[maxtracks] Leeds North West: Airedale & Wharfedale Lines Route

Hi, just wanted to share some pics of my in development route for Train Sim Classic

Kirkstall Forge by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM

Bingley by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM

Bradford Forster Sq by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM

It's an upcoming payware route that represents the line from Leeds to Skipton, Ilkley and Bradford Forster Square, as well as the freight-only branch to Rylstone quarry. The total route length is over 45 miles of track/scenery and features all 19 stations as detailed custom assets.

Shipley by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM

Skipton by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM

Rylstone Quarry by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM

The route has been in the making for over a year and a half, working with some incredibly talented developers (many previously known for their work on ATS routes), and is now in the final stages of development working towards a release in the near future.

Guiseley by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM

Ben Rhydding by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM

Keighley by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM

Salts Mill by MaxTracks posted Nov 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM

The only requirement for the route is DTG Huddersfield Line (Manchester Leeds) and optionally, AP Sky/Weather, Signalling and Foliage Enhancement packs. The route comes with an AI-only (non-driveable) Class 333 EMU, although I'm developing a driveable version to follow up as part of a future standalone release of this train.

 

Looking good. In Fact looking very good.

 

Looks great. Thanks for sharing.

 

Very nice

 

That'll be a first day buy for me.

 

do we need TSW even, when such quality routes still emerge in TSC, declared dead by DTG?

 

This looks absolutely fantastic well done to the team.

 

Damn. This is impressive.

 

This is truly a work of art and a definite purchase for me! Well done on all your hard work!

 

Looks amazing! Can't wait to see it released!

 

There's things to like about TSW, no doubt, but we still thought there was way more that can yet be done with TS classic!

Plus, people have a lot of routes and stock in their TS classic collection already, and given all the variety of workings on this route we didn't want to be limited by what's available (or not) for TSW - where's the fun of an Airedale line if you can't run a 91 set down it, or a 60 with aggregate hoppers, or railtours with 50s or steam? At least that's my logic.

I'm sure TSW will continue to grow in terms of stock and collection, but there's plenty of life left in TSC in my eyes.

 

I've been following the progress of this on your FB page and on streams, I am staggered at the level of detail and atmosphere captured in this route. What an incredible job by you and the team. Can't wait for it to be released!

 

Will this be published directly by yourself, via someone else (JustTrains/Alan Thomson/someone else) or on Steam?

 

It will be published through the ATS site - it both uses and contributes assets to the ATS common library. As such, expect a discount for ATS subscribers, but either way the price will be around the expected mark for a payware route (final number TBC)

 

Hmm … I am an ATS subscriber

 

ATS? That's a big NO from me!

Why not GAD, CW or set up your own KoFi store?

 

What's the issue with ATS (as long as you stay FAR away from their Facebook group)?

 

I'm sorry to hear that, the ATS lads are great guys, I've worked with them for years and they've been very good to work with. (I also was one of the main developers of the ATS Chat Moss route).

I pursued this project on my own time and money but it'll be published through ATS as it uses their common asset library. You won't need an ATS subscription to buy it, but those that do have one will get a discount.

I know there's some strong opinions on ATS out there as the subscription model has been controversial, fair enough. But I hope people will look past any vendettas and see we all just want cool stuff in the sim

 

This is fantastic! Will definitely be purchasing it

 

Always has to be one doesnt there. Well if its a no for you because of the store the developers chooses to sell it on then more fool you. YOU will be the one loosing out on a fantastic route that someone has clearly spent ALOT of time and effort into doing giving the pictures we have seen.

 

Looks like we may be getting an early Christmas present. The manual has been uploaded and looks amazing.

EDIT: i cant get the link to upload if i copy it and paste here then its like 20 lines of text so dont want to flood the thread.

 

The link to the Manual is on this FB page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1524678610893349/

 

Thanks

and it’s out now.

 

I can't see the manual, presumably I need facebook membership. Any other source?

 

Found a copy here: Leeds North West – Airedale & Wharfedale Lines – Alan Thomson Simulation

 

Thank you Max and the team, what a lovely Christmas present bought by me for me

 

Great route. Thanks for creating this.

 

Will be publishing this route on my web site here: https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/uk-routes/leeds-nw

 

Shame my TSC computer is out of action for the moment

 

A fantastic looking route. Always great to see new routes for TSC as things have slowed down in that department since DTG withdrew from producing DLC.

The new ATS installer is nice and slick too. Much preferred to the old 'launcher'.

 

I've been enjoying this all morning. It's a route that passes through some places I know quite well and it looks fabulous.
I have had problems with 5H03/2H03, though. First off, I got held at L3987 heading into Bradford. I waited until 06450 but then had to tab through to move on as there was no sign of it clearing and the 80x that had been blocking me had passed. I got to Bradford OK but then the doors closed very quickly as I was changing ends. Then, I was held outside Skipton at what I think was L4131 but then had an AI derailment. I couldn't capture the details quickly enough, sorry. I tried to resume from a save point at Cononley but the game hung twice at a spot adjacent to the roundabout at Low Snaygill.

 

It's in a slightly unusual spot - \Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Manuals\MaxTracks\Leeds North West

 

Thank you for your efforts in continuing to create for tsc.. while it’s nice seeing more tsw content for the uk, it’s the end to end routes available in tsc and/or scenarios that can cover multiple adjoining dlc/routes that I keep coming back for (as well as the variety of rolling stock) as it’s more seamless to go between them than route hopping!

already plan on grabbing this once back from the in-laws next week!

 

Thanks but I was wanting to see the manual prior to purchase. I found it on the ATS website.

 

Apologies for the Facebook only pre-release manual post, I meant to link it here but got distracted with the route release stuff

Thanks to everyone who checked out the route so far or gave feedback, it's the best feeling after the last 20 months of work to see people finally able to enjoy the route and seeing all sorts of awesome scenarios popping up for it
We're working on a patch for some of the issues spotted post release, thankfully most of them are relatively minor but there's a couple of things we're still investigating.

 

We now have Hotfix 1.01 up for the route:

+ Added signals from Harrogate direction and Gargrave
- Fixed missing superelevation around Crossflatts
- Fixed some trees encroaching on the loading gauge
- Fixed phantom AI horn sound
- Fixed some floating objects
- Fixed some platform ends not showing correctly
- Fixed some clipping objects / Z fighting
- Fixed some tunnel details
- Added NRN/GSMR to Extra Stock scenarios
- Fixed missing texture of plaque on Baildon station
- Made all assets appear regardless of 'scenery density' setting

The patch can be installed by simply re-running the release installer.

My sincere thanks to everyone who's supported us by purchasing the route, and every piece of feedback received has been very much appreciated.

We've tried to incorporate as many fixes as possible into this patch, however due to time pressures before Christmas, not all issues could be rectified immediately. We'll aim to release a follow up patch after the Christmas break addressing any other issues we're able to.

Many thanks again and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

 

Appreciate the super quick update, i did hear the phantom AI horn once and wondered where was that coming from . Have a well deserved rest this Christmas.

 

I've been away since this came out, but bought it anyway based on some of the streams I'd seen.

I got back home yesterday evening and only had time for one scenario, but could already see the absolutely amazing level of detail. I can't see myself playing much other than this over my holiday.

 

Can anyone help. Trying to load the first scenario and Class 91 and DVT are invisible. Have the AP pack. Downloaded 3 other packs from Alan Thompson. RS Tools says I am missing something called D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Assets\DTG\Class91Pack02\RailVehicles\Electric\Class 91\AP\Externbin Is this the issue and if so which pack installation has not worked or is there yet another download I need. Spent all evening trying to get this route to run with endless stock downloads.

 

Do you have the default InterCity Class 91 Loco Add-On, https://store.steampowered.com/app/222625/Train_Simulator_InterCity_Class_91_Loco_AddOn/

This is required for the AP 91..Many AP Enhancements require the default train to work

 

Yes I have all 5 packs installed for Class 91. I have managed to get a default Class 91 to show and will stick with that and ignore all the non working add ons just so I can see this route which presently I regret buying.

Ok now have a scenario loading with a class 91 now showing so I can test it later

 

You could always loco swap it out to the AP liveries you have in your class91pack02, I do this to a lot of scenarios where the consist might be showing an error but the repaint/train is there just a naming difference..(ignore the west highland scenario Im just using this as an example, but you can allocate the number yourself)

 

Thats what I have done. Installed all 4 packs again and at least I have a working Class 91. I have no doubt the route is brilliant but the sheer amount of 3rd party stuff should have a warning to buyers

 

There is a list of what add-ons are required on the ATS page where you buy the route.
I have most of the base items and the others are just reskins
I don't have the 185 so it will get swapped to a TPE 170

 

With over 300 weekday timetabled full services available over 5 routes it's rather a shame that no AI traffic has been included on Quick Drives. It would have taken just a couple of extra hours work to add the included 333 preloads along with some random conflicting traffic for delays, allowing players to augment the scenarios with whatever dlc they own or just jump in and drive a 30 or 40 minute run with the signature train of this excellent route appearing as AI.
I get that the target market is the subscription community and other players with comprehensive collections who wish to play complex rail fan scenarios requiring the purchase of more and more content, but that is surely no reason to ignore lesser mortals like myself who just enjoy the game as a driving simulator with the challenge of driving bog standard runs and who don't qualify for mate's rates when making a purchase.

 

Fair enough, it's something worth looking at, I mostly just avoided it for now because of the increased burden on the test team to make sure every combination of quick drive works with various AI trains that may or may not spawn etc.

Personally I like quick drives and use them often when I just want to explore a route without any pressures, but I'm usually told I'm in the minority for touching the feature at all so I haven't given it tons of attention or dev time. But it's something I'll look at addressing in an update if I get chance.

 

I agree, I like Quick Drives and Real Drives the Kim Olesen makes.
You can explore the line with a Quick Drive unlike a Free Roam where you are checking if the points are set correctly
Handy to work out braking points for the trains approaching stations and junctions

 

Thanks for taking the time out to reply. Theoretically testing should be straight forward if you set all spawn points to 100% then reset the values to a lower amount after running each path but TSC is seldom completely straightforward so I understand your concerns. Even just a very basic amount of AI with no conflicting movements would at least flesh out the route a bit and give a base for players to edit in a more sophisticated scenario if they wished.
There seems to be a pervasive antipathy if not outright hostility to Quick Drives in rarefied forums such as this, encouraged no doubt by content providers with extra required dlc to sell, but for new players of the game (if they still exist) the option of having to buy hundreds of pounds worth of content to run a couple of scenarios is hardly sustainable. As far as I can tell the biggest selling point of Train Sim World is timetable rather than scenario based and whilst I appreciate the craft that goes into rail fan scenario creation I suspect I am not only player who would rather just jump in and drive a real time service knowing that the game isn't going to crash on me and that I am not missing any requirements.

In any case thanks to your team for bringing this route to life. For some reason it has always fascinated me when visiting the area and you have certainly done it full justice.

 

Totally agree with the free drive comments. I've bought this and can only do the free drive. So disappointed I'm the only train. Love the route but didn't realize I would need so much extra stuff. I've already formed out £30 and all the extra stuff costs a lot also and very confusing even if I could get all the extra payware. I've hardly played train sim classic since tsw came out but this route is local to me and I really had to get it. I hope there is a future update with AI services as it would add so much, route is stunning

 

Are there any payware ATS routes with AI on quickdrive? I don't think there are and I think this is also the case on their subscription only routes. As soon as I saw that ATS would be providing the route the first thing I thought of was there would be no AI on quickdrive, but I just had to have the route. It's a fantastic route and I don't regret buying it.