Ok, another update that starts with an apology. Sorry it's been so long since the last update, the pressures of personal life along with a manic day job means the update has been on the list of things to do that just haven't happened.

Don't worry though, most of the team have still been very busy in their respective copies of RailWorks and those of you following the blog and social media will have seen the screen shots that keep filtering out.

Ages of the train

The first scenario pack in the range (ECML Freight) is making great progress with all of the five scenarios complete with player service and AI added.

As you read this the last of the scenarios will be with the testers for the check that all the services interact properly and go to the right places. At the same time, static items and various bits of atmosphere are added in to the other scenarios that have already passed the initial test phase.

The scenarios themselves have seen a lot of additional effort in an attempt to improve realism, with the alteration of various aspects of the base route taking place and various custom assets being added to help improve the atmosphere. It's surprising as we look back, at just how much traffic now doesn't travel by rail, especially when you look at the traffic in the 1970's scenarios.

One thing is for sure, goods trains don't travel very fast and do a fair bit if waiting, if you're thinking of buying the pack when it's released you may want to get thicker cushion for your computer chair!

FenRail

Just a quick note to let all those that are still waiting on information and progress reports for the route that due to the personal circumstances of the route builder the route is currently suspended. It hasn't been cancelled, but there may be a considerable delay before any substantial progress is reported.

North Staffs Minerals

Progress on the route is back into full swing after a computer rebuild by the builder at the start of the year. Every few days I'm greeted by more screenshots in my inbox that just have to be shared with the world. The atmosphere that is now being created really starts to drag you into the scene. If you haven't checked out the slide show on the product page it might be worth a quick visit.

The Night Capitals

As previously mentioned the TCV is now complete and the last week has seen the final detail added to our generic GUV shape ready for a general shape test before individual versions are created. Work is just starting on the Mark 1 Sleepers with the roof ducting virtually complete and the windows about to be cut. Once the body shell is complete, fairly rapid progress should be possible as the majority of under frame components can be adapted from the GUV.

Then there's just the bogies (commonwealth and B4) which no doubt those of you who follow the happenings on Twitter and Facebook will know about as I share that world of pain - bogies being the one thing I hate modelling!

Route X

We're really pleased to have a new route builder on board. A new project that is his own personal desire is taking shape and we're sure to share a few more details with you very soon - I already have screen shots ...

Asset Creators

We're still trying to recruit some extra asset builders to the team. This is the one area that is a serious concern at the moment.

So often we get contacts that seem useful and they continually come to nothing. To ease the construction of routes we really need additional modelers to create all that extra scenery.

These are commercial projects so there is hard cash involved in return for your efforts. If you have experience of modelling for Railworks or another simulator and fancy making some cash from your talents do please get in touch.

So here we are approaching the end of 2011 and what an exciting year it's turned out to be, three addons released for RailWorks Train Simulator and you all seem pretty pleased with our offerings so far.

The first point of order is to wish all our present and future customers a happy and prosperous new year and to thank you for your custom and support in 2011 and invite you to continue on this ride through 2012.

ZCA Sea Urchins

Having waited for the point when we were happy with them these have ended up with a slightly less than conventional release date. If you hadn't already realised, the ZCA Sea Urchins are now available to purchase here.

The Sea Urchins have been a bit of an odd project for us, falling outside of our usual area of interest but it just felt like the right thing to do, having spent so long with the VDAs, that we saw the story for a large number of them through to the end.

We've had some really positive feedback so far and extend hearty thanks to all those that have purchased so far.

North Staffs Minerals

Having been taken back to scorched earth back in October after the release of Train Simulator 2012, track laying and terraforming has progressed well and the mainline and branch all the way to Caldon are now in place, along the track for a number of the wayside collieries, industries and yards. The only long length of track now to be laid is the branch to Oakamoor from Leek Brook Junction, which can then be followed by signalling and scenery placement.

One really exciting development has been the addition of a professional 3D artist to the route building team as asset creator for the route. It's safe to say that his existing portfolio is stunning and you should be delighted with the images that start to filter out during the new year.

Ages of the Train

The first of the scenarios is ready for it's first round of testing with good progress being made on a number of the others including a demo scenario to show case the scenarios prior to release.

The Night Capitals

Progress has generally been on hold as we've finished off the final testing and tweaks to the Sea Urchins ready for release. The progress on the GUV continues with the bogies having final detail added when time permits.

Mailing List

Give that we never really had the time to produce a newsletter to the quality we wanted the publication has been shelved and we've transformed the newsletter into a straight mailing list to send notification via email to folks who would like a heads up about announcements and releases.

If you haven't already added your email address please do so by using the link at the bottom of the majority of pages on the main website.

Happy Talk and Share

There are a number of ways that you can socially get in touch and keep an eye on the day to day development of products. We really do want to know what you think and want.

Forum: At the top of the page you should see a link for the forum, feel free to give it a click and register.

The forum is a real experiment at the moment and a way we're trying out to try and have a bit more interaction with our over 35s as you don't seem to be using the social media like Facebook and Twitter so much as the young uns!

It's going to be up to you how the forum grows and develops (if it does at all) and we want you to tell us what you'd like to see and how you want to use it. This is the reason why when you take a look you'll see it's quite empty and boring, it's because you haven't registered, made a suggestion or started a post!

Google+: It's the new social networking attempt from Google and we've decided to give it a try. If you've already got a Google+ account you can find us by searching for Fastline Simulation or go to our profile by clicking here.

We like the layout and control it gives and really want to give it a try, it could just do with a few more people in there to keep the cobwebs at bay!

Facebook, Twitter and the Blog

Don't forget you can find links to these at the bottom of the page too.

It seems to be constantly exciting times here at the moment. With a new product range starting to rear its head, two successful releases so far this year and progress being made on various products ready for release later this year and into 2013.

VDA Vans

Obviously the big happening for us has been the release of the VDA vans and the surprise that they looked even better in RailWorks 3 Train Simulator 2012 than they had before.

These had a much longer development cycle than we'd ever envisaged as the subtle variations in the fleet started to rear their heads including suspension changes, braking development and changes to the doors themselves. Compounded with a desire to have a suitable brake van or use in one of the scenarios we soon found ourselves approaching 150 models in the pack along with the four scenarios!

The reception of the vans seems to have been very positive and we extend heartfelt thanks to all the people that have bought a copy and those who have taken the time to get in touch.

Well folks what an exciting month September has turned out to be.

Obviously the big news (and reason we've kept our heads down) has been the release of Train Simulator 2012. We decided early in the month that we'd hold back on the release of the VDA vans expansion until after the release of Train Simulator 2012 to make sure that they were behaving themselves. The indications are good and as a result the installer has now been built and is with the testers for a final check, which if clean, will mean a release in the next few days.

The more important news has been the announcement of North Staffs Minerals and our surprise ZCA Sea Urchin add-ons for Train Simulator 2012 and there are updates about these below.

It's been a hectic month here with a lot of new models in our Railworks assets folder...

VDA Vans

The VDA vans have turned into a bit of a monster to be honest. I'm happy to confess that I've fallen into my usual trap of deciding to do way too much!

It seems such a simple idea to do two liveries, dirty and clean versions, loaded and empty physics and of course the rear version. Then you start to realise that there are three main variants in real life along with a small experimental lot and the changes between them really are quite minimal. Next comes the realisation that there was an interesting oddball livery and before you know it you're creating 132 different versions!

By the time you read this the last batch should be with the testers and the last tweaks will be under way on the brake van. Hopefully the path will be fairly smooth then through to the installer build and finally getting these out there for you all to enjoy.

The pictures give a good idea of the progress and changes that have taken place in the last month. Apologies to those of you who follow us on Facebook or read The Blog that you've seen these before.

New Stuff Coming

Keep an eye on the website, Blog and Facebook for announcements in the next week or so. We've made the decision to sneak out an extra stock pack before work really kicks in on the Night Capitals pack and there's a new route about to pop its head over the battlements. All I'm saying for now is that the stock pack seemed a bit of a shame not to do and the route is a change from the normal with some very interesting gradients ...

Looking for someone special?

Welcome to the new dating area of the website!

Seriously though, we'd quite like to meet someone who's interested in vintage (1970s/80s) vehicles and fancies linking that up with a bit modeling to populate parts of our routes.

It's good to talk

Have you ever dared click that link at the bottom right of the screen and say hello?

If not, why not? Give it a try and say hello when the message says online.

We do like to talk to you and know what you think.