Tap into classic British AC traction with BR Class 86/2 services on the West Coast Main Line. Just Trains’ latest Add-on is coming soon! The Story So Far: We've already talked a little bit about Just Trains’ first Train Sim World loco Add-on as have they in their Development Blog entries. This includes: Reveal in Week 1 of our 2024 Season of Reveals An update on developing the locomotive in the January 2025 Roadmap An update on the coaches included in the February 2025 Roadmap A look at the coach interiors in the March 2025 Roadmap Rolling Stock BR Class 86/2 The Class 86 brings additional challenges to the stunning WCML: Preston - Carlisle route, as well as all-new variety in the form of British Rail’s Mk2F coaches. The Class 86 entered service in the mid-1960s after years of testing different designs to run on the newly electrified West Coast Main Line. Known originally as the AL6, it would become the first mass-produced AC loco for the new fleet with 100 examples built. Over time, a revision to the suspension was undertaken to solve issues of rough riding and track wear, these changes resulted in what became known as the Class 86/2 subclass. Being the precursor to the Class 87, the Class 86/2, with less horsepower, was capable of 100mph which makes for a more challenging driving experience. Other differences from the 87 include the plated over headcode box, and the distinctive triple windscreen. In more recent years, both the Class 87 and Class 86 have seen some international service in Europe, predominantly in Bulgaria, where some are still used on freight trains under various operators. Operating the Class 86 in-game will be a challenge for new and existing players on WCML Preston – Carlisle. The locomotive works in a similar way to the Class 87, with tap changer controls that require a degree of planning to manage speed limits, stops and gradients. Unlike the Class 87 however, the Class 86 has less power. As a result, poor timing with the power before the climb up to Shap can result in time lost, as the train builds speed slower than expected. The Class 86 has a fully accessible engine room (this is where the DSD isolation is located) and a detailed, weathered cab. It also comes in two liveries: BR Blue and Intercity Executive with specific details implemented on individual locomotives, such as those on ‘City of Coventry’ detailed in the March Roadmap. Included are several external variations of the 86/2 which feature changes such two different types of Pantographs, RCH cables, a centrally mounted High Intensity head light and a single Rally light uniquely fitted to 86225. The eagle-eyed amongst you will remember this light from the first ever teaser image for the 86/2. Amongst the numerous liveries included is Locomotive number 86233, named Laurence Olivier, is unique in the 86 fleet for having a white cab roof at both ends during the mid-1980’s. This distinctive marking was applied to commemorate the 21st Anniversary of the creation of Inter-City. Mk2F Coaches & Mk1 RMB Also included in the pack are Mk2F Coaches, in BSO, TSO and FO variants. The air-conditioned Mk2s were the mainstay of many long-distance passenger trains after their introduction in the 1970s, and have seen use ever since, in both service, engineering and railtour duties. The feature coach of the Class 86/2 is the much-requested BR Mk1 RMB Buffet Car. RMB standing for Restaurant Miniature Buffet. The RMB is basically a British Railways Mk1 TSO (Tourist Standard Open) coach where the centre vestibule seating area has been replaced with a buffet counter a small seating area along with standing space and store cupboard. Either side of this is the normal full seating areas. The RMB’s were built between 1957 and 1962. There are still quite a few in service on heritage railways across the UK. The RMB features the InterCity Executive and BR Blue Grey liveries. When you enter the RMB, make your way to the Buffet area where behind the operating roller shutter you will see a fully stocked area with a great variety of top-quality (curly) sandwiches, fresh (yesterday) Pork Pies (in two sizes), bags of crisps, bottles of soft drinks with flavours such as Apple, Orange, and Berry! If you have a sweet tooth you can choose between various chocolate bars and even Mint cake! If you fancy a biscuit, we even have those! If you want to be exotic there is even Turkish Delight! All these are ready for your delectation served to you by the friendly and helpful Steward. Timetable services and additional gameplay Both the Class 86 and Mk2 Coaches will substitute into the current WCML: Preston – Carlisle timetable in place of some Class 87-hauled services. The timetable for WCML: Preston – Carlisle has Class 87 services running cross-country trains across the route. These services will be substituted by Class 86 locomotives as would have been the case during the period. As the Class 86/2 was not a common feature on freight services, these will all continue to be Class 87 hauled. 5 new Scenarios will also be available to play on the route, ranging from a football Special out of the map to Wembley to represent England playing against Scotland during April 1986. Others including a delayed service requires some rerouting and the southbound express bound for London requires some assistance... can you take on the challenge? Players keen on making use of the Mk1 RMB will be able to do so in Formation Designer, along with the Mk2F Coaches and the Class 86 with these coaches can be spawned in Free Roam. Train Sim World 5: Class 86/2 & Mk2F Coaches is releasing soon for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £19.99 / €24.99 / $24.99 You can learn more in Just Trains' Development Blog entries West Coast Main Line: Preston – Carlisle Just Trains’ latest route for Train Sim World is the longest UK route ever developed! Thrash both the electric Class 87 and diesel Class 47 up Shap Summit across almost 100 miles of northwest tracks between Preston and Carlisle. Class 101 DMU and Class 08 shunting services are also included, with layered services and AI featuring for players with Just Trains’ other route Add-on: Blackpool Branches and other Train Sim World Add-ons like Flying Scotsman and Northern Trans-Pennine. Epic Games Store Steam players can get a 10% discount on WCML Preston - Carlisle in the final day of the May Madness Sale! Xbox players with Game Pass Ultimate can also get 10% off selected Add-ons. Additional Class 87 liveries Players with WCML: Preston – Carlisle also received some additional liveries as part of a recent patch update. You can read the full details for this route and others in the Patch Notes. The additional liveries include two variations of the existing intercity executive, one with red buffers and one which is heavily weathered as well as another two variations with an extended yellow panel at the front with black and red buffers and finally one variation with a full yellow front with black numbers and decals. The Class 86 loco Add-on is not required in order to receive these additional Class 87 liveries.
As much as I've been looking forward to this and whilst I admit there has been a lot of effort that has been put into this, £20 is pushing it for a loco that doesn't bring any new services.
I would rather spend € 24,99 on this (which I will admit, is a bit much) than € 13,99 on that diesel ECML thing.
£20, crikey. Not quite TSG Expert price but still a huge amount for a loco DLC, especially one that is just substituting into existing services in the timetable. If it was anyone else but Just Trains I would not be willing to spend so much but it is a Just Trains Class 86 so I will. I’ll eat beans on toast for a week. Fingers crossed performance and stability of the Shap route does not suffer too much on my PS5 with the addition of these extra vehicles. The first run I did with one of the new Class 87 liveries resulted in a game crash.
Does this mean, Accurate 2025 WCR Railtour liveries and formations could happen? Unless the 86, MK2F and MK1 RMB aren’t livery designer compatible (which I doubt)
They laid some of the groundwork today in the update, allowing the RMB and the Mk2Fs to feature in sets. This should be fun.
This map, without any DLC addons, is already running almost at the edge of performance ...... I haven't tried it after the update yet, but the game crash doesn't look very good ..... I find the buffet wagon more interesting than loco 86
£20 is simply too much to spend on a loco for a route that still has performance issues. I’m aware that it’s a tsw problem, and not a JT issue but I can’t justify that amount for a loco that doesn’t vary massively from what I’ve already got. Definitely one to consider on sale, but not a full-price purchase
Probably trying to collate release dates from other products. Don't forget we have Cargo Line as well that's near completion. I suspect we will see these two in the next month. (Nothing official). Hentis
Maybe. But then why announce an eagerly awaited add on is releasing if you can’t print the actual release date?! Just seems a bit daft to me.
I hope the RMB will be made dual braked in the final release to allow use with vac braked Mk1 formations like WSR sets.
Then why post an article? Why not wait until a week before it releases like everything else they make article for?
The 86 looks good and I've wanted it for a long time, but the price seems a bit steep. I might get it straight away if it releases without issues, depending on local price. Still, it's great to see so many variations and rolling stock being included. I hope we see the freight variants of the 86 being made some time as well.
Because it's the monthly update as well. We get the full details of the DLC plus the work gone into it so far since the last update
Definitely with you on this. It seems ludicrous to post a release article - including price - without actually saying when we can get our grubby paws on it! And nothing from JT or DTG to explain this unusual decision.
Hi Vern. Apologies for not responding sooner, we're all quite busy over here! On the article - we've done this before with an upcoming release. Barring this one, most recently it was the Thomas 80th Anniversary. Sometimes publishing an article provides additional info that might not have been covered previously, or the devs are excited to share something an update with everyone. Sometimes it's done to remind the community that something is in development/on the way. Occasionally, it's something we wouldn't discuss due to NDA or agreements with our development partners. Dates can be left off due to different contributing factors, too. Some of which have already been listed here. The TL;DR is: - Different reasons, usually deliberate, not always something we're able to discuss. Are you looking forward to the add-on?
Just ask Matt P… I’ve been making a nuisance of myself about getting a buffet car in the game since the first UK Classic route appeared. He will now get a bit of piece and quiet on that one anyway!
And if the pork pie is a bit off, gonna need access to the toilet compartment for the LOVE flush! Getting my coat…
I'd recommend your own bog roll rather than the coat, you know the provided stuff will have either run out or be like sandpaper
I've heard of the buffet car! When I was writing up the D&D one shot for the charity stream last Halloween, I was trying to find little community Easter eggs to throw into it, and one suggestion was to make sure there was a buffet car! (There was indeed a buffet car, but also a waiter. Jamie's character requested the saddest looking cheese sandwich I've ever seen in my entire life with an appalling bread to cheese ratio. I'm hoping the Class 86/2 has a better cheese to bread ratio. I will either report back when I have time to take a proper look, or I'll expect a report from a community member.)
BR “cuisine” in the 70’s and early 80’s had a, perhaps slightly undeserved, reputation for being a bit dour. After the long overnight journey from Glasgow to Inverness, that buffet car opening up on the 0615 to Wick and being able to grab the pork pie and Mr. Kipling Apple Pie plus MaxPax tea was food from the gods.
Sounds like a solid buffet car order to me, but I'm partial to a bit of English mustard on a pork pie just for the extra kick. That'd give me a boost at 6am
At the risk of veering off topic… one of the great ironies about making an overnight journey (sat up) to travel over the scenic Far North line was it became exceptionally hard to keep the eyes open and enjoy it. More MaxPax tea and coffee needed.
I understand that, due to memory constraints, there will be two levels of food in the buffet car. The full version ( for PC only ) will include a full English breakfast, lunch with sandwiches and pork pies and a full selection of wines, beers and spirits. The reduced version ( for consoles and optionally for potatoes) will be only weak tea and cheese sandwiches ( only one slice of cheese, I'm afraid ). ( just kidding of course, JT would never do that to Vern ).
No additional services is a bit of a let down to be honest and personally I’m not sure that for me it’s worth paying full price especially as I’ve not many cross country services left to complete. I’ll probably wait and get it in a sale
Why would there be any new services? All services on the route are already there. Just the 87 was covering those that were run by an 86.
Even as a starving student who lived on pub grub, the offerings on the Cambridge-Kings Cross were too much to face.
Other way around is why would I spend £20 on a loco which does give any new services? Which I’ll only probably drive 3-4 times given that I’ve virtually already completed the services it will cover and thousands of other services I’ve not yet driven?
I remember back in 2001 doing Dundee-Penzance on a Virgin Cross Country HST and the food was pretty decent then. Selling Microwaved Aberdeen Angus Cheeseburgers. Tasty.
