Developing the Blue Mountains Line/Found Bruce Kennewell!!!

The Blue Mountains Line, run under this name by Cityrail and RailCorp of NSW, actually belongs to the Main West from Sydney, connecting to the middle of NSW, and beyond, to Bourke, with a branch to Perth, forming the transcontinental railway in Australia.
The Blue Mountains Line, in Sydney, is one of the most amazing railways in Australia, which used to feature a zig zag at each end of the hill. These were bypassed all together in 1910, when the government drilled 10 tunnels to bypass the western zig zag, known as the 10 tunnels deviation. It still remains one of the most amazing engineering feat in Australia.
The scene along the route is beautiful, and the route is quite challenging to build and drive. I really hope one day the BVE community can share this experience with me.
Hence I really want to develop a good Blue Mountains Line, based on Bruce Kennewell's "Heavy Coal", for the Australian BVE community. However, there's just one small problem, I can't get in touch with Bruce Kennewell. According to the site that this route is hosted on, Bruce has contacted 3 people especially in the making of his route, Steve Green of England, Robert Glass of Scotland, and Anthony Bowden of England. Do any of three still have Bruce's contact details? If you do, please PM me, and allow me to get this project off the ground as soon as possible

He also released Snowy Mountain route in which he mentions one Michael Thomson who made the bd3s, but still no contact addresses.

You've found me....or, more correctly, I found this site quite by accident.
What was it that you needed?

Bruce

bhk wrote:You've found me....or, more correctly, I found this site quite by accident.
What was it that you needed?

Bruce

Yes, persistence has paid off!!!

Hi Bruce, I would just like to ask for your permission to use your Blue Mountain Line, or what you call the Heavy Coal, and turn it into a proper Lithgow-Penrith line. I have done some private work on it, without your permission, between Lithgow and and Bell, and almost to Mt. Victoria. I am just doing the lines at the moment, no scenaries. I will be doing a bit of scenaries when I get some time, but most of it will likely be hills or forests, like what you have at the moment. It would be really good if you can allow me to work on it, or work as a cooperator. I am looking forward to working with you.

Ski Tube wrote:........Hi Bruce, I would just like to ask for your permission to use your Blue Mountain Line, or what you call the Heavy Coal, and turn it into a proper Lithgow-Penrith line. ........ It would be really good if you can allow me to work on it, or work as a cooperator. I am looking forward to working with you.

No problem whatsoever with that request; go for it!
I'm sure that the result will be an improvement over what I did.

I haven't been actively involved with BVE for many years, only recently (like three days ago!) downloading Open BVE and a couple of (UK) routes for the program.

I really don't have the time to do any creative stuff, so please.....you are more than welcome to use Heavy Coal as a base for your creative talents.
Just let me know when I can download it.


And I appreciate the fact that you have taken all this time to wait for my permission. The sign of someone with consideration and respect for copyright. Kudos to you for that.

All the best.

Regards,
Bruce

Thanks for that Bruce...
I probably can't tell you when it will be available, but I think it will be available in the future

bhk wrote:

Ski Tube wrote:........Hi Bruce, I would just like to ask for your permission to use your Blue Mountain Line, or what you call the Heavy Coal, and turn it into a proper Lithgow-Penrith line. ........ It would be really good if you can allow me to work on it, or work as a cooperator. I am looking forward to working with you.

No problem whatsoever with that request; go for it!
I'm sure that the result will be an improvement over what I did.

I haven't been actively involved with BVE for many years, only recently (like three days ago!) downloading Open BVE and a couple of (UK) routes for the program.

I really don't have the time to do any creative stuff, so please.....you are more than welcome to use Heavy Coal as a base for your creative talents.
Just let me know when I can download it.


And I appreciate the fact that you have taken all this time to wait for my permission. The sign of someone with consideration and respect for copyright. Kudos to you for that.

All the best.

Regards,
Bruce

Bruce, when I say I want your permission, I mean that I want your permission for me to use everything you have created, not including everything you borrowed from other developers. It would be really appreciated if you can give me the permission to pass some materials to others that may cooperate with me. I shall make it a condition for others to use materials provided they cite you as the original developer. Would this be mutually agreed?

Ski Tube wrote:
Bruce, when I say I want your permission, I mean that I want your permission for me to use everything you have created, not including everything you borrowed from other developers. It would be really appreciated if you can give me the permission to pass some materials to others that may cooperate with me. I shall make it a condition for others to use materials provided they cite you as the original developer. Would this be mutually agreed?

Permission granted.

As I only stumbled across this forum by accident, if you need to contact me then it might be best to use my email, brucekAThomeDOTnetspeedDOTcomDOTau.

That way I am sure to get the message and reply promptly.

Regards,
Bruce

First screenshot. Line is duplicated to allow more trains
This change occurred at around 1910, when the 10 Tunnels Deviation opened to bypass the famous Zig Zag.
A few deviations happened before this, such as Dargans Creek Deviation. Not sure if the track was still single line back then.

poles on the right will get fixed later.

.

Heavy Coal v3 has all smooth rails - you can get it from the link in my sig. I've been in touch with Bruce K recently so if you use bits from it, the permission extends to all the updates to route and object files that were done by Tim Corbett (NVTA anyone?) and my updates to the MV Class 46 electric coal train

Have at it

Update on my progress
Here's a video
Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWBq2lAJYlM&feature=youtu.be

Love the Video, especially the choice of Johann Strauss to provide the background music. Best of Luck and Success with the rest of it. I drove by car "alongside" this route to Katoomba some 5 years ago and the scenery is breathtaking.

Cheers,

John

johnsinden wrote:Love the Video, especially the choice of Johann Strauss to provide the background music. Best of Luck and Success with the rest of it. I drove by car "alongside" this route to Katoomba some 5 years ago and the scenery is breathtaking.

Cheers,

John

I used the music because it's suitable, as it translates to "pleasure train" or something like that. think it's more suitable because it has the applause at the end

Long time with no update, been to Zig Zag to take a few textures
Not sure if the BVE community has ever created a platform this short
So here's a screenshot of one of the smallest platforms imaginable...

Have a guess what this old lady is doing...

Flagging down train as it's a request stop?

rick1984 wrote:Flagging down train as it's a request stop?

well done

Yay!

I really enjoyed my visit to the zig-zag railway while on holiday from the UK in 1996, and was impressed by the way they would drop you off at request anywhere along the route, and pick you up again on request!
I don't recall seeing any little platforms, though.

Egg wrote:I really enjoyed my visit to the zig-zag railway while on holiday from the UK in 1996, and was impressed by the way they would drop you off at request anywhere along the route, and pick you up again on request!
I don't recall seeing any little platforms, though.

The one you went to is the tourist attraction, the one i went to is on the main commuter railway, as a station for the tourist to change to the zig zag railway. you probably only went down as far as the bottom points, but if you follow the path further down, you'll find this pair of tiny platforms on the main western railway, now bypassing the Zig Zag railway with 10 tunnels.

Right, more updates on the progress


A more complete platform, and a path leading up to the tourist railway

https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img100/96/sviewofzzstation.png
Not sure if the driver's view of ZZ is really like this, looks pathetic...


A more realistic view out of Lithgow towards Sydney, bridge at the moment is just a plain picture, yet to be developed


We pick up the story from here, train has been shunted away from Sydney on the Down main, and you pick the train up from here, taking it into the up platform at Lithgow, and 100km more to Penrith


Fairly self-explanatory...


Pole and light working, bell not, need to find a suitable sound file

No prize for this, but have a guess which station this is
(hint: the left line is the up, and the down platform is significantly longer than that of Zig Zag, it is set at 25m at the moment. There is also a cross over at the up end of the station)

Gee wiz, haven't updated my progress for a long time......
Well, here are some photos of major spots along the line
Don't know why, but I've built the yards for Katoomba and Valley Heights, but not Lithgow and Mount Victoria...


Newnes Junction, between Zig Zag and Bell, now closed, used to service the nearby Clarence Colliery as well as the now disappeared Newnes Line to Newnes


Hartley Vale, between Bell and Mount Victoria, used to serve the town of Hartley Vale, which is about 5km from the station


Level crossing after Blackheath, object taken from NWM


Katoomba yard, and a strange signal. Anybody wants to hazard a guess what the signal is trying to tell drivers?


From left to right, Up Relief, Up Main, Down Main. Trains from Sydney can terminate on the Down Main, then use the cross-over to reverse back to Sydney


Enf of relief line at Katoomba, notice the kink to accommodate the Up Main Signal


Home signal of Leura in the background, going from 1/33 downhill to flat


Small yard at Wentworth Falls, the left line is a dead end siding


Lawson Yard


GWH should appear in this gap of hills, but is yet to be added


4 car platform at Linden, smallest station other than ZZ


Level crossing at Faulconbridge


Down trains can cross-over to the Up Main and terminate at Springwood


Valley Heights yard, probably the most complex other than Lithgow and Penrith... Should be experienced enough to do Mount Victoria yard now