Since it's quiet between releases here, figured it was time to ask what everyone's favorite route to return to over and over? That one route that no matter how old you just like to drive? You know all the stops like the back of your hand. The locos are as familiar as your family car. It might not even be popular or flashy, but it just "hits the spot" for you? Why is that one your favorite? I think mine is West Somerset Railway. It's not flashy or fancy or long, but it is well done. Because it isn't "fast" you have a chance to enjoy the scenery in many seasons and weather conditions. The "heritage" nature of it gives it a sort of timeless feel since it's modern to use now, but also older. Plus, there's a ton of stock to run on it as stand-ins/substitutes even before I get silly and spawn any crazy stuff on it to test. What about everyone else? It's not a competition, just seeing what people like so there are no "wrong" answers. Even if it's a Rivet route! =-)
I find myself playing ECML a lot, being it's the nearest line to me. Both irl and TSW terms. MML I play a lot too.
Probably Shap and NTP for me, i love freight work and those have the most, ECML is ok but just flat don't really have much driving to do, and Tees Valley is too short for me.
East Coastway, probably. It was one of the first Add-Ons I bought for TSW and is still one of my favourites. Sometimes I just love the coastal scenery especially the Seaford Branch. It´s not the greatest Route in TSW by any means but I still somehow return to it every now and then. The scenery shows it´s age by now, the trains are not the best either but I still like it. Another candidate would be the Niddertalbahn. I really love the slow pace and the cozy and nostalgic feel of this route, TSG did an excellent job on this one, as always. It feels different to all the other routes out there and I absolutely love that, we really need more slow paced secondary lines in TSW.
This is inspiring me to give Peak Forest another run in the near future. It's such a beautiful map. Shap is too, but I ran that the other day =-)
Yes, I too am rather catholic in my choices, but I do have a preference for older routes and rolling stock. That's why I still turn to Sand Patch Grade and NTP, GWR and BML. I also like LIRR.
The Just Trains routes are both brilliant and excellent, but the WSR and MAC which l know well are my favourites. I also know well, WCL and have to say again that this is the worst replication of a route in the game and the scenery desperately needs remastering. Will it ever happen? Well we know the answer is NO.
Niddertalbahn. The best route that's been created scenery-wise IMO. Maik Goltz Showed what can be done with the game when care is put into it and his effort, IMO has not been matched before or since. Only Just Trains efforts come close IMO. Firing up Niddertalbahn is like playing a whole different sim compared to nearly all other routes.
Shap, Fife Circle and SEHS have usually been my go to routes, but just lately it’s been Birmingham to Crewe. Despite being on a console and thus getting the blur fest, the route itself is that good that it keeps bringing me back.
I don't have that new one. What's the appeal of Birmingham-Crewe? The livestream just didn't appeal to me, but I could be persuaded to give it another look.
For me at least, I find it a really enjoyable high speed blast from Crewe to Wolverhampton and then a change of pace between there and Birmingham. Really detailed route and makes use of lots of different layers and trains. Plus as a general bias, I’m originally from Crewe and still spend plenty of time there at the football, so it’s nice to have an incredibly well modelled modern Crewe in the game.
For me I am really enjoying the WCMLS right now and Shap with the modified timetable mods. also Cardiff city giving its initial release with the JT pacer pack it is like a different route I find.
SEHS. The variety on that route is crazy. Fife Circle reminds me of Irish Railways. Dresden-Leipzig. Again, the variety is excellent.
Mittenwaldbahn, just trying to do my best every time while driving the 1020, not that easy to master it on those gradients.
Three way tie at moment Preston to Carlisle (with class 86/2) Blackpool branches Most surprisingly Manchester Airport commuter
I find myself going back to Dresden Leipzig alot, but once the 145 releases I don't think I'll play any route other than it for a long time.
Fife Circle for me. It’s not perfect but it’s good enough for me. Did an amazing run on it a while ago. Started the route while it was still daylight and by the time I got to Leven it was pitch dark. A really nice sunset was enjoyed before leaving the Edinburgh side of the route. I’m really hoping for another extension upwards to Dundee / Perth in the future. I really love Niddertalbahn also. A very quiet peaceful route.
I live in the US so for passenger routes its Morristown #1 LIRR, Harlem #2 NEC Trenton #3 Freight it's SPG Oakdale Horseshoe
I love Birmingham Cross City. I really enjoy the 323 and I like completing a route from end to end, rather than just a portion of a service.
Those are the best for freight to me. Granted, USA here too. There's more... uniqueness? The western routes seem a bit bland. Maybe it's just I'm not a fan of the desert or LA =-)
It's not my favourite (it's my second favourite) but the route I keep going back to is Preston-Carlisle over Shap. Done most of the longer express runs so I've been doing lots of shorter services lately, such as loco changes at Preston or the little services where you bring a Pacer into service from Preston Carriage sidings. Last week, my preference was for trip workings around Carlisle so the 08 got a lot of use. Next time I'm thinking of doing some station pilot duties. It may look like an A to B route with a short branch to Morecambe, but there's so much variety in the timetable to suit whatever mood I'm in.
Cathcart Circle because since the 380 came out, arriving and departing a busy Glasgow Central (my favourite station) is an absolute joy. I also enjoy driving the 380, despite the OTT braking. Downside is the route is too short and been to Neilston and Newton too many times, so I now leave longer gaps between playing. Thank goodness for the Shields Road ECS runs just to give me a chance to go in a different direction. Desperate for another Glasgow Central-based route.
What's Glasgow-Edinburgh got to do with it? That's Queen St. And yes, the 380 layers onto it and also Fife Circle, although short services to/from Haymarket.
on paper it sounds like a lot but in reality the miles fly by. 50 miles on wcmls can be done in around 35 minutes, that’s comprised around 2/3 of 10,000 miles but i’ve still spent lots of time on birmingham crewe
Southeastern High Speed. Mostly for the commuter services and especially the 465. Yesterday I fired up a Javelin for the first time in a long while. I almost forgot how good that train is (best of the Hitachi AT300 trains IMO).
