Just Trains Making Wcml Over Shap And Br Class 87

Orange Club biscuits, I hope??

 

The whole route hopping thing is interesting as well, is this the Modular route idea someone - I forget who - proposed a while back? It does sound and look like it has exactly the same setting as the Blackpool route, excited is an understatement.

 

A little appetite whetter... screenshot from SimSig Carlisle which is set around 1980. Southern approach from Penrith, totally wrecked by bungling Signaller Vern trying to sort out attach and detach moves in the station, but gives an idea how busy we can hope this is, even in the early hours:-

 

Mmm yes, or mint perhaps

 

I dont think it was a failure in terms of the technology. It was more of a failure in terms of politics which resulted in the delay and the press eventually coining the term queasy rider (which was due to the fact they consumed alcohol, making them feel queasy as the train tilted). Funnily enough that same technology made it's way to the 390 with no complaints there.

Yes, it doesn't have a massive scope with limited use on the WCML but it's a blimmin' fun train to thrash up and down Shap on TSC.

 

Looking forward to this challenge with the class 87.
As I said on another thread, it took me ages to master this loco in TSC.
Some won't like the tap changer as it's not just throttle up and go.
Then there's the neutral sections (if modeled) where you have to tap down and shut off before the section so that you don't mess everything up and break down (although if the neutral sections are modeled, the power off and on will probably be done automatically and failure not simulated).

 

I think the APT would make an excellent DLC. Being able to experience, as a driver, passenger, or bystander, a train that I am to young to remember (and I'm not particularly young) seems like an excellent use of an immersive sim like TSW. It offers a unique and interesting driving experience too, and it's not an either/or with something more natural like an 86.

 

You don't have to do anything to prepare to run through a neutral section, in the UK anyway, and you can't break down. The Automatic Power Control (APC) takes care of opening the loco's line breaker and re-closing it when exiting the neutral section. It's preferable to run the taps off and put the controller to off before entering the neutral section as it prevents a sudden loss of power and makes it quicker to run the power back up when the APC re-closes the breaker. It's all covered in the TSC WCM Over Shap manual.

 

Paul87101’s cab-view videos are the best on YouTube, and an absolute must for anyone preparing for the arrival of JT’s new route. Nobody - not even the most ardent modern-EMU fanatic - could fail to be excited by the prospect of driving an 87 after watching one of these videos.

As well as being incredibly atmospheric, the fact that the desk is visible means they’re also an excellent tutorial in how to drive a tap-changer electric locomotive. Also, watch the speed at which the Driver enters stations - the combination of the disc-brakes on the mark 3s and the regenerative braking on the 87 obviously gave the Driver a lot of confidence. It’s also a demonstration of the way in which driving techniques have changed since that era, with the modern emphasis on ‘defensive driving’. You wouldn’t even bring an EMU into a station at that speed these days, never mind a hauled set.

 

To some extent the same tech, though not “the same”. Obviously the pendolinos and the super voyagers are already different in frames, but the tech for tilting was originally meant to push the trains to 155mph at a more radical angle of tilt, that tech and research was used to create the lesser angle tilts of the pendo while having a better speed of 140mph, which went to 125mph because the infrastructure of the line wasn’t good enough to allow it, both signals and the line itself. Politics did play a hand yes, but the technology just wasn’t where it should’ve been. Yes the train could be fun, but my point is we don’t get loco dlcs often, we shouldn’t pick one which most will be bored of in 5 minutes.

 

My point wasn’t to fixate on its quality, just simply to disagree with wasting a loco dlc on something that has no real bearing on a timetable, I’d obviously get it as well just to try it out, but I like loco dlcs that last and have lots to offer, and I don’t think the apt has that, and over other locos like the 86 or something freight related I’d rather something that’ll stick. I also made the point it would not be easy to remake a train like this. There is still carriages preserved from the original, but is it worth all the hassle for a dev team to detail every carriage perfectly, to source sounds and to have to find work for it just for a small amount of the community to buy it? Who knows, There may be loads who wanna buy this sort of thing, but I don’t see the appeal and I kinda fail to see why others would either, besides the fact that it’s highspeed and period, which are obviously cool

 

You didn’t have to consume alcohol to experience nausea on the APT. The tilt system was designed to fully compensate for centrifugal force on curves (if you closed your eyes, you couldn’t tell the line had any curvature at all). The problem is that meant if your eyes were open, the eye could see that the train was rounding a curve, but there was no sensation of centrifugal force. That contradiction in the messages sent to the brain, caused nausea.

Modern tilting trains only tilt enough to partially compensate for centrifugal force (if you close your eyes, you can still tell the train is going around a curve). That avoids the contradictory messages to the brain, and (for most people) prevents the nausea. It was one of the key lessons from the APT project which, although a failure in regards to the introduction of the train itself, resulted in many lessons being learnt which led to the successful introduction of other tilting trains in the future.

Personally though, I’m not particularly interested in having an APT in TSW, as I’d rather have a train which actually entered normal revenue-earning service, and there are lots of gaps to fill yet.

 

I would love for it to be completely realistic with the tapchanger and neutral sections, opening the circuit breaker would just make it feel so real.

 

Not sure I'm allowed to look at pictures like this on my work laptop

 

https://www.justtrains.net/in-devel...-coast-main-line-preston-carlisle#20240821-13 More screenshots here!

 

More stoked for this than anything to be honest, love the ambiance of the photos on JT’s web site.

 

I’ve just had a look on their website at the new pics for this route. They have 100% nailed Carlisle. I get the diversions each year so I’m quite familiar with that station, and it looks really fantastic.

I also read that the available trains will also not just be BR blue but will have Intercity Executive livery too.

Let’s go!

 

Also there’s a new JT loco in the works

 

That list of liveries though! Oh my word.

 

what’s a NHA MK1?

 

I’m generally not fussed for the era, but bought Blackpool branches based on the initial reviews and it’s without doubt one of my favourites these days.

Will almost certainly be picking this up, it just goes to show that with the right quality, the era isn’t quite as important.

 

The screenshots are gorgeous, but this captured my attention just as much:

 

"Class 87/0 in two liveries"
"Mk. 3a coaches in two liveries"

Yes please

 

Honestly never thought we’d see this level of BR content again in TSW.

JT you’re a Hero team. 90 miles of high quality BR experience is going to be great.

 

Stunning work. I hope they've got the signalling right - approach release from red into the loops pls. Was AWS in use in 1986?

 

Those pics! I can not wait for this route.

 

Best thing about this, kingsmoor yard is fully available

 

Oh. My. Lords.

I would put the famous quote from Top Gun when one of the pilots got excited during a high G turn but had to change it to family friendly, “I’m getting a **** **”.

 

Whaaaat?! Here’s hoping it’s a class 86 or if a diesel, class 25.

 

Why is the Pantograph always down on the Screenshots?

 

It was rolled out in the 50s, presumably on main lines first, so I imagine it's there.

 

Feels like the APT for me.

 

I hope they're reading this btw and

a) seeing how excited we are
b) given that they added more after the initial announcement last time, maybe getting ideas...

 

They said on Facebook that they took them before implementing pantograph physics, but that they are working by now

 

It was on the vast majority of lines as it was a relatively simple technology to roll out, requiring just a simple power connection to the electromagnet via the relay contacts of the green signal aspect.

 

IIRC they started off with the cross arm / "diamond" pantograph. For a while 87009 was unique because it had the Stone-Faiveley type as found on the 86s, then 005 (?) appeared with the newfangled "high speed pantograph". Might be wrong about that, it's been a few years. Definitely remember 009 being the odd one out (not counting 101 with its white "flat" nameplates, of course!)

 

It's a brake van with gangways.Think of the blue newspaper vans and blue/gray guards vans on Blackpool Branches.

Also, Royal Mail used a lot of NHAs so maybe we might get some mail trains in the future?

 

yeah, some Mk1 BGs were upgraded so they could run at 110mph for these services, I presume it's them.

 

I wonder if we will finally get a buffet/restaurant car, even if Mark 3?

And as mentioned earlier, a Mark 3 sleeping car pretty much essential for the overnight services.

 

Need to see the 87 in Intercity livery

 

I remember playing this until my laptop went bonkers. Whew was Carlisle a ridiculous mess of chaos to deal with, siding onto the industry trains around Shap that would catch you off guard, then the issue of two trains requesting to be in the single line section to Dumfries because one was late...... absolute behemoth of a route.

 

OMG, just saw this on JTs site:

"We have also extended the main line north from Carlisle Citadel station to Kingmoor Yard and Depot."

More than my old heart can stand! Absolutely hyperventilating over this one If they reveal their loco add-on as the 25 I'll probably die

 

I’m so glad JT came on board, all the effort they’re going to with extra liveries, extra rolling stock, it really puts a smile on my ugly mug. I remember seeing their 47s for the first time and how grubby they looked, this is gonna be good.

 

I'd expect a Sleeper to be a different package, but definitely hoping they provide the FO, Buffet and TSO.

 

Also, I'd pay a few extra quid for a swallow set with a DVT as a future addon. It could even represent the current heritage set!

 

OT a bit but I've now got the shunt moves thoroughly mixed up at Carlisle, trying to get the portion off 1S04 onto 1S06, in the meantime 1M14 sat at Caldew.

Probably need to sit down and write out a simplifier!

Not sure how much of this will be in the JT route timetable, but over the moon that Kingmoor included. I am going to be spending a lot of time on this route.

 

I hope they have an easy mode for numpties like me. I could never get the hang of the 87 in TSC

 

If it comes with a sleeper, then you are obliged to (if bunks are enterable) to get a duvet, board the sleeper service on foot, enter the bunk, and curl up with a mug of ovaltine in your chair with duvet and slippers on while the train trundles towards preston and you enjoy the view

Photographic proof required of course