Wcml Preston To Crewe Discussion

Would Instantly put an unspeakable amount of money down for it same for anything with Aberdeen

 

There are plenty of trains they could make for this era. A class 25, pre-refurbished class 37, class 56, class 81, class 85. There are plenty of DMU's from the area although they wouldn't be much use on this route, but on Blackpool or the Morecombe branch.

I assume that if you have the class 87 and 86/2 they will layer in as there were not that many class 86/4's and they certainly wouldn't have been the dominant locomotive.

 

I don’t think anything would ever top this, so I would be happy to match your offer ; )

 

Off the top of my head I remember that you had 101,104,108,110,115 (or 116 I am not sure about the exact class) and 120s for 1st Gen DMUs.

108s would suit around Morecambe and Especially Carlisle which would be on the Whitehaven/Barrow services. Also would look good heading in and out of the likes of Wigan Wallgate.

2nd Gen 141s (very very rare) and 142s. maybe you could push for 150/1s around Warrington on the Holyhead services (Think that was 87 though).

Also as already mentioned there was the 304 EMUs which would be great fun to have conductor mode with.

The one thing that I personally would really like is the route not to have that dog barking in the background, and jaffa cake buses around Wigan.

 

Hehehe yeah

 

I would love the Weaver Junction to Liverpool line with a class 304, they always looked ancient even back in the 80's from when I saw them around New Street. A ex Scottish region unrefurbished class 303 would also be suitable as they were used on the Crewe to Liverpool services as well, could have one in the GMPTE orange livery.

 

That's Superman's Dog, he is flying next to the loco barking hello to you, hence the lack of Doppler effect. You may also have heard Superman's Tractor and Superman's Children Playing Football.

 

Yes I have, but the dog is the worst for me.

 

I do wonder if that is their eventual plan: create a network of routes around one central hub (Preston), which will one day merge into a single mega route. I can dream, at least!

I can only assume they're beginning to run out of routes they can do from Preston, and so the next one, if remaining in the same vague area, will be a branch from Crewe, instead.

Anyway, I'm a fan of BR era routes, and freight, plus the likes of Preston, Crewe, and Wigan North Western were regular haunts for me trainspotting during my uni years, so I'm satisfied with the scope of the route as we know so far...... though I am an East Anglian lad, so I'm crying out for a bit of GEML with the 86s and Mk2s!

 

I seem to remember that JT are based in Liverpool. Might be wrong like...

 

It would have made the route so much better to have the Liverpool Lime Street branch, its only about 15ish miles and would have added so much to the route.

 

I mean didn’t they add a few branches for west coast mainline?, so there’s a small possibility that they add more or just haven’t announced it yet

 

Crewe to Preston doesn’t go to Wilmslow it goes either through Northwich or Winsford via Warrington, so the only bit missing on the WCML London to Carlisle will be Milton Keynes to Birmingham. Hopefully Dovetail will extend that section in time.

No doubt with Just Trains doing Crewe to Preston and All aboard doing Birmingham to Crewe, that the design of Crewe could be handed to ATS so maybe they could extend their MAC route to join Crewe to Alderley Edge.

 

From a business side of things, an 86/4 (and the other locos included with this route) would sell significantly less as an individual DLC due to the fact that they've already been done, so if something like a Class 56 were to be made for this route then more people would buy the route so they could use the DLC. It's just how business works.

 

Saying the branch is "only 15 miles" is massively underselling the work needed in this area. There's a huge amount of freight yards over this area (just look at Spirit of Steam) and there'd be a LOT of work for it.

 

Honestly I’m not sure what else people expected from JT, it’s clear they’re going for the WCML in their chosen era. What they’ve done so far has been successful & there’s no real reason for them not to continue on. Of course they could have gone further north out of Carlisle, but its not shocking they’d go South either. They’ve got a lot of research done for the subject matter & lots of assets built, they’re just running with it & so they should IMO.

Personally I think what needs to happen is for a way to be found to get their routes stitched up (I wonder if they think the same given the heel dragging with the BPO update).

The no real new stock is a shame, but as someone who didn’t buy the 86 pack that’s not really an issue for me, however I do agree with the above that there are a lot of missed opportunities in this area - especially the focus on freight & lack of 56, compounded by the need for the UK to see a new loco. I think the 86 release was definitely JT testing the waters to see if they could just sell new stock separately & this release will be the next stage of that.

Overall I’m still excited for this, the quality & atmosphere of JT’s routes alone are enough of a selling point for me. Also the fact that they’re still the only dev on the UK side who will produce non modern content is a huge thing & I’ll keep supporting that. Even DTG has now strayed from AC mainlines for core routes, but won’t loosen their grip on the ultramodern era.

Ultimately long term I’d love to see JT release a product that gets all these routes connected up, but I suspect we’re going to at least see 2 other WCML routes from them yet.

 

True. But IMO it would've been worth the extra effort, and I think most of the freight yards on SOS have long since closed. I mean they made Preston to Carlisle and that's 90 miles.

 

86/4

As I have said elsewhere the chances of a GE route that many are asing for I would say are slim. TSW is dog legged by the huge lead team on developing rolling stock and for 80s era everything stopped after DTG BR doesn't sell policy was put in place.

 

Agreed & id certainly love to see that too, but then the thing I’d be worried about is if JT then take up another region they’d try & tackle both at the same time.

Hopefully we’ll see them finish off the WCML up in Scotland or maybe Liverpool/Manchester within the next couple of years & then they’ll move on.

I think the only place they’ve gone wrong so far though is the rolling stock decision here, if we got an MU from them or a freight loco you could make the argument for variance there, but with staying on the WCML, in the same era, they’ve certainly opened themselves up to criticism on the gameplay front.

 

Great choice of route. However, MGR trains will absolutely require a Class 56 without question. Failure to make these a dlc would be entirely criminal.

 

Good example, all those yards around the Carlisle area in their latest route.

 

A 56 would be great in TSW, especially as some still in use today, but from a modelling perspective, it's a good starting point for creating a class 69 for modern routes.

 

I do hope we get some extra new freight wagons other than just the HAA MGR wagon as WCMLOS needs a JNA to complete Hardendale quarry as it is lacking electric freight services and freight services in general. Plus the more new wagons we get the more likely WCMLOS can get some new services.

 

I agree with many people here that this is a disappointing route choice. Apart from the Riviera line, the UK routes for TSW 6 were all quite disappointing in my opinion as they all centered around Crewe. This and the All aboard Studios route will make 3 routes centered around Crewe; 4 if Manchester Airport Commuter is extended.

The rolling stock offering is not great with this route. As someone who bought the class 86 loco add-on I am also not happy that this will be reused the main loco on the new route.

I would have preferred a commuter style route like Blackpool Branches to have linked up to Preston to Carlisle. The Cumbrian Coast line from Carnforth to Carlisle via Barrow and Whitehaven with the class 108 would have been my preference.

All in all, this will be the first JT route I will not be buying out of the gate

 

For last time wait until they start releasing dev logs
because I’m calling it now it will have more in store that was mentioned in the live stream like west coast mainline last year which was basically but we got extra stuff like freight and extra liverys and branch lines

just wait okay

 

And how will that make any difference if the route announced does not interest me? I don't care if the dev logs reveal that it is the greatest route in the world, people want more UK routes outside of Preston and Crewe.

 

Well you said that you'd have liked a commuter style route, if when they give us more details they reveal that they have included the Wigan to Liverpool branch, that nicely covers a commuter route, in-fact two types as there is the Liverpool to Wigan run which should take just under an hour and Liverpool - Wigan - Preston which is about an hour and a half. Likewise if they announce the Liverpool - Crewe line, then you have a commuter style run between Crewe and Liverpool That said, I get your point, not everyone wants this area.

From the bit I saw of the livestream, it was all very rushed when it came to the "take a ticket" things and doubly so for the JT route which I thought was typical DTG to be honest, if I had JT working on another route for my upcoming sim I'd be putting them front and centre then shouting it from the rooftops. JT have never let us down in their route offerings, I am sure there is much more to be revealed about this one as it has a lot of potential, a lot more than Shap did too to be fair.

 

I hope so but it doesn't sound like a very interesting route at the moment. I love shap and it is my favourite TSW route but it feels a bit disappointing returning to the West Coast Mainline rather than adding some branch lines out of Carlisle/Carnforth.

 

I am almost certain that they will be adding in some branch lines, the fact that the route is 40 miles shorter than Shap should give them plenty of wiggle room PC/Console power wise. Even if they didn't, there are plenty of yards and things along the way, there is the Leyland Lorry factory at well, Leyland. Springs Branch had a huge yard for storing MGR wagons, there was also Bickershaw Colliery just beyond the branch (which hopefully they would include), Golborne Colliery was still in use in '86, there was a branch running off there to St Helens which also included a chemical works and a stone works, Warrington has loads of yards too so plenty of Trip workings and shunting should be on offer. I do hope they add Wigan/Liverpool/Crewe though, as I said a few pages back it would give us so much more to do but also to make better use of the 142 and reworked 101.

When JT announced the original 86 DLC I called Preston - Crewe as the next route as I know JT really want to use their existing stock to add layers and immersion to new routes, chucking in a couple of branch lines will really help do that

 

They were not the most common in the North West in that era.

 

Will find out in due course, bit this route and era makes perfect sense. It says Crewe-Preston WCML However I suspect this is a freight focussed route. Ie The MGR services and the 86\4 to pull Intermodal traffic, that will now be an option for Shap too I suspect. People will decry the choices to base DLC around one station in 1986, but that's the beauty of it, because JT have built up a stock base, the same regions in the same era, there will be something in this for everyone. Going forward Im very optimistic of getting a Class 56 DLC in the future, maybe even a much needed reworked Class 37. Nice one JT!

 

I hope by TSW 7, JT have done Carlisle to Newcastle and then Newcastle to Edinburgh cause I certainly wouldn't bet on Rivet or DTG doing it. Unless Rivets year long silence is another Scottish route in the making?

 

This route makes perfect sense to me - in conjunction with Preston-Carlisle and Preston-Blackpool the scope to add loco/stock packs alone makes it a no-brainer. Add in the missing branch lines and it's a potentially massive earner, surely?

 

I think what also would be good would be to add the Blackburn line to either Blackburn or even up to Colne. So you could add freight from Clitheroe too.

 

We needed a new 1980: freight route for such a long time but of course people complain when it’s not all passenger

 

We really could do with some Sleepers. The night activities are great but seeing mk3 day coaches does take some of the realism away. Mk3 day stock was tucked up in the Carriage sidings getting cleaned for the next day most of the time.

 

So far what was shown:

Class 20/0: BR blue livery, headbox and removed disc variant, snowploughs and high intensity headlights. Slow speed control.

Class 47/3: slow speed control, external and in cab modifications.

Upgraded HEA and new HAA MGR wagons.
MK2d TSO, BFK and FK.
MK1 NEA and RBR

The hype is real!!

 

This really shows the JT 'rolling stock plan' in full swing. Mk 3a, Mk 2f, now Mk 2d, Mk 1 RMB and now RBR... Finally a new 47 variant, blue 20 with headcode box, 86/4... It might not all be as 'new' as a 56 would be but it adds so much variety!

 

Very interested to see exactly what we get with the "multitude of branches".

Very glad to see we will definitely get Fiddler's Ferry too: "Tackle the challenge of running Merry-Go-Round Coal trains from both Bickershaw and Parkside collieries to Fiddlers Ferry Power Station"

 

NGL after reading the roadmap article this route does sound good...

 

Corrrrr blimey that is some top notch stuff from JT, really hits the spot for me! That Class 20 is stunning...

For those initially slating the route, I hope some of you at least now see we are in for something quite special here. The potential for freight here is really nice too.

Super excited for this! Some people spend there money on women, some spend it on alcohol and nights out, but for me this is where my money will be going!

 

Is this route still pre Intercity Swallow?

JT have pulled it out of the bag again and I can’t wait for this one to be released.

 

Its the Intercity Exec era, a lot of Blue grey about at the time also.

 

I know it's building hype, and I know we're only weeks away from learning more, but I really wish there'd been a route map released for this route today I'm dying to know exactly what branches are on offer.

I'm guessing with it being the WCML we'll get Arpley Junction and the run-arounds at Latchford/MSC sidings to take the train on to Fiddler's Ferry.

EDIT: If we're also getting Parkside Colliery, it means we'll get a small section of the Liverpool-Manchester line around the Newton-le-Willows area oh this is such good news.

 

If it's up to the same quality as BPO and WCMLoS, day 1 purchase for me.

 

It’s building hype, as you say, but the risk with mentioning branches but not saying which ones is that expectations will get crazily out of control between now and the announcement. I count 16 potential branches from this section of the WCML - and that’s excluding yards and sidings. By the time the announcement’s made it will have been declared that inclusion of anything less than the full 16 will be an outrage of epic proportions demanding a full-scale boycott.

I, for one, fully expect (and demand) that the branch to Newcastle via Manchester and Leeds will be included.

 

I think JT has modded the class 20 cab. The image above has both the larger Scottish cab-side windows and the smaller ones (this is the newer version I think). It’s a minor change, but a nice one. I’m very pleased we are getting the RBR, and June 1986 was when NSE launched so will we get 401 in NSE - it definitely did not stay in the NSE area.

 

Having a quick look, in was 1987 it got the NSE livery. Though, I wouldn't say no to it being included.

 

Hear hear! I was about to demand the branch to Scarborough so I trust Newcastle is an easy extension to include

Joking aside, yes it is a tricky one but out of those 16 potential's it should be easy to strike off some of the obvious ones. I do really hold out for Wigan-Liverpool-Crewe though

I had completely forgotten about Parkside Colliery, I'm guessing a "simple" little bit to include would be Earlestown & Newton where it comes off the WCML and back on again. I'm guessing Bold Colliery and Power Station is a bit too far. I guess we will have to wait and see

 

Talking about the 104 are we all to presume that this is now RIP? Anyone remember who was making it? Such a shame as vintage stuff is not exactly commonplace in this game.