Rhys Davies, who runs the Train Simulator YouTube channel, Angry Welshman Productions, and Sam Steventon, from Blast Pipe Productions, are set to climb onto the footplate of Caledonia Works newly released GWR No. 6024 ‘King Edward I' for what promises to be an epic 397 mile run on the East Coast Main Line.
Starting at 0900, on the 12th August 2023, departing from London Kings Cross, they will head north, taking on water at Grantham, York, Newcastle, and Berwick, before finally arriving at Edinburgh Waverley, in Scotland.
Of course, this is all simulated, in the popular title “Train Simulator Classic”, which is created by Dovetail Games.
Both Rhys & Sam are known for their series of livestreams, the “Virtual Footplate” series, in which Rhys & Sam team up to take charge of a steam locomotive and work together to perform the duties of driver & fireman.
This charity livestream promises to be slightly different, however, as this time, Rhys & Sam will be completing this challenge to raise money and awareness of “The Railway Children” charity.
Other members of the train simulator community have contributed towards making this live stream special. Ben Jervis at Bossman Games has provided their newly released Hawksworth Coaches to go behind the King, and Jordan Wooton of Jordans Railway Simulator has very kindly created an appropriate “The Railway Children” headboard to commemorate the occasion.
The live stream will be going live at 0845 UK time on Saturday 12th August 2023, and it will take them between 6 and 7 hours to complete the 397 mile journey. Feel free to drop in during the day to say hi!
And of course, the main aim of the livestream, raising funds for The Railway Children. You can donate through Rhys' fundraiser over on JustGiving.
Rhys said “It's the closest you can get to actually driving and firing a steam locomotive virtually together with your friends, which is something that I have always wanted to do”.
“We have never completed a run as long as this in one live stream before. At 397 miles from start to finish, this will be a new experience, and a real challenge for us, and we thought that it would be a great opportunity to raise some money for a good cause”.
“The just giving page has only just been set up, and we have already raised over £200! Our target is £500, and every penny counts!”.
Sam commented “We've been wanting to do a run along the full length of a mainline for a while, but it's going to be a long hard slog, especially working together like a real loco crew. We thought the challenge was worth turning into a charitable event to fundraise for a railway related charity, to help raise funds for a good cause.”
