New Route Suggestion. Worksop To Nottingham (the Robin Hood Line)

History
The majority of the current Robin Hood Line re-uses the former Midland Railway (MR) route from Nottingham to Worksop.
On a branch line (branching off between Shirebrook and Langwith whaly thorns) now known as the high marham test track took almost all the freight operations of the robin hood line. Before 2015 coal trains mainly consisting of the class 66 (gbrf or freightliner) would travel this branch going as far as thorsby colliery sidings in Edwinstowe.
This i believe would be a nice element for freight. These trains were bound for a power plant along the midland main line


passenger services
all passenger operations as of 2020 are operated by the newly formed Eastmidlands railway but if freight was to be added it would be operated by east Midlands trains owned by stagecoach.
The service starts off at Nottingham with trains leaving next to the midland main line. After branching off it then follows Nottinghams tram network up to Hucknall where it goes off into the countryside shortly after the trains stop at a single platform station called Newstead. The trains then go through Newstead tunnel heading to Kirkby in Ashfield where the line is back to having 2 tracks. Trains then travel to Sutton parkway another 2 platform station. Mansfield is the next stop with the station being above the town below on the Mansfield viaduct. The next stop is Mansfield woodhouse a 3 platform station where trains from Norwich terminate after following the robin hood line. Trains then go through Shirebrook, Langwith whaly thorns, Cresswell Whitehall and worksop

the trains that run passenger services are the class 156

The 158

And the 153 that is normally seen connected to a 156 to make a 3 car during rush hour
Overall I think this would be an interesting and diverse route and something different to what we have in the works for the uk.
Please let me know what your opinions are as I'm interested to know what people think and what they would add or change
Update the line now also runs 170s that would be a nice add on

 

Could be an interesting and diverse project.

 

Its something different really its rural but modern we haven't really had that in the uk routes we get for tsw

 

Pictures of stations from Nottingham to Worksop order
Nottingham platform 1a

Bulwell

Hucknall
Newstead

Kirkby in Ashfield

 

Sutton parkway

Mansfield

Mansfield Woodhouse

Shirebrook

Langwith whaly thorns

 

Cresswell

Whitewell

Worksop

 

Other key areas
Mansfield viaduct
Thoresby colliery sidings
Thoresby colliery

 

Early 1980s with tons of blue 56s trundling around via Worksop

 

We have already had lots of 1980s based stuff for the uk and tbh you still see older locos cus of the high marham test track

 

Well said I for one am 110% in support of your ideas as nothing in the Midlands at all for a train sim world game and no sprinters either so is a fantastic idea

 

This would be a fun addition, lots if different train options depending on the era however I agree a more modern setting would be nice.

With the length of the route they could definitely add the freight spur towards the high Marham test track. And worksop used to be a big siding for the ews hoppers.

They could also if possible add an option for a triple running class 153, it's very rare but a fun to see.

I dont know if they would have room with the Robin hood line and the spur to edwinstow, they could possibly add the branch from kirkby to toton for freight services.

Being set in 2000 could be interesting because then it would be operated by central trains and they would run class 170 on the route from time to time.

Overall a great proposal and lots of information shared by the original poster.

+1 for the work put in by OP

 

There is a few interesting services in the timetable for this line also, theres on a weekday a 7.27am departure from Mansfield woodhouse that after reaching Nottingham goes onward to Norwich and perform those services

Another interesting thing is that off peak services only serve either Bulwell or Newstead, with the half hourly timetable.

There's the hourly service to Worksop and also the half hour between to Mansfield woodhouse, they turn back at Mansfield woodhouse due to the terminus platform 3 for Mansfield.

I really hope for a East Midlands trains service run by stagecoach rather than the newer East Midlands railway as the class 158 looks super in the stagecoach white livery.

 

Yep definitely that’s the interesting point when privatisation first came in 1997 the turbostars 1st came to the then central trains franchise and turbostars originally operated the Robin Hood line and now turbostars currently being cascaded from cross country and others back to the Eastmidlands through EMR to replace the sprinters

 

Tbh I am going to miss the sprinters I personally love the sounds and the older look of the 156 especially
Also some of the seats have chicken leg on them

 

Thank you for your opinion. Honestly I think the high marham to Edwinstowe should be possible they have done lewes to Seaford on east coastway.

 

Definitely agree if they did the route they could add the branch to edwinstow.

I also personally like the look of the sprinters and would love to see them in the game

 

Yep that’s one of things I’ve longed for the most in tsw a sprinter of some class or another and a turbostar as these would all be 1sts in a train sim world game

 

Right now I'm sat waiting to try and make a 377 a sprinter on the livery designer

 

Bit far fetched but they could give a guard mode a go with sprinters using the door panel

 

I think that would be popular with people I agree.

I would love to Sprinters in the game still though

 

Definitely the lovely 156 sprinters and the 158 with the Perkins and Cummins engine options

 

I'm mainly hoping for a 156 and a 158 the most

 

Which would you like to see in game the most

 

The 158s definitely a workhorse of a train

 

I agree but as I'm strange and feel the 156 is more comfy

 

Used to live in Shirebrook I would love to see this route

 

Yep and that’s one thing that sets shirebrook apart from rest of stations aside from Worksop power signal box Shirebrook has the only working signal box on the Robin Hood line with Derby signalling centre controlling Nottingham to shirebrook then shirebrook controlling Absolute block to Worksop psb which then takes over control

 

Nothing wrong with that the 156 sprinters awesome lovely example of metro camells fine craftsmanship

 

Just for all who are interested the robin hood line has never been made in a simulator

 

Here is the full route if they decide to do it they can look at the scenery

 

I very much doubt it as Eastmidlands trains ie stagecoach are no longer running it so don’t think that’s possible as would require EMR license as they the current operators

 

True same a virgin trains you can't get the license cus of it being gone
Also have you seen the class 158 in an emr livery they look amazing

 

Oh yes love the EMR branding it’s very nice been on the 158/156 a few times

 

That's true about the EMT, definitely never going to get the stagecoach livery on them true.

Unfortunately I disagree on the EMR livery, they look dull plain and that brown, I cant like it.

Since stagecoach lost the franchise and with me being a luxury traveller I have only been on the train 5 times (also other reason with this year). I saw one of the new painted 222 other day and I actually wanted to cry with them no longer looking sleek and beautiful. Now they look old and tired

 

But its purple not brown

 

This might be my eyes, I am a little colour blind but that looks brown.

Still not set on it though

 

Well to each there own

 

We might get emr regional trains in the stagecoach livery

 

How is this possible would that not be a infringement on intellectual property of stagecoach group who owned East Midlands trains also wouldn’t that be impossible for DTG a license for something which technically doesn’t exist as EMR have rebranded there trains

 

It would depend on emr letting them use it as they now have ownership of the livery just with their name on it

 

Excellent idea and for the Class 158 it can receive GWR reskin since GWR operates them for Portsmouth Bristol Cardiff. Provided DTG makes South Wales Coastal Great Western Services

 

And if not you have the livery editor
A 158 is a must for the game

 

Don't forget all of the coal freight moved from Shirebrook and Sherwood coal mines. As kids we'd spent hours on the bridge at the top of my street, watching them pass. I'm old enough to remember steam trains hauling too, as we'd hang over the bridge, for a delicious face full of smoke and soot - although diesels took over by the time we were around 8 years old. So, I'd gladly buy this DLC.

 

and would a a add on be the class 170

 

Yes as they now are common on the line

 

this is such a perfect suggestion! a really interesting route and traction, and it would be nice to see a UK diesel branch line added to the game.. this route would have so much variety, with the option of passenger and freight.. could even utilise the upcoming traction from the Derby/Leicester/Nott'm route

would 100% love to see Nottingham to Worksop added!

 

I have come back to update this post I have found videos of the shunting work at Thoresby colliery

 

Going to recommend this to skyhook if they read this

 

Hi i have suggested exactly that please look at my posts


I would like colleries and power stations every named place near me had its own colliery

 

I remember when i was quite young probably around 5yr seeing the class 58s at shirebrook colliery and at depot on other side and them queing over bridge on debdale lane and next thing there all gone ,,, Then after many years we moved and i was in high school by that point and used to watch welbeck untill it shut we used to watch the cage going up n down and we would watch the trains somewhere along the route i used to sometimes walk down the welbeck colliery line