Simtrack's Br Class 104 & Pfr Improvements

I think if someone like JT releases a route that uses the Class 104 (or whatever is used on the PFR/SOS) then DTG might use that as an opportunity to do a remaster of the routes to get some more money out of them with new timetables. They already put the money into making them after all. That and some layers on other routes would really be a lot of value for a rather small investment. I suggested maybe the Buxton Line out of Manchester in the 1980s.

Would the 104 work on both?
Didn't see much historical info on those in particular. I'm wondering if that was part of the decision not to do it because they didn't want to have to make up a lot of the timetables/etc.

Part of the reason PFR/SOS didn't do well was a lack of that commuter style timetable which the majority of the TSW player base prefers. I'm not getting into the whole steam thing... that's not relevant to this thread. There was some passenger content. However, there is a difference in gameplay between a loco drawn carriage and a DMU, and those would be additional services as well. (Or they could just cheap out and make it a "layer" for those loco pulled services if they didn't want to do much work I guess)

Either way, the addition of another early DMU really opens up a lot of added value to previous routes which would be good for players (and DTG/devs as they can sell more of those routes. Imagine the "Class 104 bundle" including every route that it would run/layer on.

It would have future value in expansions into Scotland too.

 

Well I wasn't aware of that.

 

Buxton with a 104 would be great.

SOS wouldn't have seen 104's. Apart from possibly some coming from Chester but I'm not sure when they got them. After steam it would have been EMUs running Liverpool to Crewe I believe. If it was DMUs then probably class 108s or maybe an early Derby Lightweight.

 

Ah that's definitely a shame!

But thankyou for that Matt!
Really do appreciate you taking the time to drop in

 

Thank you for clarifying that Matt.

A shame but these things happen.

 

Thanks Matt, that's a real shame. Also means we will probably never see an improved timetable for PFR. As said, a blue or blue/grey 104 would also have layered nicely into BPO. I have distant memories sometime in the mid 80's of cramming into the vestibule of one that came into Preston full and standing from Manchester, with another 100 people (including yours truly) waiting to board towards Blackpool.

 

How accurate would the 108 be for other routes?
We will have that in game soon.
Could layer that in.
I don't think the 101 exactly fits as has been discussed before when that came out for the WCL.

 

Have a word with Just Trains, yes?

 

Ya know I just realized a Buxton line with the 104 by Just Trains would not only be another link to Manchester (already a very popular TSW destination) but it would also link to the PFR in Buxton which would be using the 104 as well. Although they were routes from different times, the 104 would be there both around 1960 and up until the late 1980s due to its long service so it'd be a good linkage between them!

 

108’s popped up all over the place, particularly towards the end as they were among the few unit types that survived the asbestos purge. Not sure they would have been seen in and around Buxton at or just after the time of PFR though.