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News from S I A M - Spring 1995 |
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News from S I A M - Spring 1995 |
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Progress
The main news is that we have three new Driver simulations, including our first two driving freight trains. We also have several new seventies/eighties Traffic Control simulations
Due to pressure of work, it has not been possible to complete a steam era Silver Series simulation in time for release with this newsletter. We hope to have one in the Autumn newsletter.
Thank you for all your suggestions, and for the continuing responses to our various pleas for help. At present we have all the information we need for the next few projects, and enough projects to last us for several years!
In response to many requests we've concentrated this time on the seventies and early eighties, with Euston 1971, Birmingham New Street 1971 and Inverness 1981 (Silver Series). More from this period will follow.
Tim Bourne.
Order delays
Due to continued pressure of consultancy work, we regret that we are occasionally likely to slip from our target of despatch within 24 hours of receipt. Due to planned business trips away from the office, there will definitely be delays to orders arriving between 15 and 18 May inclusive, and between 4 July and 2 August. It may be possible to deal with some orders in my absence, but please don't count on it.
Atari ST support
In common with other suppliers, we have noticed a dramatic decline in ST orders over the past year. We are not giving up yet, and most programs are still available for the ST, except that the Driver series (some only) and Aller Junction Signal Box are available in text mode only, without graphics. Due to technical difficulties and shrinking market, any future Driver, Signal Box, Gold Series and Silver Series simulations, including those announced in this newsletter, will not be available for the ST.
"Old Style Through Stations"
These programs are some of our oldest, and it is our intention to replace them over the next year or so. The old programs will not be available for the Amiga, and are being discontinued on the PC and ST as the replacements become available. The following are now available:
Doncaster 1985 replaces Doncaster 1986
Birmingham New Street 1982 replaces Birmingham 1984
Reading 1989 replaces Reading 1987
Crewe 1985 replaces Crewe 1986
For more details of these programs, see below.
Though these are not strictly upgrades, we recognise that you may not wish to pay the full price for a program that is similar to one you already own. To registered owners of these old programs, therefore, we will offer the replacements at a special price of £8 each, a saving of roughly half the cost of a new program.
Plans to replace Leeds 1989 in this way are in the pipeline. Reading 1959 is likely to be replaced by a Silver Series program also set in the fifties, for which a different "upgrade" offer will be announced in due course. Similarly, we plan to release Exeter 1990 later this year, set on a weekday and including Central Station and Riverside Yard; price and upgrade arrangements will be in our Autumn newsletter.
NEW since our last Newsletter!
NEW Driver Simulations
NEW! Driver : Portsmouth to Bristol - You are in charge of your selected train on the cross-country route from Portsmouth through Southampton, Salisbury and Westbury to Bristol, driving a class 158 Express Sprinter or Class 31, 33 or 47 locomotive on an appropriate train and schedule. Schedules are taken from various dates between 1982 and 1993, with appropriate speed restrictions. Time-keeping requires careful attention to the many speed restrictions. (Difficulty ##) Price �15.95
GRAPHICS ONLY - NOT AVAILABLE FOR PC WITHOUT EGA/VGA GRAPHICS
NEW! Freight Driver : Iron Ore (Margam to Llanwen) - You are in charge of your selected iron ore train from Margam Yard to Llanwern steelworks, driving two or even three locos of class 37, two 56's or a single class 60 on an appropriate train and schedule. Schedules are taken from various dates between 1978 and 1993, with appropriate speed restrictions. (Difficulty ##) Price �15.95
GRAPHICS ONLY - NOT AVAILABLE FOR PC WITHOUT EGA/VGA GRAPHICS
NEW! Freight Driver : Mendips Stone (Westbury to Acton) - You are in charge of your selected stone train from Westbury Yard to Acton, or on a short working to Theale, driving two locos of class 37, or a single class 56, 59 or 60 on an appropriate train and schedule. Schedules are taken from 1989 or 1994, with appropriate speed restrictions. (Difficulty ##) Price �15.95
GRAPHICS ONLY - NOT AVAILABLE FOR PC WITHOUT EGA/VGA GRAPHICS
NEW Traffic Control programs
NEW! Birmingham 1971 - Based on 1982 version, but before HSTs and the introduction of the Cross-City service, with several largely independent local services, and plenty of loco-changing on the cross-country services. (Difficulty ###) Price �15.95
NEW! Euston 1971 - Probably the busiest terminus in the country for loco-hauled trains, set on a weekday to give a taste of rush-hour operations at the beginning and end of a 9-5 shift. Class AM10 on suburban services and all the early AC electric classes in evidence. Warning - this one is complex and difficult; please try one of our easier games first! Not recommended for beginners!! (Difficulty ####) Price �15.95
NEW! Silver Series - Inverness 1981 - Again a "Silver-Gilt" program. One more screen than the 1970 version, as the growth of North Sea oil traffic increased the demands on Inverness TMD. There are a few through freights, but all scheduled passenger trains terminate at Inverness, which is mainly operated as two stations side by side, one for the north and one for the south and east. Freight traffic included is substantial, particularly on the Perth main line. You have a full 24 hour shift to operate, though it gets quiet at times. The diesel depot is on the site of the former Lochgorm Works, and has a lot to do. Some track simplification had taken place, including singling of the Forres line. The passenger service to Aberdeen had reverted to loco haulage, and the increased traffic had brought an increase in the number of sleeper and Motorail services, as well as extra freights. This is our second non-steam Silver Series simulation (see Inverness 1970 below); let us know if you'd like more. (Difficulty ####) Price �23.95
NOW AVAILABLE! Silver Series - Inverness 1970 - Again a "Silver-Gilt" program. One less screen than the 1954 version, but still plenty to do. There are a few through freights, but all passenger trains except one occasional charter special terminate at Inverness, which is operated as two stations side by side, one for the north and one for the south and east. Freight traffic included is substantial, particularly on the Perth main line. You have a full 24 hour shift to operate, though it gets quiet at times. The new diesel depot is on the site of the former Lochgorm Works. Some track simplification had taken place, including singling of the Forres line, with the passenger service to Aberdeen now operated by diesel multiple units. This is our first non-steam Silver Series simulation; let us know if you'd like more. This is our first non-steam Silver Series simulation; let us know if you'd like more. (Difficulty ####) Price �23.95
NOW AVAILABLE! Silver Series - Brighton 1956 - After many requests, our first Southern Electric simulation. Not just electrics, though; at this time there were still steam services on all lines, including holiday trains from the Midlands and North via Redhill, continuing to Hastings after a change of engine, as well as the western coast route to Bournemouth, Plymouth and Cardiff. Local steam services operate to Horsham via Steyning, and to Tonbridge or Victoria via Lewes. (Difficulty ####) Price �23.95
