Here's a fairly unique line and an almost forgotten piece of history. The Manchester to Bury line was a unique line as it featured side contact third rail at 1,200V DC, an example of this third rail can actually be found in TSW in a couple of the bay platforms at Manchester Victoria on the Transpennine route. This might only be a fairly short line but gives has quite a contrast to the landscape as you clatter between stations from the busy city of Manchester, underneath Heaton Park and up through a short stretch of countryside between Radcliffe and Bury. This route would be unique from other TSW content as there are currently no slam door electric multiple units within TSW. There would also be plenty of layerable services to include as there were several P-way workings and stock moves between the mainline connection at Victoria and Bury car shops. There is quite a lot of reference material around as Panarail (John C Earwicker) got quite a bit of footage of the line working in it's final days of operation. There are also a couple of others who have done cab ride videos as well. From what I have been told this line also still used class mercury arc rectifiers at a few of the substations right until the end in 1991 with one apparently being donated to the Science & Industry Museum in Manchester, weather they still have this or if it was ever on public display I do not know but those things were cool and I just can't help but mention them whenever possible. The class 504 was also quite an interesting unit from BR's Wolverton works consisting of a Driving Motor Brake at the north end of the route and Driving Trailer at the south, they were based on the same design as AC class 304, 305 & 308. Two were initially preserved, one was a refurbished example and the other was an original example which were wired to work with 25262 which was placed in the centre and run up the ELR all the way to Rawtenstall in sandwich formation, unfortunately one of these units has since been scrapped so that unusual formation will never happen again. The last surviving class 504 is currently under restoration. An unusual querk of these units aside from the 1.2KV DC side contact is the horn valve is actually a rocker foot pedal. This line features 10 stations built in a variety of layouts including the island platform and fairly unique bridge at Besses Of The Barn which over the A665 which also goes over the Motorway at the same time. More information can be found from: Class 504 Preservation Society: http://www.class504preservationsociety.co.uk/ Panarail (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@Panarail/videos
I have also previously suggested this route which would be a unique addition. Even better choice now that we have Route Hopping. It would add much life to Manchester Victoria on NTP as well.
I'd quite like to see Just Trains have a go at this route. Something shorter but very unique as part of a lower price route package.
