Wcml Preston To Crewe Discussion

Judging by the way people talk about it, I don't think Diesel Legends of the Great Western was very successful and I'd be surprised if we got another commercial DLC in the same "old trains on a modern route" style. I think the only reason it sold at all was because we had a very limited number of routes at the time and people wanted something to extend GWE's lifespan, but the immersion offered by Diesel Legends is pretty inexistent for anyone who knows the route:

- The eastern end is electrified
- Paddington Goods Yard is missing
- Bishop's Bridge at Paddington is the 2006 bridge
- The iconic Ranelagh Bridge depot at Paddington is missing
- Crossrail portals under construction
- Missing stations such as Westbourne Park
- Old Oak Common features the prominent 1992 North Pole depot
- Heathrow Junction exists
- Reading is in its 2014 configuration with its modern canopies and huge modern footbridge
- All of the signage
- Modern clutter
- Etc

 

Yes, perhaps so, but on previous JT routes a 101 could always be used in place of a 142. It’ll be a real shame if the same can’t be done on Preston-Crewe - the 101 is so much more interesting to drive.

 

That would be superb. There used to be a mod (soon after Cross City came out) enabling replacement of the 323 with a 3-car 101. It was great, and I spent hours playing it. I don’t think it exists any more (or if it does, I don’t know whether it would still work with TSW6).

When 323s were first introduced they were extremely unreliable and BR ran a collection of elderly EMUs and DMUs in their place, including 101s (although most were 116s, I think). That era would be great to re-create, explaining the presence of the OLE, but with much older stock.

 

You’re right, I don’t think DTG will back-date a route again. I wonder whether someone else might, though.

GWE was an odd choice because the route had changed so much in the time between the two eras they were depicting (in all the ways you describe). Someone did an incredible mod which back-dated it, even removing the OLE. The only thing they couldn’t do anything with was Reading station, which had completely changed. I think updating the mod every time a new version of TSW came out became too much though, and it no longer works.

Some of the other routes would require much less work to back-date though. They wouldn’t be perfect of course, but just changing details like signage, station furniture etc can make an amazing difference to the ‘feel’ of the route, even if some bigger features like goods yards are missing.

 

I feel Riviera is one that could potentially work with a DLoGW style timetable. When I was working on a 73 TT the only real bottleneck occurred at Newton Abbot (which obviously had a lot more track work), and even then it was only affecting trains that started/ended their day at NTA sidings (too few sidings which meant not all the of EXD-WLOO 33s could fit). Having them run to Goodrington/Paignton Carriage Sidings, although not as accurate, resolved that and prevented any reduction in services present. Laira works really well for shunting coaches, and so does Plymouth and Exeter. Change up the modern equipment (i.e. LED signals) to their classic counterparts and it would be fine IMO.

 

Well, it wasn't so much a backdating of the route as just plonking 1970s services into a 2015 route. For better immersion it would have needed at least some sort of visual modification with some landmarks being added and others removed, but even then some of the stations are completely different, such as Reading with the bay platforms now off to the south side, whereas they were centrally-located before the remodelling. There's been a very good job done on TrainSimCommunity with the 2019 Preston-Carlisle timetable, which involved not only services from a different era to the route but also massive updating of the clutter (white Network Rail vans replacing the yellow BR ones, etc), digital PIS systems instead of the old yellow "tellies", and even the relocating of Morecambe station. Well worth a try.

I know which mod you mean for Paddington, I too quite liked it as it removed all of the OHLE gantries beyond Heathrow and I preferred the route that way. Unfortunately it does indeed cause a crash now and I suspect the person who created it would pretty much have to start over following the remaster, which is presumably quite a lot of work...

 

It was only a random thought as a means of making a Class 304 pack more viable. Of course the other stamping ground was Trent Valley local services, though back in the day they weren’t that frequent, only every two hours or so. They very occasionally strayed south of Rugby on a Birmingham to Euston stopper vice a 310, presumably the driver being conducted for traction knowledge.

 

Please don't tell me you've given up on getting Mk3 sleepers, Vern

 

Not at all! In fact Mark 3 sleepers, along with the Class 304 and Second Class Mark 2D’s with *original* interior should be next on JT’s list.

 

I saw the 2019 Preston-Carlisle and it does indeed look as if they did a great job. Forward-dating of routes to the modern(ish) era doesn’t really interest me though. I just don’t find the traction as interesting as earlier eras. If someone were to back-date some of the modern routes (Exeter-Plymouth would be number 1 on my list) that would be much more my thing.

 

I posted my previous post before seeing yours, but it seems we’re of the same mind on this. 10+ coach loco-hauled trains tackling the South Devon banks would be superb.

 

Was an oopsie on the manual, the 101 from Preston - Carlisle layers in for a good few services both AI and playable.

 

Hi could you say if the military and nuclear dlcs layer into this route. Thanks

 

As my oldest friend would say "RTFM!" As in read the ....erm... flipping... manual!

If you did, go to pages 128-129 for all the layers.

Military is not included, nuclear is.

 

Thanks mate my stupid phone would not let me download the manual.

 

Finally the release is so close! Next week the preview stream hype hype hype

 

Closely followed by a 25 and Some Speedlink vans!!

 

l expect the release to be June 16th.

 

Don't forget until the mid 80's the Exeter area was still semaphore signalled, with a particularly well known set at Newton Abbot.

If we are going to have a 1970's/1980's DLC then personally I want a suitable route for it. Driving a Western out of modern day Paddington is immersion breaking and not a subistitute for a proper period route.

 

Good news, thank you.