Hi! This is going to be my final suggestion post in this forum, and I wanted to use this opportunity to suggest what is probably my number one wish for Train Sim World. It may seem like an obscure suggestion, but I am suggesting the Far North Line in north-eastern Scotland, covering the final portion of the mammoth route from Brora to both outer termini of Thurso and Wick. The entire Far North Line, stretching from Inverness all the way to the northern-most railway station in the entire United Kingdom at Thurso, it a massive 153 miles. It should be obvious by this point why I'm not even remotely suggesting the entire Far North Line be brought into Train Sim World! 153 miles is way too long, and the entire journey would take around 4 hours, which again is not remotely a viable option. So I'm instead suggesting the most scenic, most engaging, and perhaps the most enchanting section, between Brora on the Scottish coastline and Thurso, alongside the 6 mile branch from Georgemas Junction to the final stop of the line, Wick. ROUTE: Brora - Thurso: approx. 63 miles Georgemas Junction - Wick: approx. 6 miles STATIONS: Brora Helmsdale Kildonan Kinbrace Forsinard Altnabreac Scotscalder Georgemas Junction Thurso *** MOST NORTHERLY STATION IN THE ENTIRE UK *** Wick TRACTION: Class 158 Scotrail - ALREADY EXISTS IN-GAME Class 158 Scotrail Leven Branch Livery - ALEADY EXISTS IN-GAME (& used in real life on this route) Class 66 RHTT - ALREADY EXISTS IN-GAME Class 37 - NUCLEAR FREIGHT FROM GEORGEMAS JCT TO BRORA - ALREADY EXISTS IN-GAME Cargo Line Nuclear - NUCLEAR FREIGHT FROM GEORGEMAS JCT TO BRORA - ALREADY EXISTS IN-GAME WHY START AT BRORA? Brora is my choice of starting point, as it is the station where the route really opens up. The route hugs the Scottish coast from Brora to the next stop, Helmsdale. From there it cuts inland through 'Flow Country', which is some of the most remote and untouched areas in the whole of Europe. By starting at Brora, you can experience the very best of the Far North Line in terms of scenery, while it still being a manageable distance for TSW. JOURNEY TIME AND OPERATIONS: This would be an interesting drive from an operations perspective, as you would have to change ends TWICE to complete a full run from Brora to Wick. From Brora, you would drive as far as Georgemas Junction, change ends to drive to Thurso, then change ends again to drive back via Georgemas Junction to end at Wick station. The journey time from Brora to Georgemas Junction is just over 1 hour, whereas the journey from Georgemas Junction to Thurso is around 10 minutes, and the final leg from Thurso to Wick is around 30 minutes. The way TSW works in breaking up journey's into parts whenever you need to change ends, works perfectly for this route, as it gives the varying gameplay of driving for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or combining all three and driving for over 1 hour 30 minutes, depending how you feel on the day if you fancy a long or a short drive. SERVICES: That brings me nicely to the number of services. On paper, this route is very sparse, as it only has 8 scheduled passenger services each day, 4 in either direction. This is partly because of the single line nature of the majority of this route, but more significantly due to the remote and sparsely populated part of the country being served. As anyone who has travelled on this route in real life will know, very few people live out this way. 8 passenger services sounds like too few for TSW, right? Well, this is where changing ends TWICE EVERY JOURNEY really comes into it's own, as every journey will essentially be split into three: Northbound trips would consist of 1) Brora - Georgemas Junction; 2) Georgemas Junction - Thurso; 3) Thurso - Wick.. and every Southbound journey would be the reverse of that. So overall, there would actually be 24 PASSENGER SERVICES TO OPERATE, of varying lengths of distance and time, as well as the option for Nuclear Cargo from the Cargo Line series, and an optional RHTT Class 66 also. CRITICAL POINT ON SERVICES: I know that even with 24 passenger services, 2 nuclear cargo services and 6 RHTT services combining to give 32 SERVICES OVERALL.. I would like to point out that on release WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY only had 33 services, yet the sheer detail and immersion of the scenery of that route is what made it so special. That's why Brora - Thurso and Wick ABSOLUTELY WORKS in this respect, and in my opinion passes the LAMPOIL test. Also, the benefit of choosing the Far North Line over the more well-known West Highland Line, is the Class 158 Scotrail ALREADY EXISTS IN GAME. There's no need to create a single new piece of traction for this route, everything already exists ready to go from day one. To add to this, and why I think there is a massive gap in the market for the Far North Line: Brora - Thurso and Wick, is that we constantly and consistently get commuter routes, high speed routes, with busy and huge timetables. That's great! But let me ask you this, do you ever get tired of that? Do you ever get tired of running the same busy routes, between similar cities and landscapes? This is an escape from that. This is a change to unwind and relax for an hour or so, in what is probably the most beautiful, yet least known, part of the UK. Very few people who aren't local get to experience the sheer majesty of what the Far North Line has to offer, and it would be a massively welcome addition to the game, and would fill a gap in the market no other UK route currently does. If you enjoyed NIDDERTAHLBAHN, this could very, VERY easily become the United Kingdom's Niddertahlbahn! I love the busy timetables we get on WCML, ECML, CCN, you name it it's all good.. but can you honestly say it wouldn't be great to have the option to take a step back, step into a world less chaotic and more peaceful, just you and a Class 158 and the incredible Far North of Scotland all to yourself? Everyone talks about how great the West Highland Line is, or even the Kyle of Lochalsh line is, and make no mistake they are special in their own right.. but Far North Line: Brora - Thurso and Wick is the absolute perfect choice for TSW in particular, for all the reasons i've highlighted above. I'm finding I'm getting tired of running on busy timetable routes now. Life itself is so busy and chaotic right now, I want a route in TSW where i can escape the madness and the chaos for an hour or so, immerse myself in the best kept secret in the UK with the amazing scenery of the Far North Line. If any route deserves to be recreated for our game, surely it has to be this one... Katia PICTURES: - Brora station, with the Class 158 Scotrail Leven Livery (ALREADY EXISTS IN GAME) - Helmsdale station - Kildonan station - Kinbrace station - Altnabreac station - Scotscalder station with Scotrail Class 158 (ALREADY EXISTS IN GAME) - Forsinard station - Georgemas Junction station (with freight terminal on the left) - Thurso station (most NORTHERLY STATION in the ENTIRE UNITED KINGDOM) - Wick Station - Railtour service between Brora and Helmsdale - Far North Line map, with the blue section showing Brora - Thurso and Wick - Class 37 running Nuclear freight to/from Georgemas Junction - Coastal running after departing Brora - Flow Country - Scotland's most remote railway journey TSW Far North Line: Brora - Thurso and Wick.. an escape from a chaotic world and an immersion into the remotest parts of the United Kingdom... - DTG Matt DTG Alex DTG Harry DTG JD Thank you, Katia ***ADDITIONAL EDIT:*** Two points i forgot to mention that are unique to this route, are the use of Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB) signalling, and the use of Request-only stops on many stations on the route There are absolutely ZERO traditional signals on this route, only RETB is present, shown here in the following photo: -RETB signalling, which would be a first ever in TSW RETB replaces the need for 'traditional' signals and operates by a driver/train needing to request a digital token from the signaller. In this setup, a solid blue light means do not pass, and a flashing blue light means you have possession of the necessary token for the next section ahead, and may proceed. This would be a first ever for TSW, and effectively a BRAND NEW SIGNALLING SYSTEM. Finally, many stations on this route are so remote, they operate as a REQUEST ONLY STOP. This also would be a first ever for TSW, and in whatever way this would be implemented in-game, it would mean no two trips are guaranteed to be the same, where some trips may have more stops than usual, and others may turn into semi-express runs.. which would help keep the route feel fresh and interesting, in a very similar context to the new Signal Delay and Train Fault features. - The Far North Line is the very first in Scotland to have STOP REQUEST BUTTONS on platforms, replacing the need to stand and flag down a train as it approaches. The introduction of Request Stops in TSW would provide the 'expect the unexpected' feeling that the recent Signal Delays and Train Faults features have provided ***THANK YOU!***
Considering the Rolling stock is being reused, the route could maybe go as far as Lairg? It's only extra 20 miles or so and should be doable as there's no train to model.
This would be nice but for goodness sake let's have it in the loco hauled era with Class 26 or 37, not a Sprinter DMU! Class 26 digging in to the increasingly bleak climb up to County March Summit on the evening up train, while enjoying a pork pie and apple bake tea in the buffet car was a life changing experience. Diesel fumes drifting back and mingling with the aroma from the steam heat. One of the great railway experiences.
I have added two additional points to the original suggestion, that highlights both the use of RETB signalling, which would be a first for TSW.. alongside the introduction of Request-only stops, meaning no two journeys would feel the same and the stopping pattern would be variable and unpredictable, which again would be a first for TSW.. hopefully 2 unique features that could appeal to those who make the choices and decisions to build and release new routes for TSW!
On some of the points raised above, i understand the desire to extend and have a longer route, but this route is already approx. 70 miles long, which is around optimal for TSW. There's not really such a thing as 'just' adding 20 miles, that's still a lot of intensive dev work (although i definitely had the same wishes for ECML to 'just' extend to York so i understand where you're coming from!) Choosing Brora as the start/end point allows the route to be achievable in terms of TSW length, as well as showcasing the very best of the Far North Line as you immediately hug the coast after heading north from Brora. on the topic of choice of traction, i appreciate everyone has their own preference of locos/era's etc. but my reasoning for the Class 158 Scotrail is very clear.. it already exists in game. The odds of this route being created (or even this thread piquing the interest of those who have the power to commission TSW routes) are likely very slim.. but it's much more likely to come to fruition if 'only' (and i use the term 'only' in a different context here of course, it's still a massive undertaking to 'only' build a route!) a route needs to be built, and not a route and also a brand new traction. Finally it's true this route has some of the most remote in the entire United Kingdom! Altnabreac has no public roads for miles around (and has a bit of an interesting recent history for those who want to have a google!) and Kildonan i believe is amongst the top-10 least used stations in the whole country. I just cannot sell this route enough, it's absolutely perfect for TSW and would fill such a unique gap in the market!
The counter to that is the 37 already exists, would just need reworking into a 37/4 if going for the latter days of loco hauled operation in the late 80’s together with the Mark 2 non aircon stock. Splitting and joining trains at Georgemas would be an interesting exercise, too. Class 26 could follow as a DLC together with reskinned Mark Ones.
Probably the most thorough suggestion I’ve ever seen on here! I was sold by half way. I was sold again by the end. What a shame the distance between Inverness and Brora is too far for Inverness to feature as the token ‘big station’ on the route though! I like night drives and this route would be immense in the dark. Work in the Aurora maybe too?
