Yes class 150 Sprinters were in the north west from around 1985/86. The 150/2 as in WCL was introduced from 1986/87, they replaced loco hauled stock on Scarborough to Liverpool services amongst other services but I am sure could have been seen in Blackpool. I think at first they tended to be used on middle distance or even quite long distance services before being cascaded down as class 156's then 158's arrived. The livery on the WCL version wasn't seen on class 150's until around 1994. Set in the period the route is they would have been in the earlier Provincial livery with "sprinter" branding.
re The ‘Hellfire’ thing, Tom has used that word in a number of TSTV videos recently which are completely unconnected to Just Trains. As words or phrases sometimes become commonplace between mates / work colleagues, I suspect you’ll find that’s all it is, simply a turn of phrase. I’ll bet he wrote that article which is why the word featured.
Hellfire was the old bashers’ warcry for a rateable move or a loco with a bit of thrash or clag, which is why I postulated previously about the possibility of an achievement or mastery being based on accomplishments in loco haulage. As regards the Class 40 and Pacer era being a few years apart, well I’ll take a bit of licence, or maybe it can pop in on a Railtour or three.
Thank you for telling me about this from what I can see looks like we are getting a mechanical Pacer pre 1996 gearbox change which is an automated manual gearbox lorry on rails Class 150/2 Sprinter decals ( achievement counts for the Cornish Main Line Version) & Class 20 BR Blue which makes it count for TVL version.
I used to have the game Hellfire, I always imagined how great it would be if it could be linked with a simulator, this was back in MSTS days. Maybe in the future we will be shouting Hellfire as a class 387 sidles into a station!
Well I would hope that they don't layer in the WCL Sprinter, unless they have reskinned it. If they do I will have to start playing Tetris with the .pak files again. A blue reskin of the class 20 would be nice. I feel as well as mark 1's we really could do with some airconditioned mark 2's, although that is asking for a lot!
There are a couple of really nice weathered class 20 br blue liveries on CC. Just a shame we can't alter how and where they show up
Not to keep hammering on about possibility of it going to Wigan, but this Leyland clue could support that. It would be on the route if it went from Wigan - Blackpool.
What extra "gameplay" would the line going from Wigan to Preston add? It just seems an odd choice if so. I think the Leyland clue is far more likely to refer to the Pacer. But you never know.
Yeah, there wouldn't be much extra gameplay, just maybe some high speed runs from Wigan-Preston (with some continuing to Blackpool). It could include the stoppers which stop at Leyland and Euxton, which then continue both upto Blackpool. I don't necessarily think it will add too much, but just think its a possibility. The Leyland clue does seem likely to be about the Pacer aswell, rather than the station.
It would be pretty devoid of WCML traffic (not that DTG worry at some places) so would be several miles of line with little purpose. They could be going down to Leyland just to pad the route out bug many folk seem to have added the Blackpool and Ormskirk lines and got the mileage from that. The clues now are pretty obvious to what it is. Possibly more so than for any release I have seen before.
You would need an AC electric if any meaningful section of the WCML was included, either an 86 or 87 which I highly doubt is on JT's remit.
I don't think it's anything to do with Leyland - I think it's a reference to Lye which is a chemical compound that ICI used to make a lot of and which was presumably shipped in large quantities to and from the plant on this line. It's pretty clear IMO from the identification of the new screenshot and the total route mileage that this is going to be Ormskirk - Blackpool North and South plus the Fleetwood branch of ICI freight interest as above. The Preston docks may also make an appearance.
Terrible yellow scribble is the power line that you can just about make out in the screenshot - definitely the Coote Lane bridge at the start of the Ormskirk branch. Ormskirk to Blackpool North - 32 miles Blackpool South branch - 12 miles Fleetwood branch - 4 miles (for ICI freight, also the location of the mentioned abandoned station Thornton-Cleveleys) Credit goes to others for doing most of this legwork
I think they've teased this route well. There's been speculation for a while, but it's taken a couple of months for the clues to all add up to this, and the result is (for me at least) that I'm looking forward to the announcement as and when it comes. Being quite sure what it is going to be doesn't diminish it; it's been a fun process to watch.
Now there's a thing. If it is TSW4 we're getting as being discussed in another thread, in addition to any outstanding work on the bones of the route it may need another pass to bring it up to TSW4 standards (whatever they might be). So I was already estimating late September with the work left to be done hinted at in the July Roadmap. I can see that being pushed further back so as not to clash with the postulated release date of TSW4 (or the big summer bundle).
According to the vauge timetable on the roadmap we should expect the route within 3 months so I thought September was a good suggestion. But we have had a few releases since TSW from 3rd partys that were in the process of being made during transitional periods and missed out some of the features and we've only just really caught up with that. But then if tsw4 is indeed a thing surely dtg will be having stuff made to that level? Unless its a normal summer release then its just a normal release?
OF COURSE! I knew something was up with that. I just thought it was a typo as the y is close to the i on the QWERTY keyboard
Chemicals related traffic iirc, one of the last trains was from there to Barry in South Wales. White Bogie tanks with a red stripe.
I'm thinking it may be Manchester/Preston/Blackpool, as the 31 comment grabbed my attention. With it being set in the 1980s 31s did work Manchester to Blackpool and Barrow services at that time.
My god, a WCML electric route in that era would be fantastic, though I think JustTrains is already onto something with the route to blackpool. I think that if this has a great timetable with some good layer utilisation it could be such a charming and diverse route, and then maybe a jumping off point for a WCML electric route around Preston...
We would need electrics from the 80s, there has been a real lack of appetite to touch this era from DTG despite having a good core of locos and stock to fill timetables. Instead we get huge empty stations set in modern times often using BR era built units.....make of that what you will. I have been a very harsh critic of TSW at times and its more than once left me deleting it. A good well crafted BR era route is possible and lets hope JT get the ball rolling again that was abruptly halted with TVL DLC drying up. West Cornwall doesnt count in my eyes due to the comedy layers.
I know pacers were on the tees valley line during the late 80s so would it be possible for them to layer on the route. Though would it actually be possible as we've had times where rolling stock have been introduced but weren't layered on to routes they actually operated like the Class 31 and NTP.
People were suggesting the route was Preston to Blackpool but it isn't as the jt route is 48 miles long and Preston to Blackpool is only 17 miles it could be a route that's runs through both places though
Latest thoughts are it’s Ormskirk to Blackpool North/South plus the Fleetwood branch, which just about fits the stated mileage.
Plus with the Google images that other forum members have gathered as reference, all the screenshot teasers appear to be located along the formentioned routes.
I've done some research on the Ormskirk and both Blackpool lines, and i have to say that if this is the upcoming route, with all three of these lines, this route has the potential to be amazing. the variety, the network with three distinct lines, the pacer, i hope that everyone's prediction of two blackpool and ormskirk lines out of preston is true, i can't wait for this release if so!
I am looking forward to this route full stop. I am just really, really hoping we will get a class 45 layer but just having the 31s layering on is good enough news.
It’s probably unlikely but could you imagine if the Blackpool trams turned out to be a part of this route. Would be super amazing.
Ormskirk to Preston certainly complete. Some went on to Blackpool South iirc. I have a feeling this DLC will show off a lot of Loco and stock manoeuvres in the Blackpool North area. Also the freight to Burn Naze. If it works as BR did a train will go Preston to Blackpool North. If its a multiple unit then back out or to CS. If its Loco and stock its Propel back to CS run round and propel back into station and back to Preston. Although not complete services it will be quite involving especially as at Blackpool North everything had to Bottleneck through line into a large station throat. See the Class 31 hauled DMUs on TVL for a similar operation when shunting.
Sounds like we have the making of a real next step up from NTP and TVL hopefully! I know its JT first route and we should be a little cautious with expectations but with the era and stock its something I love the look of! Hearing Tom on trainsimTV and how he reviews every route does give me hope that JT will put out a very good product!
Do you mean his Youtube Channel which is this video here This one is his Class 700/0 Brighton to Bedford via Gatwick and Luton Airports run Scenario planner
After watching the only cab ride video I could find on YouTube of the Ormskirk to Preston line, I think that the recent screenshot from JT is a bridge just before joining the WCML. Looks almost identical as do all of the features around the overbridge. The much older screenshot is possibly a location a short distance South South East of Poulton Le Fylde Station on the Blackpool North branch.