Unfortunately, this is where the problem lies. The install base for BVE was mostly people who couldn't afford MSTS back in the day or, in the later times, a computer than can run one of the newer sims. This was already a niche back then, let alone in this day and age. Nowadays, most of us have long moved on to more superior Train Simulators like Trainz, RailWorks (now Train Sim Classic) and TSW once we gained the ability to pay for stuff. I personally have little reason to go back to OpenBVE now that I have hundreds of pounds' worth of TSC content. These payware sims (especially MSTS and TSC) obviously have way more features plus more established communities, allowing extensive libraries of content to grow. Add to this the notorious lack of proper route-building tools for OpenBVE, meaning you had to code it all by hand on Notepad or Excel. There was a RouteBuilder for BVE 2 and 4, but that was very fiddly to use, super outdated and probably lost in oblivion by now; besides, the routes produced on it are incompatible with OpenBVE anyway. No newer version was ever made since. Compare this to the far more intuitive route-building tools available in Trainz and TSC. Thus, there is just a lack of incentive to develop anything for BVE these days, especially coupled with the inherent issue of freeware development where real life always gets in the way, so investing time into a project you won't get compensated for is already low on the priority list.
Yeah, BVE 2 (and 4) is not even supported on Vista (as mentioned on the website itself back in the day), let alone 7 or later. Best Windows that can run it is XP.
I used to play that route to death on BVE 2 back in the day and try out different rolling stock on it. I only realised the names were blatant parodies of actual West Midlands stations when I knew about its real life counterpart. The newer NWM (made for BVE 4 and later OpenBVE), on the other hand, was definitely the best thing ever made for OpenBVE that actually made it to release. It had the most extensive network, best variety of rolling stock and scenarios, and in the latest version, makes the best use of OpenBVE's features over older iterations of BVE.
Watford Junction to Rugby would have been far better based on pictures, which actually could give TSC (then RailWorks) a run for its money, if it ever got released. Sadly, that route has been in 'development hell' for over 20 years (its predecessor WJ-MKC for BVE 2 was released 25 years ago), naturally due to all the issues I mentioned above. Its developer Anthony Bowden, who was one of the best contributors in the BVE community (he gave us the amazing Cross City South route), eventually got very busy with his career on the real railways and since 2010, his activity within the community reduced to the occasional blog post every 4-5 years, once in 2014 then again in 2019, which is the last we ever hear from him to this day. He did mention his focus in his last blog posts was to finally get WJ-Rugby released (he seemed very close at the time), but I presume real life got in the way again, as it's been 6 years and we're yet to hear from him again. As sad as this may be, I totally understand his situation and can relate much better now, as I have many ambitious route-building projects left unfinished myself on Train Sim Classic ever since I was able to develop and release a full fictional route in a few months during lockdown. However, shortly after I started my PhD studies, got married and later had two kids, so I haven't touched Train Sim in years because of all this.
Perhaps the OpenBVE community would make a comeback if WFJ-Rugby finally sees the light of release; I would certainly get back into it if or when that happens. I doubt there is much incentive nowadays, since we have more complete versions of the WCML on Train Sim Classic, which has the full London Euston to Birmingham New Street, and even Train Sim World with a shorter Euston to MKC. However, it was very close to completion last time I heard about it, so I don't think Anthony would let years of work go to waste whenever he finally gets the time to revisit it (again); never say never!
