Since the Class 483s are finally due for retirement and replacement with the 484s, this could be a rather fitting time to make their predecessors for TSW2; the Class 485 '4Vec' and Class 486 '3Tis'! These trains were the first units to run on the Island Line following its electrification in 1967, and began the continued tradition of using modified London Underground stock on the line, owing to the restrictive height of Ryde Tunnel (and to a lesser extent, the curved platform of Ryde Esplanade). In particular, the 485 and 486 were modified LU Standard Stock constructed between 1923 and 1931. As the Island Line route for TSW2 is set during the Network SouthEast era, these trains wouldn't be out of place; the last of the 4Vec and 3Tis units didn't leave the Island until 1991, and therefore there would have been a period of time when both the then-new Class 483s and their predecessors would have been running together.
This is a great suggestion! I've never heard of these trains before. I don't know if the era is right for them though as the current route is set only a few years ago so might be different to when the trains you suggested ran, Rivet only used the NSE livery because of issues licensing the Island Line livery.
This is a lot like gwr , lots of people have requested the class 800 but we will not be getting it as it is not operational during the time period in which the route is set . The same applies for the iow line , because it is set after these locos were in operation on this line so I find it unlikely that we will get this loco
It’s worth mentioning that infrastructure on the Island Line has changed very little over the last 50 years - in theory, the 485/6 units would be fully compatible, as they were derived from the same type of tube stock (deep level) and had a very similar door sill height to the 483s. In addition, they ran on the same voltage as the 483s that succeeded them
These units were retired in 1988/89 and the line as represented in game is much the same as it was then. Therefore there is no reason to not include them. A very worthy addition as dlc for IOW which only has one train type at present. They could be included along with a modified Class 03, a Class 05 and a civil engineering consist of wagons. These would bring the line to life.
Yep - the last 485s and 486s weren't retired until 1991, a while after all the 483 units had been transferred to the Island, so for approximately 3 years, 483s and their predecessors were running together on the same route.
The route is set in February last year. The appearance of the route has changed hugely since 1990, the foliage has been allowed to grow out a lot and most station furniture has been changed or at least repainted. You'd be only somewhat close to simulating the last year or so of 485/486 operation, as Brading loop was removed in 1988 too, of course it would also have to make use of the multiple timetable support due to how much has changed in the same period.
Something worth bringing up now, with the announcement and screenshots for Diesel Legends of the Great Western DLC is that time clashes shouldn't be too much of a concern - if trains that left the GWML in the 1970s'-80's can be included alongside trains running in a configuration from the mid-2010's, then the 485 and 486 could be able to show up on the Island Line
I have the 485/486 trains for the Isle of Wight on Trainsim Classic. I really like driving them, great sounds etc. They in my opinion are much better than the 483s.
IOW all ready had it's extra dlc. It's unlikley theyy will make another. they are more likley to focus on TSW3 or Cathcart circle or West Cornwall Local.
