Sunday, August 15, 2010

New ship: RMS Queen Elisabeth 2

The RMS Queen Elisabeth 2 is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Nakheel (a division of Dubai World). She was designed to primarily run a transatlantic service from her homeport of Southampton, England, to New York, USA, and was named after the earlier Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth, and served as the flagship of the line from 1969 until succeeded by RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. Built in Clydebank, Scotland, she was considered the last of the great transatlantic ocean liners until the construction of the QM2 was announced.

The Queen Elisabeth 2 was retired from active Cunard service on 27 November 2008, where it was planned for her to begin conversion to a floating hotel which would have seen her eventually moored at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. However, as of March 2010 she remains moored at Port Rashid awaiting an uncertain future.

The real specifications for this ship are (taken from wikipedia.org):
  • Length: 293.5 m
  • Beam: 32,0 m
  • Draft: 9.8 m
  • Gross tonnage: 70327 gt
  • Max. speed: 28.5 kn (~53 Km/h)
  • Engine power: N/A

See some pictures of the real ship and the simutrans object:
Queen Elizabeth 2 anchored off South Queensferry

Queen Elizabeth 2 on her last visit to the Clyde where she was built

Simutrans screenshot

This ship has been coded into Simutrans as a modern ocean liner, which provides massive passenger transport by sea after 1965.

Simutrans object data
TypeShip
NameQueen Elisabeth 2
FreightPassagiere
Capacity2100 psg
Max.Speed53 Km/h
Intro Year1965
Retire YearN/A

This vehicle is available in the Pak128 2.0. See the Pak128 web site for more info.

For more information on this ship check the following links:

Thursday, August 12, 2010

New locomotive: DB Class VT 10.5

The DB Class VT 10.5 where two trainsets built in Germany in 1953 based in the Spanish succesfull Talgo technique. The first trainset was a day train called «Senator» and numbered VT 10 501, which provided seats for 135 people and consisted in a total of eight cars, being two of them powered. The other trainset was a sleeping train, named «Komet» and numbered VT 10 551. This trainset consisted in seven cars, being two of them powered.

The trainset VT 10 501 was taken out of service in November 1957, having the doubtful record of most short-lived trainset of the DB. The VT 10 551 was taken out of service on 20 December 1960. But the experiences done with these trains were very valuable for the construction of other trainsets, like the famous TEE VT 11.5.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from dbtrains.com):
  • Units built: 2 (VT 10 501 / VT 10 551)
  • Total unit length: 96.7m / 108.9m
  • Weight: 104 t / 122 t
  • Top speed: 120 km/h (could be increased to 160km/h)
  • Power output: 472 kW

DB Class VT 10.5 trainset


VT 10 551i in Nürnberg-Stein


Simutrans screenshots


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
NameVT 10.5
FreightPassengersPost
Capacity145545
Max.Speed120 Km/h
Power472 kWN/A
Intro Year1953
Retire Year1968


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

New locomotive: Silver City Comet

The Silver City Comet was a train service that operated from 1937 to 1989 and ran between Broken Hill and Parkes in rural New South Wales and with special services to Sydney. It was to be the first ever airconditioned-train service in Australia and all sets were based in Parkes during their lifetime. In the 1940s the train provided regular services to Canberra and Newcastle during coal shortages.

Today, a few Silver City Comet sets have been preserved. Such examples are at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum in Thirlmere, another at Dorrigo Rail Transport Museum in Dorrigo and one preserved in Broken Hill's Sulphide Street.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from wikipedia):
  • Units built: 1
  • Total unit length: N/A
  • Weight: N/A
  • Top speed: 115 km/h
  • Power output: 492 kW

Silver City Comet at central Station, 1937


Silver City Comet set at Sulphide St Railway Museum, Broken Hill NSW


Simutrans screenshot


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
NameSilver City Comet
FreightNonePassengersPost
CapacityN/A5953
Max.Speed115 Km/h
Power492 kWN/A
Intro Year1937
Retire Year1962


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

New locomotive: CPH Railmotor

The CPH (or 42 foot) railmotors were introduced by the New South Wales Government Railways in 1923 to provide feeder service on country branch lines. Often referred to as "Tin Hares", having evolved at the same time as the mechanical lures used in greyhound racing in Australia, the first vehicle was placed in service on 17 December, 1923 and based at Culcairn, in southern New South Wales.
A total of 37 vehicles were built and they operated many branch line services throughout the state, from Kyogle in the north to the Riverina in the south, as well as extensively through the central western regions, until their widespread withdrawal in 1983. Railmotors continued to be used extensively in the Wollongong area, working north to Waterfall, west to Moss Vale and south to Port Kembla and Kiama. They also provided pre-electrification service on many Sydney suburban services. The Sydney area motors were all withdrawn in the mid-1980s. Many of these veteran rail motors are preserved and still operational.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from wikipedia):
  • Units built: 37
  • Total unit length: 42 ft (12.8 m)
  • Weight: N/A
  • Top speed: N/A
  • Power output: N/A

CPH Tin Hare Motorcar at Central Station, Sydney



Simutrans screenshot


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
NameCPH Railmotor
FreightPassengers
Capacity52
Max.Speed60 Km/h
Power181 kW
Intro Year1923
Retire Year1953


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

Monday, August 9, 2010

New locomotive: 620 & 720 Railcar

The 620 & 720 class railcars are a Diesel Multiple Unit train used in the latter stages of their life by CityRail, primarily on its Hunter Valley line. The 620/720 railcars were built by New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) from 1961 to 1968.
The Department of Railways' Water Supply Workshops at Chullora gained experience in lightweight bodywork whilst building aircraft during World War 2. Consequently, these and all other in-house DMUs featured bodywork of largely aluminium composition.
All sets were withdrawn in 2007, with the last service running on October 29 from Newcastle to Paterson and return.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from wikipedia):
  • Units built: 15 two-car units
  • Total unit length: N/A
  • Weight: N/A
  • Top speed: 115 km/h (> 71 mph)
  • Power output: 441 kW (2 x 300 hp)

625/725 stands at Newcastle Railway Station


Simutrans screenshot


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
Name620 Railcar720 Railcar
FreightPassengers
Capacity6971
Max.Speed115 Km/h
Power441 kWN/A
Intro Year1961
Retire Year2007


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

Sunday, August 8, 2010

New locomotive: Pioneer Zephyr

The Pioneer Zephyr is a diesel-powered railroad train built by the Budd Company in 1934 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), commonly known as the Burlington. The train featured extensive use of stainless steel, was originally named the Zephyr, and was meant as a promotional tool to advertise passenger rail service in the United States.
On May 26, 1934, it set a speed record for travel between Denver, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois, when it made a 1,015-mile (1,633 km) non-stop "Dawn-to-Dusk" dash in 13 hours 5 minutes at an average speed of 77 mph (124 km/h). For one section of the run it reached a speed of 112.5 mph (181 km/h), just short of the then US land speed record of 115 mph (185 km/h). The Burlington's contemporary passenger trains plied the same distance in around 25 hours.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from wikipedia):
  • Units built: 1
  • Total unit length: N/A
  • Weight: N/A
  • Top speed: 181 km/h
  • Power output: 447 kW

The Burlington Pioneer Zephyr (credits here)


The Zephyr observation car


Simutrans screenshot


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
NameZephyrZephyr CarObs. Car
FreightPostPassengers
Capacity608052
Max.Speed180 Km/h
Power447 kWN/A
Intro Year1934
Retire Year1960


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

New locomotive: 2000 class railcar

The "2000" class railcars are self-propelled diesel railcars which are used by TransAdelaide on the Adelaide metropolitan rail network. They were built by Commonwealth Engineering and entered service in 1980. They acquired the nickname "Jumbos" due to the raised driving cab, similar to that of the Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet". This raised cab was designed so that two passengers could sit at the front or rear window, or in a 3 car set look into the leading trailer. There are 29 currently in operation.

The real specifications for this locomotives are (taken from wikipedia):
  • Units built: 12 (2000, engines) / 18 (2100, trailers)
  • Total unit length: N/A
  • Weight: 68 t (2000) / 42 t (2100)
  • Top speed: 140 km/h (limited to 90 km/h in service)
  • Power output: 746 kW / engine

Three car train of TransAdelaide


Adelaide Rail Picture


Simutrans screenshot


Simutrans object data

TypeDiesel Multiple Unit
Name2000 class2000 class car
FreightPassengersPassengers
Capacity64104
Max.Speed140 Km/h140 Km/h
Power746 kWN/A
Intro Year19801980
Retire YearN/AN/A


You can download the addon for the original livery at The Simutrans Boxroom.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links: