Its been a while since Essex made its appearance in a Train Sim Route, last time it was seen was in the Great Eastern Mainline Add-on for Train Sim Classic, so why not slap it out with a bang with both the Sunshine Coast Line running from Colchester to Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, and adding on the Great Eastern Mainline between Colchester and London Liverpool Street (Excluding Ipswich because then it would be to long, leave a comment if you want it included). Moving onto the Sunshine Coast Line, It is an 18 Mile route with a total of 12 Stations, these being: Colchester Colchester Town Hythe (Colchester) Wivenhoe Arlesford Great Bentley Weeley Thorpe-Le-Soken Kirby Cross Frinton-on-Sea Walton-on-the-Naze Clacton-on-Sea Since it is one of the many branches that come of the GEML, I have been thinking about including the other branches coming off (not including a drivable Romford - Upminster, the route would be based after the take over). The branches coming off include the Sudbury Route (Marks Tey to Sudbury), and the Braintree Route (Witham to Braintree). Since the GEML Is a route that is over 100 Miles, I haven't included it all and only the section between London Liverpool Street and Colchester of that route, but since the two route would be merged, that would make this route quite long, but very enjoyable. The route for both the Sunshine Coast Line and the Great Eastern Mainline would be based in early 2023 (Between January & April) so that way we get the choice to drive the Class 321 on the mainline along side the Classes 720 & 745 which were still being phased in around the time. The GEML Section between Colchester and London Liverpool Street is a total length of 49 Miles with a total of 21 Stations, these being: Colchester Marks Tey Kelvedon Witham Hatfield Peverel Beaulieu Park (Wasn't open during 2023, but opens in October 2025) Chelmsford Ingatestone Shenfield Brentwood (EL) Harold Wood (EL) Gidea Park (EL) Romford Chadwell Heath (EL) Goodmayes (EL) Seven Kings (EL) Ilford (EL) Manor Park (EL) Forest Gate (EL) Maryland (EL) Stratford London Liverpool Street Now since this route is based in early 2023, the Elizabeth Line was fully open with 345s running, meaning we would finally get drivable Elizabeth Line Services between London Liverpool Street (High Level)/Stratford (Services from the Core) to Shenfield, along with freight services (yes the 66 does make another appearance), another note, since this is based in early 2023, we get to drive a mix of fleet around different operators, these being: Class 66 - Freightliner Class 82 DVT - Greater Anglia Class 90 - Freightliner & Greater Anglia Class 321 - Greater anglia Class 357 - C2C (Only between Liverpool Street & Stratford) Class 720 - Greater Anglia Class 745 - Greater Anglia Class 755 - Greater Anglia (Marks Tey - Sudbury Branch) So for the overall stats for the route, it would be: 67 Mile Route between London, Colchester, Clacton, & Walton A total of 41 Stations A wide selection of trains to chose from on the route
London - Ipswich would definitely be doable and would open up the opportunity for more branchlines.. as for your suggestion I also think it's a great idea, the main hub (Colchester) being my local, with the seaside express services sounds brilliant. But for the time period you discussed I think due to licensing issues, I believe any year before 2012 would be more realistic.
Yeah you have a point, I forgot that Ipswich isn't that far from Colchester. And with the licensing issues you mentioned, there is probably a chance of that, but not a high one considering Greater Anglia hasn't made a single appearance within a TSW Game yet so theres a chance they could be okay with it
Little known but publicly available fact is that in the early nineties DTG Matt went to Essex University which is about half a mile from my house in the picturesque village of Wivenhoe (I suspect we probably drank beer in the same pub at some point). Wivenhoe is the first station that all trains on the Sunshine Coast Line stop at after Colchester on the Down line. The line runs past the university so he will likely have very happy memories of seeing Class 309s, 312s and 321s trundle past and if he traveled down to London, will also have enjoyed Class 86s with their Mk2s and drafty Mk1 buffet cars. While I think we'd see the mainline to Ipswich rather than the Clacton branch and it would most likely be a more modern version of the route. I believe he'll have a lot of affection for the GEML and that's why I'm confident it will appear in TSW. The railways we grow up with tend to hold the greatest affection throughout our lives. Selfishly I'd want the Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich lines converging and going all the way to Liverpool Street in the slam door era. But I'd also like to retire tomorrow and build a heated swimming pool under my garden. I think I'm more likely to be flying along the Great Eastern in TSW 7, 8 or 9 than I am to be having a daily warming mid-morning swim in a basement under my garden in the next few years.
The funny thing is, i also used to live on the Sunshine Coastline, specifically at Clacton, so i have some good memories of the Class 321s & 360s running down there, Im sad they dont anymore but im glad i still have the memories of it
It's such a shame it's just Aventras nowadays. As long as I've been up here in North Essex there was always a variety of traction on the Clacton line. I've even seen 317s heading to Clacton depot for light repairs. The only unusual visitors we get now are the occasional 755 ECS workings to the depot.
Yeah ive seen that before, the first time i did, i was very confused as the only place i knew they ran was on the Sudbury Line (ive since learned they run out of Norwich as well), Now i hope this route comes even more as we could run that 755 ECS route, i hope its seen by one of the Dovetail Devs soon
