Oh it didn’t stop the train planners diagramming 14x’s to work with 15x’s, it was just a case of whether they got to the destination without mishap. During the FGW Pacer era down at Exeter, there were also diagrammed instances of Pacers coupled to Sprinters or each other which introduced the likelihood of grinding to a sudden halt! Don’t misunderstand it didn’t happen every day but there was always a bit of an issue.
Northern (specifically Arriva Northern) were at it on the regular with their 150’s & 142’s. Was pretty common to find such a consist on the Trans Pennines.
The very same. I think it would be a struggle to model a 357 from a 170. The latter's carriages are 3 metres longer than the former.
Turbostar v Electostar. Same manufacturer, different form of propulsion, mostly the same components apart from small differences to detail, different cab layout and interiors obviously. But like the Aventra, Turbo/Electrostars were available in two body lengths (20m and 23m), though as most of them went to Southern/South Eastern where 23m bodies are outside the normal gauge, 23m Electrostar was never built for the UK.
Newcastle to Middlesborough surely? (Maybe set in the Blue/Grey run-down period with some of the mine and docks branches). Heaven (Reminds me of getting 'Beanies' from the chippy in Sunderland many moons ago).
I love the idea of faded glory lines. Woodhead Blue Era in TSC was one of DTG's crowning glories. It's nice having run-down lines as well as new shiny ones with brand new traction. Though I prefer Newcastle to Carlisle as I think we should encourage longer routes.
True, though you're looking a relatively small window of time given that the average service life of the 14s was 3.5 years.
But then if you to do the Settle to Carlisle extended down to Hellifield and off to Blackburn you could always have this beauty at Ribble cement in Clitheroe!!
If we are encouraging longer routes then the WCML south, North wales coastal and the settle and Carlisle lines
Interestingly Just Trains included destinations specific to the WCML Over Shap segment in their Class 142, such as Lancaster and Morecambe. By no means a hint, but it could come in useful if they have intentions to do a WCML route in the 80's with the Class 142 layering on. After all, they already have the area around Preston modelled as a starting point.
Preston to Oxenholme is a bit underwhelming no? That stops short of the best bit of the line. I'm sure JT would have enough ambition to go up to Carlisle.
I think this was also the case on the Class 101. At the beginning it already had TVL destinations in Northern Trans-Pennine. I don't think they would insert destinations other than those on the map without wanting to create something about them in the future. I also think Preston to Oxenholme is more likely. Carlisle is a bit far to meet TSW standards. It's 87 miles, after all. It would be a longer route than ECML.
I feel we do need a Welsh route, partially because it hasn't been done yet but mostly because diesel tbf.
Perhaps. But in my opinion Oxenholme really wouldn’t be an ideal station to start / end a route at. Personally I think DTG, or any developer for that matter, would go for all or nothing by pushing it up to Carlisle, or waiting until that is a viable option in terms of development resources
Ffestiniog would be awesome. Steam locos, narrow gauge, and interesting operations. I also want a Class 70 in game, as well as a Class 50, 55, 67, 69, and/or 57. A modern British freight route with the Class 70 would be great to see.
It would make me so angry if I found out they were doing the WCML north of Preston only to find out they were just doing the most unremarkable part of that line. Before the legendary climbs of Grayrigg and Shap, and the iconic views of the lune gorge.
It would be pointless and would be over far too quickly, Oxenholme or Lancaster to Carlisle is the best idea
It's more about the scenery but I think if you want a part of the route with major stations it would be better at looking at Rugby to Crewe perhaps.
If it is a mainline route, like the WCML I hope we have a logical station at each end. If it is the WCML north of Preston, for me if it doesn't go to Carlisle it will be disappointing same as ECML has turned out to be. I hardly use it as Doncaster is such a strange place to end the route.
Doncaster is a rational place to end the route, i may sound controversial saying this but i do think that it is the best section of the ECML to use, the speed limits are varied so you haven't got a boring 125mph limit stretch, the scenery is pleasant with a good mix of flat straights and undulating hills and woodland and river crossings, The WCML should start and finish at a major station though, it wouldn't feel right running a railtour from say Preston to Penrith.
I would have liked it to go to York but the whole purpose i think for this section was about the speed which there is a lot of, the scenery is also better than Peterborough to London which is more suburbanised. I hope to see another ECML section done soon preferably around Newcastle.
If it was WCML and they couldn’t do all the way from Preston to Carlisle, I would prefer it to be Lancaster to Carlisle than Preston to Penrith! Just so long as they didn’t do a PFR and go Lancaster to Penrith! Of course depending on era, Carlisle itself could offer a wealth of scenario and things to do. Both yards at Kingmoor including the famous hump, Dentonholme Yard, the various sidings serving freight and industry terminals. Again depending on era the avoiding lines behind the station. It would be quite magnificent.
Did you somehow get your hands on Newcastle - Edinburgh or something? Peterborough-Doncaster is the most boring section aswell as York-Darlington. Its 125 almost the whole way.. and very flat
If they do Lancaster to Carlisle, the Heysham and Windermere branches would add so much variety. And if it was set about 6 years ago we could use the 158/156/142 for the two branches. Inbetween the withdrawal of the 185's and the introduction of the 195's we had 156/153 combos and 158s on the Windermere line. 142s served Morecambe pretty much right up until pacers were scrapped. Then with a 395 (and 397 as a dlc) it'd be ace. Steam traction for the weekend runs through Oxenholme to Carlisle. This would be such a great route, and not just because I live in Oxenholme! 185s also ran to Glasgow when the 397s were settling in too.
Preston to Carlisle is 91 miles 5 stations, DTG can do it, it’s not too difficult considering they’ve managed to pull of SKW, Cajon pass and ECML
Plenty of freight opportunities for Preston to Carlisle with the quarries around Shap, plus the various intermodals which would travel the full length of the route.
I am not moaning about the section they chose, but York would just feel more logical, especially as I believe it is a crew change point.
Well yes Lancaster to Carlisle wouldn't be so bad I agree. It isn't a case that they couldn't make a route from Preston to Carlisle, just that they wouldn't. Maybe in another few years they might manage it.
Stourbridge Town Line with a Class 139. £30 and a 2% steam discount if you pre order. joking aside I would love to see the North Wales Coastal Line or a Scottish Highland Route. Even something like Glasgow - Crianlarich would be so good.
I could ride on it dozens of times for £30, although travelling on it would be little more fun than driving it in the sim! I am thinking the next route might be Welsh as I am sure Matt said in a stream he'd like to see Wales in the sim, I might have misheard. It's about time we had a Welsh route. I suspect if it isn't a Welsh route it might be a West Midlands Railway or Northern based route as they have those licences. I can say with almost certainty it won't involve steam traction!
The Newcastle to Edinburgh section is the most scenic but I don't think there is any 125mph running along there, Peterborough to Doncaster has 100 and 115mph sections and 110mph between Retford and Donny so you have plenty of throttle action on the run. If you want to see flat Great western express is flat, the ECML still has about 4 decent gradients on the route between P and Donny so you are certainly not on a dead flat run.
I think he meant whales, so its probably going to be a line that runs next to the ocean to facilitate that
Yeah probably like the MML where you can hit 125 for about half a mile between Loughborough and E M Parkway. I would be curious about a breakdown of speed limits along that section, I can't imagine they even get above 100 between Berwick and Edinburgh.
Thanks, I remember doing it on an HST before they got withdrawn, was easy to stick your head out of the window and enjoy the scenery between Berwick and Dunbar, not something that is enjoyable to do at more than 90mph!
