The Cargo Line series continues! Take care with delicate, high security cargo in Volume 5: Nuclear, coming from Skyhook Games on 18th November. We first announced Cargo Line Volume 5: Nuclear in our June Roadmap, showing off the modernised Class 20 locomotive and unique flask wagons. Nuclear Trains - What are they? The gameplay in this Add-on simulates the movement of radioactive nuclear material up and down two stretches of the West Coast Main Line. The role of these trains is simple; safely carry nuclear flasks between power stations and processing centres across the UK. This important task has made them a popular and rare catch for enthusiasts, and despite the reduction in nuclear power plants since the millennium, the trains are still seen in use to this day. Due to the volatile nature of their cargo, Nuclear trains are often operated with multiple locomotives at once. The modernised Class 20/3 was one such type of locomotive assigned to the role. Bookending the wagons between locos protects them against any direct impact, and additional diesel engines added contingency in case of a failure. Wherever possible, the Nuclear train must remain moving and is given high priority across the network. BR Class 20/3 locomotive Overview and history The English Electric Type 1 / Class 20 locomotive, known to many as 'Choppers' (because of the distinctive engine sounds), first appeared in Train Sim World as a Loco Add-on for the Tees Valley Line, set in the early 1990s. Cargo Line Volume 5 introduces a new contemporary version, circa 2000. Developed in the 1950s, the English Electric Type 1 was the first major step on British Railways’ path to dieselisation. After many trials and failures, the Type 1 showed promise as a 1000hp locomotive, and between 1957 and 1968 a total of 228 would be produced. The Type 1s took over from steam locomotives of equivalent power, primarily working light, mixed-freight traffic throughout the Midlands and in Scotland. Unlike newer locomotives, the Type 1s featured a rather unique single cab design. The cab, situated at the rear of the locomotive, has controls facing in either direction and gives the locos a tank engine-like appearance, with the diesel engine and on-board equipment sat much like how a firebox and boiler would, in front of the cab. Visibility when travelling nose first was quickly realised as a concern, so it became common to see pairs of Type 1s coupled at the nose, allowing for greater view of the track ahead and with the added benefit of doubling the horsepower, meaning they could handle heaver trains. With the introduction of the TOPS classification system, the EE Type 1s were rebranded as BR Class 20s. Despite being some of the oldest diesels around, the Class 20s have remained in operational use to this day, and have survived into preservation, making them a frequent sight on heritage railways. A number of Class 20s were once used in operations in France and to construct the High Speed 1 line featured in Southeastern Highspeed. They have also been used to operate RHTTs, which is something that can be loosely recreated using Formation Designer and Free Roam features in-game. Nuclear Operations and modernisation In the June Roadmap, Skyhook Games explained: > Created as a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd during late 1994, Direct Rail Services (DRS) had the sole purpose of taking over rail-based handling of nuclear material from British Rail. Initially operating from the reprocessing plant at Sellafield, DRS opened a dedicated depot at Carlisle Kingmoor Yard in 1998 to cater for its new fleet of 15 ex Channel Tunnel works Class 20 locomotives. DRS eventually operated a fleet of 21 examples of the English Electric Type 1s, being significantly upgraded by Brush Traction of Loughborough with long-range fuel tanks, group standard headlight clusters, high-impact windscreens and a complete cab rebuild before outshopping them in iconic Oxford Blue livery with fully yellow ends and red buffer beams. The Class 20/3 in this Add-on represents features circa year 2000 and includes: WIPAC Headlights Modernised cab including NRN and GSM-R equipment (Non-functional) Nuclear Panic Button Removal of headcode discs FNA-D Nuclear Flask wagon Sandwiched between a pair of Class 20s is the FNA-D Nuclear Flask Wagon, new to Train Sim World. The original fleet of FNA wagons were built by British Rail, and later Procor, for the transport of spent nuclear fuel from power stations to processing and research centres. These fascinating wagons came into service in the 1970s and became an iconic part of the network, performing this important task. In the 2010s, it was identified that replacements were required. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority commissioned WH Davis to produce 40 new wagons as a 'like-for-like' replacement for the original FNAs. The new batch featured several major updates including exposed framing, different bogies, and the ability to carry a wider range of flask designs. Despite the reduction in nuclear power plants in the UK since the millennium, the FNA-Ds can still be seen in use across much of the UK. Gameplay and route Add-ons Cargo Line Volume 5 adds Nuclear services and Scenarios to two stretches of the West Coast Line: WCML: Preston-Carlisle WCML: London-Milton Keynes West Coast Main Line: Preston - Carlisle 3 Scenarios 14 timetable services These represent trains running out of Sellafield nuclear site, with in-game services running between Carnforth - Preston and Carnforth - Carlisle as well as Morecambe - Preston and Morecambe - Carnforth (originating off the map at Heysham Harbour). These services are operated by Class 47 locomotives that feature in the route Add-on, with formations including Mk1 BG coaches either side of the FNA-D wagons. West Coast Main Line: London - Milton Keynes 2 Scenarios 4 timetable services These represent trains running out of Sellafield and Dungeness nuclear sites, with in-game services running between Willesden Junction and Milton Keynes, as well as services starting/ending at Bletchley and Willesden Brent Sidings. Riviera Line services Prior to the release of Train Sim World 6, we also mentioned the planned Nuclear train services that Rivet Games' Tyler implemented into the Riviera Line timetable. These will be made available for players that own Cargo Line Volume 5, plus the other Add-ons required for this unique formation. 8th Generation Consoles Please note that for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the spread of other trains running around has been reduced to provide acceptable performance. This reduction does not apply to PC, Xbox S/X or PlayStation 5 versions. Train Sim World 6: Cargo Line Vol.5: Nuclear is releasing on 18th November for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £12.99/€15.99/$16.99 Find out more about Train Sim World 6 by following @trainsimworld on Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.
DTG Jamie Wow another article on an upcoming dlc .... but still no information on the TSW6 core update #4 .... that was already delayed in the first week of November and now its almost nearing the end of the second week ! but Dovetail games is busy releasing more new content rather than fixing the core game and the already released dlcs .... just wow ... gotta follow the dovetail tradition I guess !
This is a Skyhook DLC, Skyhook aren't working on Core Updates... Anyway, Pack looks great, Class 20 is so fun to drive, I'm looking forward to this and JT's updates!
Too niche for my liking and unbranded 20s too. I don't think I'd get much use out of it, hence why I never got the previous Military pack either.
has this been properly tested on consoles???? What's the performance like with this layer active...don't get me wrong this looks nice, but still blurry textures across add-ons yet continue to be a major issue on consoles and it's basically been ignored
Yes not to belittle the work which has gone into redoing the locos and the new wagon, this is still a very limited gameplay pack. As stated previously, I would much rather SHG had put their time and focus into creating a new loco (Class 56 or 60) and set of wagons. Probably one for a deep sale only.
We need assurances this won't make the console versions blurry. Has this been tested on an actual console with all layers active?
DTG Jamie any information on this .... how is QA for console this time ? especially regarding texture blurring ?
Consoles will have a higher likelihood of blurry textures with every extra train and/or timetable layer added to a route. It’s hard to tell if you’ll get them until someone tries it out with the same DLC you have. I currently run WCML Shap on PS5 as it came when released, with all the layers it had then (as I have all the old BR locos and the Pacer) and it hasn’t had any blurred textures. I’m guessing that if I added the Class 86 (with all its extra coaches), and both the military and nuclear Cargo Line packs it would be a different story. I remember people complaining about blurry textures with the Class 86 pack. With just this pack it might be fine but as soon as there’s too many trains blurry textures will appear. As for on WCML South, it’s probably the same thing, the more things that appear with layers the more the textures are likely to blur.
I like the idea of the pack a lot I loved the 20 on TVL and am happy to see it back again! I was hoping for a few more services though at £12.99. I'm guessing the WCMLOS services are on a separate timetable to the JT one? Is it the same as the military pack?
One thing I don’t get is if DRS is publicly owned why isn’t the 20 branded shouldn’t it be an easy thing to get the approval
The 66 is for Riviera, it required the DRS one engineering express. The Riviera article does actually state this, as well as the other add-ons required
The Riviera service(s) require the Class 86 DLC as well and that pack is also required (just for the coaches for all these extras not the loco itself) for a few other services on Riviera so may be worth getting alongside this pack if it’s not in your collection already. I’m thinking of getting it even if it is £20. All these dependencies for layers can get both confusing and expensive. Cross referencing lots of different release articles for what goes where and what needs what is as much of a challenge as driving the trains. For nuclear flask services on Shap you don’t need the 86 but for those on Riviera you do. It’s bonkers. I’d even forgotten Skyhook have their own timetable on the Shap route as I never got the military DLC (waiting for a sale). I’ve definitely lost track.
You need the 86 for the Riviera services as the Mk2F is pulled from that DLC. The DRS Class 66 will come from the Engineering Express pack (from Edinburgh to Glasgow) but you WONT need Edinburgh to Glasgow if you don't already have it as the EEP DLC isn't tied to the E2G
When I asked a similar question, many months ago (my memory is a bad as a goldfish so I have no idea what thread it was in), Adam from Skyhook explained that the DRS license in place only applies to the Class 66
I’m aware I’m saying publicly owned brands should be easier to get but if that’s your answer it doesn’t really explain much if someone from the team wants to talk about it that would be good otherwise preciate your input
I'm more on the fence about this one than the Santa Fe one. I think it makes sense to pick up on sale. You just don't get as much stock and scenarios for roughly the same price. Yes, another Class20 in new livery is nice. Not really "better" than the older ones, but I guess the headlights are an improvement. The nuclear wagon.... not all that usable except in free roam. It could have run on more routes since they're used all over the country but (like HIS and Santa Fe pack) they chose not to expand more layers or substitutions to other routes. Only 5 scenarios and 18 runs.... meh. Does it show up as AI in another layer on Shap and WCML-S while driving other things? That could be some variety. It's okay for say $9.99 or less. I can see picking it up on sale. I tend to measure this stuff by how much use I'll get out of it; how many hours of play I'll get out of it. This has maybe half the value of the Santa Fe pack for replayability. How to improve it to make it full value? -More route layers/substitutions (lots of routes use the Class 20 and it's virtually identical to them so it could be 1:1 easily) The more routes you can use it on, the more value it has. -More detailed load interaction for immersive gameplay (loading/unloading cask? I'm sure it wouldn't be totally "realistic" to avoid any security stuff, but more than just "stop in the middle of the track"... get into sidings and detailed shunting -Add another loco. I recall the Class 68 was used for this role too? Running those unbranded would allow the 68 chassis to be used in game initially without worrying about it, and then that could be expanded into using the 68 on say Fife Circle or other routes later As I said, it's still a decent value for maybe $9.99 max, so I'll still get it on sale. Just not as much value (to me personally) as other Cargo Packs with more content. Had a lot more fun with the Military pack for example. That had TWO custom wagons and more runs, plus the red Class 66 and class 47. So, twice as much rolling stock and more scenarios/runs.
I agree but any release should be tested with all available layers that are already released. If they make a new timetable for the nuclear pack, or add it to the existing one, it should work. Otherwise they should make the timetable with less services / trains so it's not blurry.
So can you put a DRS livery onto the 20,s and still use them in timetable mode,or are standard liverys only available on trains in timetable mode.?
Stadler Class 68 needed for this operation too. They are commonly seen on modern nuclear trains in the UK.
I have a question for Skyhook: Will the new cargo package support the suspension feature? And when will the 158 class get it?
who says that they didn't try and, as you say "just get a new one"? if the licensing was something that SHG could have worked out, then we would have a branded 20. the Simplest answer here is that they couldn't, and so it doesn't, and people have offered photographic evidence of them running in this unbranded state so as far as I'm concerned (I don't speak for anyone but myself ofc) I'm not sure why *this* of all things is where the focus should be. Maybe the 4 services for the WCML, sure we get 14 on Shap but with the 47/4. why only 4 services with the packs "hero" locomotive?? there's the point to focus on
I've been waiting months for this and it was going to be a day one purchase. But with the blurry issues on console I'll be waiting.
DTG Jamie. Please Jamie, would you kindly provide a link to buy this on the Microsoft Store for Xbox users at 10am tomorrow to save the nightmare we have trying to find it on release. Thank you.
Quick question on the WCMLS part of the pack. If you don't have the intermodal pack (Volume 3), will you still get the 4 timetable services?
Having watched a stream last night, it has it's own timetable, and bugs such as the class 20 not appearing in formation designer, some of the controls not working, the FNA wagon not having the right suspension. It's a pass from me. I won't be purchasing until they are resolved.
West Coast Main Line: Preston - Carlisle (using the JT Class 47) 3 Scenarios 14 timetable services West Coast Main Line: London - Milton Keynes 2 Scenarios 4 timetable services not much meat on the bones, considering the pack is about the 20, and that's only 6 services......
Can we use the older class 20 with the flasks in formation designer? We can the use an older DRS livery or is this not possible?
