I play mostly American freight but I do have a soft spot for old UK freight. Think Tees Valley in TSW. I had Nottingham recommended to me, but any others?
Always recommended is the Weardale and Teesdale network with around 200 miles of track https://store.steampowered.com/app/277777/Train_Simulator_Weardale__Teesdale_Network_Route_AddOn/ Nottingham is good but is set in the Steam era if that is what you like - but you don't seem to go very far. The original Woodhead route is good with Electric and Steam locos working side by side over the Pennines https://store.steampowered.com/app/65244/Train_Simulator_Woodhead_Route_AddOn/ There is the Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue but it has so many faults I do not recommend it. Still waiting on DTG to fix them but we have a better chance of winning the lottery. Peter
If you prefer diesel then these would be your best bet. Riviera line in the 50s - mostly steam, but you can run early diesels - mix of both passenger and freight. https://store.steampowered.com/app/...in_the_Fifties_Exeter__Kingswear_Route_AddOn/ Western Hydraulics Pack for the route https://store.steampowered.com/app/621920/Train_Simulator_Western_Hydraulics_Pack_AddOn/ China Clay for Export (20 mile route from Par - Lostwithiel set in 1988) Mix of local passenger services and China Clay haulage. https://store.steampowered.com/app/325953/Train_Simulator_China_Clay_for_Export_Route_AddOn/ Weardale & Teesdale network - Set in the transition period from steam to diesel in the 1960s - mix of both express passenger, local passenger and freight workings - also be sure to grab the scenario pack (extra stock required). https://store.steampowered.com/app/277777/Train_Simulator_Weardale__Teesdale_Network_Route_AddOn/ Scenario Pack: https://store.steampowered.com/app/834406/TS_Marketplace_Weardale__Teesdale_Scenario_Pack_01/ Woodhead (Original) - Again, mostly steam, but also electric and a scenario with a green Class 37. https://store.steampowered.com/app/65244/Train_Simulator_Woodhead_Route_AddOn/ East Midlands Coal (25 mile route from Sherwood to High Marnham set in the 80s) - Hauling mostly coal in the midlands. https://store.steampowered.com/app/...ands_Coal_Sherwood__High_Marnham_Route_AddOn/ East Coast Main LIne (Newcastle - York) set in the late 1970s/early 80s - mostly passenger services but also a few freights thrown in. https://store.steampowered.com/app/208303/Train_Simulator_East_Coast_Main_Line_Route_AddOn/ Western Lines of Scotland (originally known as The Port Road) - Set in the 1960s - mostly steam, but you can buy extra DLC (Class 20, Class 27 etc) to have diesels on the line. https://store.steampowered.com/app/222554/Train_Simulator_Western_Lines_of_Scotland_Route_AddOn/ Class 20: https://store.steampowered.com/app/222628/Train_Simulator_BR_Class_20_Loco_AddOn/ Class 27: https://store.steampowered.com/app/258661/Train_Simulator_BR_Class_27_Loco_AddOn/ If you want steam only then my pick would be the Malmesbury branch and the Falmouth Branch - both set in the 50s/60s offering passenger, freight and shunting work. Falmouth: https://store.steampowered.com/app/24096/Train_Simulator_Falmouth_Branch_Route_AddOn/ Malmesbury: https://store.steampowered.com/app/562376/Train_Simulator_Malmesbury_Branch_Route_AddOn/
A lot of good recommendations here. I'd especially second those for Weardale and Teesdale which has been my favourite route since I got into TS in 2015 (and connects to the Tees Valley route you like in TSW at Darlington albeit in a different period), Woodhead and Western Lines of Scotland (the Classes 20 and 27 Diesels mentioned can be heavily discounted). A third party route that impresses is Steam Sound Supreme's Stainmore, Shap and Eden Valley which continues the Stockton and Darlington Railway's South Durham and Lancashire Union line westward from Barnard Castle (which is in Weardale and Teesdale) across the Pennines to Tebay plus the WCML over Shap to Penrith and lines to Barrow in Furness and from Penrith and Kirkby Steven. It's RRP is all but £30 but for that you get an extensive route with a goodly selection of power and rolling stock (the loco's are all steam but early Diesels, some of which you would have with the dependencies, would not be out of place) and SSS do have sales. The scenarios included don't exploit the route that well IMHO mainly crossing Stainmore Summit which is the main focus of the route and quite spectacular so one can't really blame them (I know at least one chap who would rather have seen the Stainmore line saved than Settle-Carlisle) but there are clearly many opportunities for all kinds of workings. If you have the dependencies (which are not outlandish) well worth getting. https://www.steamsoundssupreme.com/stainmore-shap-eden-valley.html
The Weardale and Teesdale route is on sale on the DTG Store https://store.dovetailgames.com/uk/product/434703/weardale-teesdale-network-route-add-on - Down to £9.99 If you have not used the DTG Store before you buy it then DTG sends you a code which you input in the Steam Client
