I don't know how people felt about the "Diesel legends of the Great Western" and having incorrect period stock effectively on a modern route, but from a game play perspective it could be fun to do something similar for WCML South Euston to Milton Keynes. I was watching a video last night of Euston in 1986 and the sheer volume of loco hauled trains going in and out was amazing. Personally I think driving loco hauled trains into a terminus station is the most fun as you have the stopping on buffers, coupling & uncoupling, Locos "on the blocks" etc. Furthermore I think it is very possible to achieve this experience with content already in the game. The stock and services could look as follows Fast line: class 86 + 87 and Mk 2F + Mk 3 coaches in Intercity and Br Blue/grey livery The loco class and formation will be specific to the route it will run between, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow etc, as would have been at the time and will either just call at Milton Keynes or Watford Junction then Milton Keynes. Slow line: class 86 and Mk 2 used from NTP. The 86 being BR blue or intercity and the Mk2 in BR blue/grey. Class 47 freight running freightliner container service It was common to see Mk 1 coaches being hauled by an 86 on the slow line for stopping services to Northampton, so this can replicate that every half an hour. While it is not realistic being that regular, it will cover the slow line gap left by the absence of the 310 and still giving a playable stopping service between Euston and Milton Keynes. Watford DC line: Class 313 modified to appear in BR Blue/Grey Silver 1972 Mk 2 stock for the Bakerloo line I get that using the a modern setting re station layout and branding can be off-putting and immersion breaking, and that was the criticism for Legends of the GW. But it at least bridges the gap for a different gameplay experience. Furthermore actually constructing shouldn't be too difficult as it is already borrowing from what is already in the game, from the route to the rolling stock. It would just need certain tweaks to loco and route line speeds (I say having absolutely no idea what actually goes into making a route) Anyway pleased to hear people's opinions which invariably will be a lot more knowledgeable than mine. Have a great day
I would say 100% yes to this with one caveat. An actual Class 310 or 312 could be the one brand new traction with the collection. The latter would be more useful for other backdated/NSE era electric lines even though only a small number were allocated to the LMR and was, in my opinion, a far superior EMU. The 310s had a short life on GEML/WAML before their time on the LTS, the 312s ran on the GN, GEML and LTS for a much longer time.
I actually forgot about the 312. It would be a great addition and make the concept even better. It was more from an "ease of implementing it" stance, as I assume there is a lot of work to build a new loco. That being said the Legends of the GW gave us the Class 52 so it would make sense. 1986 we could have a mix of BR livery and the NSE "toothpaste" livery
Go back a year or two earlier, you could include the then remaining first generation AC locomotives (class 81 and 85 I think) on station pilot and ecs movements. A better proposition as we don't have these yet. Various UK routes could do with a "Legends " type pack as some of the places already in game have had some iconic and memorable types over the years prior to the eras reflected.
Thought that when they released WCML Preston-Carlisle that it would have been nice to have the 85 on freight services, as that was a very common sight at the time. The video at Euston I was watching, one of the first first generation electrics was reversing a rake of coaches into the platform from the sidings..... A scene unimaginable today
While the OP is a great idea, this is one “Legends” where additional locos and stock would be beneficial… A Class 81 to 85 roarer. A rake of Mark Ones in blue grey (not the Athena effort but new models to reflect the later types used on the WCML). Class 310 EMU. Also icing on the cake would be Class 501’s on the DC line alongside Bakerloo 1938 stock running through to Watford during the peaks.
As nice as it would be have one of the original WCML electric locos, it would be for many a very similar experience. The EMUs you've suggested would offer a very different driving experience though.
I think this could work much better than Diesel legends (as much as I like Westerns in BR Blue). While the WCML has changed over the years, it hasn't changed as dramatically as the GWML so it would be easier to ignore the modern features.
No idea. The WCML was upgraded for the Pendos, so there are probably differences, but Eastern types like me won't notice the difference and won't care.
Well they were noisier than the 86’s and 87’s though I guess therein lies the problem. Even with archive reference material going to be hard to synthesise the correct sounds.
This is somewhat true, as even though all 5 classes (81-85) still exist in preservation at Barrow Hill, they have no power source. If it would be possible to arrange to put them under the wires somewhere convenient for all parties, perhaps a depot somewhere, it might be possible to acquire some of the stationary sounds but it would require some extensive negotiation.
Well diesel legends of the GW has Heathrow Junction, so to use that as a comparison it's probably OK. I think you need extra stock for this, like the 312 people suggested, and in which case, a rebuild of the route to an older era would make sense. I'd like to see the Swallow/NSE livery with: IC Swallow 86/87/coaches IC swallow DVT* RFD 86 NSE 313 NSE 321* Bakerloo line * New builds Plus diesel layering
I think gameplay around Euston will be more fun without the DVT. When it is a fixed set it is just taking it into a terminus station, then swapping ends and driving back out. If it is just the 86/87 you have the light engine services between the station and the sidings as well. Like the Legends of the GW where you can go light engine between Old Oak Common and Paddington. I like the idea of rebuilding in an older era, probably the same time as Preston-Carlisle is set. It was more just for ease of implantation of adding it onto the WCML South route that already exists.
310/1 also earned the keep in the West Midlands too . They make a good new addition to Train sim world
