Australia's NSW Southern Highlands Route, Template started Options

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

I have started today work on the Australian NSWGR Southern Highlands (NSWSH). The work actually started a week earlier with information provided by Brian Bere-Streeter on the operations along the NSWSH. I have taken the time to read the provided information and have finally made some choices.I have yet to send to Brian what has been done so he can give his suggestions in the choice of rail stock or usage of the sidings,traffic along the line etc... that should be done in a couple of days. As some of you remember, the Illawara2 route is still among the most realistic templates and Brian was a big help in making it this way.

The NSW Southern Highlands will be my very first all-steam template. A few days earlier, Brian have sent me a confirmation of a new available download that would be a key element to the route. The NSWGR Class 55 steam loco is considered "home" in the NSWSH. Other than the neighbouring class 53 engine, other engine types were rare along its tracks.

However, I have yet to master the technique of driving a steam engine. I am a poor "steamer". On my first attempts, I have blown a fuse half-way into the test run. Today I had a blown back inner firebox, probably during some drive on a graded area. I have been reading about TS.com FAQ about Firing a steam loco and about some driving instructions. I believe it will eventually come with some more practice. What about your experience with steam?

The MSTS NSWSH route, south of Sydney, is a mostly graded double-track mainline and is about 30 miles long. From Picton,the line goes South to Moss Vale through steep and long grades and short tunnels.

It has close to 35 sidings and is expected to have SB and NB templates. So far only 12 downloads are required. It may change with Brian's suggestion. Time will tell.

In the meantime, here are the first images of my first AG-Generated activity, taken at Moss vale, going NB.

Will update later as the work progresses