Joyland Books

Hello all,

I am a content modeler for Microsoft Train Simulator and would like to share with you some work I have been doing on the route of the Dreamland Miniature Railway. The route is set in the mid 50's and currently I have placed scenery in the immediate area around the route from Park Station to the end of the tunnel under the racing coaster. The locomotive is authentically modeled but the coaches are similar design borrowed from another pack, these will be replaced at a later date.

Anyway, I'll let you see the pictures now. Comments are welcome.









The foliage around the track is provided by Reg Furniss.

Regards,

Ben Vincer
www.bubblesrailways.co.uk

Top work Ben! I have MSTS, and it will be great to drive this route once it's finished. I'm a big fan of simulators and once started modelling the scenic in Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, but didn't get very far. Your progress with the Dreamland Miniature Railway is very impressive.

Thanks. I will keep you updated :}

Oh my! This is wonderful. Yes I want a copy when you are done.

Need to get some practice in for the day when we can drive Billy round the park. Well I can dream, it is Dreamland after all.

Should I point out that I am passed out for public hauling on miniature steam and Nicky is too.

Vince.

This is really cool. Could be installed somewhere as an interactive display or something once the park opens.

'Michael' on loan from the RMR forms the centre of a view across from the bridge.

Cheers,

Ben

I am impressed with your work Ben.

Looks like the traverser needs checking, seems to be turned 90 degrees.

Vince.

Thank you,

I'm not sure what you mean? The traverser is under the closest track to the camera, I'll admit it's not lined up properly at the moment. The things running 90o in the pit are the running rails that the traverser slides on.

Cheers,

Ben

Hi Ben,

Yes that explains it, they are the running rails for the traverser!

Keep up the good work, I look forward to you releasing this. If you need a beta tester I am available.

Vince.

Hi,
I'm not a Train Sim user, but great to see the DMR and Billie recreated for PC users. Anything that raises the profile of Billie and the DMR in the public place has to be good.
For me the Scenic Railway does steal all the lime light, but then I am biased towards the DMR for many, many reasons.
It seems Greenly lines and engines have a magnetic draw for me, simply marvellous.

One thing, don't forget Billie always burnt smokeless fuel in the good old days! Coke usually.

Hello all,

Thanks for all of the positive comments, they really keep me going. I am currently incredibly busy with uni work (I'm currently training to be a teacher), so work on the route is really as and when I get five minutes away from planning and marking but reading the feedback makes it worth while!

On a side note, unfortunately the traverser will not work due to limitations in the software, however so that you don't have to restart every time you want to do a complete trip on the railway I am planning on hiding some invisible track sections underneath the station building which will act as an invisible set of points so trains can be run around. This way it means that you will be able to run a continuous service without spoiling the look of the route. Sorry about this but I hope this compromise will help.

I have recently had contact with someone who has offered me some pictures of the gardens end of the line, I have now got a few, but to make it accurate as possible I am looking for anymore that anyone may have hiding away. Please feel free to get in contact with whatever you have.

Thanks,

Ben

"I have recently had contact with someone who has offered me some pictures of the gardens end of the line"

Hi, I expect that you have seen the image of my Grandfather running Billie round the train at the gardens end of the line? The picture features in the 'Dreamland A cavalcade of photographs'. Don't forget the wigwans and the totem poles!

Should anyone supply pictures of the line I am as some of you know, very interested the the DMR and would love the chance to see images, especially 1964 - 1971.


All the best

Yes I have thank you, it's always great to know a bit of the history behind the photos!

In addition, were the 'Whirlwind Racer' and the 'Racing Coaster' separate rollercoasters? I believe from the plans that I have got and the pictures I have sourced they are, and I believe that the railway ran through the centre of the first and behind the second? Are my assumptions correct?

Cheers,

Ben

nvincer wrote:Yes I have thank you, it's always great to know a bit of the history behind the photos!

In addition, were the 'Whirlwind Racer' and the 'Racing Coaster' separate rollercoasters? I believe from the plans that I have got and the pictures I have sourced they are, and I believe that the railway ran through the centre of the first and behind the second? Are my assumptions correct?

Cheers,

Ben

The Whirlwind Racer & The Racing Coaster were indeed two separate rides. The Whirlwind Racer was an electrified twin track racing coaster. This ride was situated at the top end of the Scenic Railway. The ride was short but repeated itself several times round the track. It consisted of sharp bends with humpbacks at speed. The trains ran parallel with eachother. The Racing Coaster was a small Woddie on a single track. This ride was situated behind the River Caves. The cars were small and held about six to eight people. Although the Racing Coasters name suggested a duel track, it was in fact a fast compact woodie. I remember riding them both in the early 60s.

Thank you Thats exactly what I wanted to hear!

Using that information, I assume that my thoughts on the layout of the railway were correct then?

Thanks,

Ben