Latest News
7th April 2006
A new patch for the Talyllyn Railway – Add On for MS Train Simulator
A second patch is now available for the Talyllyn route. The patch addresses some reported problems in coupling up to stock when the user is NOT using the “Simple Controls” feature of the sim. This manifested itself in the loco not being able to pull the consist even with full regulator or throttle applied.
The problem was actually caused by incompatible braking systems in the locos and some rolling stock which has now been fixed.
I’ve also taken the opportunity to add cab crews to all the Talyllyn locos using the models and crew produced by David Forrest & Paul Gausden and my thanks to those two for allowing me to incorporate them into the release.
The patch is available from UKTRAINSIM or this website, click here to go to the Patches
14th March 2006
TR2 – Over 400 copies sold in 1st year!
My apologies for not updating this site more regularly. However, it is one year since the first release of the Talyllyn Route CD and I thought is was appropriate to let you know what’s happened and to thank everyone who has purchased a copy of the CD.
In one year, I am pleased to say that over 400 copies have been sold either via my website, the Talyllyn Railway’s own website or via the UKTRAINSIM website. The Talyllyn website has alone referred over 150 orders so it’s good to know that many people browse that site for general information about the railway.
I’ve also had many email / cheque orders from people
scattered all over the world including
I have written a couple of articles for the Talyllyn members quarterly news letter which I’m pleased to say have been well received.
The orders have generated approx. £800 as donations for the Talyllyn funds so this money is well appreciated.
Lastly, I must thank everyone who has order a copy of the route and in doing so contributed to the Railway’s funds and also to those who have emailed me with their feedback on the route, all of which has been extremely positive.
Personally, I’m now eagerly awaiting the two new train sims due out this year. Firstly to ensure that the Talyllyn route can be migrated to each of these new sims successfully and to see what the new products add to this route, and secondly, to see what can be improved in the route by taking advantage of the new features and scope of the new sims.
Roll on 2006 !!
2nd April 2005
TR2 – Optional Patch Available
Some users have reported errors when running the Talyllyn route concerning missing shapes and textures.
It appears that this is casued by some modification or a non-standard original install of MSTS and not directly associated with the route.
For simplicity’s sake, I have packaged up the missing files and prepared an patch for those users experiencing the problem.
You need only install this patch IF you experience a missing shape and texture files warning.
Download the patch from here
15th March 2005
TR2 – Orders for the CD
The first batch of CDs went out in the post tonight so you can feel free to order the CDs now.
Details on the new route and how to order are in the left hand menu pane or click here
12th March 2005
TR2 – Orders for the CD
Since making the ordering pages live, I regret I was slightly premature! I found a couple of bugs in the activities written for the CD and so I am withholding sending of any CDs at the moment. I anticipate a delay of only a week or so.
My apologies for those who have submitted orders already and
hope you will be patient a little longer. You will be the first to receive the
CDs before I make a general announcement on UKTRAINSIM that the
Again – sorry for the slight delay.
7th March 2005
TR2 - At last !!!
After many months of effort, I now feel that the route is ready to be made available.
The route is currently only being made available by CD. While it is still a freeware route, the charge made for the CD will cover the cutting, postage and packaging of the CD to you. I have also decide to include a small donation amount as part of the CD cost that will be sent direct to the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society as a “Thank You” for their help to me in preparing the route and as means to help keep the railway running. This makes the cost slightly higher than the normal freeware CDs that you may see.
I hope you will support me in this decision.
More details about the new route and contents of the CD can be found here.
Details for order a copy of the CD are to be found here.
11th December 2004
Update on The Talyllyn Route
The first two CDs have been sent to some BETA testers who have agreed to do some testing for me.
While I still have some things to add in, my plan is to aim for a release of the Version 2 route sometime in February 2005.
It will initially be a CD only release and as yet I am not sure of how best to distribute it. I am hoping that the Talyllyn Railway itself will help me on this one.
Merry Christmas to all the visitors to this site !!
14th October
2004
Update on The Talyllyn Route
I have uploaded a new set of screenshots of the latest development of version 2 of the route.
TR2 screens can be found here or by using the Version2 (Work In Progress) link from the panel on the left.
The majority of effort spent since the last update has been on the seasonal textures required for all the scenery objects and the terrain textures. The line now looks completely different when running in the winter snow! I’ve included some screen shots of the snow for you to see. I’ve also made efforts to make the scenery objects reflect the seasons and obviously the trees and bushes now change realistically for the different seasons.
Most scenery is in place but some of the remote and non-descript sections of the line still need some secondary objects to be placed to enhance the realism and then it’s extending the scenery into the distance on either side of the track.
The end is now definitely in sight and I’m looking for a BETA release early in the new year.
I hope you think the wait will be worth it.
10th August
2004
Update on The Talyllyn Route Version 2(TR2)
I have uploaded a set of screenshots of the latest development of version 2 of the route.
TR2 screens can be found here or by using the Version2 (Work In Progress) link from the panel on the left.
All trackwork is complete as is the majority of the major roads.
Dolgoch station is starting to look realistic as is Quarry Siding. I’m finding it easier to apply the scenery effects at the major areas on the route than to work logically up the line as we go. There is a vast amount of “extras” to add that it’s quite daunting at times.
The effect of forestry on the route makes it sometimes hard to see the train from some of the camera angles but there is no doubt that this is what the line really looks like. It may need some artistic licence at the end.
8th May 2004
News on The Talyllyn Route
I have uploaded a small selection of screenshots of the latest development of version 2 of the route.
TR2 screens can be found here or by using the Version2 (Work In Progress) link from the panel on the left.
So far, work on TR2 has gone well with all terrain forming completed and with trackwork being completed (except for the freight sections at Wharf).
I’ve started to add scenery components to certain areas to glimpse the effect and Nant Gwernol has started to develop nicely.
I’ve found that the new program Mosaic has helped enormously in developing specific tile textures for key areas of the route and I will be using this to a large extent in most of the new route.
I’ve also decide to employ the little known MSTS feature called “Distant Mountains” in TR2 and have found the effect is most dramatic in enhancing the effect of the Talyllyn running as a narrow gauge route in amongst the Welsh mountain valley.
See for yourself in some of the new screenshots.
26th April
2004
New Screenshots
I have split my screenshots into two collections. One shows the current Talyllyn Railway screens and the second starts to show screens of the route and buildings from version 2 of the route which is a complete rebuild.
I will update progress on version2 shortly and include a description of what has changed and my plans for its completion.
10th February
2004
New Uploads
I have provided another upload to this site –
(1) the Talyllyn Bogie Coach No 22 – a four compartment coach with Guards section.
This can be found on the Downloads page.
17th January
2004
New Uploads
I have provided three uploads to this site –
(1) the Ex Corris Coach TR No 17
(2) a set of standard TR Bogie coaches nos 21,22 & 23
(3) TR Diesel loco No8 Merseysider
These can be found on the Downloads page.
Project : MSTS Talyllyn Version 2.0
Still no decision and therefore no progress on the start of the route. However, I am coming to the conclusion that scaling up DEM data is not feasible so will be probably choosing to use the contoured data that I have already prepared.
16th
December 2003
New Uploads
I have provided two uploads to this site – (1) access to the actual Talyllyn Route v151a file for those people who want to try and download it from here rather than access the UKTRAINSIM site (2) a set of Talyllyn Open Coaches.
Warning – the Talyllyn route file is
35MB and I do not recommend trying to download from this site as connection
speed is SLOW !!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED………..
Project : MSTS Talyllyn Version 2.0
Work on this has been delayed since the availability of some reasonably accurate DEM data for the UK. I have been experimenting with the results to see if it is worth using on the new route but have been struggling in trying to scale up the DEM data to 2x scale to fit with the existing models etc. Over Christmas I intend to conclude the experimenting and decide which format to use – 2x DEM data or 2x Contoured data.
Imminent Upload – the Talyllyn “Corris” Coach
This model is almost ready for release and
represents the original Corris railway coach purchased and restored by the
Talyllyn for use as an “observation” and VIP coach.
21 October 2003
Project : MSTS Talyllyn Version 2.0
I’ve decided not to wait for MSTS2 to be released before starting work on the new version of the Talyllyn route. The main reason is the delay of MSTS2 and there is still no confirmation as to when (if) we will have a new product.
In terms of work in progress, I have started to re-terraform the terrain and have completed approx 50% of that work. Other than three more areas to contour there are the track-beds to prepare before actual track laying takes place. I am using a freeware program called TS Terraformer to do this work.
As well as the terrain, I have started to re-construct the Talyllyn scenery objects using a 3D modelling program called 3D Canvas. I’ve also decided to use photo-realistic textures for all the Talyllyn objects and so I have already been to the Talyllyn for a long weekend and taken many hundreds of pictures. I have placed a couple of screens shots showing the type of thing to expect with this new format in the Screenshots area.
I must thank all the Talyllyn staff that I met on that weekend for their friendliness and helpfulness. While I have been a member of the Talyllyn for many years, I haven’t been able to volunteer on the railway but they happily allowed me lineside access to all parts of the route.
10 August 2003
Two new download items :
Firstly, an updated version of the Talyllyn
Rolling Stock file – “The Talyllyn Rolling Stock Collection” which has been
updated to include No4 Edward Thomas (model by Kevin Martin), No6 Douglas (and
the TR Duncan) and also No7 Tom Rolt. This means all the rolling stock for the
Talyllyn is available in one download file ( approx. 10MB)
Secondly – as well as the Skarloey version of
To access these files, click on the DOWNLOADS option on the left hand panel.
21 July 2003
Project : TR No. 6 – Douglas
Douglas is now finished and available for downloading. I’ve
included a driver in the cab for the first time but it’s
thanks to Kevin Martin for the 3D model ! Another first is that the driver is
modelled on a Ffestiniog Railway driver so
I hope he enjoys the change of scenery !!
Project : Duncan
I’ve also built the Skarloey Railway version of Douglas – Duncan !!
For those of you that don’t know, Thomas The Tank Engine’s
creator, the Rev W Awdrey, was a life long member of the Talyllyn Railway and
back in the 1950’s to help publicise the newly preserved Talyllyn, he created a
copy for his Railway Series – the Skarloey Railway.
The Rev W Awdrey included all the Talyllyn locos in his books and also retold
some of the true events that happened on the Talyllyn in his stories,
with appropriate artistic licence, of course.
Duncan was modelled on the Talyllyn Railway’s No6 Douglas and so here he is ………….
Duncan …(click on picture to enlarge)
16 June 2003
Project : TR No. 6 – Douglas
All major components are now complete and model exported to MSTS.
Work on rods and animation is now in hand.
Some WIP screenshots are shown below.
Click on each picture to enlarge …………….
2 June 2003
New Website launched.