Hi Everyone,
I have just run the Class 31 on Tyne Valley and it is excellent. Martin has done a fantastic job with this locomotive. The cab graphic is very clear and the bogie sounds are great. I'm not certain about the AWS 'clear' signal as it sounds a bit high pitched, but perhaps they are on the real loco, it's been a while since I handled one. However, as with the BVE 4 Class 47 it's a shame that the controls aren't animated. But the image is very clear and all the guages are easily viewable.
As eezypeezy sent out an udate to the HST Route file I used this to add the class 31 to, but of course, the 31 requires loading and timings similar to the Class 37. Therefore I edited the 37 timings into the Timetable editor and also changed the bmp timetable to that for the 37. I also changed the loading to the 37's 29.8% at Carlisle and 28.63% at Newcastle.This should have given the 31 similar power and handling characteristics. The 31's were introduced with Mirrleees engines and most were later converted to English Electric Engines of a slightly higher horsepower, similar to a Class 37.
They were a nice engine to drive and the bogie ride was excellent. The power and reverser were the same as on a Class 47. My only dislike was the small driver's window. After the full width of a 47 they felt very restrictive.
However, as the years passed and during the lead up to Privatisation, the 31's were badly neglected and they were notoriously draughty and it was not unknown for a driver to spend the whole shift wearing coat, gloves and a scarf. Some drivers even reverted to placing their legs inside a bin liner bag.
They got so bad that there was very few complaints when the majority of them started to go for scrap.
The new BVE4 train handled beautifully and kept to the timings very well and like the 37 it arrived at Newcastle almost 10 minutes early. I actually arrived at 14.2710 and think the arrival time in the timetable would be better at approx. 14.30. Ther apepars to beew rather too much leeway in the original timings.
I also got the signal check at Haydon Bridge, arriving at 13.53 and the signal clearing at 13.5510. There was the odd signal check (yellow aspect) now and again, which was a good point as it appeared that I was following another train and that there was no point rushing through the sections.
Frame rate remained pretty constant at 10+ with around 5fps at Carlisle and Newcastle.
Altogether the new Class 31 is an excellent addition to BVE4 trains and is very welcome. Many thanks again to Martin for the hard work involved.
Cheers.
Bill EWS.
