TRAINZland - WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan

WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan

A virtual real scale model of the now closed NSWGR cross country line linking Blayney on the Main West to Demondrille on the Main South line. In addition to the cross country line the route includes a 60 km dual track section of the Main South, from Harden to Cootamundra, and the two country branch lines linking Grenfell and Eugowra to Cowra. Total route length is approximately 400 kms. The route is a development of the combined routes of 'Lines to the Lachlan' (NSWGR_46class), 'WeddinNSW' (FootplatePhil) and 'Southlines' (tomtre). Final development was done in TS2019 SP1 and TS2019 Platinum. There is a 'hands free' demonstration session also available on the DLS with the catchy name of 'WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan - Demo Session'.

The creators intent has been to use only content included with the game (TS2019 base + TANE Assets for 2019 pack, without any optional/regional route downloads), or content available to registered Trainz users for free via the DLS. If you find that an asset which doesn't meet this criteria has snuck in please let FootplatePhil know.

Background:
'WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan' is nominally set in the mid to late 1960's, when both steam and diesel operated simultaneously. The model probably presents a rosier picture than is strictly accurate. At that time government spending on infrastructure and maintenance was low, and the rail network was looking a little run down. While innovations in grain handling provided an economic boost to the rural rail network, and new diesel locos and bulk grain silos were being introduced to handle it, general rail traffic had declined in recent years, due to competition from road transport and the motor car.

The Grenfell and Eugowra branch lines were classified as pioneer lines. Parts of the lines are unfenced, and they were built using light (60 pound) rail, with ash and earth ballast. Passenger operations on the two branchlines ceased in 1974. Goods services were withdrawn in 1991, and the lines 'mothballed', although some parts were subsequently reopened for a period for limited traffic (seasonal wheat haulage out of Greenethorpe for example, which continued into the new century). Passenger services on the Blayney-Harden cross country line were replaced by a bus service in 1983, and goods traffic was suspended in stages, between 2007 and 2009.

'WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan' has been lovingly hand crafted (over 18 years) by its creators using data from topographical maps, and the NSW 1932 Curve and Gradient Diagrams. More recently Google Earth and DEM data has also been helpful. Detailing is based on historical research, numerous site visits (with camera), and the memory of the creators. However, there are some details of the route which have been difficult to substantiate so many years later, and are therefore based on a semi-educated guess. If you have photographic evidence that would help improve the accuracy of the model please contact FootplatePhil.

References:
'Lines to the Lachlan' - Lawrence Ryan - Australian Railway Historical Society
'The Day of the Goods Train', Grenfell Goods - R.G.Preston - Eveleigh Press
'Essays In Steam', A Day on the Eugowra Branch - R.G.Preston - Eveleigh Press
'Country Branch Lines of NSW Part 5 Blayney to Harden Cross-Country Line', Vols 1 and 2 - Richard Barrack - Train Hobby Publications
'Australian Model Railway Magazine April 1986', Koorawatha - Bob Cooke
'Branchline Modeller Number 2', Greenethorpe - Bob Cooke
'NSW 1932 Curve and Gradiant Diagrams' (CD) - Australian Railway Historical Society
Various Topographic Maps
Google Earth

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to all the great content creators out there, without whom the creation of 'WeddinNSW: South lines to the Lachlan' would not have been possible. Thanks to my fellow route builders NSWGR_46class and tomtre for their permission to proceed with this work. Also a big thanks to ad602000 for his contributions to Trainz NSWGR content over many years. Many of the custom models, and much of the rolling stock used in