemic period, another example of the fashion for deleting history.
The SW line goes single after Moreton until just before Dorchester South. It's been like that, since the Bournemouth to Weymouth section was electrified in 1988.
I went to school in Weymouth and I've been modelling this area on and off ever since.
The route extension is mostly depicted as it was in the early 1950s, but Weymouth station is how it looked after remodelling and resignalling in 1957 in anticipation of increased excursion and Channel Islands traffic.
Wool is adjacent to the Royal Armoured Corps HQ in Bovington, hence the tanks on the loading dock.
Dorchester South was originally the terminus of the Southampton and Dorchester railway, hence the odd platform layout that required a reversal by up passenger trains. Subsequently the curve was added to join the former GWR Westbury to Weymouth line at Dorchester Junction. GAD have also modelled the adjacent GWR station at Dorchester West, which will allow some short WR scenarios.
The Weymouth to Dorchester section is notable for the steep climb to Bincombe, which required heavier trains (including, unusually, passenger trains) to be banked out of Weymouth.
It would be hard to imagine a better rendition of the route as it appeared in the 1950s, with most of the railway buildings and signalling being custom models. It's a great tribute to the GAD team.
The detail around Weymouth is on another level! GAD are a talented and dedicated bunch.
This interested me because I've done the trip down to Weymouth in modern times, plus a friend lives near the site of Radipole Halt. Some notes about the run into Weymouth which may be of interest:
1. Dorchester South's eccentric arrangement originated from Victorian era plans to build the line towards Exeter rather than Weymouth. Trains in the Up direction towards Bournemouth were required to reverse into the original station platform until 1970, when the current "new" curved Up platform came into use. The original station building shown in the game lasted until 1989.
2. Upwey & Broadwey was the junction for the Abbotsbury branch, which you showed us a brief aerial view of, and which was only accessible from the Weymouth direction. That branch was closed in about 1952, and the line was truncated as a long siding before complete removal.
3. Radipole Halt lasted in use until the end of 1983. It was demolished in 1984 and the only clues to its existence are old railing sections either side of the road bridge. My friend lives nearby and I'd like to see if her house and street are included!!
4. Weymouth engine shed as depicted in the game is missing the hand-operated GWR semaphore which protected, I think, the exit to the headshunt. The signal was operated by the engine crews themselves and was not connected to Weymouth box.
5. The massive bracket signal carrying the home arms for Weymouth, entry to the Tramway and Melcombe Regis station, also has a mechanical platform indicator - unfortunately it wasn't possible to see if this actually works in the game as you went past it a bit too quick.
That said, I'm looking forward to the public release download, although I see I'm going to have to spend significant sums on payware routes first before Dorset Coast Phase 2 can be put to use.
Very impressed by the detail around Weymouth!
Certainly payware worthy material!
@@TrainSim_TV Shhhh 😉
A very pretty portrayal of the area, in which I was raised, but just before my time, except for the Class 33. That sound was engrained into me night and day.
There are some odd bits of artistic license though. If there was ever a barber shop on the corner of Barnes way and Monmouth Road, it had been surgically removed by the mid-'60s, without a trace remaining. Barnes Way, at that junction is an unadopted road. It has never had paving or tarmac. It's just an uneven track. The houses on it would start further up, and up a bank, out of view from that position.
That "canal" just before Wool is interesting, especially the straight section, running next to the railway. No such thing in reality. The River Frome winds through that area, too shallow for anything more than a large row-boat, I should guess, never mind those canal boats negotiating the bends. I think the river has to be dredged, to make it navigable from Wareham to Poole Harbour. It's pretty silted.
I'd almost forgotten the old Wool station buildings. They were obliterated, when I was a child, and replaced by a grim, glass box. The down platform and canopy are all that now remain of what you see of Dorchester South in the game.
The details of Dorchester South are remarkable though. Most of it was gone, by the time I used those trains. Initially the straight, up platform was still in use, as was the damp and slightly musty subway to the down platform. Even the signal box, as seen here, had been replaced by one slightly up the line.
I went on an infant school trip to the newer box, walking across the lines, to get there. No third rail then.
Aee the mk1s AP?
does Golden Age Developments take like commissions at all? far as you know cause i got a project i'd like to hand over to as i've tried putting love into it and its being going on and off for 5 years now, and i really need an experts hand to take over for me,
So do they take any sort of commissions at all as far as you know?
Thank you for posting. Anyone know how to pan the cab? Can't seem to get my mouse to pan the view. Thank you.
Old down the right click on the mouse and move around at the same time 🙂
The line between Dorchester and Weymouth has been a single track mainline for just over 10 years, now.
Also, the tramway has been ripped up.
Not quite correct. The Great Western route that goes SE into Dorchester West is single, but the South Western route via Dorchester South is definitely double all the way into Weymouth.
The tramway was ripped up during the pandemic period, another example of the fashion for deleting history.
The SW line goes single after Moreton until just before Dorchester South. It's been like that, since the Bournemouth to Weymouth section was electrified in 1988.
"Wool" is pronounced as "Wool" as in cotton wool.